Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act Explained

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Useful info for those who DIY their repairs Like We All Should Whenever Possible, but keep in mind that many dealership shops will insist on OEM parts and other shops may insist on their source of parts (to make a profit on the part and to have a level of assurance of quality so they don't get come-backs). Unfortunately, though a conversation I've had with Steve, I found that he sees nothing wrong with a dealership charging you 200% as much as you can get the exact same OEM part for elsewhere.

I think that stinks and if they want to make a profit it should be reflected in the labor charge, not hidden in a marked-up parts cost once you're on the hook for the repair diagnosis before realizing how marked up their parts prices are, but I digress...
 
I have great respect for Steve Lehto and read his columns regularly on Jalopnik, but OMG he needs to slow his roll. I could barely understand him much of the time.

I used to be a lector at our church and some advice I was given decades ago is: "If you think you're speaking too slowly, you're speaking at just the right speed."
 
Good video. If you check the Wikipedia article on the Magnuson-Moss act, you will find its almost worthless- it seems like a lawyer went through the info to remove anything that is written in plain English.
 
Originally Posted by BobsArmory
Steve Lehto, a Michigan Lemon Law Attorney explains the law in this Interesting YouTube video. Steve has some great videos. I Binge watched him the other day and thought I would share this with you.


You m*therfracking sunofabeotch : I have spent the last 2 hours watching Steve Lehto's videos on all things auto-legal, and I find them quite addicting and informative.
 
Originally Posted by Dave9
I found that he sees nothing wrong with a dealership charging you 200% as much as you can get the exact same OEM part for elsewhere.

So... get the part elsewhere? I mean, parts stores typically charge about 1.5-2x what RockAuto does, again for the same part.
 
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He makes some great videos. I ran across his channel a few months ago and have watched a ton of his videos. I subscribed so I get a notification when he has a new video up.
 
Originally Posted by Dave9
Unfortunately, though a conversation I've had with Steve, I found that he sees nothing wrong with a dealership charging you 200% as much as you can get the exact same OEM part for elsewhere.

As much as I don't like that, either, there really isn't anything wrong with it, per se. Dealers are allowed to charge markup for parts. Just because I can get a jobber rate for parts at least some places (including some OEMs) doesn't mean that will do many any good when getting dealer work done. I do have to compliment the Infiniti dealer when they did a hub for me a couple years back. They did the hub, parts and labour, for cheaper than I could have bought the hub myself from another supplier. So, I wasn't complaining.
 
Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
M&M is one of the most misunderstood regulations among the modding community.


Many people thing it is a White Knight at the individual consumer level, it is not. Just gives grounds for the individual consumer to sue in Federal Civil court to enforce it. Federal Trade Commission only enforces it at a corporate level if a particular issue is wide spread. The consumer at the dealership level that has a problem now with a dealer saying a aftermarket part caused a problem without proving it, well the FTC is not going to dispatch lawyers on your behalf.
 
Originally Posted by Hootbro
Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
M&M is one of the most misunderstood regulations among the modding community.


Many people thing it is a White Knight at the individual consumer level, it is not. Just gives grounds for the individual consumer to sue in Federal Civil court to enforce it. Federal Trade Commission only enforces it at a corporate level if a particular issue is wide spread. The consumer at the dealership level that has a problem now with a dealer saying a aftermarket part caused a problem without proving it, well the FTC is not going to dispatch lawyers on your behalf.


What I found interesting is that the M&M initially derived from common practices in the computer industry in the 1960's and 70's. A company would buy a hugely expensive mainframe computer, and later want to add 3rd party disk drives, printers, terminals etc. The original seller / brand would wave the threat of voiding the warranty or canceling support contracts in order to keep the customer buying the original brands parts and supplies. The law was written broad enough to cover consumer items as well. We all know about aftermarket filters, other oil brands, suspension pieces etc. But it covers almost any item that requires routine service parts.
 
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