On Sat, 21 Mar 2015 15:29:32 +1100, Trevor Wilson
wrote:

On 19/03/2015 8:33 PM, Jim Lesurf wrote:
In article ,
Trevor Wilson wrote:
**I don't have a problem with a valve amp manufacturer advertising that
the product has a 90 day warranty. It's the 5 year (or whatever) claims
that are bull****.

I wonder if the courts in the UK/EU might "have a problem" with such
consumer goods offerred with a 90 day warranty. AIUI The law here tends to
specify that the term should be at least a year or two for 'free' repair or
replacement. A warranty can *add* or *extend* this, but not reduce it.

That said, the laws on such issues are routinely ignored by manufacturers
because they know its a civil matter and most aggreved buyers can be fobbed
off without them being up to taking the matter to court.

I also wonder if *all* buyers of valve power amps knowingly do so on the
basis that the output values are 'consumables' and might need replacing in
as little as just over 90 days. (And by implication, replaced again on such
a routine short timescale.) No doubt savvy ones do. But do *all* of them
?... The issue is complicated because some makers may soup up the stress on
the valves more than others. So it may not be clear to the buyer what kind
of life to expect for that particular amp design.


**Here is one company which supplies a decent warranty on their product:

http://www.mingda.co.uk/

Presumably, there is enough meat in their profit margin to allow such a
generous warranty period for valves. Dunno about the UK, but Chinese
audio products, in Australia, often tend to be hugely over-priced.

Valves are like pretty much any electronic part. The closer you run
them to their maximum ratings, the shorter their lifetime. Sure it is
possible to design an amplifier in which you can only guarantee the
valves for ninety days. But you are a **** if you do, and you deserve
the small claims courts hitting you with Fitness For Purpose clause in
the Sale Of Goods Act.

I don't know how it is in other parts of the world, but here in the UK
it is not possible to abrogate one's warranty obligations by printing
some kind of disclaimer on the product. Statutory warranties can only
be altered in favour of the customer.

d