Timeline for Do I have to still pay for a Mercedes key I ordered but no longer need?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
10 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Jan 10 at 1:20 | comment | added | vidarlo | @WeatherVane Monopolies are legal. Abusing monopoly power is illegal. Furthermore, Mercedes can't be said to have a monopoly on automobiles in any market segment; there's plenty of cars to choose from. | |
| Jan 9 at 22:02 | comment | added | Weather Vane | Perhaps it is like the inkjet printer ink scam where they sell you a printer very cheaply (with specially tiny ink cartridges) and sell the full size cartridges for a king's ransom. Luckily, my inkjet printer accepts cheap but adequate aftermarket ones but my previous one did not: they were 'chipped' to prevent it. | |
| Jan 9 at 21:57 | comment | added | Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦ | @WeatherVane - I think it falls under "proprietary" ... it's their technology, they don't have to sell/loan/lease/give it out to anyone. If you have a patent on something, you don't have to, either. Nothing unlawful about it. Is it good form? Definitely not for us. | |
| Jan 9 at 21:42 | comment | added | Weather Vane | Perhaps that is a question for SE Law... is it legal in the OP's country (or mine) to restrict the availability of spare parts by creating a monopoly. | |
| Jan 9 at 21:40 | comment | added | Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦ | @WeatherVane - One of the things about a MB key is that only MB can make it. There is no aftermarket for it. That's why they charge $1100 for the stupid things. | |
| Jan 9 at 21:34 | history | edited | DavidRecallsMonica | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Jan 9 at 21:26 | comment | added | Weather Vane | @Dez anecdotally I needed a replacement remote control key for my Skoda and the local agent wanted 200 GBP up-front to supply it. I went to my local Timpsons (with the second key) and they copied it for a fraction of that price. Was it inferior? Well the manufacturer's key blade snapped in the ignition lock (luckily I was able to pull it out with pliers) so it could not be much worse. Is it legal in UK to restrict market choices for spare parts? At one time a manufacturer could insist that only original parts can be used without breaking the warranty but I think that's no longer the case. | |
| Jan 9 at 10:48 | comment | added | Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦ | @Dez - Legality has to do with where you live and I wouldn't know what those laws are. In most places here in the States, if you order work done to or for your vehicle (in this case, ordering the key), they can hold the vehicle until the work is paid for. If you don't come and pay for the vehicle, after a certain amount of time, they can wholesale your vehicle to recoup the cost of the work (including storage fees if they so deem it). So, yes, they can stop you from leaving with your car. | |
| Jan 9 at 1:34 | comment | added | Dez | Damn, so even though I will have my own key, they can refuse to allow me to use my own key? They can stop me from leaving with my car? That’s legal? | |
| Jan 9 at 1:12 | history | answered | Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |