Understand conditions that can render warranty void before buying a product

Buy an extended warranty only if there is no duplication vis-a-vis manufacturer's warranty

Do you plan to buy a big-ticket item to benefit from the many offers available both online and offline during the festival season? Before making a purchase, not only should you study the product’s pros and cons, you must also assess the level of protection offered by its warranty.

A warranty may be viewed as a small insurance policy through which the manufacturer seeks to reassure the client that if its product stops functioning within a certain period of time, it will repair or replace it.

Read terms and conditions    

In India, however, very rarely does the warranty say that the entire product or part will be replaced with no questions asked. A warranty usually comes with many conditions attached, which is why it is essential to understand its fine print.

Ashita Aggarwal, professor of marketing at SPJIMR says, “The customer must check whether there is a warranty, the period for which it will last, what is covered under it, and whether there are clauses or conditions that could render it null and void.”  

The terms and conditions of warranty may not be the same for an off-line and an online purchase. Aggarwal says, “Often, consumers look for products offline and then buy them online. When you buy online, check who will service it, and whether there are additional clauses in the warranty.”

Often, the seller’s website will have a visual representation displaying the number of years of warranty. Samir Malik, partner, DSK Legal says, “On reading the terms and conditions of the warranty, you may learn that the warranty is subject to the seller’s discretion, which makes it redundant.”

Read the warranty description accompanying the warranty card. Anshul Gupta, managing partner, ANG Partners Advocates & Solicitors says, “That is the document a consumer should check to know the extent and duration of coverage.”

Unstamped warranty card

Sometimes, when you buy an item online, the package may come with an unstamped warranty card. This can at times pose a problem.

The solution is to visit the authorised service centre with the invoice. Aditya Chopra, managing partner, Victoriam Legalis-Advocates & Solicitors says, “A copy of the invoice is enough to claim the warranty. If you have lost the invoice, e-commerce platforms give you the option to download it from your registered account.”
 

Extended warranty

It essentially extends the coverage for a consumer durable product beyond the warranty period offered by the manufacturer at the time of purchase. Buying an extended warranty is advisable in case of expensive products that are used extensively.  

Sandeep Bajaj, managing partner, PSL Advocates & Solicitors says, “Extended warranty can be offered either by the manufacturer itself or by a third party.” While the former’s extended warranty is convenient, the latter’s can offer better features.

An extended warranty may not be required always. The manufacturer’s warranty may itself extend for a long period. If you don't read the terms and conditions of the original warranty and buy an extended warranty, you could end up spending extra money unnecessarily.

Bajaj says, “Make sure there is no duplication of coverage. Only when a third party covers damage over and above what the manufacturer does will an extended warranty make sense.”

Before purchasing an extended warranty from a third party, check reviews about it online. Check the coverage, hidden costs, transferability, and exclusions.

Online warranty

An online warranty is provided by a third party, which offers it for several products. Abhinay Sharma, managing partner, ASL Partners says, “This is a form of product protection that can be purchased online. It is offered by a company that only sells merchandise coverage and doesn’t sell any physical product.”

An online warranty can cover both new and used items. Customers can select different levels and periods of coverage. Online warranties often only cover products sold by specified distributors, including online sales companies.

Understand the fine print

• If you buy online and the seller has bought the product from a foreign location, the warranty may not work here, so you may have to buy a separate one
• Damage due to erratic power supply, usage of wrong type of battery, or opening of the product by a non-authorised agency can render the warranty void 
• Many manufacturers require you to register the warranty card or the purchase bill to activate the warranty; make sure you do so  
• Before buying, fully understand the product’s return, cancellation and refund policy