When you make a purchase, you might feel optimistic. The product seems excellent, the salesperson is friendly and caring: You feel like you’re in good hands. And we hope you are. But what if the product turns out to be a dud? The car that stalls, the chair with a wobbly leg, the vacuum that sucks – no, the vacuum that doesn’t suck. What if you call the company and instead of the friendly salesperson, you get some surly, unhelpful fellow? How do you get your product repaired, replaced, or refunded? That’s where the power of a warranty comes in.
Understanding warranties
When your purchase comes with a warranty, the seller is guaranteeing that the product will have some degree of reliability for a certain amount of time. If the product isn’t up to snuff, the seller must replace it or fix it for free. But warranties differ as to how long they last, how much they cost and exactly what they cover.
According to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975, warranties must include the following
- The name and address of the company offering the warranty
- Description of what product or parts are covered
- Precisely what you can expect from the warranty, such as replacement, repair, or refund
- How long your product is covered by the warranty once you buy it
- What’s not covered by the warranty (such as using the product in ways it wasn’t intended)
- Information about how to resolve disputes that may arise
- Info regarding the consumer’s legal rights
The act doesn’t cover verbal warranties, products sold for resale, or warranties on services.
Implied Warranties
It’s easy to understand a warranty that’s written in plain language and printed out for you. But an implied warranty means the consumer has a right to expect the product to perform as claimed, even if it’s not written down. Some sketchy retailers might try to dodge the implied warranty, but it’s the law. Of course, having a written warranty is easier to enforce.
Lifetime Warranties
Lifetime warranties sound ideal. Unfortunately, there’s often fine print that limits their usefulness. Maybe you’re covered as long as the product is on the market, or as long as you are the owner, voiding the warranty if you decide to give the product to your sister. Or the warranty might refer to the natural life of a product, meaning wear and tear isn’t covered. Hey, you weren’t expecting those boots to last forever, were you?
Buzz’ warranty
At Buzz Custom Fence, we offer clear warranties on labor and workmanship for a full year from the time the final component is installed. Depending on the materials we use to install your fence and gate, you will usually have additional manufacturer warranties. These vary depending on the manufacturer and the materials. For detailed information on our warranties, please visit our warranty info page.
Warranty tips
Here are a few tips to help you get the most from your warranties:
- Read before you buy. We know, they’re not very exciting. But the bigger the purchase, the more important it is to know what you’re getting into.
- Make a warranty file and tuck it safely in your file cabinet. Keep your original receipt in there, too.
- Check out the company, especially if you’ve never heard of them before. Have people lodged complaints against them with the Better Business Bureau? How are their online reviews?
- Use the product as intended. Off-label use could void that warranty.
Feel safe with Buzz
At Buzz, we stand behind our work, and our warranty proves it. Need a fence or a gate? We’re confident that you’ll be satisfied with our work. And we back it up with our solid warranty.
