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In that distant era before global warming and credit crunching, we rejoiced in ailing appliances. They justified us buying shinier, trendier replacements. Now, alas, guilt and poverty oblige us to patch up household invalids, but the markets have not yet caught up with this new austerity. When Clive Johns needed to repair a leaking shower attachment he contacted Bathstore, from whom he had bought his new bathroom five years previously. Bathstore told him that no spares were available and that a repair was impossible. The manufacturer couldn't help and so the only solution was to rip out his £292 bath/shower unit and matching basin and buy new ones. Because the units were outside their warranty, Bathstore refused to help with the costs of this. To oblige the Guardian, Bathstore's press office joins in the hunt for the necessary parts and ends up offering Johns £160 towards a replacement bathroom.
A spokesman for the campaigning magazine Ethical Consumer points out that it can be hard to build profits round goods that last for years and that spare parts are often priced high or not supplied at all to discourage repairs.
The internet has, however, made DIY surgery easier. For example, eSpares - Spare Parts Accessories for Electrical Appliances
supplies spare parts designed to fit most appliances, although not, alas, plumbing kits. It will also source specific manufacturer's spares on request and, to embolden virgin DIYers, it has launched a question and answer facility for each product, giving tips on how to install them. At ukwhitegoods.co.uk you can browse a menu of spares for kitchen appliances or, if you can't find or are unsure about the part you need, you can email a request and the company will do a search for you. Over at washerhelp.co.uk you can seek advice on a temperamental washing machine and how best to repair it then buy the recommended spare parts.
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