2023-11-22 17:33:32
The hype surrounding Black Friday has been spilling over from the USA to Germany for several years now. Every year there are many offers on the day after the American Thanksgiving holiday.
Big discounts make a purchase attractive. But what about the warranty on products you buy on Black Friday?
Read here all the information on the topic and what you need to consider.
also read
What exactly does guarantee mean?
Warranty means the representation or warranty by a manufacturer or seller that a product or service will meet certain quality standards.
This warranty may be written or oral and sets forth the conditions under which the manufacturer or seller is obligated to repair, replace or otherwise compensate the product for any defects or problems that arise during the warranty period.
Current guarantee regulations
Basically, there is a crucial difference between guarantee and warranty. The guarantee can be set by each dealer or manufacturer and is voluntary. The warranty, on the other hand, is stipulated by law for new products to be 24 months.
As of January 1, 2022, new regulations regarding the warranty of products were established and as a customer you now have 12 instead of 6 months to prove a defect. Equally important: the warranty only applies to damage that is not your fault.
Basically, you get the same guarantee for a purchase on Black Friday as you would on any other day. The term differs depending on the product category. You can find out which regulations apply to the individual categories here.
Guarantee for electrical appliances
In Germany, dealers of electrical appliances, such as televisions, are obliged to provide a legal warranty of 24 months from the date of purchase. You must therefore ensure that the devices operate properly within this obligation, provided that the defects are not due to incorrect operation.
Many manufacturers of electrical appliances also entice customers with particularly long manufacturer guarantees, especially on Black Friday.
Danger! Manufacturers can also set their own conditions with their own warranty for electrical appliances. For example, that a defective device can be repaired twice before a refund is issued.
also read
Garment guarantee
Basically, when it comes to clothing, you have to decide whether you want to return it because you don’t like it, it doesn’t fit or there is a defect in the item of clothing.
By law, there is no right of return in Germany that allows you to exchange or return something. Purchases made on the Internet are excluded, as the law stipulates a right of withdrawal of 14 days. The item can simply be returned here without giving any reason.
Many branches also allow their customers to exchange goods. There is no right to this. If in doubt, you must therefore accept a voucher instead of a refund of the purchase amount.
However, if the clothing has defects, you benefit from a statutory warranty of 24 months from the date of purchase. However, if there is a defect, the garment must be presented to the retailer no later than 12 months after discovery so that it can be inspected.
Warranty of other items
The statutory warranty of 24 months also applies to all other items. The manufacturer’s voluntary guarantee can vary greatly between different products. Therefore, always pay attention to the item description, as guarantees are often used for advertising purposes.
Here’s what to do if an item breaks under warranty
If an electronic device breaks while it is under warranty, it is important that you act quickly. Contact the dealer and inform them of the damage. Some dealers provide you with special warranty forms where you can enter details of the damage and general purchase information.
For particularly large and bulky products, such as a washing machine, many retailers commission a repair service to inspect the damage on site and, if possible, repair it immediately. Only if this is not successful do you have to send the device in or receive a refund of the purchase price.
also read
What if the product is defective after the warranty?
If the device breaks after the warranty period, you can try to file a goodwill claim. Some dealers are generous and still offer you warranty services. It costs nothing to ask and you definitely have nothing to lose in this case.
You can no longer find the receipt: Here’s what you can do
If you can’t find your receipt, that’s not a reason to worry. If you bought the device in an online shop, you can usually download the invoice for all purchases again later.
Keeping receipts is helpful when making an exchange
Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
You will usually need proof of purchase for an exchange or refund. But even if you’re buying in a store, it’s worth asking on site. Many retailers save the purchase data and accept the warranty application without a receipt.
Conclusion: This is how the return works
Avoiding damage is not always possible because even if you look closely at the product, not all defects are immediately apparent.
If you are unlucky and get a defective product, there is only one thing that can help: look for the invoice, check how long ago the purchase was made and whether it falls within the two-year warranty period or the individual manufacturer’s warranty. If this is the case, you are lucky and can file a complaint with the manufacturer or retailer.
One final tip: keep the receipt for all purchases for up to two years! If the worst comes to the worst, you can complain about the product, otherwise it is a question of goodwill from the manufacturer or retailer as to whether the item will be taken back.
#Black #Friday #Guarantee #products #Life #Knowledge