Statutory Warranty on Portable Fridge, What Is Your Opinion?

tryagain on 08/08/2019 - 12:47
Last edited 08/08/2019 - 15:17 by 2 other users

As briefly as possible, I know someone who purchased a Waeco CFX50 (different retailer though and not sure of the price paid) just over 4.5 years ago. After approaching the manufacturer about a repair, they were told that the manufacturer doesn't repair them so went to a repairer and paid to have it looked at, they were quoted circa $500 for repair, they then asked the manufacturer if it would be covered under ACL to which they responded no, they then went through the retailer as per ACL instructions to get a repair, The manufacturer has now offered the parts at wholesale for a circa $300 repair.

My advice was to ask why there is out of pocket costs for something that you believe is covered by the statutory warranty, but I want to check that my advice, based upon believing that I think it should be covered by the statutory warranty, is valid.

Additional information is that they are one of the more reputable manufacturers, cheap no-name similar-sized fridges can be had for approx 1/3 of the price. Manufacturer warranty is 3-year component, 5-year compressor warranty (was a component issue).

Is it reasonable to expect that it should be repaired free due to the statutory warranty provided via the Australian Consumer Law?

Electrical & Electronics Waeco

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2019 - 13:00
    +1

    Statutory Warranty consumer guarantee

  • HighAndDry on 08/08/2019 - 13:00
    +3

    Statutory warranty (as tshow says - called consumer guarantees) depends on a few factors, including price but also features, etc.

    E.g.: If you pay more for a product, you would expect it to last more normally. But if the more expensive product also has dozens of features more than the cheaper one, then arguably the added cost goes to those features, and not to longevity.

    Edit:

    different retailer though and not sure of the price paid

    You'll need to figure out how much they paid - that's highly relevant.

    In this case - damn that's an expensive portable fridge, but it also:

    The CFX is packed with great features such as Wi-Fi control and monitoring, excellent performance and an innovative design!

    Which I assume also wouldn't be found in a cheaper model, and none of these features would suggest greater longevity in any way. How much is another brand unit with an equivalent level of features?

    My initial impression is that a consumer portable electronic appliance having a life of 4.5 years is not unreasonable, and so a theh consumer guarantees would no longer apply at this point.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2019 - 13:05
      +2

      4.5 years is not unreasonable at all. The lifespan of these things can vary depending on use, unlike a household fridge. Where it varies, it isn't unfair for the retailer to use a an average lifespan as the degree of use cannot be determined.

      These things are commonly used for camping/boating and they're exposed to all sorts of weather, including salt, sand, rain, mud and just general crapness. If I used a portable fridge for my trips, they'd certainly last no longer than 24 months.

      4.5 years is fair.

      • tryagain on 08/08/2019 - 13:30
        +1

        If I used a portable fridge for my trips, they'd certainly last no longer than 24

        What do you base that on, it has a warranty of 3 years, some comparable competitors come with a 5-year warranty, There are a lot of old Engels still going decades later and have suffered pretty harsh treatment.

        From my understanding, the fault isn't in any way t do with harsh treatment and hasn't had excessive use.

        • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2019 - 13:40

          I'm basing that off a unit I killed. Not this one as I now see it has a 3 year warranty.

          Mine will be subject to outdoor conditions, fully exposed. I've gone back to a fibreglass ice box. Less complexity, less chance of failure.

          Some units will survive just as there would be Waecos that have been around for ages but that's a confirmation bias. You're not seeing the true representation of how many have failed.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 08/08/2019 - 13:57
        +2

        Reforms are coming to narrow down the "lasting" / lifespan consumer guarantee as this comes up all the time. It's completely subjective and a dog's breakfast at the moment.

        If a matter went allllll the way to a decision then, in layman's terms, what generally happens is the retailer and customer agree (after probably much heated discussion) on the approximate lifespan of the product, ie. a fridge, let's say they agree on 10 years.

        Say it died 7 years in and the customer files a complaint and both sides see the matter all the way to the end (unusal), they'll likely just get 30% back. If it's a $1500 fridge they might only get ~$350 back for all that time and effort.

        Sometimes it's worth it. Sometimes it's not. As I said, dogs breakfast.

        • [Deactivated] on 08/08/2019 - 15:28
          +2

          Most definitely.

          No idea why we put up with this arbitrary crap of "expected lifespan". The way something is treated and what people think is an acceptable service life is completely subjective.

          We should just buy things based on warranty. If a company is boasting some incredible robustisity of their machinamabobs, put it up as a warranty.

          Alas, warranties are like a whole hedging game because consumers these days can't tell a piece of shit if they were chewing it and many don't exercise their warranties. Think electrical powerboards. "$300,000 compensation warranty".

          Yeah. Cheaper to make the claim and pay out the small percentage that is willing to fight for the claim than it is to make a decent product.

          /Rant.

    • tryagain on 08/08/2019 - 13:50

      As his is an older model, it doesn't really have any additional features like wifi controls, has an internal light and a USB charging port. Efficiency is likely better than cheaper models, although not significantly.

      • HighAndDry on 08/08/2019 - 13:51
        +2

        As his is an older model,

        Why did you link to a model that's not his, to a retailer that he didn't buy from, and showing a price he didn't pay?

        • tryagain on 08/08/2019 - 13:55

          Older version (same model) would have been a better choice of words, there is no link to link to from where he purchased it, and I don't know the exact price.

          • HighAndDry on 08/08/2019 - 15:57
            +2

            @tryagain: Those are all relevant to what the consumer guarantee for the product would be, because it's pretty much on a case-by-case basis.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 08/08/2019 - 13:49

    What am I missing here? Why isn't your friend approaching the retailer they bought it from?

    • tryagain on 08/08/2019 - 13:52

      they then went through the retailer as per ACL instructions to get a repair

      He initially approached the manufacturer and then went to the retailer.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 08/08/2019 - 13:59

        Ah I see. I re-read it.

        Get your friend to tell the the retailer they want it repaired for free or they'll take them to your state's Tribunal.

        Up to your friend to decide whether it's worth their time and money for an uncertain outcome (see my above further above).

        Keep the repairer's quote up your sleeve but do not show this to the retailer under any circumstance. If they think someone has messed with it they'll wipe their hands of it.

        • tryagain on 08/08/2019 - 14:43

          Thanks, this was similar to my advice. I think he may have already let them know about the repair quote to repair, although I think it is an authorised repairer.

          So, in your opinion what would be the best way forward. My suggestion was to question why there are repair costs for something that he believes is covered by consumer guarantees and then see if they come to the party, if not then decide how far you want to push it. I suspect that given their cost premium over no-name products, they won't want to argue that it's unreasonable to expect greater than 4.5yrs lifespan out of one. I think most purchases would expect one to last for 5yrs+

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 08/08/2019 - 18:01

    and not sure of the price paid

    This piece of information is important in determining whether the device has exceeded the expected life of such a product. I'd say ~5 years for a portable fridge that cost <$1000 isn't too bad and perhaps very borderline. If it were the $1250 listed here, I'm not sure. Maybe 5 years is not enough.

    All-in-all, $300 for a repair doesn't seem too bad. It is that, or put the $300 towards a new unit. Or fight the manufacturer/retailer.

  • whooah1979 on 08/08/2019 - 19:47

    4.5 years is a reasonable time for a 3 year manufacturer warranty.

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