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Warranty: Easy to Void

How to Kill Your Warranty: If you reformat your PC's hard drive or bring the computer to a local store for repairs, you can void your system's warranty. Read the details in the warranty agreement before you buy the system.

No Transfers: Many computer warranties don't transfer from one PC owner (who originally registered the machine with the manufacturer) to another. This is a good reason to purchase a new system instead of a second-hand one. However, some PC companies, including Dell, will allow you to transfer the warranty over to a new owner if you pass the machine on to another user. The company will also let the new owner buy an extended warranty if the standard warranty is still valid but is about to run out.

Extended Warranties: These are being pushed harder than ever. Heck, you'll even be offered a $70 extended warranty from Kemper Insurance if you buy a PC through a Yahoo Shopping site. (The fine print on that one will make you dizzy.) Only in a few special cases (for example, with delicately built portable devices like notebooks) do extended warranties make sense. Of course, if the PC maker offers a promotional deal on extended warranties, the peace of mind may be worth the money.

Disappearing Acts: Be especially skeptical of extended warranties from small PC companies. Many of them went out of business in 2002, and more will in 2003. If a company goes belly-up, you'll be stuck with a useless extended warranty and no hope of getting a refund--or worse, no service.

Returns: Money Back or Bust

The "Defective Clause": Many companies will do almost anything to avoid returns for refunds. The safest thing to do is to find a vendor that offers a money-back guarantee and no restocking fee. Make sure you understand the return policy's "defective clause"--what happens if you want money back because the product doesn't work as promised. For example, certain stores will only exchange the defective unit for a replacement.

Refurbs as Replacements: Most PC companies provide refurbished parts as replacements. That means you can buy a new PC and be given a refurbished part in place of a defective component. The other option? Buy a PC from a mom-and-pop store that may provide new parts, but ask before you buy.

Compare Deadlines: Return time frames vary more than you might guess. Suppose, for example, that you order a cheap PC from a warehouse club's Web site. Costco.com lets you return computers for up to six months, while Samsclub.com requires you to return PCs within 15 days.

Check the Exceptions: Web sites that sell many computer brands have varying return policies for different vendors. For example, CDW states that due to manufacturer policies, returned Apple, Compaq, HP, and IBM PCs are accepted for repair only--you can't get a credit or an exchange.

Not-So-Special Delivery: If you order a system and the box arrives looking damaged or roughly handled, refuse the delivery. (The shipper will have to return the package to the PC maker, and the PC maker will have to send you a new one.) Then follow up with the PC vendor to ensure that it knows you refused delivery. Don't just accept the box and figure you'll return it if something goes wrong. You'll likely get stuck with refurbished parts under most warranties.

Set Up Smart: Most of us set up our new computers rapidly, ripping open a plethora of unlabeled little bags and boxes. If you lose any pieces (such as cables, manuals, or discs), you must pay a higher restocking fee or put up with a hassle if you return the machine. Consider labeling the bags with sticky notes as you open them. If you're left with an empty bag at return time, you'll know what to search for in your office.

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