Ignore these points about warranty at your peril

If you are gifting a gadget, ensure the warranty is in the name of the receiver

Diwali is a good time to go gadget shopping. You get mouthwatering deals and steep discounts. But, the festive euphoria also means consumers are a little less evaluative. One such thing that is easily ignored while buying a gadget is the warranty on the item.

Says advocate Pratibha Bangera: “Just because you get a warranty card doesn’t mean you will get an item repaired or replaced. A warranty is always cleverly worded, and many repairs, replacements will be at the discretion of the company. When the warranty doesn’t mention product replacement, it is subject to various conditions.” In short, read the terms of the warranty.

Ashita Aggarwal, professor, marketing at SP Jain Institute of

Management and Research, says, “The definition of warranty does not change for the consumer — for online or offline purchases. However, while buying online, the consumer needs to read the warranty conditions very carefully. Offline, you have a chance to interact with the salesperson and are well informed about the warranty features and get clarity on what is covered and what is not.”

Always ensure the warranty card has the stamp, the dealer’s signature, and date of purchase mentioned on it. Bangera says: “If you are buying online, you often get a warranty card without any stamp, which might become a problem later. Always preserve the bill, irrespective of the warranty card stamp. This applies to online as well as online purchases.”

With many products, just getting a warranty card is not enough. You need to register with the manufacturer or company as well. For many items, the warranty starts the date the product is sold by dealers, but there are many items where it is mandatory to register for the warranty to start.

Another thing to keep in mind, especially when buying online, is the geographic location of your warranty. S Jain, a Mumbai-based mobile store owner and online reseller, says, “If you buy online and the seller has bought the product from a foreign location, there’s a possibility that the warranty may not work here. In that case, you need to buy a separate warranty in India.”

Even when you go abroad and buy items there or a duty-free shop, ensure they are covered under warranty in India. Some popular items bought abroad are smartphones, gaming systems like Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops, and smartwatches.

Adds Aggarwal: “Generally for companies to execute global warranties is not easy. Mostly items you move with have global warranties, like cameras and mobiles. That’s what draws globally mobile high-end consumers to such brands.” Remember for most global warranties too, you need to register the purchase with the manufacturer or company. According to Aggarwal, registration helps the company to maintain the database, as consumers won’t carry the warranty card everywhere they go. The company also knows that almost 50 per cent of the consumers won’t register, which means for the company costs will come down.

Another important thing is extended warranties. Extended warranties are a good idea for products that have high usage and are expensive. For instance, a mixer worth ~3,500 may not be worth paying extra for the extended warranty. Also, while gifting someone a gadget, make the bill in the receiver’s name, so that she can use the warranty. The truth is there are several reasons for the warranty to be void. If nothing works, your final resort can be the consumer court, and that’s not going to be easy.