Insist On Seeing a Full Warranty Before Purchase

It's debatable whether warranties are useful, and it depends a lot on what you're buying and where you're buying it. If you're going to buy a warranty, Consumer Reports suggests you make sure you actually read the whole thing before you buy.

It sounds like common sense, but chances are most of us don't bother reading a warranty with the same amount of care we'd spend researching a product. It's a law that retailers have to show you a warranty, so take advantage of it. Consumer Reports explains:

If you're buying a costly item, don't rely on a vague reference to warranty coverage in an ad or on a store display. Read the complete warranty terms. You may find out that if the roduct breaks within the warranty period, you may be entitled to only a refurbished item, or perhaps that you're responsible for the cost of getting the product to the manufacturer or its authorized repair facility.

If the merchant balks at your request to see the warranty, explain that its failure to show it to you violates federal law. If the retailer still won't budge, you can try asking the manufacturer for a copy or looking on its website.

Case in point, a warranty is a purchase, so treat it like one. If you're just buying the warranty because you want the coverage, make sure you read the full warranty to ensure it's even going to be worth it in the long run.

Insist that stores show you the warranty before you buy | Consumer Reports

Photo by Eirik Solheim.

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