Flagship Products should we expect more?

darkan9el

I have a Worcester Bosch Greenstar 42CDi Classic boiler, I bought it because I believed the hype on their pages...

In 2014 and for the fourth year running the entire range of Worcester Greenstar gas boilers have been awarded Which? Best Buy.

Greenstar CDi Classic gas boilers are our top of the range combi boilers, as they offer the widest choice of features. These include the ability to control both the hot water and central heating temperatures, providing the ultimate in performance, economy and user convenience.

An important feature of Greenstar CDi Classic combi boilers is that they condense in both heating and hot water modes, resulting in greater efficiency and fuel savings.

The CDi also has a feature to make system re-pressurisation simple when your system needs refilling. There is also a new, low energy, pump which saves you money on electricity. The CDi also has a feature where the condensate liquid is emptied down the boiler in larger amounts which prevents problems of freezing in extreme temperatures.

The higher outputs of Greenstar CDi boilers can be suitable for larger properties with more than one bathroom.

After just over 2 years the pump failed and it cost me £114 plus labour to have it replaced. Now the mechanical timer has failed and I am loathed to pay out again for something that Worcester Bosch (WB) quote as "our top of the range combi boiler"

Is there anything I can do about this even though it is out of its 2 year guarantee.

boiler was installed jan 2010 by a corgi registered fitter and has genuinely had light use, I bought a larger boiler so it would not have to work at its maximum capacity. it has also been serviced regularly.

anotherbaldrick

Take out a service contract with a local authorised WB dealer

darkan9el

I already have my boiler serviced as mentioned in the original post, what I am clumsily asking is, as a flagship boiler is it reasonable to expect its components to be better quality "Because" it is touted as a flagship boiler, and in so doing is any sale of goods act sections that accommodate such things. Because of its "top of the range" status I have paid a premium and for that premium I expect better than I have obviously gotten.

Maybe if I relate it to a car? if you bought the top of the range car and after just over 2 years the engine packed up and it was only guaranteed for 2 years what would you expect the company to do?

southcoastrgi

A valuable lesson, don't get taken in by the hype

If you bought a top of the range sports car capable of going 200 mph & only used it to go to the corner shop & back what do you think would happen to the engine ?

SGM1

The pump could be due to system issues, sludge scale etc Their pumps are usually reliable and unusual to go wrong so quickly. The timers aren't the best and that isn't a surprise, could get someone to fit an external one though I know that's not your issue. Generally they are very good boilers but as its a combi you will get issues

darkan9el

Brand new system, pipes rads everything.

Yup one expensive lesson but I have a few more avenues of enquiry first I think companies should be accountable and if you're going to brag be sure it is as you say it is.

Furts

I am surprised at your two year guarantee. I have seen adverts in the last couple of years offering various guarantee periods. Some were five years, some seven and mine is ten. (I did not look at the small print, and the combi boilers may tend towards shorter guarantees. Certainly my ten years is on a conventional boiler).

I would challenge WB on the basis that it is unreasonable for a product to fail after this time.

My colleagues in various organisations have a low opinion of WB. If I consider my WB boiler I would say the customer service is appalling, and nobody is accountable for, or cares about, anything. Yet despite all this WB are applauded by Which. Perhaps my colleagues, you, and I have been unlucky.

Overall, I expect any challenge you make to WB to be a battle. But best of luck!