Your parents have had the same furniture and appliances for close to two decades. You replace everything from your wardrobe to smartphone every couple of years. No wonder they’re shaking their heads — the concept of planned obsolescence must seem mind-boggling. Where’s the commitment to craftsmanship and value?
Fortunately, not every manufacturer has kicked the idea of classic goods to the curb. American-made products sold last year are more reliable than products from seven years ago, according to a March 2015 report from the warranty industry publication Warranty Week. Perhaps more companies are following the lead of mainstays like CamelBak and L.L.Bean, which rely on top-notch quality and lifetime warranties to build fierce brand loyalty and long-term savings for customers.
If you still value time-honored quality and excellent customer service, take a look at the following companies that offer some of the best lifetime and limited lifetime warranties available, guaranteeing your purchases have lasting value.
Related: Why Paying for Extended Warranties Isn’t Worth the Money
1. ALDI: Low-price grocer ALDI impresses with its famous Double Guarantee. If you’re not fully satisfied with any product, ALDI will not only replace the product, but refund your money as well.
2. Big Green Egg: Outdoor chefs, here’s a warranty that should light your fires. The distinctive Big Green Egg ceramic grill outdoor cooker carries a limited lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship for its ceramic components. The company offers limited warranties for other components and models as well.
3. Briggs & Riley: Luggage takes a real beating, but nobody wants to have to replace it again and again. Briggs & Riley will repair your broken or damaged B&R bag free of charge — no strings attached — even if the damage was caused by an airline.
4. CamelBak: Hikers, rejoice. The lifetime warranty for CamelBak hydration systems protects against defects in material and workmanship for the life of your reservoir, backpacks, bottles or accessories.
5. Craftsman: This maker of hand and power tools has hammered out a reputation for one of the most well-known lifetime guarantees around. If you ever decide you’re less than satisfied with a Craftsman hand tool, Craftsman will repair or replace it for free (this doesn’t include blades or expendable parts that can wear out from normal use).
6. Cutco: Kitchen knives are another of those products you don’t want to have to replace often — so don’t. When you buy Cutco knives, Cutco will repair or replace them for free at any time, courtesy of the Forever Guarantee.
7. Darn Tough Vermont: You’d have to be a little crazy to guarantee a pair of socks. Call Darn Tough what you will, but if you manage to wear out a pair of its ultra-durable socks, you can return them to the company to receive a brand new pair or your money back.
8. Davek: Your umbrella should last longer than the next stiff wind. Davek’s umbrellas are made to stand up to years of use, but if yours ever stops working properly or you encounter a defect in materials or workmanship, return it for free repair or replacement.
9. Dr. Martens: Docs don’t come cheap, but you’ll see devotees wearing them year after year. What’s the secret? Even these famously hardy boots and shoes eventually wear out, but Dr. Martens will repair or replace every pair you own — for life.
10. Duluth Trading: This rugged sportswear company offers a hassle-free “No Bull” guarantee on every product, promising 100 percent satisfaction for every purchase or your money back.
11. Esee: This knife-maker’s lifetime warranty is remarkable for being transferable, protecting its knives no matter how many times they change hands and regardless of proof of purchase. Coverage does not include damage due to throwing, rust or normal wear and tear.
12. Goruck: This rucksack and endurance gear maker’s Scars Lifetime Guarantee protects against everything but burns, gunshot holes, knife slashes, dog attacks, damage from washer and dryers, excessive abrasion on the zippers and unreasonable wear and tear. If you somehow manage to damage your bag another way, Goruck will stitch it right up.
13. iCracked: When you choose iCracked to repair your broken iPad, iPod, iPhone or Samsung device, the repair is guaranteed for the lifetime of the part and device.
14. JanSport: Looking for a backpack that can make it through more than one semester? Sports bag maker JanSport will repair or replace your JanSport backpack, bag or luggage any time you need it — guaranteed for life.
15. Kingston: The computer and personal tech you rely on to keep your life and work in order is the last thing you afford to prove unreliable. That’s why hardware maker Kingston guarantees its products’ material and workmanship and will repair or replace defective goods free of charge, at the company’s discretion.
16. Koss: Music aficionados who trust Koss for quality electronics and accessories know it stands behind its quality with strong warranties. Products covered by its limited lifetime warranty are protected against defects, as well as normal wear and tear, or Koss will repair or replace the product.
17. Kryptonite: If you’re serious about securing your bicycle, motorcycle or other small vehicle, you’ve probably looked at a Kryptonite lock. The company stands behind its products with a lifetime warranty, key replacement services and a one-year anti-theft protection offer.
18. L.L. Bean: This New England-based clothing and outdoorsy goods retailer is known for having one of the best return policies. L.L. Bean guarantees 100 percent satisfaction on every product, no matter how long you’ve owned it. Even if you no longer have a receipt, they’ll refund the current selling price or replace the item.
Keep Reading: Top 12 Stores With the Best Return Policies
19. Le Creuset: There’s a reason you probably recognize this iconic cookware on sight — because it lasts and lasts. But in the rare case that it doesn’t, Le Creuset will replace products found by their original owners to have defects in materials or workmanship, subject to proper care and maintenance.
20. Osprey: No matter how long you’ve owned your Osprey pack or other outdoor gear, Osprey will repair any damage or defects. Reservoirs are covered for one year and the warranty excludes (in the company’s words) damage caused by accidents, animal attacks and zombie apocalypses.
21. Pelican: A injection-molded protective case for your electronics from Pelican is guaranteed for life against breakage or defects in workmanship and guaranteed to be watertight to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes if properly closed and sealed. Pelican will repair or replace broken or defective parts or cases.
22. Red Oxx: Here’s another company that offers a “No Bull” lifetime warranty. The maker of outdoor travel bags and accessories covers every product against defects in materials and workmanship, as well as against unexpected damage.
23. RIDGID: Craftsman isn’t the only tool company with a full lifetime warranty. If your RIDGID tool malfunctions based on a defect in materials or workmanship, the company will repair or replace it free of charge.
24. Smith Optics: When you put your money into performance sunglasses, goggles or a helmet from Smith Optics, the company will repair or replace products with faulty materials or workmanship. Note that apparel and accessories like bags and hats are not covered under the lifetime warranty.
25. Tervis: Insulated drinkware shouldn’t be disposable quality just because it’s plastic. Tervis will replace products, excluding accessories, found to have defects in material or workmanship.
26. The North Face: Outdoor adventures are rough on your gear, so choose gear that can take a beating. The North Face backs all but its footwear, eyewear, bicycles and outlet-sold products with a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the product. Footwear is covered for one year after purchase.
27. Tilley: There’s something about a signature outdoor hat that evokes classic quality, isn’t there? Here’s one reason: Tilley’s lifetime guarantee. The warranty covers materials and workmanship on most hat types, even a two-year “all perils insurance policy” for raffia and shantung hats.
28. Timbuk2: Your adventuresome bag from Timbuk2 is guaranteed with a lifetime warranty for quality and craftsmanship, not including normal wear and tear, abuse and cosmetic damage.
29. Tupperware: This venerable plastic storage container company offers a limited lifetime warranty against chipping, cracking, breaking or peeling for any of its products under normal, non-commercial use.
30. Vermont Teddy Bear: Yes, even your teddy bear can be guaranteed for life — if it’s a Vermont Teddy Bear, that is. Your teddy will get free repairs to cover all of life’s potential tragedies, from overly friendly puppies to vicious lawnmowers.
31. Vortex Optics: Keep your eye on this value. Maker of riflescopes, prism scopes, red dots, rangefinders, binoculars, spotting scopes, tripods and monoculars, Vortex promises to repair or replace any damaged or defective Vortex product. Its unlimited, lifetime “VIP warranty” is fully transferrable and requires no registration or receipts.
32. Zippo: Holding up your lighter at a rock concert is a bit old-school now, but if you wanted to give it a whirl, you could always use your old-school Zippo — because it’s guaranteed to still produce a flame, no matter how old it is. Zippo offers free repairs on its lighters, hand warmers and knives. A few product types require proof of purchase or a small repair fee; see Zippo’s website for details.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 32 Brands With Lifetime Warranties
This article by Lisa Poisso first appeared on GoBankingRates.com and was distributed by the Personal Finance Syndication Network.
No comments:
Post a Comment