How long is a "reasonable time" for a new television to last?

PhylPho

Daughter and SIL  did something I would not have recommended just over a year ago. They purchased a new TV on eBay. Even though the sale was by an eBay business seller, not a private individual, I thought at the time they would have been wiser to buy from a High St retailer or equivalent. Unfortunately for them their TV has broken  down at 13 months old and 1 month out of the seller's warranty. Daughter has spoken to the seller who has responded sympathetically but said there is nothing he or his business can do, the TV's breakdown is for the manufacturer to sort out now that the retailer's own warranty has expired. Daughter has not been able to get very far via the manufacturers' web site but has at least found out what is wrong. The set has some kind of panel which lights up all the time to enable the screen display, but that panel has "died". Replacement and fitting cost is going to be almost as much as a new television according to a local TV specialist. He says a "failed panel" at so early an age is very rare.

Daughter has no complaint against the eBay seller, but like myself is wondering if the manufacturer should be contributing to the cost of the repair. I don't know the ins-outs of consumer protection laws but is there not something in some regulation about what is deemed to be the "reasonable" length of time that a television (or even a car) ought to last? 

Carrot007

PhylPho said:

Daughter has no complaint against the eBay seller, but like myself is wondering if the manufacturer should be contributing to the cost of the repair. I don't know the ins-outs of consumer protection laws but is there not something in some regulation about what is deemed to be the "reasonable" length of time that a television (or even a car) ought to last? 

Your daugther only has legal recompense from teh seller. This is how consumer law works in this country. Anything the manufacturer gives is good will only.

Depending on cost/brand it may have failed far too early and with proof she may be able to get some help with sortint things out but again this will only be from the seller. Yout daugthers only complaint is against the ebay seller. (and depending on what sort of seller this might be impossible, often ebay is used by small sellers to get out of thier responsibilities as a seller (as ebay will not help and in fact make it harder for you in ways)).

Browntoa

Cheap supermarket own brand crud or cheap unknown brands , 2 years from manufacturer ( not sale as may be old stock ) date especially if heavily used.

A more premium brand like LG or Panasonic , around 5 years at least . 

Sharp and Toshiba inbetween the two .

pinkshoes

PhylPho said:

Daughter and SIL  did something I would not have recommended just over a year ago. They purchased a new TV on eBay. Even though the sale was by an eBay business seller, not a private individual, I thought at the time they would have been wiser to buy from a High St retailer or equivalent. Unfortunately for them their TV has broken  down at 13 months old and 1 month out of the seller's warranty. Daughter has spoken to the seller who has responded sympathetically but said there is nothing he or his business can do, the TV's breakdown is for the manufacturer to sort out now that the retailer's own warranty has expired. Daughter has not been able to get very far via the manufacturers' web site but has at least found out what is wrong. The set has some kind of panel which lights up all the time to enable the screen display, but that panel has "died". Replacement and fitting cost is going to be almost as much as a new television according to a local TV specialist. He says a "failed panel" at so early an age is very rare.

Daughter has no complaint against the eBay seller, but like myself is wondering if the manufacturer should be contributing to the cost of the repair. I don't know the ins-outs of consumer protection laws but is there not something in some regulation about what is deemed to be the "reasonable" length of time that a television (or even a car) ought to last? 

Does this ebay business have a physical UK address?
The rights are only with the seller, not the manufacturer. If the manufacturer as said no, then they need to go back to the seller for a solution.

Look up "Consumer Rights 2015". But as it is over 6 months old, they will need to prove it was inherently faulty. The local TV specialist will be able to do a report to show this hopefully, then she can go back to the seller and ask for a solution (e.g. repair, replacement or partial refund). The seller will also have to pay for the report.

JJ_Egan

As above manufacturers warranty , their terms and conditions .

Retailers warranty a freebe /

The Law  Consumer Rights Act that makes the seller responsible for much longer than any given warranty .

Has local TV specialist given or will give a written report .

Spank

Tell them to buy from Richer Sounds in the future and get a 6 year warranty

PhylPho

Carrot007 said:

PhylPho said:

Daughter has no complaint against the eBay seller, but like myself is wondering if the manufacturer should be contributing to the cost of the repair. I don't know the ins-outs of consumer protection laws but is there not something in some regulation about what is deemed to be the "reasonable" length of time that a television (or even a car) ought to last? 

Your daugther only has legal recompense from teh seller. This is how consumer law works in this country. Anything the manufacturer gives is good will only.

Depending on cost/brand it may have failed far too early and with proof she may be able to get some help with sortint things out but again this will only be from the seller. Yout daugthers only complaint is against the ebay seller. (and depending on what sort of seller this might be impossible, often ebay is used by small sellers to get out of thier responsibilities as a seller (as ebay will not help and in fact make it harder for you in ways)).

Thank you for that info, it makes matters much more clear. I dont know what she can do in rgard to the seller. I agree with you that eBay isnt liklely to help her after all this time and also, I wish she had gone to a bigger supplier. We ourselves have always bought from john Lewis and never had a problem.

PhylPho

pinkshoes said:

PhylPho said:

Daughter and SIL  did something I would not have recommended just over a year ago. They purchased a new TV on eBay. Even though the sale was by an eBay business seller, not a private individual, I thought at the time they would have been wiser to buy from a High St retailer or equivalent. Unfortunately for them their TV has broken  down at 13 months old and 1 month out of the seller's warranty. Daughter has spoken to the seller who has responded sympathetically but said there is nothing he or his business can do, the TV's breakdown is for the manufacturer to sort out now that the retailer's own warranty has expired. Daughter has not been able to get very far via the manufacturers' web site but has at least found out what is wrong. The set has some kind of panel which lights up all the time to enable the screen display, but that panel has "died". Replacement and fitting cost is going to be almost as much as a new television according to a local TV specialist. He says a "failed panel" at so early an age is very rare.

Daughter has no complaint against the eBay seller, but like myself is wondering if the manufacturer should be contributing to the cost of the repair. I don't know the ins-outs of consumer protection laws but is there not something in some regulation about what is deemed to be the "reasonable" length of time that a television (or even a car) ought to last? 

Does this ebay business have a physical UK address?
The rights are only with the seller, not the manufacturer. If the manufacturer as said no, then they need to go back to the seller for a solution.

Look up "Consumer Rights 2015". But as it is over 6 months old, they will need to prove it was inherently faulty. The local TV specialist will be able to do a report to show this hopefully, then she can go back to the seller and ask for a solution (e.g. repair, replacement or partial refund). The seller will also have to pay for the report.

Sorry I dont know anything about the seller, but am guessing it is a "small seller". He has been sympathetic and at least answered daughter's emails, so cant be faulted for that. (I imagine some eBay sellers would just ignore her, or try to.) I'll pass on your info to her as it's very helpful. Thank you.

PhylPho

JJ_Egan said:

As above manufacturers warranty , their terms and conditions .

Retailers warranty a freebe /

The Law  Consumer Rights Act that makes the seller responsible for much longer than any given warranty .

Has local TV specialist given or will give a written report .

Thank you for your help. Pink Shoes has also mentioned getting a written report, if possible, so adding your advice to that means she at least has something practical to do now rather than wasting time trying to talk to the manufacturer. 

PhylPho

Spank said:

Tell them to buy from Richer Sounds in the future and get a 6 year warranty

Ah, nostalgia. I used to get my hifi from Richer Sounds, seems like a long time ago. More recently I have used John Lewis, no problems and long guarantees. Really good customer service as well. Thanks.

lincroft1710

What is also important is how much she paid. If it was much less than the price of the cheapest equivalent branded TV, it may not be worth pursuing.