Domestic Appliance Modifications

Often appliance, just like cars, require modifications or changes to the original spares that were fitted.

In recent years it seems to have become more of a common practice that we are seeing modified spares and kits to be fitted to appliances. When this happens it is rarely a cheaper or free-of-charge modification that is carried out. In fact, the only time you will normally see the modification being free-of-charge is if there is an immediate danger to life, the reason being that then the manufacturer could face claims for potential injury or death and that's not cheap.

But there are many other modifications carried out on a daily basis that are not a threat in that way, it may well be a simple revision of a PCB design. So why do they do this?

There is a genuine reason and that is that the technology moves forward and the design is made better or more efficient so the manufacturer passes that benefit on to their customer by upgrading the existing stock to the newer component.

Then there's the cynical view, which is a theory many of us in the industry subscribe to, that changes are made because the product was poor in the first place! It came out under-researched and not tested in the field so they use customers to, basically, Beta test the appliances first. Which is fine if you have a warranty failure or you buy an extended warranty, but if you don't you could be in trouble. Modified timers and modules are the most common of modified spares and they are very seldom reduced any in price to the consumer. So the customer pays the price for the manufacturer's failure.

Of course many of the components are out-sourced by the manufacturers and they do not actually make the part, just as in other industries. Often the cost is passed back, in warranty, to the actual supplier of the component by the appliance manufacturer but once out of warranty this seldom happens as the cost falls on the insurer or the consumer.

My advice is that if a modification is needed to your appliance ask why that it is needed and query why it is not being carried out free-of-charge to you. Press the point and make a fuss, I have seen a few manufacturers carry oout modifications free-of-charge to customers before at anything up to ten years from the date of purchase of the appliance.

If you see a product recall on the appliance you own being offered free-of-charge and advertised it is often a potentially very dangerous failure that could occur and get in touch with the manufacturer as quickly as possible.

Unlike the car industry many modifications to domestic appliances to not entail any danger to life and limb but can be seriously unhealthy for you wallet!