Dunhill wont sell parts 25yrs later.

[meditek]

I should be grateful if you would attempt to tell me whether the following scenario is legal?

 

1. I purchase a car and am told that spares will be available for the foreseeable future for purchase by the customer to fit himself.

 

2. I am fond of my car and keep it 25 years.

 

3. I require a spare. The manufacturer says he still has them but the terms have changed since I bought the car. Now only the manufacturer will fit the spare (he will not supply me with it to fit myself) at a cost of a third of the purchase price of the car for the smallest repair.

 

My situation relates not to a car but to the principle involved.

Is it quite legal to change the terms under which one bought a product?

Thanks for any help.

[citizenB]

Were the original terms verbal or written ?

[meditek]

Were the original terms verbal or written ?

 

I am afraid not. In those days one bought things on trust! Do BMW write anything down?

[Michael Browne]

I would have thought that 25 years is a fair way past the 'foreseeable ' future. What exactly is the part you need? Are there no other sources at all?

[meditek]

Well, here is the story.

 

Around 1988, my wife bought me a proper solid gold Dunhill Lighter. During the warranty period it worked perfectly.

 

Of course, once the warranty period had elapsed it went wrong but, upon phoning Dunhill I was able to explain the problem. I also explained that I was competent jeweller in my spare time and was quite capable of doing the repairs myself.

 

The gentleman at the other end said 'what do you need, Dunhill is at your service' or words to that effect. The parts were sent gratis. This performance occurred once or twice until I retired the lighter.

 

The other day, I dug out the lighter and it wouldn't hold gas. Phoned Dunhill for the parts, which I was quite willing to pay for and was told that 10 years ago their policy had changed.

 

A change that did not allow the despatch of parts to perfectly competent customers....Oh no, Dunhill was going to maximise.

 

The new policy being that all repairs must be returned to Dunhill at a minimum cost of £85 + postage however small the fault. Most Dunhill faults can be fixed in 5 minutes if you have the parts. This applies even to the cheap Dunhill lighters that cost around £300.

 

Whatever, when the lighter was bought for me it was bought with a service, albeit unwritten but honoured. I am simply asking whether, if one bought something in those honourable days, they can simply stuff you when they feel like it.

[Michael Browne]

I'm totally confused. Your originally query about spares for a car has morphed into a cigarette lighter!!

 

Whatever, in response to your question - I am simply asking whether, if one bought something in those honourable days, they can simply stuff you when they feel like it - the blunt answer is yes. After 25 years, you have no come back whatsoever.

[meditek]

 

As I said in my original message "My situation relates not to a car but to the principle involved.

 

 

 

Is it quite legal to change the terms under which one bought a product? " My BMW 545i is now 8 years old, has depreciated £50,000 yet done a mere 19500 milesand is like new whilst my lighter has appreciated considerably in the past 25 years!

 

I should be very much annoyed if BMW applied the same strictures but, as you say, it would seem that manufacturers can set their rules according to the state of their balances which simply means that the lighter will be melted down and the car polished.

 

Thank you for the info.

[theghost]

Unless they cast iron guranteed a set time limit then you have no rights. Even if they had, you still wouldnt get very far unless you had it i nwriting and were willing to pursue via court.