My experience in purchasing a Pureit Classic Refill Kit

It has been more than 2 months since we first started using the PureIt Classic Water Purifier by Unilever. The Germkill filter is past due since water already leaks in the middle which means that the water won't go through the last chamber because of its automatic shut off feature. Instead, it would go through into where the Germkill filter is.

On a Sunday, the merchant shop where I bought the water purifier gave me the PureIt Excella refill kit which costs around 1198 pesos and insisted that they are the same though I specifically asked for the PureIt Classic Refill kit. Upon returning home, I still have lingering doubts. My mother would say why not try it out but I'm thinking that if I take her advice and opened the merchandise, there is a great possibility that I won't be able to return it. And so I searched the internet if there is a difference between the two and found out that there is. In the PureIt Excella refill kit, you get the 4 filters: the mesh, the carbon polisher, the germkill filter and the sediment filter. On the other hand, PureIt Classic refill kit consists of 3 items: the half sphered carbon (which was missing in the Excella), the carbon polisher and the germkill filter. In order to solve the current problem, I ask directly in the PureIt Water Purifier contact page and they replied that the PureIt Excella refill kit is different from PureIt Classic refill kit. PureIt Excella refill kit should only be used in a PureIt Excella water purifier unit and the PureIt Classic refill kit is intended only in a PureIt Excella water purifier unit.

To be honest, I was quite expecting this answer but I was disappointed. The shop would just sell you something without really knowing it. The next day, I returned the item to the shop. When I aired out my concern, the manager at first firmly told me that they sell only units with the same model unit which was displayed and same type of refill kits. Negotiation is not my kind of thing but this time I insisted that I was able to buy the unit that we are using in their shop in 2 months before. I told him that I was actually looking forward to buy the PureIt Excella unit because I'm thinking to purchase the refill kits in the same shop. I told him that the salesman who sold me the unit said that it was the newest model and they were phasing out the Excella unit. Then he said that he is reaching out to the designated salesman. He asked if I could show him a picture of the purifier in which I did. Later, he found out when they went through their stock room (perhaps) that I was right and that what we had bought is the newest model. Another salesman, and a bunch of them went to us (maybe in order to pry or were curious with the current situation) and they are agreeing with the manager that the contents are just the same. I replied that I don't have an issue with the 3 items: the mesh, the carbon polisher and the germkill filter. But I posed them questions like: what am I going to do with the sediment filter? How about the half-sphere shaped filter? They even browsed through the PureIt pamphlet and discovered that there is the half-sphere shape. I came prepared so I even showed them a YouTube video on PureIt Classic refill kit replacement. Then that's when they apologize. The manager offered that I get another item with the same price but I inquired if I can get it later, maybe they be having the correct refill kit soon? I told him that I'm in no rush can get it later provided that I get the refill kit that I needed. The manager then told me that they will try to contact Omnibus (I think, their merchandiser) and the merchandiser would directly contact Unilever. He gave me a contact number and said that they will keep me updated but it would take some time. As per the manager, refund was not possible as I had used debit card.

The next day about 2 pm, I missed a call. I was suspecting that it was the manager of the shop. I was able to answer his call when I was riding in a tricycle on my way home at around 5:30 pm. He said that they were able to contact the Unilever hotline and that the refill kit for the Classic is still not out in the market. If there was, it is only available in their service center which was situated in Pasig. He also added that he inquired if there is an online shop such as Lazada where the refill kit can be purchased but there was none. I was thinking if this manager had really contacted Unilever or is just not resourceful enough. I cut the bull shit crap that he's feeding me and I said to him (in a polite manner by the way) that in the PureIt page, the brand has advised that classic refill kit is available in their online shop in Lazada. I also informed him that if the product is not out in the market like he was telling me then why did I was able to buy it in Landmark Makati? I was able to buy it for 1398 pesos and bought it the same day before I aired out my concern regarding their sold product. He again offered me to just exchange for another item but I was adamant that I have no need for their other products. We agreed into a deal where they'll just give me a receipt telling that I had a deposit of the amount 1198 and I can use it anytime. He instructed me to bring the original receipt. I told him, I'll drop by the next day in which I did. Hopefully, the Classic refill kit would be available soon.