Faulty beats headphones

Witchcraft75

Hi, I bought 2 sets of Beats Solo2 wireless headphones for my sons as gifts from Dubai International airport in Sept 16. The hinge on one set broke within the first 12 months and Apple repaired them free of charge.

The same thing has happened again with the other set through normal use and Apple say that I need to take them back to the retailer in Dubai or pay for the repair costing £136. What are the rights under fit for purpose and last a reasonable amount of time in circumstances such as this? I live in the UK.

It is clearly a defect in the design as the identical issue on both sets (i’d avoid Beats in the future, the sounds not amazing especially for £230).

Any advice that anyone could give would be appreciated.

Aylesbury_Duck

Witchcraft75 wrote: »

Hi, I bought 2 sets of Beats Solo2 wireless headphones for my sons as gifts from Dubai International airport in Sept 16. The hinge on one set broke within the first 12 months and Apple repaired them free of charge.

The same thing has happened again with the other set through normal use and Apple say that I need to take them back to the retailer in Dubai or pay for the repair costing £136. What are the rights under fit for purpose and last a reasonable amount of time in circumstances such as this? I live in the UK.

It is clearly a defect in the design as the identical issue on both sets (i’d avoid Beats in the future, the sounds not amazing especially for £230).

Any advice that anyone could give would be appreciated.

Your rights are very limited two and a half years after you bought them from overseas. Your contract is indeed with the retailer and your rights are those afforded in Dubai, so your choice is to take it up with them or pay to have them repaired. U.K. consumer rights simply don't apply. You were fortunate that Apple were generous enough to repair the first set.

This is why a bargain from overseas might not end up being such a bargain.

dj1471

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

This is why a bargain from overseas might not end up being such a bargain.

There are no bargains to be had in that particular airport, almost certainly would have been cheaper to purchase in the UK. But anyway...

You're bound by the terms of the warranty. I doubt anyone here can advise on your rights under UAE law.

Hermione_Granger

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

You were fortunate that Apple were generous enough to repair the first set.

I wouldn't say that Apple were being generous in the slightest.
All they were doing was honouring the terms of the 1 year warranty supplied with the headphones which is a worldwide warranty with no requirement to send the faulty goods back to the country of purchase.
It's only products with keyboards that have to be returned to the country of purchase.

Aylesbury_Duck

Hermione_Granger wrote: »

I wouldn't say that Apple were being generous in the slightest.
All they were doing was honouring the terms of the 1 year warranty supplied with the headphones which is a worldwide warranty with no requirement to send the faulty goods back to the country of purchase.
It's only products with keyboards that have to be returned to the country of purchase.

My mistake, you're right. I misread the timeline on the first set.

bris

The warranty has expired so you no longer have right with the manufacture (Apple).


Your rights now (if you have any under Dubai law) lie with the retailer in Dubai. Living in the UK doesn't change that.

Heedtheadvice

You will probably need to buy some more 'phones, I am sorry to say.


Must add that in Which? reports Beats 'phones often did not come out as best buys! Some cheap headphones can sound really good (and more expensive ones poor) but as they report

"...some things that you should watch out for with cheaper pairs. The main thing is build quality. Flimsy plastic and thin cables ...."

so often the best buys are more expensive. You might have hoped for better durability of those you bought ( that does really depend on their treatment ) but for a very small cost you could benefit from the Which? unbiased and independant recommendations that includes durability!

Heedtheadvice

Addition to above:
Found on the Which? reports your 'phones and they are definately not best buys for various reasons.....but gain 5 stars for durability!
Have yours been used carelessly?