Do YOU Care About Warranties When Purchasing?

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1gkar

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#23882 10-Jul-2008 18:14

I am looking to upgrade my new desktop system with a proper gaming graphics card (just has my old HTPC 6600LE model) & upon viewing a number of sites, none of them are honouring the manufacturer's specified warranty.I'm referring to this Asus 9600GT model.
http://www.asus.co.nz/products.aspx?l1=2&l2=6&l3=651&l4=0&model=2103&modelmenu=1It plainly states on the New Zealand website it has a three year warranty, yet none of the sites, that even bother to specify their warranty period, is prepared to cover the designated term.

Does anyone even care this is happening! Or am I in the minority?

If anyone knows of a (retail) store that is honouring the warranty on the mentioned card, please post as I'd probably buy from them. I don't mind paying a bit extra for good product support.

Silverstone LC14 HTPC Case/Intel E4600 CPU/GA-EP35-DS3 MOBO/Asus EN9500GT graphics/2GB RAM/total 2TB HDD space/HVR-2200 & 2X 150MCE tuner cards/LG GGC-H20L BD Drive/MCE2005/Mediaportal/TVServer 1.1.0Final/LG 55"3D LED-TV/Denon AVR-1803 receiver/X1 projector

marmel

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#146276 10-Jul-2008 18:18

If the Asus site lists the warranty as 3 years what is the problem? Just keep your receipt and if you have any problems contact Asus direct, they will advise you where to send the card. The retailers don't pay for repairs, Asus do.

StrangeOne

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Wannabe Geek

#146401 10-Jul-2008 21:27

A three year warranty over a one year warranty would be a big selling point for me. Two products with similar price and features, I'd go with the one with the three year warranty any day. I may even go for an inferior product if it has a three year warranty.

http://www.asus.co.nz/products.aspx?l1=2&l2=6&l3=651&l4=0&model=2103&modelmenu=1It plainly states on the New Zealand website it has a three year warranty, yet none of the sites, that even bother to specify their warranty period, is prepared to cover the designated term.

Are you just going on the information on the sites or have they confirmed that they will not cover the designated term? It may just be an oversight. If it's covered for three years, I can't see why they wouldn't honour that - unless the stock is parallel imported.

If the Asus site lists the warranty as 3 years what is the problem? Just keep your receipt and if you have any problems contact Asus direct, they will advise you where to send the card. The retailers don't pay for repairs, Asus do.

Good customer service. I'd rather spend my money somewhere I'll be looked after over somewhere that'll mess me around.

rscole86

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#146416 10-Jul-2008 22:01

That will be three years when bought from an approved asus wholesaler/retailer, from a parallel importer? Then you will be lucky to get any warranty, even if you get one, is it an exchange warranty? repaired with genuine parts? repaired with aftermarket parts?

I always look at warrantys on everything I buy, and will often consider extending them too.

richms

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#146518 11-Jul-2008 00:59

I dont usually bother looking into them. things either last a decent time or are prettymuch DOA in my experiance.

3 years down the track the card will be worth nothing so its not important IMO

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1gkar

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Ultimate Geek

#147396 13-Jul-2008 13:21

richms: I dont usually bother looking into them. things either last a decent time or are prettymuch DOA in my experiance.

3 years down the track the card will be worth nothing so its not important IMO

Well, it would be important to me. Guess you would also pay $40 000 for a car if the warranty was crap.

Update: the company I bought the 9600GT -Asus- from clarified the situation. The warranty is covered totally for the first year. For the next two, you have to pay for cost of product transport etc. So $10-odd is not bad for the extra two years.

rscole86

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#147399 13-Jul-2008 13:28

I would still question them over this, are they covering genuine parts? Who is doing the repair work?

AFAIK ASUS do NOT have any authorised repair agents, and will not let anyone repair their goods. I know that with their laptops that is definitely the case, and they also cover all warranty freight charges by arranging all couriers themselves.

If it was me I would not feel comfortable dealing with them without a definite answer.

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rscole86

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#147402 13-Jul-2008 13:32

richms: I dont usually bother looking into them. things either last a decent time or are prettymuch DOA in my experiance.

3 years down the track the card will be worth nothing so its not important IMO

The card may be worthless, but if it is gauranteed for three years, and they cannot repair it then they will replace it, and if they do not have a replacement, then they will replace it with the next best thing (ie new model).

I would like to know what you would do if your GPU died after say 14months? And you had spent $1,000 on it as it was brand spanking new. Would you just shrug your shoulders and buy a new one? Or would you look into the warranty and get it repaired?

BobW

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#147458 13-Jul-2008 16:37

I tend to not consider warranties much, on the basis that the Consumer Guarantees Act generally provides better coverage for longer. For this reason, I would never buy an extended warranty because they tend to be very expensive yet basically worthless (relative to what the Consumer Guarantees Act provides for free).

The main downside to relying on the Consumer Guarantees Act is that most retailers haven't got a clue what their obligations are and so try to wriggle out of doing what they are supposed to do. By the way, their obligations include postage each way for any repair or replacement.

1gkar

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#147479 13-Jul-2008 18:02

And if the company you are dealing with doesn't want to know about the CGA, what rights do you have without going through a lawyer or long, frustrating due process?

BobW

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#147508 13-Jul-2008 19:32

1gkar: And if the company you are dealing with doesn't want to know about the CGA, what rights do you have without going through a lawyer or long, frustrating due process?

The same rights you get with a warranty, plus a few extra ones.

My point wasn't that warranties are worthless, but rather than the CGA generally gives the consumer some rights that warranties usually don't give. The value of warranties is that the retailer's obligations are clearly stated, leading to fewer arguments if the product doesn't work properly. Some warranties even go beyond what the CGA requires, but such deals are rare.

Even with a warranty, getting retailers to fix things can often be a difficult and frustrating experience. A common experience is for the retailer to refer the customer to the manufacturer. Under the CGA, you have a right to deal with the manufacturer directly, but the retailer cannot abdicate their responsibility by making you do so.

I should also mention that the CGA applies only to consumers. It does not cover business transactions.

As for process when the retailer doesn't meet their obligations, either under warranty or the CGA, the quickest and cheapest way is via the Disputes Tribunal. But be careful what you wish for - ensure that you actually have a valid case before taking it to the Disputes Tribunal.

richms

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#147579 13-Jul-2008 21:39

Disputes is $30 last time I checked, and its at least 2 half days to go in and file, and then go in and see if they turn up, so that makes it not worthwhile except in major cases of being screwed over.

More simple to just make sure you never trade with that seller again and let everyone know what they did to you - look what that did to supercheap pc with their old management...

Richard rich.ms

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BobW

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#147601 13-Jul-2008 22:29

richms: Disputes is $30 last time I checked, and its at least 2 half days to go in and file, and then go in and see if they turn up, so that makes it not worthwhile except in major cases of being screwed over.

More simple to just make sure you never trade with that seller again and let everyone know what they did to you - look what that did to supercheap pc with their old management...

$30 to file a claim for up to $1000 in dispute. That would seem worthwhile for the $1000 GPU example mentioned by rscole86 above.

You're right that undermining a retailer's reputation can be a powerful tool. Doesn't get your money back, though.

richms

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#147630 13-Jul-2008 23:52

The $1000 GPU isnt a $1000 GPU 1 year later when you may have issues if the manufacturer offers 3 years but the retailer only 1, sure, its not into the area of a $150 card but with the low cost of most individual PC components and how much personal cost a disputes visit is, I think it would be a rare case that it comes out that your better off taking them to disputes.

Even when you win there, getting enforcement is a whole different issue, taking just as much effort.

If you are getting $1000 GPUs then you may have something to worry about, but for a majority of PC components where you are looking at about $200 each, then not worth the agro IMO.

Richard rich.ms

Bung

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#147644 14-Jul-2008 08:23

BobW: By the way, their obligations include postage each way for any repair or replacement.

The CGA only seems to cover items that would cost a considerable amount to ship

"Because of the size or height or method of attachment,—the goods cannot be returned or removed or transported without significant cost to the consumer, in which case the supplier shall collect the goods at the expense of the supplier;"

Ascent are showing 36mths for this card. I've asked them in the past why they sometimes offer less than other retailers and the answer seemed to be different importers