Parts Obsolete On 4 Year Old Sime Boiler?

[Whitespirit66]

A heating engineer mate recently told me about problems he had getting a part for a 4 year old Sime boiler. I think it was a pcb that he needed, but he couldn't get one anywhere, even the manufacturer, as the part is now obsolete.

Apparently, when he went back to the customer and told him, he went ape s**t. He accused my mate of trying to shaft him for a new boiler. He left, telling the customer that if he could locate the part himself he would willingly fit it.

Can a boiler be scrap after 4 years?

 

[Gasguru]

Some boiler models are so poorly designed and coupled with lack of maintenance etc they could be scrap after 4 years.

Sime have had a troubled past in this country. They're a large Italian manufacturer but several years ago the importer went bust AFAIR. At the time some parts were difficult to get hold off and an extortionate price...eg. 80 for a thermocouple. A few years ago they were still bad often waiting weeks for parts. Last time I dealt with them it took a few days for parts. No idea now but wouldn't touch them...

 

[Whitespirit66]

Thanks for the info GG.

Hmm. Italian. That explains a lot - says he, the owner of a Scudo.

 

[Agile]

The UK importer seemed to habe a serious gripe with Sime.

He shut down his firm but kept the telephone numbers and web site live so people carried on calling and emailing when there was no one available to answer.

Not too long afterwards Sime opened a UK branch but as they did not have access to the telephones etc. it was a long while before anyone realised they were there.

They hardly sell enough boilers to make a UK branch viable.

Tony

 

[misterdubya]

God help anyone with a 10 year warranty. I wont touch 'em'. Too much grief getting spares - now I know why. Thanks Tony and Guru.