Whether you're purchasing electronics, furniture, appliances or fitness equipment, it’s important to understand the warranty that comes standard with your product and what coverage it offers. A manufacturer’s warranty is a limited warranty that covers repair and replacement costs due to faulty products, parts or issues that stem from the manufacturing process. It is more important to understand what a manufacturer's warranty does not cover - it excludes nearly all damage outside of production-related errors, and it does not include accidental damage coverage.
If you're looking to protect your purchases for the long term and want coverage that goes beyond the limited manufacturer warranty coverage, you'll want to consider adding an extended warranty. You’ll thank yourself down the road for being informed of your warranty coverage should damage occur.
With an extended warranty, you won't be responsible for costly repairs or replacements that probably aren't included in your budget. Subscribe to Mulberry Unlimited for a product protection plan that covers all your online purchases. It goes beyond the manufacturer's warranty to give you affordable, market-leading protection for all your most-used items.
What type of coverage is included a manufacturer’s warranty?
No matter what kind of item you’re looking to purchase, many products come with a manufacturer’s warranty—which is essentially a guarantee that if anything goes wrong with your product due to the manufacturing process, the manufacturer will be responsible for any repairs. The catch is that manufacturer warranties offer short-term coverage (usually 90 days to 1 year) with many limitations and exclusions.
Depending on the product in question, the details of the manufacturer warranty coverage will differ. The standard manufacturer’s warranty for a mattress will be different than what you can expect from home appliances, but they can be useful if your issue is related to a product defect or manufacturing error.
Manufacturer warranties traditionally offer up to one year of coverage (often less) and include repair, service, and parts replacement on your product. Depending on your specific product, certain parts of the system might extend beyond the one-year contract limitations.
Appliances are a common product category for this scenario. For example, when it comes to washers and dryers, the drum and/or motor are often covered for longer than a year, as long as the issue doesn’t fall under the list of restrictions. Learn more about the signs to look out for if it may be nearing time to replace your washer or dryer.
What type of coverage is not included in a manufacturer’s warranty?
As mentioned, you’ll be covered for any basic mechanical problems within the first year, but that there are many common issues that aren’t covered under your typical manufacturer’s warranty.
- Cosmetic issues. Despite being unsightly, any scratches, dents, cracks, etc. are not covered under your basic warranty.
- Installation error. Problems stemming from an installation error are not within the scope of the manufacturer’s responsibility and as a result will not be covered.
- Mechanical issues beyond one year. Unless otherwise specified, it’s safe to assume that you won’t be covered for any damage or malfunction after you pass the one-year mark.
Why you need an extended warranty on top of the manufacturer’s warranty
Do you really need to purchase an extended warranty if you have coverage from the manufacturer? Since the average term length of a manufacturer’s warranty usually maxes out at one year, it’s important to have extended warranty coverage if you plan to maximize the lifespan and value of your products. Just because something isn’t new anymore doesn’t mean you should accept subpar functionality. Extended warranties are built to ensure your product is covered as it ages, since you’re more likely to need repairs after a few years.
Luckily, there are quality extended warranty programs that are very affordable, like MulberryCare. One of the most convenient ways to identify coverage for your specific product is with the Mulberry browser extension.
While browsing for new items to purchase, you'll get alerts when products you're shopping for are eligible for MulberryCare product protection. The best part? You aren’t limited to electronics or appliances—you can live (and entertain) stress-free knowing that everything from your sectional to your glassware is covered in the event of damage during a party!
And if you want to take it one step further, you can subscribe to Mulberry Unlimited. Mulberry Unlimited is one of the leading product protection plans available, giving you the opportunity to protect all your online purchases under the same plan for just $9.99 a month. Next time you’re wondering whether or not you need some added protection on your investment, check out what Mulberry Unlimited has to offer!
