Under EU law, all electrical items (and many other other purchases as well) should be expected to last for a minimum of SIX YEARS from the date of purchase. (Obviously, expendable items like batteries are excluded).
If an item fails within that period, DUE TO AN INHERENT FAULT, the RETAILER (and NOT the manufacturer) is obliged to remedy the problem, either through repair or replacement. The consumer can indicate which of those options he would prefer but the retailer can substitute the alternative option upon the grounds of economic viability.
An 'inherent fault' is something which was wrong with the product at the time of purchase. (Such as the use of poor quality components or poor workmanship). For the first six months after purchase there is an automatic legal assumption (unless there is clear evidence to the contrary) that any problem which occurs must be due to an inherent fault. Thereafter it's up to the customer to show, based upon the balance of probabilities, that an inherent fault is the most likely cause of the problem. (Sometimes simply challenging a retailer to suggest any reason why a fault might have occurred so soon, other than the use of poor quality components, might be sufficient to do this).
HASSLE THE RETAILER, CRISGAL!
Chris