Consumer middleman during damage to bought parts

rafhelp

OK this isnt specifically about one thing but in general.

As a consumer you buy something, a part. You take it to a garage and they attempt to fit it. In the process of fitting it break it. They then say that its not their fault, its the product it was bad quality or faulty.

But is it not their responsibility to check the product is ok, good enough quality and not damaged BEFORE they try to fit it? What they fitted a used replacement wheel rim to the car, which had a big crack, they dont check it, then you go for a drive and the rim splits?

So after its broken you cant tell if the product was faulty or if it was the mechanic fault for breaking it.

As the consumer you are not to blame as you have done your bit, in simply buying the product and taking it to the garage. Thats your responsibility fulfilled.

Sometimes parts CAN be faulty after manufacturing and sometimes they can be damaged in transport (like in my case the rubber product was kept in a plastic bag with a sharpish metal cord, which could have cut into the rubber)

So who should cover the cost of the product and how can you achieve this without having a big argument. As you may use parts shop in future. You know businesses dont like taking responsibility for their mistakes and will then try to blag the consumers head to make them cover the cost. The parts shop is going to say the product isnt faulty its the garages fault. etc...

But seriously would you want to lose a customer(s) and get bad local rep for the sake of a few pounds. It would be better for the business to simply refund the product.

BeenThroughItAll

And right there is why you don't buy parts then ask a garage to fit them.


It's like taking your own hot water to Starbucks.

Hintza

You should cover the cost of the part or take it up with whoever you bought the part from........unless you can prove negligence from the fitter then you have the right to test your theory in the courts.

If you brought a duff used part to me and it didn't work or broke I wouldn't be covering the cost of replacement. Threats of bad rep would cut no ice either and could be slanderous.

rafhelp

Hintza wrote: »

You should cover the cost of the part or take it up with whoever you bought the part from........unless you can prove negligence from the fitter then you have the right to test your theory in the courts.

If you brought a duff used part to me and it didn't work or broke I wouldn't be covering the cost of replacement. Threats of bad rep would cut no ice either and could be slanderous.

what if the garage people bought the part themselves?

BeenThroughItAll

rafhelp wrote: »

what if the garage people bought the part themselves?

Well, then it'd be their problem IMO, unless they warned you that going for the cheap part option might end up with them breaking it on fitting and recommended you spend the money on a higher quality part.

Quentin

rafhelp wrote: »

what if the garage people bought the part themselves?

Totally different scenario.


Customer shouldn't be liable, assuming the customer's vehicle wasn't the cause of the breakage.

rafhelp

Quentin wrote: »

Totally different scenario.


Customer shouldn't be liable, assuming the customer's vehicle wasn't the cause of the breakage.

What if the customer bought a part and the garage broke it, then the garage bought the same part themselves from the same shop and they broke that too.

Would you pay for the one you bought and they cover loss of the one they bought?

Or would you say the mechanics were a bunch of cowboys or the parts shop selling dodgy parts

forgotmyname

If they supply the part and break it then they are responsible to put it right. Either fit another one from that supplier or go elsewhere for a better quality one.

As you supplied the part the onus is on yourself to ensure the quality was upto scratch and taht it was the correct part.

Supplying parts to a garage is likely to save you very little. If they source the parts from the same supplier then haggle them down before taking it in.
They may use a dearer part because they know cheap ones are junk.

Ive known people to be charged ramp time after supplying the wrong part and having the vehicle stuck on the ramp not being able to move it.

Dont supply parts unless fitting them yourself or getting a mate to fit it.

agrinnall

Professor Brian Cox is convinced of the 'multiverse' idea, and going by the fact that the OP seems to be living in a different one from everyone else he could well be right.