What If You Bought the Lifetime Warranty... every time?

June 18, 2024 10:17 AM

"Rachel knew, early on, that she would keep Charriot for a long time..." (SLYT) This is the short story of someone who buys the extended, lifetime warranty, every time. Happy viewing, everyone!
posted by dfm500 (13 comments total)

That fact that she not only has all those parts under guarantee, but that she keeps them being honored is amazing. She could teach all those extreme couponers a thing or two!
posted by drewbage1847 at 10:34 AM on June 18 [5 favorites]

This is news my dad can use.
posted by creiszhanson at 11:25 AM on June 18 [4 favorites]

I love this but...

I don't know the price of the parts and I don't know what she values her time at (zero?) but it may be cost effective to just get a new part. Not a new Charriot; that she should keep forever. Probably worth at least what she paid for it.

She stands by the car when it is on the lift and hands the mechanic a diagram. Good luck trying that around here in NY.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:56 AM on June 18

So the lession is, the next time I get an unsolicited call on my cell phone with an offer to renew my vehicle's warranty to protect against expensive repairs, I should say "yes", right?
posted by RonButNotStupid at 12:26 PM on June 18

Only if the "Not" in your user name isn't true...
;)
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:37 PM on June 18

In 2024 it's super rare to find vendors who offer both lifetime warranties and reason to believe they'll still be in business by the time those can get exercised.

Also, offering lifetime warranties on car parts, especially wear items like mufflers and shocks and batteries (batteries ffs!) is crazypants. She's done well to get those.
posted by flabdablet at 3:19 PM on June 18 [2 favorites]

I used to have a lifetime warranty Eliminator brand car battery from Canadian Tire. Replaced it four times. They were shitty batteries. Every time they tried to weasel out of it.

I often wonder if someone lost their job over that very short-lived and incredibly expensive sales promo.
posted by CynicalKnight at 4:05 PM on June 18

Whatever the criticisms, she has BOSSED her way through a particular area of life in a particular era. This woman is my hero! How fucking organized is she, omg, look at that folder and that *method*. What an absolute madlady.
posted by MiraK at 4:11 PM on June 18 [4 favorites]

Good on her for holding companies to their promises! These 'lifetime warranties' are obviously a gimmick that they don't expect people to call on because they sell the car or lose the warranty or forget or whatever. I bet they hate having to honour one for this long, but sometimes these things have a long tail. It's not like they haven't made their money a zillion times over when people couldn't find the receipt so couldn't claim against the warranty.

These warranties are similar to buying pre-paid items to get a 'buy ten, get two free' deal or whatever (not as common these days). A place I used to work at offered them and, even though the business pays 20% more every time a customer redeems the free turns, far more than 20% of cards never get even close to being redeemed because they get lost of whatever.
posted by dg at 4:31 PM on June 18

Earlier this year, Rachel Veitch, now 93, has retired from driving due to failingg eyesight. But the car is still fine.
posted by Miss Cellania at 3:39 AM on June 19 [1 favorite]

Oops! That video was older than I thought. I found her obituary from 2017.
posted by Miss Cellania at 3:52 AM on June 19 [1 favorite]

This is why “lifetime” warranties are limited lifetime warranties.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:39 AM on June 19

I think we all know now why Sears and JCPenny are out of business.
posted by milnak at 2:02 PM on June 19