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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Plumbing Questions >> eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1523012307 Message started by Phil the Fluter on Apr 6^th, 2018, 11:58am

Title: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by Phil the Fluter on Apr 6^th, 2018, 11:58am

A Baxi Duo Tec diverter valve cartridge costs about £50 at my local plumbers merchants.

The apparently identical cartridge costs about £20 (including p+p) from several sellers on eBay.

The huge difference in price seems too good to be true.

Should I be wary?

Title: Re: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by londonman on Apr 8^th, 2018, 9:52pm

How long is it going to take you to replace it ?

And again if the £20 one is not kosher?

Title: Re: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by thescruff on Apr 8^th, 2018, 10:05pm

Generaly I wouldn't fit any non-genuine part just not worth it as you don't know what you are getting.

Title: Re: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by Phil the Fluter on Apr 8^th, 2018, 10:13pm

I can certainly see the sense of not fitting a non-genuine part.

The problem is that the cartridges sold on eBay appear indistinguishable from the genuine part so it's impossible to know whether they are genuine or not.

The only difference is that the genuine part comes in a little plastic bag with a set of instructions from Baxi - and the eBay part come on its own.

The question "Is it worth the risk?" is sensible indeed. I just wondered whether anybody here knew whether or not the eBay parts were genuine.

Title: Re: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by thescruff on Apr 8^th, 2018, 10:17pm

There's a lot of pre-owned parts on ebay, you really pay your money and take a chance.

Title: Re: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by Phil the Fluter on Apr 8^th, 2018, 10:32pm

"pre-owned" would certainly explain the absence of the little plastic bag and the Baxi instruction sheet!

:D

Title: Re: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by thescruff on Apr 9^th, 2018, 8:53am

You don't get instructions, One is expected to know.

Title: Re: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by Phil the Fluter on Apr 9^th, 2018, 2:58pm

You don't get instructions with the eBay part.

You do get instructions (from Baxi) with the genuine part supplied by my local plumbers' merchant.

Title: Re: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by thescruff on Apr 10^th, 2018, 12:45am

Been retired for nearly 13 years so must be something new, because I don't recall ever getting instructions

Title: Re: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by Lectrician on Apr 11^th, 2018, 6:24am

I had a genuine Vailant boiler pump last week from eBay, from a decent trader. It came with instructions that were just pics, no wording. A bag full of new o-rings and circlips. Genuine for sure, it was from a seller who sold boiler stuff exclusively. £25 cheaper than when I rang around local merchants.

Title: Re: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by thescruff on Apr 11^th, 2018, 8:39am

Still hit and miss Lec unless they are a spares Co selling online.

Check out the prices here.

https://www.dhsspares.co.uk/collectionpoints/preston-heating-spare-parts

Title: Re: eBay boiler parts - a bargain or not?
Post by Lectrician on Apr 11^th, 2018, 8:49pm

Cheers Scruff - They would have been a tickle cheaper (60p).

This was the bay listing: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAILLANT-ECOTEC-PLUS-637-837-937-BOILER-PUMP-0020025042-BRAND-NEW/322473577689?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

This is yours: https://www.dhsspares.co.uk/product/vaillant-0020025042-pump-vaillant-0-1379938

Ebay: £149.22 inc delivery.
DHS Spares : £148.62 inc delivery.

I think my pump in the boiler was faulty from the off. The boiler has always been noticeable when on, it would wake me up at 05:30 before my alarm clock. Recently it started making horrible noises, so bit the bullet and replaced it (I did think of new boiler, as current one is 11 years, which has flown by!). With the new pump, the whole system is so much quieter, and I sleep in until the alarm clock!

Quicker heat up time, silent rads, and if I am not mistaken, less tinking as the copper pipes expand??

Blissful :-) Wish I had done it years ago!