Hisense Portable AC – No Parts, No Repair, No Durability. CPA Non-Compliance

Hisense Portable AC – No Parts, No Repair, No Durability. CPA Non-Compliance?

I purchased a Hisense portable air conditioner in October 2024. By month 14 — just two months outside of the 12-month warranty — the unit malfunctioned.

Water began spewing from the air vent and leaking internally, creating a serious electrical and fire risk. This is not cosmetic wear and tear. It is a failure of a core internal component responsible for condensate management.

I contacted Hisense fully aware that the warranty had expired. I did not demand a free repair. I requested access to an authorised repairer so that I could repair the unit at my own cost.

Hisense provided approximately 10–12 service providers. Every single one confirmed they do not service Hisense portable air conditioners due to the unavailability of spare parts.

After repeated follow-ups, Hisense admitted that spare parts are not kept locally because it is “too expensive.”

This raises serious concerns under the Consumer Protection Act:

• **Section 55** – Consumers have the right to receive goods that are reasonably durable, taking into account the nature and price of the product. • **Section 55(3)** – Suppliers must ensure that facilities for repair and spare parts are available for a reasonable period after the goods are supp****. • **Section 56** – The imp**** warranty of quality exists independently of the manufacturer’s written warranty.

A portable air conditioner costing approximately R6,000 is not a disposable product. A reasonable consumer expects several years of usable life — not failure at 13–14 months with no possibility of repair.

Nowhere at point of sale was there any disclaimer stating that spare parts would not be available after warranty expiry. If a product effectively becomes landfill once the 12-month warranty lapses, that must be disclosed upfront.

This matter is no longer about warranty. It is about durability, after-sales support, and compliance with the CPA.

Retailers such as HiFi Corp (and others stocking this brand) should reconsider selling products that cannot be supported beyond the warranty period — or clearly disclose that repair may not be possible.

Extremely disappointed in both the product quality and Hisense’s position that keeping spare parts is “too expensive.”

Customer deserve better.