The brand-name water purifier purchased for 5,800 yuan did not bring convenience but only added trouble. The Angel water purifier that Mr. Zhu from Jin'an District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province bought in 2023 has been experiencing frequent malfunctions since January 2025. It has been officially registered and repaired 6 times during the warranty period and has not been resolved. Now there is also a continuous water leakage problem after shutting down. Seeing that the warranty period is approaching on March 26, 2026, the old man wanted to replace it with a new one but was asked to pay more by the manufacturer. He was in trouble in safeguarding his rights.
After 6 repairs, the water purifier still shuts down and keeps pumping out water. Picture provided by interviewee
What happens to the elderly: If the water purifier cannot be repaired, the warranty period is about to end and it is uneasy
In 2023, Mr. Zhu spent 5,800 yuan to purchase an Angel water purifier at the Angel flagship store in Xiyingmen Building Materials Home Plaza, Jin'an District, Fuzhou City. The merchant promised that the product would be guaranteed until March 26, 2026. "Starting from January 2025, this water purifier began to malfunction frequently. The computer motherboard alone was replaced several times, and new problems would appear soon after each after-sales repair." Mr. Zhu told a reporter from China Business Daily Dafeng News. With this time, it has been repaired six times since 2025.
By October 2025, the water purifier has been repaired 5 times
Mr. Zhu said that the current water purifier still has a problem of non-stop water discharge after shutting down, which seriously affects daily use. At this time, there are only more than ten days left before the end of the warranty period. Mr. Zhu has defended his rights to merchants and manufacturers many times, but the problem has not been completely resolved.
Manufacturer's reply: Only core accessories will be replaced free of charge, and there will be an additional fee for replacement with a new machine.
In response to Mr. Zhu’s experience, a reporter from the Chinese Business Daily Dafeng News called Angel Group’s customer service center. After verification, the customer service backend confirmed six official maintenance records of the water purifier under Mr. Zhu’s name, and also recognized that the machine currently has an unresolved problem of shutting down and discharging water.
Regarding the question of whether the repeated failures and repairs of the water purifier are normal and when the problem will be resolved, customer service said that it is indeed unreasonable. "A malfunction occurred during the use of the machine, which we cannot predict at present. The manufacturer has contacted Mr. Zhu many times before but failed to get through. The solution given at this stage is to replace the RO unit and ACF unit for free." Customer service said that if Mr. Zhu wants to replace the whole machine with a new one, he will need to pay additional fees, and the specific amount is not clearly stated.
The maintenance record shows that the product warranty is March 26, 2026
The customer service clearly stated that if the water purifier expires after the warranty period on March 26, 2026, subsequent maintenance fees will be charged normally. She said that she will provide feedback on Mr. Zhu’s situation.
Legal expert: If the problem persists after two repairs, it can be returned or replaced, and consumers have the right to make their own choices
In response to this matter, Zhang Yunguang, a member of the China Law Society, said that according to the "Regulations on Liability for Repair, Replacement and Return of Certain Goods" –
Article 11 If a product is repaired twice and still cannot be used normally within the validity period of the Three Guarantees, based on the repair records and certificates provided by the repairer, the seller shall be responsible for exchanging the product of the same model and specifications for the consumer free of charge or return the product in accordance with the provisions of Article 13 of these regulations, and then recover compensation from the manufacturer or supplier in accordance with the law or handle it according to the purchase and sale contract.
Article 13 During the validity period of the Three Guarantees, if the conditions for exchange are met, the seller shall return the product because there is no product of the same model and specifications and the consumer is unwilling to exchange the product with other models and specifications, and the seller shall return the product; if there is a product of the same model and specifications, but the consumer is unwilling to exchange the product and requires a return, the seller shall return the product and charge depreciation fees for used goods in accordance with these regulations.
The warranty deadline of March 26, 2026 promised by Angel Merchant in this case is legally binding. At the same time, the law clearly stipulates that if the product still cannot be used normally after two repairs within the warranty period, consumers have the right to choose to return or exchange the product, and this right of choice belongs to the consumer. Manufacturers and merchants have no right to unilaterally specify processing methods.
The water purifier involved has been repaired far more than twice, and it still has functional faults and cannot be used normally. Mr. Zhu has every right to ask the merchant or manufacturer to return the product or replace it with a new one for free. Angel's approach of "only repairing but not replacing, and requiring additional money for replacement" is suspected of violating relevant laws and regulations and infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of consumers. Zhang Yunguang suggested that Mr. Zhu can keep all evidence such as maintenance records, payment vouchers, and warranty vouchers, complain to the market supervision department, or protect his legitimate rights and interests through litigation.
Huashang Daily Dafeng News reporter Xie Tao editor Li Jing
