5 ms·

Unfortunately, what ends up happening in most cases is that people make products, give them a ridiculous 1y or 2y warranty, then claim that if there're any prob

Unfortunately, what ends up happening in most cases is that people make products, give them a ridiculous 1y or 2y warranty, then claim that if there're any problems after that time period you'll have to pay to repair or replace.

oneplane 9y ago
In our country we have a law that states a product has to live up to it's reasonably expected life time. So while a manufacturer might give it a warranty and the retailer might give it some special warranty, ultimately, the retailer (which in some cases is the manufacturer if you buy directly) is responsible no matter what. That doesn't go for consumables or software, or if you break it yourself obviously, but a phone or computer for example is of course expected to work for at least 4 or 5 years or so. So if it breaks, you are entitled to support and/or repairs, which also has a limitation on any administrative fees that might apply. It pretty much applies to everything, from cars to washing machines to faucets to electric toothbrushes.
- matt_kantor 9y ago
  How is "reasonably expected life time" defined?
  - alphaalpha101 9y ago
    The same way 'reasonable' is defined everywhere in the law: it's up to the interpretation of the court.
- JumpCrisscross 9y ago
  What country? This sounds like a great way to poison a court system with bullshit lawsuits.
  - gjjrfcbugxbhf 9y ago
    Non common law countries don't tend towards lawsuits as much. They tend towards legislation and then administrative enforcement.
  - cnorthwood 9y ago
    The UK has this law, and I believe it's standardised across the EU.
    - wiz21c 9y ago
      In Europe I think it's 2 years, which is quite low.
      - Markoff 9y ago
        i think I understand it different, they must give you 2 years warranty, but maybe he is saying they must help you with repair/support (with your own money) 4-5 years kinda similar like car parts, warranty is like 3-5 years (or 100K km) but parts must be available like 10 years or something
      - Silhouette 9y ago
        The main EU rule is that you have to have a minimum 2 year warranty. A number of electronics vendors, famously including Apple, had to up their game as a result of this. However, that is in addition to various other statutory consumer rights about fitness for purpose and being of appropriate quality, which EU member states might have in their national laws as well. Here in the UK, for example, those obligations can run for many years beyond the initial warranty, and can result in repair, replacement or (full or partial) refund for faulty products depending on the circumstances. In most cases, it's the vendor who took your money who is on the hook legally for these kinds of responsibilities, though in practice of course manufacturers often offer their own warranties to the final customers and/or make supporting arrangements with vendors selling their products. Unfortunately at present most of these rules only apply to private individuals, and with business purchases caveat emptor and expensive service contracts are often the norm even if a purchase is being made by a small business with no more real leverage against a vendor or manufacturer than a private individual. When it comes to electronic devices like phones and laptops, this is potentially quite a big stumbling block in terms of forcing up standards of maintainability and promoting a "right to repair" to reduce waste.
  - PetahNZ 9y ago
    Sounds like New Zealand and the consumers guarantees act
  - kuschku 9y ago
    Norway also has this law.

oneplane 9y ago

In our country we have a law that states a product has to live up to it's reasonably expected life time. So while a manufacturer might give it a warranty and the retailer might give it some special warranty, ultimately, the retailer (which in some cases is the manufacturer if you buy directly) is responsible no matter what. That doesn't go for consumables or software, or if you break it yourself obviously, but a phone or computer for example is of course expected to work for at least 4 or 5 years or so. So if it breaks, you are entitled to support and/or repairs, which also has a limitation on any administrative fees that might apply. It pretty much applies to everything, from cars to washing machines to faucets to electric toothbrushes.

matt_kantor 9y ago
How is "reasonably expected life time" defined?
- alphaalpha101 9y ago
  The same way 'reasonable' is defined everywhere in the law: it's up to the interpretation of the court.
JumpCrisscross 9y ago
What country? This sounds like a great way to poison a court system with bullshit lawsuits.
- gjjrfcbugxbhf 9y ago
  Non common law countries don't tend towards lawsuits as much. They tend towards legislation and then administrative enforcement.
- cnorthwood 9y ago
  The UK has this law, and I believe it's standardised across the EU.
  - wiz21c 9y ago
    In Europe I think it's 2 years, which is quite low.
    - Markoff 9y ago
      i think I understand it different, they must give you 2 years warranty, but maybe he is saying they must help you with repair/support (with your own money) 4-5 years kinda similar like car parts, warranty is like 3-5 years (or 100K km) but parts must be available like 10 years or something
    - Silhouette 9y ago
      The main EU rule is that you have to have a minimum 2 year warranty. A number of electronics vendors, famously including Apple, had to up their game as a result of this. However, that is in addition to various other statutory consumer rights about fitness for purpose and being of appropriate quality, which EU member states might have in their national laws as well. Here in the UK, for example, those obligations can run for many years beyond the initial warranty, and can result in repair, replacement or (full or partial) refund for faulty products depending on the circumstances. In most cases, it's the vendor who took your money who is on the hook legally for these kinds of responsibilities, though in practice of course manufacturers often offer their own warranties to the final customers and/or make supporting arrangements with vendors selling their products. Unfortunately at present most of these rules only apply to private individuals, and with business purchases caveat emptor and expensive service contracts are often the norm even if a purchase is being made by a small business with no more real leverage against a vendor or manufacturer than a private individual. When it comes to electronic devices like phones and laptops, this is potentially quite a big stumbling block in terms of forcing up standards of maintainability and promoting a "right to repair" to reduce waste.
- PetahNZ 9y ago
  Sounds like New Zealand and the consumers guarantees act
- kuschku 9y ago
  Norway also has this law.