By Kathie of Two Frog Home
Recently, I had a thermometer go bad. It was one of those thermometers that uses a probe in your chicken or roast and connects to a unit that sits outside the oven. When the meat reaches the desired temperature an alarm goes off. I used that little unit frequently. It also had a great timer feature that I carried around with me when I was watering the garden as a reminder to move the sprinkler. Anyway, it broke. I remember buying that particular one (Pyrex)because it came with a lifetime warranty.
So I went to my file of owner’s manuals / warranty info and pulled out the correct one. Admittedy, I could keep that file a little more organized, but it works. I purchased the thermometer over 3 years ago, however; it did have a lifetime warranty and an address to return the product. I sent the thermometer back and within a week, I had a brand spanking new one in my mailbox (the replacement was Oneida – but still carried a lifetime warranty).
It’s one of those frugal tips we don’t talk about much in our throwaway society. Save those receipts and warranties to get a replacement! Oh, it takes a bit of time to get the items packaged up and run to the post office, but I believe that its better than having to spend time shopping for a replacement. I also rather like holding companies accountable to making long-lasting, quality products.
Do you save warranties and return things if they break before their time?
I do use warranties and return/get things fixed under them. The one thing I consider though is the nature of the product. Sometimes the stores will ask me to buy an *additional* store warranty on a product that already comes with one from the manufacturer (either for a longer service period or for covering more issues). If the product is something that is not likely to break more in the extended time, or if the fix would be easy, then I skip the extra one. Same if the product’s life is not meant to be a long one. But if its something like a laptop, ebook reader, etc. then I will go for the extra warranty.
Ah yes, but periodically go through the warranty file, and check if any warranties are outdated, I write the date of purchase, place of purchase and receipt number on the front of the warranty info alon with the date it expires.
I haven’t, but my MIL recently got Behr to cover the cost of replacement exterior paint on their house in south FL. I’m not sure what kind of guarantee it had, but the paint did not live up to it, and she called them on it. It took her some time and effort, but they did cover the costs.
Yes, I have a notebook filled with purchase and warranty info and I know how to use it! Recently, my camera was repaired for free and before that we received a new replacement stand up mixer when ours broke. It pays to be just that much more organized!
Yes, I am like you in that I hold companies accountable. Sadly, this probably serves less to encourage companies to make high quality products and more to discourage.
Recently we held Bose speaker systems accountable, and they came through. Taylor- who also makes thermometers like you wrote about- also has come through for me, twice! Other companies have lost me as a customer because of their poor handling of warranties. Two I can think of right now are Tonka (Hasbro, who has a lifetime guarantee on a truck they routinely discontinue and re-continue, making the guarantee worthless. They won’t replace yours with the reissue.) and Rival (makers of many crock pots. If a crock breaks, you can pretty much guarantee they have discontinued your style and you will have to get a whole new pot.)
I like a good lifetime satisfaction guarantee over a repair/replacement warranty.