Understanding product warranties can be like trying to comprehend all those Terms & Conditions popping up in apps when we agree to food delivery or rideshare. What is a manufacturer's warranty? Why do you have to pay extra for an extended warranty? Why can products like medical panel PCs get 3 to 5-year warranties while off-the-shelf brands get only a year?
Warranties address possible buyer concerns over the manufacturer's product. Factors from business concerns to design elements shape warranties, explaining their sometimes widely different terms and conditions.
Definition of a Warranty
Simply put, warranties are guarantees or promises made by manufacturers about the condition of their products. Many are composed of two parts:
- The manufacturer warranty, also known as a limited or basic warranty, is the minimum warranty offered for virtually all products.
- The standard product warranty details what the manufacturers's products are supposed to do and how the manufacturer will respond if their products don't meet those expectations as described or intended (terms and conditions).
Warranties also outline any exceptions to this guarantee. Unauthorized tampering by the buyer or repairs by unapproved third-party vendors are just some exceptions in which companies will not honor their warranties. (In fact, they consider the warranties to be voided.)
Standard warranties come with most products for free and usually have a time limit: one-year warranties are typical for most off-the-shelf consumer computers.
Extended warranties, also called service agreements, service contracts, and maintenance agreements, cover defects or failures not covered by the manufacturers' original warranties. Many extend their time frame usually by years.
Extended warranties are also different from manufacturer warranties in that they are optional and must be purchased by the buyer upfront.
Benefits of Warranties for Manufacturers
Manufacturers like computer makers primarily offer warranties on their products for buyers' peace of mind. They guarantee that if anything goes wrong with the product, the buyers will not have to deal with the cost of repairing or replacing them, some of which can be enormous. Manufacturers, though, also benefit from offering warranties.
- Enhance their reputation and credibility by standing behind their products.
- Can see increases in sales and revenue from offering extended warranties.
- Reduce their costs and risks from unnecessary or trivial repairs, lawsuits, and negative reviews.
- Improve customer loyalty and retention by giving customers a sense of security and reassurance if the product ever goes wrong.
- Differentiate from the competition over issues ranging from warranty coverage to its length.
- Improve word-of-mouth and referrals thanks to solid trust in the company and its products.
Backing Longer Manufacturer Warranties
Unsurprisingly, most electronics come with warranties, especially given the importance of technology in the modern world. The healthcare sector has undergone a digital transformation as processes like patient medical records have switched from tedious paper-and-pencil files to electronic medical records. To reassure medical groups that their medical grade tablets and computers will have access to that vital information as needed, computer manufacturers offer longer warranties, usually for 3 to 5 years.
Three features that allow medical-grade computer manufacturers to guarantee such longer warranties include:
Industrial-grade design and parts
Medical equipment and devices are expected to operate flawlessly for days or even weeks at a time. Failure at a critical moment can lead to tragic consequences. Medical computer manufacturers minimize the chance of failure by building their machines from the ground up using industrial parts and design.
Ingress protection (IP)
Daily operations in medical facilities bring about intrusions like dust, water, and other fluids, which can damage electronics and their delicate interior circuitry. Medical equipment manufacturers seal their products to protect them, usually at high ratings like an ingress protection rating 65 or IP65. (Consumer-grade PCs typically have no IP rating.) A medical computer with an IP65 rating for its front bezel ensures minimal wear and tear despite the frequent cleanings typical in hospital settings.
Fanless design
Fans keep computer interiors cool, keeping their necessary processors and circuitry running. A mechanical breakdown renders the PC inoperable until repaired or replaced, which are costly options, especially if it's out of warranty. A fanless design suffers no such breakdowns, ensuring the PC will operate reliably under continuous use.
Cybernet Backs High Quality With Strong Warranty
Warranties are guarantees or promises by a manufacturer about the condition of its product at the time of purchase and what happens if there's a defect or similar issue. While most warranties are free, customers can purchase longer coverage and additional services through extended warranties.
Contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing if you need medical computers, tablets, monitors, or box PCs for your healthcare group. Team members will happily review our medical computers' unique features and how we back them through our warranty program as an Original Equipment and Design Manufacturer.
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