Google Pixel 8 – authorised repair removed IP68 water resistance (any advice?)

VicariousThrills

So I just received an email from Fonehouse saying broadly what I expected - i.e. it's the manufacturer's responsibility. Nevertheless, they offered a goodwill payment:

Dear Sam,

Thank you for getting in touch with us about your handset’s IP68 water resistance following the recent manufacturer repair. We completely understand your concern, as keeping your device protected is very important.

Please note that the IP68 rating which provides dust and water resistance applies to the device as it was originally manufactured. When a handset is opened for repair, the original factory seal that ensures this level of resistance can be affected. Although the manufacturer’s technicians take care to reseal devices where possible, most manufacturers state that the original IP rating cannot be guaranteed after a repair.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the retailer’s obligation is to ensure that the goods supplied were of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described at the time of sale. However, when a repair is carried out directly by the manufacturer under their warranty, any issues arising from that repair such as the potential loss of water resistance fall under the manufacturer’s responsibility, not the retailer’s.

We have reviewed the correspondence with the manufacturer and, unfortunately, we can see that they have not been very helpful in resolving your concerns. While the IP68 rating cannot be guaranteed after a repair, we want to make sure you feel supported.

As a goodwill gesture, we would be happy to offer a refund for the last three months of your contract and provide the option of an early upgrade should you wish to move to a new handset.

Thank you for your understanding, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or if there’s anything else we can do to support you.

Now on the one hand, they say:

the retailer’s obligation is to ensure that the goods supplied were of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described at the time of sale

Technically, I'm not sure that they did meet this obligation, as there was a manufacturing fault. However, the three month refund they're offering is worth about £50, which is obviously a lot less than the cost of a new phone, but not insignificant, especially considering that this isn't their fault.

All things considered, I think this is a very decent response from Fonehouse and better than I expected, and I'm inclined to take it.