Warranties

Be sure you have the coverage you need

Warranties are incredibly important when owning any piece of equipment; somewhere down the road, something is going to break down. Fortunately, monitors come with warranties. Just make sure you check the terms and conditions of your agreement to find out exactly what coverage you have. Compare warranties for different brands and models before settling on any one product, and take into consideration what you’ll be using your monitor for. There may be special coverage or one-time coverage available for travel.

When you purchase a display, it will typically come with a standard one-year warranty, although some brands offer three-year coverage. Under these warranties, companies will usually replace a unit or a part if it’s defective or if it breaks down prematurely and requires repairs. Labor is included in the warranty. Accessories may also be covered, but will likely vary by product. Another benefit of a warranty is you’ll likely receive technical support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The main benefit of an extended warranty is the extended duration of coverage - but expect to pay for it. Extended plans are typically sold for three, four or five years. You will likely receive a replacement unit to use while your equipment is being repaired, shipped free of charge. As with a standard warranty, do some research to see what is covered under the agreement and what isn’t.

Companies typically don’t cover accidental damage or damage from the outside elements. They also won’t generally cover software damage or loss. Companies will never honor the warranty on a product if the serial number has been altered or removed.

Above all, it’s extremely important to keep the proof of purchase with your warranty in a safe and secure place. Too many times, receipts are thrown away or they get accidentally destroyed, and when it comes time to replace a part or repair the display, they find they aren’t covered because they don’t have their proof of purchase.

For warranty service, you will have to provide a copy of your sales slip, your name and address, the product’s serial number and a description of the problem. You will also, in most cases, be required to pay for shipping.