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Do retailers have to honour manufacturers warrantys?

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  • 28-06-2007 7:12pm
    #1
    Random
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,080 ✭✭✭✭


    For example ... a Nokia mobile phone has a 2 year warranty. Can the retailer say that they only provide a 1 year warranty and after than the consumer is on their own to deal with Nokia / a Nokia service centre?


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    #2
    Rebeller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 271 ✭✭Rebeller


    ciaranfo wrote:
    For example ... a Nokia mobile phone has a 2 year warranty. Can the retailer say that they only provide a 1 year warranty and after than the consumer is on their own to deal with Nokia / a Nokia service centre?

    Warranties have little if any legal standing. They are simply goodwill indications by a product manufacturer that an item should function correctly for "X" amount of time. Even if a product ceases to be "fit for its purpose" after a manufacturer warranty has expired you may still have the right to a remedy (however you may have to resort to the small claims court to enforce your rights).

    The price originally paid will have an important bearing on how long a court thinks a product should function, i.e. something costing €5 willbe expected to have a shorter lifespan than a phone costing €200.

    As regards your actual question, your contract is with the shop from whom you bought your phone. Most shops get away with fobbing customers off with "store policy" as if it overrides the law of the land. It is the shop who should provide a solution for you even if that simply means them arranging for a replacement, repair from the manufacturer.


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    #3
    Random
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,080 ✭✭✭✭Random


    You don't seem to have got what I was saying. The store decide they're only going to give a one year warranty. The manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty.

    Does the store have to honour this lifetime warranty?


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    #4
    mcaul
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭mcaul


    The store is only obliged to honour the legal sale of goods act.

    They are not obliged to honour a manufacturers warranty, but most will. Contact the manufacturer and they will normally send you to their appointed repair agent.

    example - Zippo Lighters - lifetime warranty. Zippo retailers do not have to take the item in, but will direct you to Zippo distributors in Ireland (petersons) rwho will take the item off you and send to Zippo for repair.


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    #5
    Saruman
    Registered Users Posts: 11,389 ✭✭✭✭Saruman


    What mcaul said. Store is under no obligation. However a lot will deal with it for some or all the warranty to keep the customer happy etc.

    For instance when i worked in gateway years ago, 3rd party stuff like printers, scanners etc that they got from us, we only looked after for 30 days and after that the customer dealt with the manufacturer directly.


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    #6
    Random
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,080 ✭✭✭✭Random


    What's the lifetime on a Mobile phone or Laptop that the retailer is expected to follow then?


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    #7
    mcaul
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭mcaul


    I'd say 12 months would be max for these items.


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