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A question manufacturers conveniently forgot · 3 November 06

So, do you think that warranties are:

a) a way of circumventing our rights as customers
b) a way of making us forget our rights as customers
c) let’s face it, we’re only the customer, who cares about our rights anyway?

I mean think about it. You buy a laptop, and it comes with a one year warranty. What that is effectively saying, is that the laptop is expected to last for one year. But if you thought about it that way in the first place, you wouldn’t drop all that money on it, would you? You certainly expect that laptop to last more than one year, and it should last more than one year. But by giving you that one year warranty, they have neutralised you. After that time, they can turn round and say – oh, the warranty has expired, you must pay for the repair now. What about the fact that they have sold you shoddy goods?

I don’t know what the situation is in the US, I really don’t. It wouldn’t surprise me if the customer has no rights at all. But in the UK, I know this. Warranties are not, in fact, legally binding. The manufacturer does not have to honour them, and it is up to them what lengths they can go to when choosing to do so. But, and it is a very big but, as a consumer, you have rights. There is an expected length of time that a product will last. If the product does not last that long, you have the right to a proportion of its value, according to that estimated lifespan. So, if a laptop should last, say, four years (that isn’t unreasonable I think), then when it breaks down 1 day after the 1 year warranty expires, you are entitled to 75% of its value. Go to your Citizen’s Advice Bureau, that is exactly what they’ll tell you.

So what exactly did happen to our rights as a consumer? c) anybody?

  1. You are in violation of section 7, subsection 3 of the Consumers as Sheep Act of 2000. A team has been dispatched to administer appropriate reprogramming, consisting of twelve consecutive hours of Friends re-runs.


    — Adrian    Nov 3, 11:43    #

  2. Actually, the manufacturers are responsible for producing and warranteeing their goods under the Magnusson Moss Warranty Act. If you want more on the act, look at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/warranty.htm

    If you’re having a problem with a laptop and they aren’t honoring their warranty, then document all of your communications with them and contact the attorney general or the Consumer Affairs/Protection bureau of your state. Also, writing the manufacturer a letter and cc’ing the Attorney General of your state or the Consumer Affairs commision of your local government is a good way to get some response.

    Also, it is my general understanding under the Magnusson Moss act that if the item is unsuccessfully repaired for the same problem or several major unrelated issues, that it may be considered wholly defective and require either refund or replacement with new goods. I believe the choice is at the consumer’s discretion. I could be wrong about this…but it is worth a shot.

    Hope that helps.

    Dan


    — Dan    Nov 3, 14:02    #
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