Archived Copies of Warranty Week

December 2002 to Today

Computer Warranty Report: Warranty accruals and reserves rose for the first time in years, but the long-term decline in the computer hardware industry continues nevertheless. Apple and HP see only minor changes in their warranty metrics. But some of the top disk drive makers are seeing expenses rise significantly.
April 30, 2020
Electronics Warranty Report: Although not as pronounced as in the automotive industry, and not as unseen as in the aerospace industry, there is definitely a gap in the high-tech sector between the warranty expense rates of OEMs and their suppliers. Makers of computers, telecom equipment, and medical devices have much higher warranty costs than disk drive or semiconductor manufacturers.
April 20, 2017
Computer Industry Warranty Report: Though their warranties are usually shorter than those on cars and trucks, their expense rates are almost as high, as a percent of revenue. And despite their higher-than-average claims and accrual rates, many computer, disk drive, and printer manufacturers prefer to keep their warranty reserve cushions as slender as possible.
April 21, 2016
Computer Industry Warranty Report: Thanks to the popularity of smartphones, Apple is now the largest warranty provider in the U.S. But most other computer makers are cutting warranty expenses, as are most disk drive makers. Even Microsoft is getting over the Xbox warranty calamity it suffered through a few years ago.
May 1, 2014
Computer Warranties: While the computer OEMs still pay most of the claims, they've been very successful at cutting the percentage of sales they spend on warranty. Meanwhile, suppliers such as disk drive makers have also streamlined their warranty outlays, but the peripheral makers haven't been so lucky and are watching costs rise as a percentage of sales.
April 12, 2012
Disk Drive & Semiconductor Report: Warranty costs are falling for most of the high tech component makers, both in dollars spent and as a percent of sales. And unlike in the auto industry, the computer OEMs are not yet as accomplished at pushing their warranty costs back onto their parts suppliers.
April 28, 2011
DVD & Hard Drive Recorder Shopping: Recording television programs has never been easier, thanks to a new crop of DVD and hard disk recorders with capacities of two to 400 hours. But some carry only 90-day warranties, which makes service contracts even more appealing.
December 19, 2007
Disk Drive Warranties: As our warranty tour continues, we've finally found a product segment for which warranties vary tremendously from one company to the next. And competitive marketing strategies seem to matter more than either product specs or price.
August 22, 2006
Computer Warranty Claims & Accruals: The companies whose brand names go on the front of the computer continue to pay the lion's share of warranty claims. Makers of disk drives, printed circuits, semiconductors, and most types of peripherals see a significantly smaller share of warranty claims.
August 24, 2004
Warranty in the IT Industry: Readers ask for more details on warranty claims and accruals in the computer, telecom, semiconductor, disk drive, and peripherals industry sectors.
January 12, 2004