The extended warranty racket
Sunday, March 21st, 2010
I hate it when stores push extended warranties on everything they sell. Appliances and electronics should last longer than the basic one-warranty that manufacturers provide. And if they fall apart after the purchase, consumers shouldn’t have to pay to replace them.
The Ontario sale of goods act says consumers have a right to expect reasonable quality in the merchandise they buy. This implied warranty can’t be nullified in a contract. So, how can companies argue there’s no coverage of defects after a limited time period?
Check out Bill’s story below. His HP laptop computer stopped working 22 months after purchase, but he had no extended warranty. The manufacturer finally agreed to replace it, but only when I asked the retailer for help.