Warranty & Dealer Networks - Manufacturer Responsibility

Pricy147

I own a 1 year old Kawasaki Jet Ski, which still has almost a year left to run under warranty cover. I live in Swansea South Wales, and there used to be two dealers in the vicinity:

1) West Wales Watercraft Centre - Port Talbmot - approx 10 miles away.
2) New Wave Marine - Pembroke - approx 60 miles away.

Both dealers in recent months have gone under. This means the nearest dealers are either Pwllheli or Oxford - both ~ 150 miles away and 5-7 hr round trips.

Kawasaki appear to be ducking out of resolving this issue in the hope nothing goes wrong with the ski's, and have not communicated any interim measure of warranty repair in the absence of any authorised repairers in this region.

It is obviously out of their control that the dealers have gone under; however, they do not seem to be pro-actively seeking resolutions (as they insist on repair outlets purchasing X number of ski's - which is crazy in the current market), and they could also communicate interim measures such as mobile engineers, or pick up and deliver service.

Does anyone know where I stand legally with this? In effect; Kawasaki are invalidating my warranty as it will cost as much to take the ski to the nearest dealer as it would carrying out the repairs.

There must be some kind of consumer protection against this? Otherwise - one could sell a car with a 20 year warranty; and once purchased; insist it has to be taken to Hawaii to be repaired. An extreme example; but illustrates the point.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

CHR15

Are you suggesting kawasaki should be forced to open dealerships at 10 mile intervals all around the coast of the UK?

Pricy147

and thats going extreme the other way. One in a particular region is acceptable.

CHR15

You may find Kawasaki will be happy for an independent to look at it closer to home.
Mitsubishi did this for me when I had a car with them (nearest dealer was over 100 miles from me).

I think that is the best you could hope for.

Pricy147

There is an independant dealer almost on my door step who used to run West Wales Watercraft Centre. Fully trained, has the Kawasaki diagnostics software - but because he wont purchase ski's to sell - they will not allow him to undertake warranty repairs. Likewise, there is a Yamaha and Seadoo dealer about 25 miles away (reasonable) - but again - cannot do warranty as they will not purchase the ski's (as they cannot sell them).

Kawasaki insist on repairs being undertaken by one of their dealers - which is where the problem lies.

pinkshoes

If they insist on the specific dealers doing the repairs, and have now closed the two nearest to you, then they should pay for a courier service to collect it, and then return it to you.

Write to them (recorded delivery) and see what they say.

Pricy147

thats how I see it, or provide a mobile engineer. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me. It is their issue after all.

I just wondered from a legislative perspective if anyone was aware of any consumer protection around this particular area!? As a fall back.

Brooker_Dave

pinkshoes wrote: »

Write to them (recorded delivery) and see what they say.

I can guess what they'll say...

djb215

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

I can guess what they'll say...

Just out of interest Dave, IYHO, what would they say?
I doubt it would be Demand Compensation :rotfl:

Brooker_Dave

djb215 wrote: »

Just out of interest Dave, IYHO, what would they say?
I doubt it would be Demand Compensation :rotfl:

I predict the second word will be "off!".

HTH.

djb215

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

I predict the second word will be "off!".

HTH.

Oh yes it certainly does :rotfl: