Many people, if not most, think that spare parts are easy, that many are interchangeable, and you can use a part the same size, shape or look to replace another, but that is not the case.

The reality is that spare parts are usually specific to the exact appliance they are needed for, barring a few exceptions like the small amount of generic parts and some crossovers between brands where they badge-engineer and use the same machines.

Same Machine, Lots Of Different Parts

What we have seen over the past few decades is machines not changing their model number, but they change internally. Parts alter, even though the model number does not.

As we understand it, this is done so that retailers do not have to update things like websites, store displays and so on, and makers don't have to either unless there is a significant change of some sort that forces that.

That makes sense, but it makes service harder as now we have a model number, and then goodness knows how many versions of that one model are designated by product codes or by serial number.

For end users who are totally unaware of this, it makes life confusing when it comes to spare parts.

It's not the user's fault. Why would they have to know this, as, in the view of most makers, they shouldn't be repairing their machine, so the public would never need to know about this.

Product Codes And Serial Numbers

This is why we often require the product codes and serial numbers, etc, to look up parts for you, as, in order to get them correct, we need to drill down on the exact version that you own, then identify the correct part/s used in that exactproduction run.

Some of these can be well more than a hundred versions, leading to changes in, commonly the following:

• Software on electronics
• Sizes
• Fitments
• Mouldings
• Elements
• Thermostat temperatures
• Connections
• Internal wiring
• Inlets and outlets
• Profiles of seals, etc
• Spring strength of hinges

As you can see, a lot can change, on one part in a machine or many, we've no idea without looking them up.

Odds On An Error

As we know all this, we've been doing it for a long time and a lot, we've made all the mistakes and suffered for it. Which is good for you, people who request our help, because we won't make those mistakes again.

When we look up a part, we reckon that there is a one in a thousand chance that we will be wrong.

When people are unfamiliar with how parts work, the odds of error increase to as low as one in ten.

This is why when people are even slightly unsure we urge them to ask us, we will do our utmost to help and advise you and, with that help the chances of getting an incorrect part or information is as close to zero as possible.

Our aim is to get you the correct part first time, every time.