So You want to buy some tools to do few repairs around the home. You head down to the local Sears or Home Depot. You pick out a screwdriver set, a hammer, a couple of wrenches and a cordless drill/driver. You start going through the checkout and the clerk starts talking at you to buy this “protection agreement” on the drill.
In the next four articles I am going to go over one of the most controversial areas of tools…… the warranty. Why? Because many people are unclear about what a warranty can do for them and what is available from the different tool manufactures and retailers. In addition to the manufactures warranty many retailers have extended warranties or replacement agreements that you can add on to the manufactures warranty.

Some things to consider:

- What is the return policy? Some retailers only allow you to get your money back for 30 days, others 90 days.

- Do you need the original receipt? Some retailers require you to bring the original receipt. Others like Home Depot require you to register the product. At my Sears if you buy an extended protection agreement they keep a record of the sale and you don’t need a receipt. If you paid cash and did not buy the protection agreement you will have to show the original receipt.

- Can you replace the product as many times as needed during the warranty period or only once? Using a cordless drill for example, at my Sears if the product breaks down 10 times during the one year warranty period they will replace it 10 times.

- If the product goes bad during the warranty period, how do you get a new one? Most retailers require that you contact the manufacturer after the return policy period ends. Others like my Sears lets you bring the item back to their store for exchange.

- Is it a no-questions asked warranty or are there stipulations attached. For example, one manufacture warranties their cordless drill for just about anything for one year. Another manufacture only warrants “manufacture defects.” Still another requires you to return the product (read ship at your cost) to their service center so they can determine if it is defective or not.

- What is actually included? Using cordless drills as an example many manufacturers only warranty the drill and batteries, but the accessories and the case are not warranted. Others have different warranties if the product is included in a kit or bought separately. Sears warranties the batteries in a kit for one year, but only warranties them for 90 days if bought separately.

It is a good idea to look at the warranty while you are price and feature shopping instead of trying to figure it out AFTER the unit breaks down.

In Part Two I’ll go over Protection Agreements and Replacement Agreements.
Keyword:extended warranty, free replacement, protection agreement, RA, replacement agreement, RPA, extended warranties, extended service plans, protection agreements, replacement agreements, free replacements.

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