If you’re buying new electronics, make the most of your purchase by shopping smart when it comes to your warranty options. There are numerous warranties on the market, each with their own features. In this article, we will explore the types of warranty plans that are available when you buy a new electronic device, and run through some examples so you can understand what might be covered.
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What are warranties and how do they work?
Warranties are promises from the manufacturer that a product will perform to a specific standard during a designated period of time. Typically, it outlines that a level of service or replacement will be offered if your product fails to meet those standards during that window, and the failure is due to a fault from the manufacturer. To redeem a warranty, customers typically have to meet criteria outlined in the warranty contract.
Some warranties are written in a document, while others are discussed as part of the sales process when an expert helps a customer find an item that they have little knowledge about. Let’s get more specific about the various types.
Express warranty
An express warranty is typically identified through advertising or a written document, and guarantees to the customer that the product will perform to a certain standard and be eligible for replacement or repair if it fails to meet that standard. Think of the document you get with a mattress, appliance, or car, which let you know what type of malfunctions will be covered within your first one or two years of ownership.
Implied warranty
An implied warranty is when the item is guaranteed that it will function in the way it is designed to in order to fulfill a specific purchase. This can be without a written document, and will be via the word of the seller in a spoken conversation.
Introducing the extended warranty
The express warranty may be more familiar when you think of your consumer purchases, and many companies or brands offer additional coverage for your item beyond the standard manufacturer warranty. This will likely be called an extended warranty.
With an extended warranty, electronics may be covered for a longer period of time, or have a guarantee for additional parts and features than you’d find in your standard manufacturer warranty.
What other options are there for an extended warranty?
Many brands will also break down their extended warranty coverage into two categories:
- Standard coverage
- Accidental coverage
The latter can be an especially helpful option when you are looking for an electronics warranty. With your primary electronics, like phones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops, or headphones, those items will likely be used daily, and see wear and tear from being in your purse or backpack everywhere you go.
This means they are susceptible to significant risk. What if you drop the item in a puddle? Get it wet in the rain? Drop it on the floor and cause the screen to crack? Life happens, and accidental coverage can be a lifesaver in those situations.
Here are a couple of examples:
- Laptop extended warranty at Walmart: This extended warranty plan covers accidental damage, and Walmart makes it an option for various portable electronics products. It covers drops and cracked screens, spills, and everything listed in the standard plan, such as mechanical, power, or electrical failures. As always, you’ll need to read the fine print, but you’ll get more than the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Samsung TV warranty at Best Buy: The Geek Squad protection options cover extended time frames depending on the package you choose, with 2-year and 5-year plans available for TV purchases.
Reach out to Mulberry
At Mulberry, we offer product protection for all your purchases to cover standard and accidental damage. Think of it as one portal for all of your extended warranty needs.
Subscribe to Mulberry Unlimited to get product protection for all your online purchases, and make your items true investments for the long-term.
