A warranty is an agreement between the company and the consumer to provide the repair or replacement of a product within a certain time. A good warranty protects you, the consumer, from any problems or issues with the product that should not occur in their normal use. It also protects the retailer and/ or wholesaler from bad public relations arising from complaints, so it’s a two way street. Most goods are well built and never require the use of a warranty but it’s always a good idea to have a safeguard.

Usually a warranty will last a year or two, but some companies guarantee their products for even longer. Many businesses realize that even though a consumer may not need to use these warranties, it gives the consumer confidence that the company that supplies the goods stands by their quality and wants to keep their customers coming back.

There are two types of warranty that companies will commonly offer.

Manufacture’s warranty: This guarantees the product for up to three years (there are one year, two year and three year guarantees typically). The store isn’t responsible for the warranty, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer. This means that you will usually have to return the item to the manufacturer and this can be costly if you have to pay for the shipping of the item.

Store warranty: The warranty will still be valid for one to three years. The only difference is that the customer will deal directly with the store not the manufacturer. This is more convenient for the customer.

Why look for a company that offers a warranty? Companies that offer warranties on the goods they sell or manufacture have of confidence in those products. They take a lot of pride in the fact that their light fixtures will last a long time and satisfy their customers. These businesses place a lot of concern in their reputation and customer perspectives. They value feedback too, so don’t be afraid to ask any questions.

Companies usually offer what is called extended warranties. These will be the ones that last for one to three years. Sometimes they are included in the price of the product and at other times they are offered as an up sell, an added cost to the consumer. If you are purchasing the extended warranty as an added cost be sure to read the fine print and know exactly what it covers. Sometimes there is a limited warranty on different parts of the lighting fixture, at other times it is comprehensive and will cover everything.

If you are buying lighting fixtures via a web site you need to be careful when you read the guarantee. Contact the customer service department with any queries that you might have about the warranty. The web site’s FAQ section can be very helpful with giving information and answering questions.

Now you know what a warranty is be sure to ask about it before you purchase your light fixtures. Most good stores will be able to offer this and add extra value to your purchase.