Some of what is happening with warranty cards is being driven by California’s state laws. Instead of having a special card just for California, manfs are complying with Calif’s warranty laws across the board for all 50-states.
California prohibits a product registration card be enclosed with a product. Instead of trying to manage which boxes are in California, the manf tosses in a card with something that says if you r/t the card you will be kept up to date with blah blah blah, but r/t’ing the card is not required. Personally, I register my electronics products with the manfs for safety reasons. I have received one notice in the mail from a manf (Bang & Olufsen) that a piece of electronics equipment was recalled due to faulty power supply that could get too hot and cause a fire, r/t to closest B&O dealer for free fix/replacement…blah blah blah.
California prohibits a manf from requiring a warranty card be r/t to affect the warranty coverage. So, the manf ‘ask’ you to r/t the card, but almost never require it anymore for any of the 50-states. Usually there is a statement somewhere that indicates you should keep your original receipt to be used as proof of purchase, as many folks have said in posts above. Manfs can require proof of purchase in California, and they do, so the receipt is how it is done here.
In California, the
authorized dealer scam is all but dead, per the office of the State’s Attorney General. Federal laws prohibits the manfs from restricting retail distribution of their products. California state law prohibits a manf, distributor, or retail seller from diminishing any part of the warranty coverage at the time of purchase, or there after.
California prohibits the requirement of on-line registration. Doesn’t even show up on the radar as an issue here. Fwiw, the manf’s website is the first place I go to reg an electronics product. If that’s not available, I send in the (optional) card.
I don’t know what the requirements are but on the back of some, but not all, electronics that use AC power there is a manf date. I suppose you could argue the warranty must extend
at least from that month/year forward, even if you don’t have a receipt. In the case of my Denon DVD player, that date was 6-months b/4 I purchased the unit, so I am better off keeping the receipt as proof of the purchase date.
Doesn’t mean every manf follows the law. Some companies are ignorant, or maybe feel they are above it all, whatever. Two competing companies: Hsu Research complies with California’s law for the sell of their products here. SVS does not. SVS is so far out of line with California's laws that a choice between the two is a no brainer here for anyone concerned with warranties and/or a manf's integrity.
EVERYONE should learn what their state's laws are regarding product warranty. I can almost guarantee you that you have more rights than what the manf's would have you believe. But the laws have no merit if you don’t hold the manf’s feet to the fire. I do. I use the toll free number all the time.
What toll free number? California requires every manf of electronics to include (at time of purchase) an (800) number to call about warranty stuff, or include a list of warranty repair centers local to where the products are sold. Easier to just provide the (800) number. Never seen an (800) number just for California consumers, would look bad for the manf, like the other 49-states weren’t worth the business. See, California’s warranty laws are benefiting everyone in all 50-states.
