Replacement heads unavailable 12 months after sale

Madrigyl

I bought an epilator 12 months ago for which the recommendation was to change the heads every six months. However, I have now found that the company no longer manufactures or supplies replacement heads for it. Instead they have a new version for which they are selling replacement heads, obviously these are not backwards compatible. I have contacted the company and they say they don't have any heads to provide and all they can do is give me a discount off a new version epilator.

My OH thinks this should be covered under the right to repair legislation, I am unsure. Is there a set period of time after sale that a company is required to provide replacement parts (it's not really a repair situation, more a hygiene/sharpness situation!)? Is the legislation appropriate for this situation?

sheramber

Your Consumer Rights are with the retailer so who did you buy from?

If the fault is not caused by user error then you could claim from the retailer but if they cannot replace or repair then it would be a refund. But that refund may be subject to a reduction for 12 months use you have already had.

tightauldgit

Haven't looked at the regulations in detail but from memory the right to repair legislation only covers a limited number of product categories and epilators is not one of them. 

The obvious thing to check would be whether you can get the heads or a compatible head from Ebay or somewhere similar that might still have stock. 

I'm not aware of any requirement in the UK to make consumable parts available to consumers for a set period of time - whether you could have any claim under consumer rights legislation to say that because of this issue the item has had an unreasonably short lifespan I don't know.

Madrigyl

sheramber said:

Your Consumer Rights are with the retailer so who did you buy from?

Boots.com.
So I suppose I could contact their customer service.

MorningcoffeeIV

Hunt around on eBay etc. You'll probably find a load which will do you for a few years.

Belenus

I also bought an epilator and I can no longer get replacement heads. I am so frustrated and angry.

I am tearing my hair out.

born_again

Do any 3rd parties make them?

Jonboy_1984

How long ago did the manufacturer stop making that model, I.e. is it possible the retailer was selling older stock that had been sat around for a while?

DullGreyGuy

Jonboy_1984 said:

How long ago did the manufacturer stop making that model, I.e. is it possible the retailer was selling older stock that had been sat around for a while?

It's always worth digging on how old anything with non-standard consumable components are before buying. That 50% off sale ticket may be tempting but as you say it could mean it was discontinued a year ago and so replacements will be disappearing soon.

Madrigyl

DullGreyGuy said:

Jonboy_1984 said:

How long ago did the manufacturer stop making that model, I.e. is it possible the retailer was selling older stock that had been sat around for a while?

It's always worth digging on how old anything with non-standard consumable components are before buying. That 50% off sale ticket may be tempting but as you say it could mean it was discontinued a year ago and so replacements will be disappearing soon.

Nope, it was definitely full price.

Also, it was version 1, they are now on to version 3 so it looks as if they bring something new out every six months or so.

born_again

Which device it it?