Sadly, even with the best products and most informed purhase decisions, we occasionally must turn to warranty protection. You know how you feel after something you’ve purchased breaks down.
Think back on your last six months. How many useful household or outdoor tools have broken? How many times have you had to call on the protection of your warranty to get an item repaired or replaced? I’ve been keeping track of our warranty activity for the last two years. We’ve required warranty service on a stand mixer, garden loppers, two Leatherman pocket knives, a crockpot, a freezer, a truck and a tractor, DVDs, a pellet stove, electronics equipment, a treadmill, a teapot (three times) and more! Some of these items were even technically out of the warranty period, but we received compensation from the manufacturer as a courtesy.
The reason that we were able to jump on these warranty issues right away was because we have a filing system in place that allows us easy access to the needed information. Here’s a suggested list of what to do each and every time you make a waranteed purchase.
1. Send in Registration. Very often, there is a registration card included with your manual. Fill it out and send it in promptly. More and more companies are offering internet registration, which saves you a stamp and the vulnerability of exposing personal information through the snail mail system.
2. Document Your Purchase. Attach the receipt to the front of the manual, using a stapler or a paper clip. On the front cover or inside cover of your manual, write down the following information:
- Model Number
- Serial Number
- Date of Purchase
- Place of Purchase — Name, Address & Phone Number
- Contact Person — Service Manager or Salesperson
- Who to Contact for Warranty Service — the manual will tell you whether it is the place of purchase or the manufacturer
3. File Manual and Receipt. In your file cabinet, keep an expandable file labeled “Household: Manuals”. For vehicles or large pieces of equipment, consider making individual files. Keep your manuals put away in their appropriate files when not in use. This way they’ll be handy when next you need them.
4. Making a Warranty Claim. If you need to make a warranty claim, refer to your handwritten notes on the front of the manual. When you make the necessary phone call, you will have all the information right at your fingertips.
When you have a warranty issue, use a fresh piece of paper to take notes regarding the call. Note the date, the person with whom you spoke, the issues discussed, and what should happen next. Keep this paper with the manual from now on. It will be a permanent record of all correspondence regarding the product.
Or, if you requested help via email, create a folder in your email account with the name of the product or company. Save all correspondence in this folder.
Even if your warranty period has elapsed, consider contacting the manufacturer anyway. Very often, good companies are concerned enough for your future business that they will make some sort of amends — a complete replacement or a credit toward a replacement.
Photo Credit: mrmanc on flickr.
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