Wanted Dimplex XL12N storage heater without the bricks

[ProDave]

Simple job to do. Replace a knackered old tatty and damaged Dimplex XL12N with a new one.

I had the brilliant idea I could re use the old bricks from the old one, thus saving having to buy the bricks and doing a bit of recycling.

My normal wholesaler will sell me one without the bricks, but for the same price as with them. They say "the bricks come free"

Has anyone ever done that. It doesn't seem right that I can't save even a little by re using the old bricks which are in perfectly good condition.

So I'm just looking to buy one without the bricks. Also without bricks they are light enough to post so anyone know a cheap mail order source?

Alternatively I would buy a good condition second hand one if anyone is removing one in the near future.

 

[Tooold]

I'v replaced a few and the old ones were put on ebay (not by me) and seemed to sell, you could just recycle the metal bits you dont want.

 

[bengie]

an xl12 is still going to be 15Kg+ so hate to see shipping costs, its horrible to say but we skipped a brand new heater a month ago as it had been stripped of a few parts(thermostat cutout assembly, elements, control knobs think that was it) as there was no where to store it and no one wanted it(including the wholesaler we use).

sorry.

 

[bengie]

forgot to say, if you don't change the bricks then the warranty is void and they are different to look at.

 

[PC Electrics]

Neweys Newlec range are Dimplex heaters with a Newlec badge. Why not try them to see if they'll sell theirs without bricks? You need an NL10580 (auto) or NL10576 (man)

 

[ProDave]

Regarding postage, an empty storage heater with a bit of packing probably weighs in at about 20Kg.

You can send any parcel up to 30Kg anywhere in the uk using Parcel Force 48. If you book that parcel delivery on line at senditnow.co.uk it will cost just

 

[bengie]

i wasn't on about the bricks warranty, its the entire heater that loses its warranty and they do fail in that after a number of years they crumble and break up.

 

[ProDave]

Just to hopefully conclude this, I've bought a second hand one from ebay.

Having the bricks already meant I only needed the carcass of the heater which makes it light enough to post which the seller agreed to (in spite of advertising it as collection only)

 

[PC Electrics]

As it happens I've replaced an old Dimplex with a Newlec this weekend. I checked with Neweys and they will supply the heater without bricks, but there's no reduction in the price!

Also the only change to the bricks is that the cutout has been changed to non-handed (non-orientated might be a better description as they used to have to be the right way up for element entry).

 

[ProDave]

As it happens I've replaced an old Dimplex with a Newlec this weekend. I checked with Neweys and they will supply the heater without bricks, but there's no reduction in the price!

That attitude stinks. I'm sure if you had a heater and had lost or broken the bricks and needed some more, they suddenly would not be "free"

Anyway in this case it was not important for the heater to be brand new, just reasonably presentable. So the wholesalers by refusing to reduce the price for not supplying the bricks (even by a small token amount) have lost a sale, and some goodwill.

 

[PC Electrics]

I totally agree Dave.

The retirement village where I replaced the heater this weekend had a skip with about 5 heaters worth of Dimplex bricks in, so I added to it. If there was a serious way of purchasing a heater without the bricks and saving the cash I would have rescued the good bricks because the village has 49 residences all with Dimplex storage heaters fitted from new 23 years ago and I could have re-used loads (and split the saving with the clients, perhaps).

I might consider contacting Dimplex to see what their policy is on this matter. It's not just poor customer service, it's also bad for the environment and one would think this policy would contravene any responsible companys environmental policy.

 

[ProDave]

Interesting points regarding waste. I wonder how their attitude on this fits with the WEEE directive? I know scrap storage heater bricks are not electrical waste on their own, but they are waste from electrical equipment so presumably covered by that directive? If so is there any pressure that can be placed by any regulator (presumably trading standards enforce the WEEE directive) to force manufacturers to take a more responsible view.

If the manufacturers thought about this logically, they would price the heater and the bricks separately, such that the combined cost was equal to the total cost as they are sold today. At a stroke that would encourage people to re use old but perfectly serviceable bricks and reduce the environmental impact, not least through reduced transport costs.

And the first storage heater manufacturer to do that would potentially have a huge market advantage in reduced costs and green credentials.

If you do discuss it with Dimplex, make those points to them and see what they say.