Broken chair—AIBU to take them to court

[biddybird]

In 2007 I bought a very expensive recliner chair that came with a 15 year manufacturer's warranty (expiring in 2022). This year, two the springs supporting the underside snapped. I contacted the company who told me they don't make those kind of springs any more and I should look on eBay to try to find some second-hand ones and get a local repairman to fix it. (!)

AIBU to expect that the manufacturer is responsible for doing this and not me?

The warranty states that "all frame parts and springs have a limited warranty against defects in material and workmanship for 15 years from date of delivery" and that "reasonable repair or replacement of defective limited warranty parts will be made within 90 days at no cost to you".

I'm sure what my consumer rights are here. Is it worth taking them to small claims court? (I'm in England.)

The warranty states it arises out of “defect”. How have you evidenced it was defective and not just general wear and tear after 13 years of use?

Good grief , it’s a 13 yr old chair , assuming you’ve used it regularly it’s probably normal wear and tear not a defect so it’s unreasonable to expect them to fix it .

you'll need to take it for a professional evaluation well before you get near any court

will cost you £££

God who the hell goes to small claims court over a 13 year old chair?

@KatieGGGG

The warranty states it arises out of “defect”. How have you evidenced it was defective and not just general wear and tear after 13 years of use?

Agreed. You should push it though. Tweet them.

It must have been a very expensive chair to have a 15 warranty.

I would interpret all frame parts and springs have a limited warranty against defects in material and workmanship for 15 years from date of delivery to mean that the parts have an expected lifespan of 15 years with normal wear and tear. It would be meaningless to offer a guarantee for defects that lasts 15 years if the guaranteed components are expected to break from wear and tear before that time.

It will be difficult and expensive to prove that the fault is due to a defect rather than you having used the chairs in a way that isn't normal "wear and tear" though.

I would ask them to pay for the cost of buying the springs and repair. If you can't source the springs, you could try asking for 2/15 of the retail price for the equivalent chair. It's probably not worth fighting if they refuse though.

Thanks for all the input. I agree with @orangenasturtium that the 15 yr warranty is useless unless it covers normal wear and tear.

They haven't disputed that the warranty is valid; they just seem to think that as they no longer manufacture these particular parts they are off the hook.

It was a very expensive chair; of the type that used to last people a lifetime, made by a major international corporation. My Dad still has his that was purchased in 1976.

I can see why you would think that, but a defect in law is a specific thing OP which triggers this warranty.

I have never known of warranty to cover wear and tear. That is (and not always) an insurance issue.

As PP have said you will have to pay for an expert report to prove to the court is was defective.

You also may be time-barred for raising any action.

Unfortunately things truly aren’t “made like they used to” and someone else’s goods lasting for 30 years isn’t relevant.

Goodwill of the company is likely your best chance.

Of course you would be unreasonable to take them to court over a 13 year old chair.

I am not a lawyer FYI

The springs seem to have lasted fine for 14 years.

That would surely mean that the cause of then breaking now is unlikely to be a defect? As it would have surely shown up sooner?

The warranty covers defects. This is presumably not a defect. So is not covered.

I think you are wasting your time and money in legal costs claiming, and would be better doing what the company suggested and contacting a local repair shop.

I know that’s not the answer you want. But I think it’s the truth.

Probably cost less to buy a new chair than it would to take them to court ...

Better off getting a new chair or getting it repaired, than having court fees.

@vodkaredbullgirl snap

Its gonna cost you a shit load of money to take them to court over a 13yo chair... less money to just do what they told you
.howeverrrrr do tweet them or write a public comment on their Facebook just prior to doing so. Maybe they'll prove more helpful

Can we see this chair? how much did it cost? I’m wondering what ‘major corporation’ made this🧐

All I would say is please do not threaten to take them to court unless you will do so if they do not agree to repair the chair.

Social media comments do sometimes work and get results.

Can you not ask them to source the parts & do the repair considering it's under warranty?

Try asking again privately before asking on Twitter

If I see something guaranteed for that long I'd be more inclined to buy it. A guarantee is a promise based on the confidence the company has in the quality of its products, which means the springs should have lasted 15 years of normal wear and tear (i.e. sitting in it with your feet up and not letting kids use it as a trampoline). I concede that it's very difficult for you to prove reasonable wear and tear, but that was always going to be the case with a 15-year guarantee which has effectively turned out to be no more than an inducement to buy, otherwise the guarantee would have been offered for a much shorter period.

@SBTLove 'La-Z-Boy' ? (Not envy)

Honestly, I'd learn the lesson: just buy ikea furniture.

I just chucked out an ikea sofa I'd had for 15 years. It as about 200 quid and lasted 15 years before the srpings buggered. So I can chuck it out and be happy, rather than thinking about going to court over a piece of furniture.

@GlassInEachHand

@GlassInEachHand

If I see something guaranteed for that long I'd be more inclined to buy it. A guarantee is a promise based on the confidence the company has in the quality of its products, which means the springs should have lasted 15 years of normal wear and tear (i.e. sitting in it with your feet up and not letting kids use it as a trampoline). I concede that it's very difficult for you to prove reasonable wear and tear, but that was always going to be the case with a 15-year guarantee which has effectively turned out to be no more than an inducement to buy, otherwise the guarantee would have been offered for a much shorter period.

It’s not a guarantee though. It’s warranty triggered by defect.

We have an IKEA sofa and the leather is guaranteed for 25 years.

Not all IKEA furniture is cheap.... we paid over £1k for this sofa 13 years ago

(And after a cat and 3 kids I'd never dream of trying to use the 25y guarantee!)

If it was an Eames or Le Corbusier chair or in that sort of arena, it's outrageous. I'd certainly push back on them to fix it. If they discontinued the spring, it's still up to them to come up with a solution.