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| Les Mc Master |
THE right to repair is a movement that started in Europe and has
now taken a firm root in South Africa, thanks to the efforts of people like Les
Mc Master, chairperson of the Motor Industries Workshop Association
(Miwa).
The workshops are campaigning for the right to repair vehicles
outside the confines of original-equipment manufacturer’s workshops, where
prices of parts are often much higher than that charged by independent
workshops.
Witness Wheels asked the association
a series of questions.
WW: Why are pirate parts often so much cheaper,
despite being made under the same brands. Are these generic brand names
fake?
MM: Firstly, I must correct the wording “pirate
parts”. The manufacturers would have you believe that generic parts are pirated,
but many parts are the exact same part from the same production line, labelled
in the part manufacturer’s (OEM) own branded boxes. The price difference has
always been a bone of contention and can probably be ascribed to the original
equipment manufacturer’s logistics and distribution methods, along with some
added-on premiums.
WW: Is Miwa aware of any studies or destructive
tests that illustrate generic parts have shorter life spans than OEM parts, or
are they more or less equally durable?
MM: This is an area where the OEMs do not want to
tread, in fear that it would show up their “original” part as being no better
than the replacement part. They are quite comfortable with creating the
perception of the generic replacement part being inferior. Occasionally, they do
source sub-standard parts to prove a point.
WW: Is it just a perception that OEM parts start
breaking as soon as the warranty expires, or are the rumours on built-in
obsolescence true?
MM: This is purely a perception that has been around
since the first car. What is true is that as a result of the cost of producing
parts in general, we have found that certain parts most certainly do fail more
often than one would expect.
WW: What happens currently with warranties if car
repairers and servicers do not use OEM parts?
MM: The warranty becomes null and void.
WW: What signs should DIY repairers look for to be
assured of the quality of a generic part?
MM: Buy only branded parts from reputable
suppliers.
There are many such suppliers around who will only stock quality
branded parts.
