Consumer Law on Business Purchases?

[MikF]

Hi,

Having an issue with my iPhone - bluetooth gone AWOL. It was purchased from Apple Store through a business account I have with Apple.

Its 18 months old so out of warranty but should be covered by standard 2 years consumer protection (Sale of Goods act?)

Took it to Apple store who agreed there was a hardware issue, and said that if it was a personal purchase they could "help" me, but since it was a business purchase it was not covered so I would have to pay £220 for an out of warranty repair.

Declined at the time so I could check this out as it sounded bogus to me. Googling has not really helped much other than to suggest nuggets like "In general, when your business purchases goods or services from another business, you have the same implied rights as a consumer - if there is no contract to the contrary."

Doesn't give me confidence to rock back up to the Apple store demanding equal rights for businesses though.

Anything concrete I can use?

Thanks.

[Lance]

Your subject asks the question and answers it.

Consumer protection doesn't help with business. It's why you buy yourself and claim expenses.

The 2 years is an EU thing not sale of goods act. Might be worth some research.

[MikF]

Cheers Lance. Will probably trade it in when its inevitable iPhone 7 comes out and live in a bluetooth free world in the interim.

[SueEllen]

Your subject asks the question and answers it.

Consumer protection doesn't help with business. It's why you buy yourself and claim expenses.

If you use the item for business use, and the vendor and manufacturer can work this out, then even if you brought it as a consumer you don't have consumer protection.

However most big brand names like to protect their brand so tend to give small businesses, who have used the item like a consumer, similar rights. (Well Samsung does.)

The 2 years is an EU thing not sale of goods act. Might be worth some research.

The Sale of Goods Act has been superseded by the Consumer Rights Act in October last year.

So it depends when you brought the item or service what Act is enforce and so what rights you have.

[SlipTheJab]

When I took my MBP in (it was bought personally and claimed as an expense from my Ltd) I let slip to the the Apple guy it was for business use and he advised me not to mention this again and just claim personal use so they could sort it under consumer rights, cue one new MBP to take home to replace the old (now wiped) one

[SueEllen]

When I took my MBP in (it was bought personally and claimed as an expense from my Ltd) I let slip to the the Apple guy it was for business use and he advised me not to mention this again and just claim personal use so they could sort it under consumer rights, cue one new MBP to take home to replace the old (now wiped) one

What a nice guy.

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

Yeah, you might want to remember not to mention it's a business asset if you want to claim rights under consumer law in the future.

I buy Apple stuff directly as a business purchase and get invoices in the company name but it's all associated with my personal Apple ID and I've never had an issue with getting support or repairs.

[SlipTheJab]

What a nice guy.

Yep had the same a while ago with my iPhone, the touchscreen was playing up, the Apple geezer said he would need to send it off for repair, I said I needed it for work and his response was 'let's just give you a new one then' you pay an apple premium but not having to lock horns with a PC World twunt is why you do!

[yMyjgT]

Apple customer service does sound good.
I didn't even have to leave the house for my Dell touchscreen repair. Phoned them up, and they came out to my house a couple of days later.
I've personally had great service from Dell over the years.

[SlipTheJab]

Agree I've never had any problems with any large retailers except PC world who do seems to exclusively employ inept chavs in all of the branches I've been in. When I bought by Nexus 7 tablet I ordered it via their website and it came with a 10% discount, click and collect, job done so off I went to the store at lunchtime, cue 30 minutes of wrangling with various sales blokes about why the 10% discount was valid, in the end I told them to shove it and got it from Tescos (club card points ) instead.