MOTORMANIA - WARNING !!

Please be aware that Motormania (Motor factors, not to be confused with similar sounding business's) are in administration. They are primarily based in the Midlands and Northwest. They are however still trading.

I bought an alternator from them in March which has never been right since day one, but has now pretty much died a death. I contacted them in the middle of the week to arrange a replacement under warranty. The sales guy was polite and we agreed that I would pick it up on Sunday.
On Saturday I got a call from the young sales lad informing me that they would not be able to be able to swap my alternator under warranty as they were in administration and were nto obliged to do anything. He offered me two choices as a goodwill gesture :roll:

1. Buy another alty from them and give them my old one , and if they managed to get a refund from their supplier they would pass it on. The thought of giving them yet another £130 didn't appeal to me on the 'promise' from a company who might be able to get me a refund, and whose doors could be shut permanently before this process could complete.

2. Remove my alty , give it to Motormania and they would send it back to the manufacturer and again they would hopefully pass on a new one too me when they had recieved it from the manufacturer. I got the distinct impression we would be talking weeks , not days, if at all! Obviously all this time my truck is off the road. Not ideal when it is my daily driver.

What really annoys me more than anything is that they are still selling items, bloody expensive ones as well and NOT telling people that if they return it under warranty they are basically screwed!

So you have been warned. Buyer beware!

Speak to trading standards see where you stand even though they are in administration you still have rights, what make is it? I used to work for them until 5 weeks ago. I think the company they stock is CJF and they are based in stafforsdshire so may be worth speaking to them direct if you got your reciept and part number if its one they ordered in from outside supplier i still deal with them so could have a word see if I can send it ff from here.

You may want to push the issue with them a bit further if you can mate ?

From a legal stand point if they are in administration and have ceased trading then they are quite right when they say they don't have to honor the warranty as they have "ceased trading", HOWEVER if they are in administration and are still trading at this time they are still legally obliged to honor warranty's and supply goods if they have been paid for as they would at any other time.

They can only use the "not our problem" attitude if they have Ceased trading completely, that's why when most businesses go into administration they shut up shop there and then.
An example is Game, the computer / games retailers, they went into administration and closed a large number of shops but those that are still open and trading are obliged to abide by the terms of their warranty's and trade within the rules of the UK legislation as would any other retail outlet.

Motormania also part of Charlie Browns and another one have been in and out of administration for years, the owner makes a living out it.

Decided to take matters in to my own hands. Did the usual thing of watching a few youtube vids, then i fully stripped the alty on the kitchen table (that went down well with 'er indoors) .
Replaced the main live output post and insulator and so far it's as good as gold.

Cross fingers that's sorted it.

Agree with the post above, its the manufacturere who has to honer the warranty, shops evan if trading do not have to replace a faulty item.
Most of them do as its good customer service. Rule of thumb with shop tends to be 14 or 30 das but thats not set int he sale of goods and services act.
Most OEM's will sort parts very quickly.

I just sorted a caravan window with the OEM directly as got know joy with Swift (one of the largest builders in the country), got a replacement in 4 days and they evan offered 125 quid for fitting.