Returning faulty part after a year

[underwhelmist]

I bought some suspension components from a well known online retailer about a year ago - the MOT I’d just had done jd advisories about play in bushes and ball joints.

For various reasons I never got round to fitting them. I also thought maybe it was a bigger job than I was capable of so I got a mobile mechanic round to fit them.

He’s fitted the upper wishbones and one of the lower, but the remaining one won’t fit because it’s been assembled incorrectly - there’s a notch in the casting that should face down, but it faces up (possibly vice versa - either way there’s no way it will fit. My mechanic has sourced another lower wishbone from elsewhere, hopefully it should be fitted tomorrow.

I contacted the retailer asking for a refund for the faulty part, but they said it’s outside th 14 day limit for returning unused parts. I don’t want to return it because it’s unused, I want to return it because it’s faulty. I know it’s a year since I bought it but what are my rights for returning a defective part?





Edited to add pics.

Edited by underwhelmist on Tuesday 14th November 00:12

[hidetheelephants]

I definitely wouldn't buy an identical part from the same vendor and return the defective one in its place for a refund, as that would be fraud.

[Colonel Cupcake]

If the circumstances were reversed, would you be accepting a return after a year?

[mcpoot]

Google CRA2015 and read up on what your rights are as a consumer.

You'll find that much more helpful than listening to the wrong advice from some PH poster.

[TheDrownedApe]

hidetheelephants said:

I definitely wouldn't buy an identical part from the same vendor and return the defective one in its place for a refund, as that would be fraud.

a heinous crime i've never done with a South American online retailer when their CS repeats the same nonsense

[Dexternot]

If it’s faulty you have rights under the consumer rights act 2015. Check it out. I think it states something like good must be of suitable quality and durable.

[Dexternot]

Colonel Cupcake said:

If the circumstances were reversed, would you be accepting a return after a year?

He said it was faulty read the post

[Colonel Cupcake]

Dexternot said:

Colonel Cupcake said:

If the circumstances were reversed, would you be accepting a return after a year?

He said it was faulty read the post

I read the post. I simply asked a question. Don't forget your full stop next time.

[BertBert]

hidetheelephants said:

I definitely wouldn't buy an identical part from the same vendor and return the defective one in its place for a refund, as that would be fraud.

Not quite sure how that really helps? The OP will still be left with a part that he doesn't want and can't send back. In fact it's worse as he doesn't even have the fact that it is faulty to help get it returned!

[No ideas for a name]

I am sure it can't be this simple, but is it possible that the trunion part is rotated 180 degrees? Can it be twisted around?
No idea if they are bonded or twistable.

[Glassman]

underwhelmist said:

I bought some suspension components from a well known online retailer about a year ago - the MOT I’d just had done jd advisories about play in bushes and ball joints.

For various reasons I never got round to fitting them. I also thought maybe it was a bigger job than I was capable of so I got a mobile mechanic round to fit them.

He’s fitted the upper wishbones and one of the lower, but the remaining one won’t fit because it’s been assembled incorrectly - there’s a notch in the casting that should face down, but it faces up (possibly vice versa - either way there’s no way it will fit. My mechanic has sourced another lower wishbone from elsewhere, hopefully it should be fitted tomorrow.

I contacted the retailer asking for a refund for the faulty part, but they said it’s outside th 14 day limit for returning unused parts. I don’t want to return it because it’s unused, I want to return it because it’s faulty. I know it’s a year since I bought it but what are my rights for returning a defective part?





Edited to add pics.

Edited by underwhelmist on Tuesday 14th November 00:12

Interesting situation.

Your situation understood, but what protects the seller here? What's to say that mobile mechanic supplied the faulty part and you're now hoping to return that under the banner of consumer rights?

[BertBert]

Glassman said:

Interesting situation.

Your situation understood, but what protects the seller here? What's to say that mobile mechanic supplied the faulty part and you're now hoping to return that under the banner of consumer rights?

Isn't that the same in all consumer refund situations where the consumer claims the item is faulty? Not sure the passage of time makes much difference.

[hidetheelephants]

BertBert said:

hidetheelephants said:

I definitely wouldn't buy an identical part from the same vendor and return the defective one in its place for a refund, as that would be fraud.

Not quite sure how that really helps? The OP will still be left with a part that he doesn't want and can't send back. In fact it's worse as he doesn't even have the fact that it is faulty to help get it returned!

It's a readily sellable item; it would be nice if the vendor wilts in the face of their responsibilities under the CRA, but my experience is they don't and pursuing it(MCOL etc) for a £20 car part doesn't feel like time well spent. That said, looking again at the pictures I'd be tempted to see if the arm was amenable to being rotated 180 with the the mounting bracket in the vice, notwithstanding it may be far too tight for that or the OP may not have a vice. May need a good deal of grunting to get it round even if it will move.

[KungFuPanda]

hidetheelephants said:

I definitely wouldn't buy an identical part from the same vendor and return the defective one in its place for a refund, as that would be fraud.

In which case the OP will still be stuck with an unwanted wishbone because his mechanic has already gone out and got a replacement.

[sixor8]

The 14 day thing is distance selling regulation return for any reason, like you've changed your mind, it seems they have misunderstood that you want to return them because they are faulty.

I had issue with shocking quality bushes in suspension arms for a Fiat Panda about 6 years ago that only just lasted a year. I now try to only buy parts from suppliers that provide a decent warranty (even the better sellers on eBay often provide 2 year or longer guarantees on certain products like suspension components batteries).

Even if the replacement arms have been lightly used, unless they offered a warranty beyond 12 months, I'm unsure if, even you only recently fitted them that they are liable. After all, you may have fitted them and not driven the car for many months, from their perspective.

[Robberto]

Contact the manufacturer as a warranty claim? Surely they will replace if you have proof of purchase, supporting evidence etc.?

[MustangGT]

Robberto said:

Contact the manufacturer as a warranty claim? Surely they will replace if you have proof of purchase, supporting evidence etc.?

Contract is with the seller, not the manufacturer.

Need to initiate a return, based on the goods being faulty. If they refuse this, then, if you paid by credit card you initiate a S75 reclaim based on the goods being faulty, a different design.

[underwhelmist]

Thanks for all the replies, happily my mobile mechanic turned up this afternoon with the correct part and he had it fitted within the hour. I still need to get the tracking done but I've been driving round this evening marvelling at the absence of creaks and knocking sounds. If you're in NW Worcestershire and you need a mobile mechanic I'd happily recommend this guy, PM me if you want his number.

To answer some questions...

hidetheelephants said:

I definitely wouldn't buy an identical part from the same vendor and return the defective one in its place for a refund, as that would be fraud.

That would be deeply unethical, and it would still leave me in possession of a surplus wishbone.

Colonel Cupcake said:

If the circumstances were reversed, would you be accepting a return after a year?

I think I would if the part was demonstrably defective, and the buyer still had the original packaging, as I do. But I'm soft like that.

mcpoot said:

Google CRA2015 and read up on what your rights are as a consumer.

You'll find that much more helpful than listening to the wrong advice from some PH poster.

Dexternot said:

If it’s faulty you have rights under the consumer rights act 2015. Check it out. I think it states something like good must be of suitable quality and durable.

Good advice, will Google, thanks.

No ideas for a name said:

I am sure it can't be this simple, but is it possible that the trunion part is rotated 180 degrees? Can it be twisted around?
No idea if they are bonded or twistable.

It's not clear from the picture, but the "ears" on the casting are different lengths so no, that wouldn't work unfortunately, even if I could rotate it.

Glassman said:

Your situation understood, but what protects the seller here? What's to say that mobile mechanic supplied the faulty part and you're now hoping to return that under the banner of consumer rights?

Fair point, not much - they would have to trust me. I've ordered from them loads of times before and never had a problem or had to return anything so hopefully that would work in my favour.

sixor8 said:

I had issue with shocking quality bushes in suspension arms for a Fiat Panda about 6 years ago that only just lasted a year.

These are for an Alfa 156, so posh Fiat, basically! I hope these last longer than a year but I know the upper wishbones are almost considered consumable. Fortunately the upper ones are easy to change, I did one of them myself before calling in a pro.

I'm going to follow up with the retailer and see if I can explain the situation better and persuade them. I will update!

[BertBert]

Going OT, but it seems as if "rubber" has died over the last few years. Was discussing this with a car restorer friend. I replaced two track rod ends where the boots had rotted with new lemforder ones. The old ones were two years old, the new ones lasted 18 months.

My mate said he had endless trouble with bushes and the like just rotting in a couple of years.

Hope yours least longer OP

[underwhelmist]

underwhelmist said:

I'm going to follow up with the retailer and see if I can explain the situation better and persuade them. I will update!

Well that didn't do much good, I got a politely worded response that amounted to "tough st". Oh well, lesson learned.