Warranty for wearing parts?
Does that exist at all? Dirk Zedler, sworn expert witness for electric bicycles, provides information.
EMTB: Is there a warranty for wearing parts as well?
DIRK ZEDLER: In the case of wearing parts liability for material defects, meanwhile the correct term, is a delicate subject. In principle, wearing parts are not excluded from liability for material defects. Such products must also have a reasonably expected service life for this category.
This leaves room for interpretation. What exactly would be a reasonably assumed service life for an E-MTB drive?
That is frequently a point of contention. Especially information on the correct care, maintenance and replacement intervals of a product is something good operating instructions should provide. If in doubt, consult an expert. I am of the opinion that the bicycle chain of a high-quality e-bike for, let’s say, 4000 euros should last at least 1000 kilometres. Components such as the cassette should last longer. Currently, this is hardly realistic because the components used on e-bikes are still not up to the high drive force. This is actually unacceptable for the consumer.
Why are there still hardly any lawsuits against dealers or manufacturers?
The amount in dispute is simply too low for wearing parts. At 250 euros for a new chain and cassette, you will hardly find a lawyer who will go to court over it. What is more, the dealers cushion probably a lot. The situation is different, however, with major damage, when even the dealers see themselves unable to deal with. For example, in case of damage to the electronics. Due to the larger amount in dispute, the reverse transaction of entire purchase contracts is also often at stake here, and lawsuits are much more frequent.
The interview was conducted by Adrian Kaether
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