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Fix the Hog: Harley, Westinghouse ordered to fix warranties:
Federal regulators have accused Harley-Davidson and Westinghouse of imposing illegal warranty terms on customers and ordered them to fix their warranties and ensure that their dealers compete fairly with independent repair-makers.
The companies have imposed illegal warranty terms that voided customer warranties if they used anyone other than the companies and their authorized dealers to get parts or repairs — restricting their options and costing them more money, the Federal Trade Commission announced Thursday in actions against the Milwaukee motorcycle maker and MWE Investments, which makes Westinghouse-brand outdoor power generators and related equipment.
Under a proposed consent agreement with the agency, the companies will be prohibited from telling customers that their warranties will be voided if they use third-party services or parts, or that they should only use branded parts or authorized service providers.
The companies also will be required to add specific language to their warranties recognizing consumers' right to repair: "Taking your product to be serviced by a repair shop that is not affiliated with or an authorized dealer of (company name) will not void this warranty. Also, using third-party parts will not void this warranty."
(Score: 2) by vux984 on Monday June 27 2022, @01:21AM (4 children)
No. Nobody is saying that. If it fell apart because they fixed it with crappy parts, you still aren't responsible.
But it has to fall apart *due* to the previous crap repair. You can't avoid being responsible for the repair simply because someone else serviced it.
If the wheel falls off after the owner rotates the tires, that's still on the owner. If the tire fails because an inferior tire was installed, and the car is wrecked. That's all still on the owner too. But if the water pump dies ... the fact that the owner rotated his own tires and then installed an inferior tire is not the cause, and the manufacturer can't void the warranty and refuse to replace the water pump. -- which is what was happening.
The manufacturer isn't responsible for shoddy service/repairs, or even the knock on effects of shoddy service/repairs. But they do have to show the the problem is the result of the shoddy service/repairs, they can't just automatically void warranty outright simply because someone else serviced the product.
Surely you would agree with that?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 27 2022, @05:46PM (3 children)
Wait, I need to rotate the tires on my Harley?!
(Score: 1) by UncleBen on Monday June 27 2022, @07:29PM (1 child)
Yes, one must rotate the tires by RIDING one's Harley.
(Moto joke: H-D's are more for polishing than riding. An old boss used to clean his with q-tips.)
(Score: 2) by Osamabobama on Monday June 27 2022, @08:23PM
You've also got to rev the engine in your driveway fairly regularly, or your neighbors might forget that you are a Harley guy.
Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
(Score: 2) by Nobuddy on Monday June 27 2022, @10:48PM
No. the wear you get in the two miles from your garage to the foux biker bar will not add up to anything that matters. Your gog will still be able to make the Sons of Dentistry rally.