More of a service review than a product, but thought I'd post a positive as we're so quick to complain when things go wrong.

I bought a Retracta retractable garden hose from Hare and Forbes around 3 years ago (like this one, no longer stocked by H&F). Pricey for a garden hose, but after going through a few of the common brands from the Big Green Shed which didn't last long at all, I thought I'd pay a bit more and see if it was worth it. Seemed a good hose, and I ended up buying a second retracta when it came up on special - slightly different flavour.

A few weeks ago, the reel suddenly stopped retracting. Something had happened to the spring. I had a quick look and partly dismantled it, but stopped when I got to a layer which had dire warnings of death and destruction if opened further.

Checked my receipt - saw that it was over three years since purchase so thought I'd be out of luck, but then checked the MacNaught site and saw that their stuff has a 10 year warranty!

Sent an email to H&F. They replied promptly with a return authorisation, and a pre-paid shipping label. They said they'd have to forward it to MacNaught when they received it, so I braced for manufacturer excuses as to why the fault wasn't covered...

Packed it all up, dropped it off at the post office, and a few weeks later a brand new hose turned up at my door! No questions asked - just done, and the whole process cost me nothing.

Very happy with the whole process, and great to see an Aussie manufacturer supporting its products with such a long warranty.

I need a retractable air hose now, so it'll be a MacNaught, and probably from H&F