VELUX ZOZ 085 Telescopic Control Rod Adapter for Operating Roof Window Blinds Out of Reach

Good

The tiny instruction leaflet from Velux says it all. If fitted correctly the pole can pull the blind shut (ie down in the diagram) perfectly ok - but to open it ? Eventually you learn to push it up by reversing the pole and pushing the end bar of the blind itself but if you try to swing the pole on the attachment (in the anticlockwise direction in the diagram) the thing jams. Surely an award winner for a rotten design, or at the very least rotten instructions. That said, once you get used to it, it works. Also, the seller uses Parcelforce for delivery. Don't rely on estimated delivery dates with them. Amazon estimated a delivery on a Saturday. In fact it arrived the previous Tuesday. And Parcelforce was looking for a signature. Not good for planning. Had to go to the local Post Office to pick it up. Three stars because it is useable.

This really does work. For out of reach windows which you need to use the extendable pole for, this 'thing' allows you to grip on to push and pull the blind. Attaching it, like all velux fittings, is simple and just works as it's meant to. As with all things velux it has a price tag, but in our case it was cheaper than replacing the wooden frame which was slowly being trashed by hitting it with the pole each time we tried to close the blind.

Easy to install. Works very nicely with the Velux own-brand window-opening tool; easy to use to slide a blind up and down out of reach. Lost one star for silly packaging. I ordered two of these. Each one arrived in its own box. Each box was inside its own big envelope. Seriously? Two identical parcels, way bigger than they needed to be for dinky little handles. Lack of joined up thinking there.

Velux products are usually excellent but this isn’t. Fiddly to fit unless you have the ideal screwdriver and the interface with the pole is very poor. With duo blinds you need two of these per blind, so expensive for what must cost 10p to manufacture. If you can’t reach your blinds with a stepladder then you’ll probably struggle to open and close the blinds with the pole.

Easy to fit Simple addition which should be included with every blind and not as a separate purchase!

Needs redesigning to work at a angle which most roof windows are fitted at. Moving the blind upwards to the open position is easy. Pulling downwards to close the blind is almost impossible to do without the pole end slipping, the blind centre under strain bending and the pole hitting the window recess. I'd say this device is not fit for purpose. I've used it on two sky lights as there is no alternative device. I did not expect this from Velux. For the cost of the blind (I buy from Vux expecting a high quality) Velux should sell the blinds with a decent device already attached. I'm very disappointed and annoyed.

Easy to install but required if using a window pole but not advertised as required with a pole.