The MINIMUM is two years guarantee on electronics for defects present at the time of sale. European member countries are free to add additional protections, but

The MINIMUM is two years guarantee on electronics for defects present at the time of sale. European member countries are free to add additional protections, but 2 years is the minimum. For example, the 2 year minimum isn't specified in Dutch law because for many products (e.g. a washing machine) the buyer can reasonably expect a longer lifetime (see in Dutch: http://www.consuwijzer.nl/Ik_wil_advies_over/Elektronica_en_huishoudelijke_apparatuur/Garantie/Basisinformatie/De_wettelijke_garantieperiode_in_Europa http://www.consuwijzer.nl/Ik_wil_advies_over/Elektronica_en_... ). You can also expect salespeople to play dumb about this (or perhaps they really don't know) and to suggest the defect happened because of your own misdoing, but keep pressing them and they'll need to give in. We tend to pay a hefty surcharge on electronics in Europe (even taking into consideration differences in VAT etc., see for example http://www.asymco.com/2011/12/20/the-big-mac/ http://www.asymco.com/2011/12/20/the-big-mac/ ), so in my mind this guarantee is something I've paid for and have a right to.