Replacing item under warranty but no equal replacement

Seth Brundle

We bought a Bosch washing machine in Dec 2016 for €379. We also opted for the three year extended warranty from AIG which kicks in this December.

Todat it was diagnosed by the Bosch engineer as being beyond repair (some weird manufacturing fault).

Under the 2 year manufacturer's warranty, we're entitled to a replacement and we were told by the retailer that it is up to the value the old one was purchased for.

However things in washing machine world have obviously changed in those 18 months because we can't get the same spec for the same money. It looks like we may have to pay about €80 to get something of the same spec (or else go for something of lower quality). Is this normal or does consumer law say anything about an exchange for something of equal spec (within reason)?

Also, as we probably have to pay more, legally do we get a new two year warranty or are we still subject to the original one?

Lastly in terms of the extended warranty, the shop weren't sure but would it be normal for these to have their dates adjusted (assuming we get a new two year warranty) and would there normally be an additional cost given its a change of item being covered? Who would pay that? The shop weren't sure and would check but I'd like to have independent opinions also.

ED E

Warranty = whatever the warranty says. You need to consult the fine print.

Under your consumer rights you can argue not of merchantable quality (get the Bosch lad to write his conclusion down) as it was a manufacturing fault and insist on a repair or replacement of equal spec.

Xterminator

The law says nothing about the manufacturer's warranty.

Instead underlaw you would be looking at consumer rights.

Important to note that under your consumer rights (not warranty) you would be entitled to pursue the shop where you purchased the washing machine for one of the 3 R - repair, replace, refund (not the manufacturer)

now it looks like you can rule out a repair. so it would be replace or refund, but any refund offer could be depreciated by 2 years - IE you have had 2 years of use from this unit. and if you set the life of your washing machine to 6 years 1/3rd of the price you paid depreciation would be approx €126. leaving a value of 250-260 approx. (just a rough figure).

But you would not be tied to bosch then and might get an equivalent machine of a different brand for close to that? It might be worth your while to see what the retailer offers you before deciding on the other offer from manafacturer!

IMO 80 quid extra for a new washing machine with a new warranty is not a bad offer. Considering you have gotten 2 years out of the machine its less than any reasonable calcualtation of depreciation of 2 years old white goods. Can you confirm it would be a brand new machine, not used, and it would have a new warranty not a continuation of the old one? If so its worth bearing in mind. because if you get a refund of approx €250-260 euro (possibly minus the small claims court fee if it went that far) you would have to pay more than €80 from your pocket to get the same machine you are being offered.

PaddyBomb

From when I worked with a home appliance retailer, we would get a docket from Bosch with the value of what you paid in December 2016. You can then put that towards any new washing machine and pay the difference. The new washing machine will have a new 2 year warranty from when it is delivered to you and because you never went into the extended AIG warranty, that could be transferred to the new machine. So you'll get a new machine with a 5 year warranty for €80.