IKEA guarantee - worthless?

adam.mt

Don't know what their "Soga engineer" is! But it's irrelevant.

Basically the situation has changed. If you didn't have proof of purchase then it's up to IKEA whether they wish to help you or not (and the wording of their guarantee, ie. does it state PoP required?). There's no legal requirement for them to do or offer anything.

Now you have PoP you can make a claim under SoGA. Write a Letter Before Action and see their response. If not willing to assist then file a Small Claims Action and if necessary (and as additional evidence) commission an independent report to back you up.

Meepster

Wouldn't it make sense to get the independent report done first? Just in case the fault turns out to be either "misuse" or "fitted incorrectly"...

smcaul

Aww come on, whats all the talk of "engineers reports etc", no need to get anywhere near that sort of expense - just use some common sense.

The OP says that purchased "doors" plural. now if the bearings had reached the end of their life should they not all have failed now? If not then on the balance of probabilities one can safely assume that the failed one has failed due to some sort of defect or misuse - if the OP can rule out misuse then that only leaves a defect, which would be covered under their guarantee.

Simplez!

Meepster

How can you rule out misuse or defective installation though?

Would anyone EVER admit to having misused a product, or having installed it incorrectly, if it became faulty?

Or would they automatically presume that the product MUST be at fault?

smcaul

Meepster wrote: »

How can you rule out misuse or defective installation though?

Would anyone EVER admit to having misused a product, or having installed it incorrectly, if it became faulty?

Or would they automatically presume that the product MUST be at fault?

Its a bearing - good luck finding an "engineer" who will be able to give a report on it!! As the OP said it has shattered!!! Not sure quite how you can misuse a bearing enough to cause it to shatter, unless they were closing the door at the speed of sound and failing to lubricate the bearing as they were doing it!!!!

Meepster

smcaul wrote: »

Its a bearing - good luck finding an "engineer" who will be able to give a report on it!! As the OP said it has shattered!!! Not sure quite how you can misuse a bearing enough to cause it to shatter, unless they were closing the door at the speed of sound and failing to lubricate the bearing as they were doing it!!!!

They could be misusing the door, for example, hanging items off the door, causing extra stress on the mechanism which caused the bearing to shatter...

Things aren't always black and white you know...

I'd still be edging towards the installation personally, as this is the most likely cause of the failure...which a competent "engineer" would be able to spot a mile off...

And can I just add, due to the timescales involved, the onus is on the OP to PROVE the fault, not for Ikea to disprove...

smcaul

It's easy to prove the fault - the bearing shattered!! Fault proved!!

I think what you meant was for the OP to have to prove that there was a defect!! As in my first post, was it being used correctly? If so, then, as the other bearings are all still intact and functioning, it must, by default, be a manufacturing problem/defect!!!

The OP only needs to show that in the balance of probabilities the item is defective (assuming they would take this as far as court).

Oh, and as for the installation, it has worked for 18 months, it is a wardrobe door, if it was not installed correctly I would put £100 on it that it would have failed before now!!! As well as the other bearings failing as well!!

Meepster

smcaul wrote: »

It's easy to prove the fault - the bearing shattered!! Fault proved!!

I think what you meant was for the OP to have to prove that there was a defect!! As in my first post, was it being used correctly? If so, then, as the other bearings are all still intact and functioning, it must, by default, be a manufacturing problem/defect!!!

The OP only needs to show that in the balance of probabilities the item is defective (assuming they would take this as far as court).

Oh, and as for the installation, it has worked for 18 months, it is a wardrobe door, if it was not installed correctly I would put £100 on it that it would have failed before now!!! As well as the other bearings failing as well!!

Oh, that couldn't be put down to the installation of the door then?

So something that has been installed for 18 months couldn't possibly have been installed incorrectly?

I have seen (kitchen) door fittings that have been installed for several years and when they have failed, it has been down to issues with the installation, not a failing of the product...

adam.mt

May be being so confident Smcaul will put his £100 down on the OP winning his Small Claims Court action within presenting any evidence other than their own word?

adam.mt

OP - did you install the doors yourself or did IKEA do it?