Warranties always seem to be a point of confusion and/or contention for a lot of customers when they purchase almost any costly item such as computers, tv’s and appliances. There’s typically a lot of fine print involved and details that could confuse consumers about how things work. While it may seem to be the last thing on your mind during your purchase, it’s important to clearly understand the warranty you get with your appliances – whether it’s the manufacturer warranty or an extended warranty.
If you’re shopping for appliances now, or are going to in the future or just purchased some, you very likely will encounter what is called a Manufacturers Warranty. These are exactly as they seem, they are warranties issued and managed by the manufacturer. They typically are 1-year in length and though there are some caveats to the warranty depending on the manufacturer, many have similar if not the same coverage details. It’s important to be clear here on who the manufacturer is. If you buy an Apple computer at Best Buy, the manufacturer is not Best Buy, it is Apple. A manufacturer is any company that makes or develops a product. The retailer is the company that sells the products that manufacturers make.
With a Manufacturer Warranty, within the first year after purchase, all issues related to the appliance must be handled through the manufacturer themselves. At times, helpful retailers may liaise on behalf of the customers, however any decisions related to the replacement or servicing of appliances under the Manufacturer’s Warranty is ultimately up to the manufacturer themselves.
Remember when we mentioned understanding your warranty a bit earlier? This is where that comes into play. Each manufacturer has different policies and coverage depending on the nature of the Warranty they provide. There are a few things that most Manufacturer Warranties include such as:
- Needing proof of purchase when using the warranty. Most manufacturers need to know when and where you purchased the product before providing any further assistance, so be sure to have an invoice number or receipt on hand if you’re able.
- Cosmetic damage and damage from misuse is typically not covered. If the cosmetic damage is reported within the first 24-48 hours of delivery, many (but not all) manufacturers will typically cover the repair of this under their warranty. If it is not reported, there is a strong likelihood it will not be covered and you will have to pay to have it repaired.
- Doing your own repairs could cost you. If you can avoid it do not attempt your own repairs or hire an outside service company to take care of the issue. If there are issues with this repair afterwards, the manufacturer will likely not cover any other repairs following.
Something else to keep in mind is purchasing an Extended Warranty. After the 1-year Manufacturer Warranty expires, if you do not have an Extended Warranty from the retailer, anything that happens with the appliance will not be covered. Typically these will be refunded to some extent or a percentage of the warranty can be used as credit in the store if you don’t end up using it. Again, fully understanding the Extended Warranty is something you want to ensure you do as well.
Overall, warranties of any kind are there to help the customer if used properly and understood clearly by the customer. Much of the confusion comes into play when there is a lack of clarity on how things are processed or covered by the different warranties. If there is ever anything you are unclear on, be sure to ask. We are always happy to help our customers and want to ensure they are getting the best use out of the warranty they are entitled to.
