Inverter went pop !!!

[matt1978]

I don't know the legalities and the ins and outs of warranty/registrations and whether it changes from country to country, I just know what Lorch in Germany say is required to go from 1 yr to 3 yrs and it is then which provide the warranty and who outlay the terms and conditions.

The dealer, in this case Mathiesons wouldn't benefit in anyway by trying to get out of anything warranty related as the parts and labour are covered by the factory for warranty repairs.

Originally I thought the same as you regarding the registration documents being after your machine was launched but the online registration requirements were bought in when we changed the serial number format to a new type with a check number at the end and the serial number is of that type. I think it's more so the case that the box wasn't supplied??

What did their engineer say about generator compatibility which is troubling you?

 

[Vmac]

It was the way he said I quote " I no we sell them as generator friendly but" you have to follow a certain procedure , the ones I've seen pop like this have been plugged in before the generator was started , end quote . Now that wasn't the case with this one ! But when you buy the best tools you can afford , and they bust after so little youse and the main reason you bought it was because the firm ' and all the lorch literature says generator compatible , compact , robust" and powerful , but then when it goes pop !!! The same firm start saying well can we see your warranty ! ( not given one ) " if it's the board it's the price of a new machine " , the ones I've seen go pop like that " do I need to go on 'or do you get the picture !!
Now I've been using lorch machines for quite a number of years tig, MMA, mig , 3 phase and single phase and always sung there praises but the way this firm are handling this I'm starting to get riled !!!

 

[matt1978]

The cause of your machine failing may well of had nothing to do with the generator full stop. It may well of just been one of those things. Components fail, and as has been mentioned on this forum many times, generally if inverters, and modern day electronics are to fail it is more likely to be in the early days. (Bathtub effect) so it would tie in with what you said about 4 hours use.

The product is robust, you can drop it from 80cm, it IS generator compatible. None of that is in question.

As I said when I have a full overview from the service director at Mathiesons tomorrow I will be able to help.

 

[Vmac]

Hi Matt ' I've worked of a little steam today so a little calmer wasn't having a go at you last night just the way Mathieson's are dragging there feet over this ! have you got anywhere with Mathieson's today ?? I had an interesting conversation with a legally trained friend of mine , who said that under the Fair Trading Act ' if you buy commercial goods and they do not last as long as you could riesenably expect them to last you are covered under this act .
You can not only request your money back but damages you may have incurred such as loss of work , exetra !
And would probably be able to site the Sale of Goods Act ! Hope it doesn't come to that as I just want the machine sorted !

 

[Shox Dr]

True you have 6yrs. Sale of goods act 1979 (Ish)

 

[Kent]

Sale of goods act sub section durability, it over rides any warranties. Your even entitled to a partial refund via expected term of life against what you actually got. This is why nice car manufacturers have started to authorise fee jobs after manufacturers warranty has actually ended.
Some retailers need to wise up as its the seller that actually carries the can. If I was the dealer I should get the extended warranty sorted before the client left the shop rather than fight it out later

 

[hotrodder]

Everyone always forgets the six month rule when talking about "compensashion init" or the Sale of Goods Act or the EU statutory 2 year warrenty thing... if the thing broke within six months it's upto the vendor to prove that it was abused, misused etc. If it breaks after 6 months it's upto the consumer to prove that the fault was due to poor design, materials whatever and not due to abuse

 

[Shox Dr]

HR is correct, and I Ass-u-med that as read. The 6yr rule is down to cost, versus av/expected lifespan

 

[Vmac]

Well in the case of this inverter we only have to look at the lorch sales book ! On page ten it states , In single shift operation, that is upto 8,760 hours for you. For one year with 365 days multiplied by 3 years . We guarantee the function of our products in this period! Well my inverter did less than four hours so I'm going to give Mathieson's a chance to put it rite !

 

[matt1978]

I spoke with Mathiesons they are going to hopefully be able to make the repair. If not they will contact me early next week and we will have to find another solution.

Give it till Wednesday and it should be resolved either way.

I have read and took on board your comments above, two points I feel I need to raise at this point.

No one is disputing the 3 yr warranty, as described in Page 10. However as I explained before in order to get the 3 yr warranty it had to be registered within 30 days of purchase. Mathiesons are adamant that they explained this and also more so explained that it would only be a 12 month warranty if not registered. You are adamant that the online booklet wasn't in there so I have no way of know who is mistaken. Either way that's not now the point.

Another point, quoting sales of goods acts etc is fine, but the factory trained engineers are saying that in their opinion the item that has blown on the board is in all probability caused by a surge from a generator which can be the case when the correct switching on procedures are not followed or the generator has a too small KVa rating etc. (IF) this was the case then any warranty wouldn't be applicable in any case as the unit wouldn't of failed due to bad workmanship of defective parts. You however assure me this wasn't the case. Again I am in the middle with two opposing versions of events.

I have already said and I will say again, I will get this issue resolved for you one way or another but there are procedures that must be adhered to. I can say that at the end of it all you will again be a "Happy" Lorch customer. Just bear with me and give me a little time to sort it.

Cheers Matt

 

[Vmac]

Thanks Matt , hopefully it's sorted out then ' fingers crossed , and yes I'll promise to be a happy Lorch Customer !! Have a good weekend !
Cheers Mark .

 

[skotl]

Good to see it's hopefully on the way to being sorted.

I just wanted to add that I'm pretty sure the Sale of Goods Act only applies to consumers, not business-to-business transactions.
Unless anyone disagrees?

 

[Kent]

Good to see it's hopefully on the way to being sorted.

I just wanted to add that I'm pretty sure the Sale of Goods Act only applies to consumers, not business-to-business transactions.
Unless anyone disagrees?

I think otherwise as 1. its law not an added extra 2. at what stage do we say business? a farmers washing machine for instance? to make such exclusions stick you might need hundreds of test cases. 3. Sole trader, limited , plc etc.? big differences in the three. Besides under our previous government when so many new laws were passed we tend to only legislate in clear cases.
I suppose its easy to check up on, I once had to do the training for work reasons and 20 yrs or so back I could have quoted subsections etc but now I cant even say if it excludes business use.

 

[skotl]

I think otherwise as 1. its law not an added extra 2. at what stage do we say business? a farmers washing machine for instance? to make such exclusions stick you might need hundreds of test cases. 3. Sole trader, limited , plc etc.? big differences in the three. Besides under our previous government when so many new laws were passed we tend to only legislate in clear cases.
I suppose its easy to check up on, I once had to do the training for work reasons and 20 yrs or so back I could have quoted subsections etc but now I cant even say if it excludes business use.

Fair enough. As it happens, it's not that easy to check on (I tried). The consensus appears to suggest it's consumer targeted but there doesn't appear to be a definitive answer.
So I think your explanation is closer to reality than my black-and-white position.

 

[hotrodder]

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/engla...ices_e/consumer_protection_for_businesses.htm

 

[brightspark]

do not jump to conclusions or conclusions will jump on u just wait and see. no point in reading the riot act

 

[Kent]

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/engla...ices_e/consumer_protection_for_businesses.htm

Interestingly they are the same unless the supplier states exclusions in an agreed contract with the purchaser according to that

 

[skotl]

do not jump to conclusions or conclusions will jump on u just wait and see. no point in reading the riot act

I was a bit confused about that, but I'm guessing (jumping to conclusions!) that you're referring to the OP rather than the off-topic S-O-G-A discussion?

 

[Vmac]

Consumeraffairs.govt.nz
Think that was it.
But I just want a fully functional welder what I paid for, just hope Matt can sort it !

 

[Vmac]

Well it' Wednesday Matt ' have you had anything back from Mathieson's ??? I was hoping to collar Ian on Tuesday when he was down at one of the engineering shops I sub to , but he must have slipt in and out when my back was turned !! I gave him the welder on the 17th of February . !