Do you register your firearms for warranty?
- Thread starter joepa150
- Start date
- Status
Murcielago
Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2010
- Messages
- 84
I've never registered one, and I've had to send two guns back for warranty work (a PPK to S&W & a Dan Wesson to CZ). No questions asked either time.
Jorg Nysgerrig
Member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2006
- Messages
- 7,822
The following is speaking generally, rather than just for firearm warranties.
In the majority of cases, warranty registration cards exist solely to gather valuable marketing information. While there are a few companies that that require the card to be returned to validate the warranty, most companies do not and some states prohibit requiring warranty registration. Read the terms of the warranty and if it doesn't say the card is required (or if you live in a state where it isn't enforceable), don't worry about it.
That said, there can be certain benefits to registering, such as being notified of recalls or getting extended warranty. You'll have to weigh whether those benefits are worth giving up your info. If you do, all you should provide them is your name, address, date, and name of product purchased for those purposes. They don't need to know how much you make or what magazines you read for that. Another possible benefit to registering is establish the date of purchase without having to dig up the receipt 3 years later. This may or may not be an issue, but some companies will go by the date of manufacture rather than your claimed sales date if you can't provide proof of purchase and didn't register the allotted time. If an item sat a shelf for 13 months before you bought it, you've lost a substantial chunk of your warranty in that time.
Warranty cards and rebates are primarily clever ways to obtain your personal information for direct-marketing use or to rent customer lists out to other vendors. If you want to have a little fun, misspell something slightly or give yourself an honorific and watch what comes in.
For the most part, it's a cost/benefit thing and entirely up to you. Is it worth registering to minimize potential warranty issues on a big ticket item with a long warranty or get recall notification something involved in personal safety (like car seats)? I'd lean towards yes, although I would still minimize the information given. Should you send it in on the $35 toaster? Probably not.
One thing to consider is that if you ever do take advantage of the warranty service, it's likely you'll end up on the same marketing lists.
In the majority of cases, warranty registration cards exist solely to gather valuable marketing information. While there are a few companies that that require the card to be returned to validate the warranty, most companies do not and some states prohibit requiring warranty registration. Read the terms of the warranty and if it doesn't say the card is required (or if you live in a state where it isn't enforceable), don't worry about it.
That said, there can be certain benefits to registering, such as being notified of recalls or getting extended warranty. You'll have to weigh whether those benefits are worth giving up your info. If you do, all you should provide them is your name, address, date, and name of product purchased for those purposes. They don't need to know how much you make or what magazines you read for that. Another possible benefit to registering is establish the date of purchase without having to dig up the receipt 3 years later. This may or may not be an issue, but some companies will go by the date of manufacture rather than your claimed sales date if you can't provide proof of purchase and didn't register the allotted time. If an item sat a shelf for 13 months before you bought it, you've lost a substantial chunk of your warranty in that time.
Warranty cards and rebates are primarily clever ways to obtain your personal information for direct-marketing use or to rent customer lists out to other vendors. If you want to have a little fun, misspell something slightly or give yourself an honorific and watch what comes in.
For the most part, it's a cost/benefit thing and entirely up to you. Is it worth registering to minimize potential warranty issues on a big ticket item with a long warranty or get recall notification something involved in personal safety (like car seats)? I'd lean towards yes, although I would still minimize the information given. Should you send it in on the $35 toaster? Probably not.
One thing to consider is that if you ever do take advantage of the warranty service, it's likely you'll end up on the same marketing lists.
DAP90
Member
Murcielago said:
How do the manufacturers know if you're the original owner or if the gun is still within it's warranty period? Or do they just not care and will cover it anyway?
I've never filled out any of the cards. Most of the cards I've seen give you 90 days to fill out and return the card. I always assumed that if you didn't you were out of luck with the warranty.
j2crows
Member
Nope.
Murcielago
Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2010
- Messages
- 84
I have no idea. I figured it was good customer service more than anything
CajunBass
Member
I don't buy a lot of new guns, and when I do, the last thing I think about is the warranty. I suppose that's because I've never had a gun break. Sometimes I send the cards back, sometimes I don't. Couldn't tell you why either way.
MattTheHat
Member
From a copy of your original sales receipt.
-Matt
oneounceload
member
If you send it in, you'll have to give that info anyway. It IS mostly for marketing, although one gun I own - a S&W Elite Gold, came with an "heirloom" warranty - gun is warrantied not only for MY lifetime, but the lifetime of my heir - so I had to send in that name as well in order to get it. Since the gun is discontinued in production, it isn't always just marketing
forgetitohio
Member
All you have to do is tell them where you bought it.
The gun stores keep records of all sales for the Feds. Ligit ones do.
A gun store in Indiana made the mistake of selling 1000 guns to the wrong people.
http://www.whiotv.com/news/27523169/detail.html
The gun stores keep records of all sales for the Feds. Ligit ones do.
A gun store in Indiana made the mistake of selling 1000 guns to the wrong people.
http://www.whiotv.com/news/27523169/detail.html
I always do. There was an incident a few, few, many years ago where my grips for the 686 broke after I dropped one of them while removing them for a cleaning. I wrote the company about a replacement set and they asked me to send the gun in. I did so since I was doing a Conus move anyway for the Army. When I got to my new place I called them and gave them my new address. Smith and Wesson had replaced the grips and had placed new springs and trigger and had gone all out to fine tune it....free of charge. Their gunsmith informed me that they did this because they had records of me where I had always being a loyal customer and had purchased several firearms from them.
I still have the 686 I purchased in 1982 or 1983.
I still have the 686 I purchased in 1982 or 1983.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
NO, I don't~! 
Remo223
member
Those silly cards are just an invitation for junk mail. I leave them blank in the gun owner's manual. I'll fill it out and send it in if and when my gun needs warranty work.
Average Joe
Member
No never.
smallbore
Member
No.
Nushif
Member
I register the ones that I like sending me catalogues or if I value a gun.
I get the Beretta Catalog now. 8)
I get the Beretta Catalog now. 8)
grumpy66
Member
Nope.
Then again, I do my own repairs.
Then again, I do my own repairs.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Poll
