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Show (DaDmsnainmniiQg Himteipesit 1 The warranty could make a big difference i I by Carol L. Clark Dr. Clark is the consumer f education specialist in the Utah ' Attorney General's office. J The guarantee or warranty is the manufacturer's or seller's promise to i back up a product. Warranties vary I considerably in the amount of coverage they provide, so while J you're checking out price and style, compare the protection you'll get in the warranty. I It may be worth the better I warranty coverage, which is like J insurance, to buy a more expensive product. One big repair bill could j cost much more than the difference " between the two products. I Keep your sales slip with your j warranty. Cut the warranty off the I packaging, if necessary, and file all I documents together. Without proof . of purchase, some companies will I not honor a warranty. i Limited warranties f "Limited" means the warranty I will not cover everything. For . instance, a limited warranty could: (1) Demand you bring merchan- j dise back to the store before it can be ' serviced. If you had stereo compo- nents, large appliances, etc., or you J live a considerable distance from the I seller, this provision could be j extremely inconvenient. (2) Allow for handling charges if you do have the product repaired or routinely serviced. (3 ) Provide only a pro-rated refund rather than total reimbursement if you return the product. (4 ) Cover parts but not labor costs. (5) Become void if you sell the product to someone else. In unique cases, the product may have a limited warranty on some components and a full warranty on others. Full warranties When a product has a full warranty, it means the manufacturer or seller, as specified, will: (1 ) Refund your money or replace unfixable merchandise. (2) Remove, repair and reinstall defective products free. (3) Transfer warranty coverages to a new owner if you sell the product or give it away. (4) Fix the product in a reasonable amount of time. A full warrant doesn't necessarily mean every part of a product is covered. For example, your television's televi-sion's full warranty may be for the picture Jube only. Implied warranties Every state has a limited warranty provision in its body of law. Limited warranties are distinct from manufacturer manu-facturer warranties. The "warranty of merchantability" merchantabil-ity" is the most widely recognized implied warranty because it specifies that the seller promises a product will perform the jobs it is advertised to do. A blender must blend, an electric drill must drill, and so forth. If it doesn't, then under state law there are provisions for you to get either a refund or a working product. The "warranty of fitness for a particular purpose" means if a seller promises a product will meet a specified need, the product must perform for that need. For example, an awning which you're told will withstand 40 mile per hour winds must do so. Implied warranties are automatically automatic-ally yours whenever you buy something. The implied warranty is there even if no other warranty is. "As Is" The only exception to this coverage is when a merchant says you're buying something "as is." "As is" means what you see is what You get. No warranty applies at all. You pay your money and take your chance. "As is" merchandise can be perfectly fine, but even if the product falls apart a week later, you have no redress. , Express warranties Express warranties are spoken promises and advertising claims. State laws specify exactly what express warranties mean, but you can expect to get what the company says it will give. Service Contracts Service contracts provide continued con-tinued coverage on products after the warranty has expired. Fees for these contracts vary considerably, especially in the automobile industry. indus-try. Consequential damages "Consequential damages" are costs incurred when a product breaks down. For instance, if your freezer collapses and your food is spoiled, the company must pay for both repair of the product and the food loss. Many warranties specify that consequential damages are not covered. Watch for this disclaimer in a warranty. Personal injury Should a defective product injure you, see your attorney. Depending on the circumstance, the seller and or manufacturer may be liable for costs. |