Durability

Durability can be a difficult concept, but, as indicated in the fair wear and tear example below, it is something that can be considered when evaluating whether goods conform to contract.

Everything has a finite life, and this needs to be borne in mind when considering durability.

For instance if an engine in a new car failed after only two years this would be unreasonable and the product would probably fail the durability test.  However if the alternator failed after two years that may be reasonable.

Another example is that a £1500.00 DVD player might be expected to continue working for longer  than a £200.00 DVD player.

However the actual use of products also has to be taken into account so for instance the inappropriate use of a very small microwave oven for a very large family may be unreasonable.

Similarly, leaving a television on all day and night is likely to reduce the lifspan and thus some one could claim that it was not sufficiently durable, when in fact it was.

Note:
Most televisions, set top boxes and other consumer electronics products now have a memory that reords the hours of use and other settings taht the goods have been used at.