Are Audi right to make me pay for my mistake?

gebbel

Folks some advice would be great: I posted a thread yesterday about a part I needed for my 2005 A4.....I was hoping to source it for less than Western Motors in Drogheda. I rang all of the people that were suggested to me...but nobody had it. In the end, late yesterday Western Motors said they could get the part so I went with them.

Picked it up today and dropped it out to the Lithuanian mechanic who is doing the job for me. He looks at the part and says it's not what he needs. I said for f*** sake, that is what you asked for. Wasting my time....nice guy but his English is crap. So I ordered the wrong part. He now says can fix the issue with a weld.

Problem is when I returned to Western Motors (10 minutes after buying the part) and explained that I had made a mistake...they told me that won't refund me. They best they can do is hold it and sell it whenever someone may need it, which in their own words "may day 2 days, 2 weeks or 2 years". I'm a very calm and reasonable bloke but lost my cool somewhat after 5 minutes of debate with them. The part cost €190.

If the above is common procedure with garages and ordering the wrong parts etc. then I will accept it and put it down to my own stupidity. Or have I a case in pursuing a refund right now?

Thanks.

Plazaman

I think the garage are right unfortunately. When you ordered the part off them, you gave them the details and specification of what to order and they got what you asked, contract complete.

The fact you were given the wrong details isn't their error. They also had to pay for the part so to refund you leaves them out of pocket for your (albeit by proxy) error. If they were to order parts and refeund everyone who says its the wrong one then they'd be left with a warehouse of unwanted parts and presumably they are not a car part warehouse.

You could try selling the part yourself online, might get your money back quicker.

Morlar

Is this covered by/compatible with consumer legislation ?

mickdw

They would usually take stuff back with a restocking charge. The fact that they are not doing this suggests that the part you ordered never really fails and they kow they will be very lucky to sell it again anytime soon. I find Western motors parts guys (galway) very good to deal with.

Good example why giving parts to machanics can be a bad idea.

Owen

You asked the garage to get a part, they got it. If it was broken, you'd be entitled to a repair, replacement, or refund, but they are under no obligation to refund you for a part you asked them to get. They could offer a refund if you ask them nicely, or a credit note, but they don't have to.

mickdw

RoverJames wrote: »

Good example why giving parts to machanics can be a bad idea.

Good point that.

gebbel

Thanks Plazaman. I see your point. I lost the cool a bit in there and walked out leaving the part on the desk. Didn't do myself any favours there. This all happened this morning and I was hoping they would be more accomodating. I have done business with that garage many times over the years and they know that....would have hoped that counted for something.

kwalshe

I work in the service repair business, this is not unreasonable from the garage.
People pull these kinds of stunts on me all the time. Order the part from me when the **** hits the fan as a back-up plan. Go off and fix it themselves and I'm left with the parts in my stock as dead money.
I will not do any work without a purchase order anymore.
I have one customer who has a 10k spare part in his stores as a very expensive dust collector.

Reloc8

Sorry mate - they wern't obliged to refund you although you are correct in thinking that goodwill may have seen you over the hump - it would have been discretionary on their part though.

I'd be calling back with a bit of a red face asking them to sell the part for you and keep you posted - world of difference between a guy who's hacked off with you and a guy who reckons you are a decent bloke who deserves a break when it comes to the next request for that part through his door...

stevenmu

Morlar wrote: »

Is this covered by/compatible with consumer legislation ?

I'm not a lwayer etc, but I'm pretty sure it's not covered by consumer legislation, and it's the type of thing that would often be given in consumer guidelines as an example of things not covered. The retailer provided the correct part as ordered, it appears to be in perfect working condition etc and so there is no obligation on them. Many retailers would take items back as a goodwill gesture, some charge a restocking fee for this kind of thing, but they are not obliged to.

The only exception to this would be goods ordered online (within the EU) which can be returned for any reason during the "cooling down" period.

neilthefunkeone

I had the same issue before as well.. can see why they dont swap the parts.. they could be stuck forever with a useless part that no one wants.. yeah id side with Audi here..

PCPhoto

gebbel wrote: »

Thanks Plazaman. I see your point. I lost the cool a bit in there and walked out leaving the part on the desk. Didn't do myself any favours there. This all happened this morning and I was hoping they would be more accomodating. I have done business with that garage many times over the years and they know that....would have hoped that counted for something.

unfortunately in today's world people don't have any customer loyalty - they don't care who pays them money as long as the money keeps coming in.

no1beemerfan

RoverJames wrote: »

Good example why giving parts to machanics can be a bad idea.

What I do if I get the local mechanic to do something I'm not sure of, is I get him to tell me what is wrong, go online and print off a picture of the part and show it to him, make sure that is it, and only then order it.

shamwari

OP I'd change to a different mechanic. If he can't articulate clearly the correct part you need in the first instance, and then offers to "weld" the failed component thereafter raises all sorts of hariy questions in my mind...

no1beemerfan

no1beemerfan wrote: »

What I do if I get the local mechanic to do something I'm not sure of, is I get him to tell me what is wrong, go online and print off a picture of the part and show it to him, make sure that is it, and only then order it.

And save about a fiver :P

Reloc8

Morlar wrote: »

Is this covered by/compatible with consumer legislation ?

Lawyer guy here - no.

The customer make a specific request and was provided with what he wanted. The item is not faulty, just unwanted. There is no obligation to refund.

It doesn't come within the parameters of certain kinds of products where if sold online/under credit a 'cooling off' period must be allowed.

The fault here is really with the mechanic, presuming that his customer went and sourced exactly what he advised was necessary.