Abstract
A producer’s after-sales responsibilities to consumers relate to (i) the satisfactory working of products; and (ii) liability for any defects or for any consequential loss. The first of these responsibilities may involve specific commitments in any one or all of the following areas.
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See Euroforum No. 18/76 (4 May 1976), Annex 1, p. 1 reporting on a BEUC survey of after-sales service in EEC countries.
Which? (February 1977), p. 61.
Alisdair Aird, op. cit., p. 32.
Practical Householder (September 1976).
Center for Policy Alternatives, The Productivity and Servicing of Consumer Durable Products op. cit. pp. 75–85.
For example, see Which? (February 1977) pp. 61–65.
Under the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973 attempted exclusions of purchasers’ normal legal rights are void. But it is not illegal (nor uncommon) for a guarantee to contain conditions which might mislead consumers into believing they have lost such rights. In addition, the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 makes ineffective any clause which a firm may use to try and exclude or limit its liability for death or injury caused by its negligence. Also, clauses relating to exclusions for other loss or damage caused through negligence will be effective only if a firm can convince a court that the clause is ‘reasonable’.
Which? (April 1976), p. 78.
This is the definition of `functional literacy’ used by UNESCO. See Legal Action Group Bulletin (February 1977), p. 31.
University of Texas at Austin, Division of Extension, Dr. W. E. Barron, Dean. Adult Functional Competency: A Summary, March 1975.
This is disturbing, because some of the data in this Table really need to be explained. For instance, miniaturised Hi-Fi, photographic and film equipment has not been available for 50 years—which is said to be the actual time they have been used in under-developed countries.
Subject/search headings: reliability, durability, servicing, spares, obsolescence, life-cycle costs, repair, warranty, guarantee, product liability etc.
Bureau Européen des Union Des Consommateurs/European Bureau of Consumers’ Unions, After-Sales Service in the European Community (Brussels: BEUC, 1976).
Center for Policy Alternatives, Consumer Appliances; the Real Cost (Springfield, Va.: U.S. National Technical Information Service, 1974).
Center for Policy Alternatives, Consumer Durables: Warranties, Service Contracts and Alternatives (Springfield, Va.: U.S. National Technical Information Service, 1974).
Logistics Management Institute, Life-Cycle Costs: Procurement Cases (for example, for gas, electric ranges, water heaters, air conditioners, etc.); (Washington DC: U.S. National Bureau of Standards, 1975–7).
Electrical and Television Retailers Association, Tour Electrical and Electronic Products: A Guide to Their Life Servicing and Repair (London: ETRA, 1976).
Consumer Protection Advisory Committee, Rights of Consumers: A Report on Practices Relating to the Purported Exclusion of Inalienable Rights of Consumers and Failure to Explain their Existence (London: HMSO, 1974).
Directorate-General for Internal Market, EEC, Memorandum on the Approximation of the Laws of Member States relating to Product Liability (Brussels: Commission of the European Communities, 1974) Ref. Working Document No. X1/332/74-E.
Council of Europe, Draft European Convention on Products Liability (Strasbourg: Council of Europe, 1976). Ref. No. DIR/Jur (76) 5.
Consumers’ Association, Product Liability (London: Consumers’ Association (memorandum), 1974).
C. J. Miller and P. A. Lovell, Product Liability (London: Butterworths, 1977).
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© 1978 Charles Medawar
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Medawar, C. (1978). After Sales. In: The Social Audit Consumer Handbook. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-15908-6_8
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