Quick Boring Post About One More Thing I Like About Maine
Monday, November 1, 2010 by Amy
I found out today about another reason to like Maine. It's called "implied warranty." You know when you go to the store and buy an electronic, and they ask you if you want the protection plan for x number of dollars? It's always bothered me. Do they know that they sell crap, so are charging you extra to protect the junk? Anyway, no such thing in Maine. (Best Buy and the likes will still try to sell it to you, but whatever...) Everything you buy in Maine (except used cars) is covered by a warranty of at least four years. By selling things, merchants imply that they will last a reasonable amount of time, which the government has decided is at least four years. Major appliances, for example, are intended to last much longer than four years, so the implied warranty is longer, generally about 10 years. Now, if I buy a pair of running shoes and go running across Africa and wear them out, that's not covered, but still. Which is convenient, because Rudi just came home from buying a super-cheap recliner, proudly announcing that it has a 2-year warranty, and I'm like "actually, dear, it has a 4-year warranty, they just don't want you to know that."
Items I intend to use this "implied warranty" on include, but are not limited to:
1. fish tank pumps: Rudi has to buy a new one every 4 months or so. Ridiculous.
2. vacuum cleaner: darn things never last (haven't had one yet that has lasted more than four years)
3. irons: sounds petty, but my irons never last more than 6 months, which is crazy stupid.
4. electronics I buy for the kids (like the Leapster): they're for kids, they should be able to endure kids
5. clothing: if I had a dime for every hole that appears like magic in an Old Navy shirt within one wear, I'd be...well, rich enough to shop somewhere else.
6. tents and other camping stuff: tents that get holes in them, or ones with poles that snap, or air mattresses that don't hold air, all ruin a fun trip.
7. I'll think of more. Trust me.
And another cool thing is that you don't have to go through the manufacturer. You go to the merchant and it's their responsibility to either make sure the manufacturer repairs it or reimburses the store for a replacement. None of that, send it to Taiwan and see if they'll fix it for you, mess. I know for cameras they often make you send the camera to the manufacturer, pay a fee to have it looked at, and then maybe they'll fix it, but probably not. Not in Maine, my friend!
I wish we were in Maine that time that I bought a bike for Riley and the pedals kept coming off, and they tried so hard not to give me a new one, even though they acknowledged that it was structurally defective, simply because I'd had the bike for 4 months. I mean, they ended up giving us a new one, but it would have been a lot easier here in Maine. Maine has some pretty darn tough consumer protection laws. I dig it.
Items I intend to use this "implied warranty" on include, but are not limited to:
1. fish tank pumps: Rudi has to buy a new one every 4 months or so. Ridiculous.
2. vacuum cleaner: darn things never last (haven't had one yet that has lasted more than four years)
3. irons: sounds petty, but my irons never last more than 6 months, which is crazy stupid.
4. electronics I buy for the kids (like the Leapster): they're for kids, they should be able to endure kids
5. clothing: if I had a dime for every hole that appears like magic in an Old Navy shirt within one wear, I'd be...well, rich enough to shop somewhere else.
6. tents and other camping stuff: tents that get holes in them, or ones with poles that snap, or air mattresses that don't hold air, all ruin a fun trip.
7. I'll think of more. Trust me.
And another cool thing is that you don't have to go through the manufacturer. You go to the merchant and it's their responsibility to either make sure the manufacturer repairs it or reimburses the store for a replacement. None of that, send it to Taiwan and see if they'll fix it for you, mess. I know for cameras they often make you send the camera to the manufacturer, pay a fee to have it looked at, and then maybe they'll fix it, but probably not. Not in Maine, my friend!
I wish we were in Maine that time that I bought a bike for Riley and the pedals kept coming off, and they tried so hard not to give me a new one, even though they acknowledged that it was structurally defective, simply because I'd had the bike for 4 months. I mean, they ended up giving us a new one, but it would have been a lot easier here in Maine. Maine has some pretty darn tough consumer protection laws. I dig it.
