No spare parts

Letter dealing with the non-availablility of spare parts.

[Date]

Dear ...

[Order number or description of goods]

On [date] I bought the above [item] from [name and address of shop].

On [date] it broke down and I took it to [name and address of repairer] for repairs. This company is included in the list of authorised repairers that came with my [item].

The repairer has told me that the [item] needs a new [name spare part] and these are not at present available from you.

As a manufacturer, you will be aware that you have a responsibility to ensure that reasonable repair facilities and spare parts are available unless I was informed at the time I bought the [item] that you would not be providing this after-sales service. I was not told this. It is not reasonable to expect me to wait indefinitely for a part when my [item] is only [period of time] old.

If you cannot supply the part to complete the repair within seven days I will be forced to claim from you the cost of hiring a replacement [item] until mine can be fixed. [An alternative to this would be to claim the difference in value between what you paid and the current value of the unrepaired item].

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

Point of Law

The Consumer Guarantees Act gives you the right to spare parts and repair facilities for a reasonable time for any product unless you are told when you make your purchase that they aren't available. This undertaking is given by the manufacturer or importer and not the retailer. It applies to all new goods. It also applies to second-hand goods such as imported used cars if you are the first person in New Zealand to buy them.