Everything you buy comes with a warranty. Whether it is
that the vender has the right to sell it, or that scrap
metal is actually metal.
Many goods, though not boast a warranty or promising that
if you are not satisfied your money will be returned, do
in fact have "implied" warranties.
This implication is by law, and has been established over
generations by the Courts. Selling an item, "as is/where
is", does suggest that it is not in prime condition, but
does not impute that it will explode.
The infamous, "no refund" only operates as long as the
purchaser actually gets what he or she purported to buy.
It does not protect a vender from misrepresentation, such
as purchasing sheets for a king sized bed and getting sheets
for a double bed.
In matters in which Consumer Organizations intervene, "no
refund" is forgotten.
Very often vendors will claim that the warranty was breached
by the consumer. In most cases this is untrue. If you
purchase a product and use it for the purpose it was intended
there is virtually nothing you can do to cause the warranty
to be vitiated.
A particular cell phone was recalled in Japan because it was
so susceptible to moisture than putting it against a normal
ear would cause it to cease to function.
This phone was later sold to third world countries by venders
who would claim it was the consumer who caused the damage.
In those nations which had Consumer organizations the product
was removed from the market. In those which had not, a
defective product was foisted on those least able to
withstand the loss.
A warranty can be understood as a statement; "This product is
so good that it will work as specified for a period of X
time."
When the product doesn't work as specified for the period
claimed, the warranty kicks in, and the consumer is to be
reimbursed, offered a replacement or the item repaired.
It is not to be a matter of angst, it is to be dealt with
as a matter of course.
As a consumer, be vigilant. Be sure of what you are
purchasing, its uses and be unwilling to accept
that you have invalidated the warranty by regular use.
As a vendor, do not sell inferior products, do not refuse to
satisfy your customers. It is better to take the loss than
to lose patronage.
Word of mouth supersedes commercials on prime time
television. If you ask me which is the best computer to buy,
I will instantly tell you Dell because they live up to their
warranty.
Another company, once "the standard", so dissatisfied their
customers, they tumbled so far they had to sell off part of
their business.
What caused this?
Word of Mouth
The company which instantly offers a refund, replacement or
credit note will keep that customer. The company which makes
getting back payment a three act play not only will never see
that customer again, but everyone he speaks to, and everyone
they speak to.
Living up to warranties is required by law. Do not provoke
the law to take its course. Losing business is the result
no matter which way the decision goes.
