Customer supplied parts: consumers warned as fake parts campaign gathers pace

Trade body warns consumers against the practice as part of a campaign to raise awareness of counterfeit parts

Customer supplied parts: consumers warned as fake parts campaign gathers pace
Image: Bigstock.

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is this week warning motorists about the dangers supplying their own car parts to a garage for fitment.

The trade body suggests that more and more customers are asking garages to fit parts they have supplied themselves, presenting problems for both the garage and the consumer.

Addressing vehicles owners, Stuart James, IGA director, said: “Although we all like to save money, supplying your own parts to service or repair your car is a false economy.

“False economy”

“Let your garage deal with the job from start to finish.

“You and your car are protected, the risk of delay or inconvenience is reduced and most importantly, the safety of you, your passengers and other road users is not put at risk.”

Most garages wisely refuse to fit parts supplied by consumers, as the part being fake is just one of a number of issues which present problems for both parties.

The IGA says consumer supplied parts may not be the correct fitment for the car, some internet sourced parts can be of low quality and there are potentially complex warranty issues if the part fails – especially where provenance is difficult to establish.

Video: Fake vehicle parts are on the rise, government warns

The warning comes in support of a new campaign from Intellectual Property Office (IPO) which hopes to raise awareness about the risks of counterfeit car parts.

The campaign explains the full scale of the problem across the motor industry and offers advice to consumers on how to identify fake vehicle parts, tips for buying parts online and how to report counterfeit goods.

Have you experienced customers requesting that you fit a part they have supplied? Share your experiences below and let us know what policy your garage has when it comes to customer supplied parts.

For further information about the IGA, select ‘more details’ below.

Home Page Forums Customer supplied parts: consumers warned as fake parts campaign gathers pace

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  • #161837 Reply

    The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is this week warning motorists about the dangers supplying their own car parts to a garage for fitment. The t
    [See the full post at: Customer supplied parts: consumers warned as fake parts campaign gathers pace]

    #161867 Reply
    Kevan Shackleton
    Guest

    We used to fit customer supplied parts of we had to but not any more in light of some prosecutions that we’ve been made aware of where the garage was deemed liable for the whole job

    #161868 Reply
    Peter Miles
    Guest

    I simply refuse to now. There was a time (years ago) when I would do it but tell the customer that there was no guarantee on the repair but that no longer holds water, and probably never did!
    If you want your car repaired safely and correctly then I’ll do it for you. But if you’re going to moan that you can get the part cheaper off Ebay then get someone else to do it, or do it yourself. I’m not interested.

    #161872 Reply
    Myles
    Guest

    Would you take your own steak to a
    restaurant and ask the chef to
    cook it?

    #162028 Reply
    Paul Arundale
    Guest

    From what I experience regularly, it seems that the aftermarket parts supply of the motor industry is suffering from poor quality and incorrect specification parts, some sold as OE parts which is just not true! There needs to be a crack down on parts labelling by trading standards so everyone knows exactly what they are buying, garage owners and their customers alike.

    When did cheap parts become the priority and who decided this? It is just common sense that an engine sensor sensor that costs a tenth of the price of the original is probably not going to be as good!
    Also consider the long term cost of cheap parts, especially when garages have to warranty their work. Who looses out when you have change the same part several times and in some cases pay for the correct parts out of their own pocket to rectify the problem? Also consider the customers impression of the garage when this occurs, it’s not likely to be a good one. Who gains, cheap parts supplier, no one else!

    Do not fit customer supplied parts, you are responsible for the job and take on the liability of that part when you fit it. Is it worth it?

    #162173 Reply
    Martin Grimwood
    Guest

    Had a guy (not a current customer) came in the other day wanting me to fit his own rear springs, when I said no he got fairly irate telling me how he thought garages were there to fit parts not be a “retail outfit” …. he would have done it himself but he couldn’t get the rusted bolts out … ha ha tough ti**ies

    #162378 Reply
    harold s
    Participant

    I feel the important point in all this is being missed. We have always advised that

    If we accept the part we are saying it is fit for purpose’
    if we fit the part we are taking over the warranty of said part(s)
    if we fit the part our public liability wont cover us

    we politely advise that it is not something we do as we would not take a meal to a restaurant and ask them to cook it for us.

    #163168 Reply
    Don
    Guest

    Well said Harold S, my insurers asked me about fitting customer supplied parts years ago and told me the position of liability. They would cover the liability but the additional premium costs were a bit high……. I refuse all customer request to fit their own parts. . . .

    #163169 Reply
    Brad
    Guest

    Simple really…
    If you fit it, you have to guarantee it, that’s the law.
    We’re to busy to mess around fitting crap parts that someone has brought from fleebay.
    Also, you will find that your insurance may not cover you if you fit someone else’s parts, so in the event of a claim, you could be left out in the cold.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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