Leave it to the extended warranty

Leave it to the extended warranty

Many dealers offer you an extended warranty. It's money thrown out the window.

The representatives have the right vocabulary to persuade you to purchase an extended warranty. They know how to exploit your insecurities. Don't take the bait. The only winner in this market is the trader who makes extraordinary profits on a useless product 99% of the time.

This is because the extended warranty corresponds to the period of normal wear and tear with reasonable use provided for by the statutory warranty. Worse still: the extended warranty usually extends over a shorter period of time than the statutory warranty. So the consumer loses.

Especially since guarantee contracts often contain exclusions. The fine print is very important, but who reads it at the corner of the counter when Christmas music is blaring from the store's speakers?

Commitments

The law provides that when purchasing a good, the dealer must describe the guarantee offered by the manufacturer and draw your attention to the legal guarantee, in particular by providing you with a document (usually a sheet of paper) explaining the basic principles of this guarantee . This is a commitment that is often ignored by traders.

If you purchase goods that are defective or do not conform to the seller's promises or advertising, the law requires the merchant to receive the goods back for exchange or refund, even if the merchant has no exchange or refund policy.

Finally, if you regret purchasing an extended warranty, the new provisions of Law 21 stipulate that you have ten days to request a cancellation and refund. The dealer must therefore pay you the amount you paid for this guarantee.

Advice

  • Some credit cards offer additional protection. For example, if you drop your phone or your screen malfunctions, the card's warranty will cover the cost of repairing or replacing the item. These warranties are typically accompanied by exclusions or limitations. Sometimes it is complicated to benefit from the service.
  • There is no law forcing retailers to refund or exchange goods if the customer is not satisfied. However, if a merchant has such a policy, they must clearly state it on their website, in-store or on the receipt.
  • When making purchases online or over the phone, consider using a credit card to avoid chargebacks in the event of a dispute with the merchant. Especially if it is based in China.
  • When requesting a refund or exchange, have the invoice or receipt, instructions and warranty ready. If the retailer doesn't want to hear anything, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Bureau: 1 888 672-2556, opc.gouv.qc.ca (Consumer Section).