Bodum espresso coffee machine exploded

jonnyboywilson

Hi all,

My Granos 3020 Espresso Machine (which I bought in Jan 05):
wasn't in use at the time, but it literally exploded in front of my eyes over the Summer. There was a loud 'bang' and a slight flash and then a horrible smelling black smoke came from the top part of the machine.

I contacted Bodums and they said that use of the machine for 5 years was, in their opinion, a reasonable length of time. They only offered a 2 year warranty and so weren't prepared to do anything now.

I relayed my understanding of the fact that this transaction is covered under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (As amended) - as it obliges the seller to take care of the purchaser for up to six years.

Furthermore, as a home user who's spent nearly £300 on a premium coffee maker, I don't share their view.

It now appears we've reached a Mexican Stand-off - any suggestions?

gordikin

It's up to 6 years. IMHO 5 years is reasonable. The best you can really hope for is 1/6th of £300 ie £50 towards another machine.

neilmcl

As above, just because the SOGA gives you a remedy "up to" 6 years it doesn't mean that every product you purchase should last that long. They are only required to last a reasonable time, and imho 5 years for a coffee machine is more than reasonable. Be aware also, the onus would be one you to prove the incident was due to a manufacturing fault inherent at the time of purchase.

somethingcorporate

jonnyboywilson wrote: »

Hi all,

My Granos 3020 Espresso Machine (which I bought in Jan 05):
wasn't in use at the time, but it literally exploded in front of my eyes over the Summer. There was a loud 'bang' and a slight flash and then a horrible smelling black smoke came from the top part of the machine.

I contacted Bodums and they said that use of the machine for 5 years was, in their opinion, a reasonable length of time. They only offered a 2 year warranty and so weren't prepared to do anything now.

I relayed my understanding of the fact that this transaction is covered under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (As amended) - as it obliges the seller to take care of the purchaser for up to six years.

Furthermore, as a home user who's spent nearly £300 on a premium coffee maker, I don't share their view.

It now appears we've reached a Mexican Stand-off - any suggestions?

It doesn't oblige the seller to take care of the purchaser for 6 years, it allows a claim under the SOGA to be made within 6 years. These are two different things and it doesn't imply that goods should last this long.

I would agree with Gordikin that the best you can hope for is a proportionate refund (which won't be very big due to the length of time you have had the item) and you would be better off just getting a new one.

If you do want to pursue this you need to prove that the fault was inherent at the time of purchase so will need an engineers report to give you the evidence to take this further, I am sure they will cover the cost if it is dicovered that the fault was indeed there at the time of purchase.

Good luck.

Edit: Crossed posts with the ever useful neilmcl but it appears we say the same thing.

avinabacca

Doesn't sound like much of an explosion to me.