Do you read the fine print on warranties or promotions? It is very important, because a lot of times there are small details that make a big difference. My mom would always say, "The dirt does not jump off the carpet itself- you have to vacuum it." Well, guess what, she was right! Mom, you were right! Part of a carpet warranty is that you must vacuum your carpet. They even suggest or "require" that you should vacuum it in 4 directions. On top of that, they require that it be professionally cleaned to maintain your complete warranty.
Find out more information like this on Design Time with Kathy and Colette Feb 3rd. You may get your bifocals out in the future and always read the fine print.
I have copied a "warranty" from a company below.- to show some of the requirements and expectations to have about a new purchase. This is a lower end company, but a very well known company that clients come in and ask about regularly.
TRI CITY FURNITURE DOES NOT
CARRY THIS COMPANY.
Limitations Applicable to all Warranties
All warranties are to the original purchaser from authorized dealers only. Warranties are not transferable. Proof of purchase is required for all claims.
All warranties are limited to manufacturing and material defects that appear under normal, residential use. Additional limitations described herein apply.
Warranties are for repair, replacement, or substitution only, our sole discretion.
Refunds are not available.
We will pay reasonable and customary rates for labor during the period of the labor warranty. You will be responsible for labor costs after the stated time period.
You are responsible for service part handling fees, in-home inspection fees, and transportation of the product to and from the dealer.
Warranties are voided by evidence of excessive soiling, improper cleaning or treatment, abuse, or abnormal use or use contrary to the advisories or instructions contained herein. Warranties do not apply to products used for rental, business, commercial, institutional, or other non-residential uses.
Important Information
To the extent permissible by applicable law, these warranties are your exclusive remedy and no other warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, apply. In no event are we liable for incidental or consequential damages, even if it had reason to know in advance that such damages were possible. These warranties give you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights that vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties or the limitation of damages, so the above exclusion and limitations may not apply to you. In the event the warranty exclusions do not apply to you, then, where legally permissible, such warranties are limited in duration to the applicable warranty period and no warranties apply after that period.
Please review the warranty card that accompanied your product for warranty coverage.
Residential Upholstered Furniture Limited Warranty
Item/ Warranty Time/ Labor Time
Notice within the fabric area that the warranty does not cover, anything after one year. Within that first year, it makes no mention to any pilling, fuzzing or cleaning issues.
Leather does not cover dye lot match, fading and also what would be considered within fading is oil marking from hands, arms and head area. Often medications taken can show up on leather through our body oil and cause leather to discolor. Excessive cleaning on hand areas or welts can also cause leather to discolor. This is not normal wear and tear.
Seat cushions warranty from this company is one year only on the foam. They are not giving you a scale here showing a decompression rate, but I guarantee that there most likely is one. Your cushions will have to be considered "manufacturer defect" meaning that uses within the house did not cause the issue or the uses within the house was normal and the decompression rate is so great that the cushions fell within the ranking to replace. We have talked to companies such as this before and it is very hard to get the company to pay for the replacement.
Above it says, but incase you missed it, the 3 categories in these screen shots are... item/ warranty time/ labor time. Another issue to ask about is labor time as well as freight. During a warranty time, so within "lifetime" which according to the State of Michigan is 7 years or within the "one year" the company is telling you the "spring system is covered. You would get free labor for that repair within the first year. Often we hear of Pick Up Fees/ Delivery Fees and Freight on Parts. We understand that everything has a cost and we very well know that it cost money to send a heavy mechanism from point A to point B. We just don't want you to be surprised. At Tri City Furniture we try to have the end result make you smile. We try to do everything we can. Sometimes there are extra costs. That is why we really try to carry better product that first have better materials that won't break down and then that have better warranties so you will not be surprised with the fine print and the details that are not written or discussed.
You have to remember that there are always requirements expected from the company. These are most likely not written. I would say now a days they are not even "known." If you ask your Grandparents they could probably tell you them. Such as, dropping down on furniture vs sitting is considered abuse on furniture. Remember to use your knees when sitting. Eating and drinking in furniture will cause staining and if so, you should not be surprised if dirt starts to cling to those areas of the furniture that have been compromised. Arm rests are to rest your arm on, not to help you get up out of the chair. Arm rests are not for standing on. They are not for sitting sideways on with your leg over the arm. Using a chair the way it is design to be used is covered only by the warranty. If you sit on it any other way is considered abuse. Leather does wear, just like it does on your purse strap, boots and belt. Soft fluffy cushions will compact, because that is the law of nature. If you want a cushion to stay exactly the way you first saw it, it should be very firm. Fabrics release fibers. Think about your lent trap in the dryer. How many times have you washed those towels, and sweatshirts and still fibers are released. Sometimes you have to clean up the pilling. You have to do maintenance with everything. Rotate the car tires. Rotate the mattress. Rotate the sofa cushions. All of these things cause your purchase to last longer. Like my mom says, "The dirt won't jump off itself!"