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European Union Requesting Examinations of Apple's Warranty Advertising Practices

Monday October 1, 2012 8:57 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Bloomberg reports that European Union (EU) officials are asking member states to examine Apple's warranty advertising practices, alleging that the practices may be misleading for not adequately addressing two-year guarantees required under EU law. Apple was previously fined $1.2 million in Italy over the issue, but examination of the situation now appears set to spread to other countries in the region.
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding wrote to member countries to ask them to check whether Apple retailers failed to advertise buyers’ right to a minimum two-year warranty for products such as the iPhone and the iPad tablet computer.

“Apple prominently advertised that its products come with a one-year manufacturer warranty but failed to clearly indicate the consumers’ automatic and free-of-cost entitlement to a minimum two-year guarantee under EU law,” Reding said to ministers in the letter, which was obtained by Bloomberg News. “These are unacceptable marketing practices.”
As we noted in March, Apple has taken great pains to outline the differences between standard warranty coverage from Apple, EU-required warranties, and Apple's AppleCare extended warranty programs. As we summarized at the time:
- Apple's warranty is good for one year, while EU protection lasts for two years.

- Apple's warranty covers defects that arise at any time during the warranty period. EU protection laws generally require consumers to prove that a given defect was present at the time of product delivery.

- Apple's warranty coverage applies only to Apple products. EU protection laws require sellers to support any products they sell, so the EU coverage would apply to both Apple-branded products and third-party products sold by Apple.
Apple's pages outlining EU-required warranty support appear to sufficiently outline the various warranty programs under which customers may be covered, but questions appear to remain about whether the company is doing enough to make customers aware of the EU warranty policies. The issue is of particular concern with respect to AppleCare purchases, with regulators wanting to make sure customers are adequately informed about exactly what coverages they gain by purchasing the extended warranty coverage compared to standard coverages applicable to all purchases.

[ 121 comments ]


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Big-TDI-Guy
90 months ago
Wish the US had the same consumer rights that the EU provides!
Rating: 34 Votes
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justperry
90 months ago

This crap again? It should be the consumer's responsibility to know what the law guarantees. You don't want AppleCare? Don't buy it.


It's European Law, not American.

Why do we have to protect stupid people? Can nobody read these days?


Stupid people?
Education quality is better in Europe than the states.

Looks like the failing socialist union is just trying to find a reason to fine another large American company.


Maybe the (part) EU is in trouble because of America, where most problems started.

Maybe you guys should ask yourself why there is so much hatred amongst people in other parts of the world against Americans.
But hey, when you are in a foreign country you hide yourself behind pretending to be canadian.
Rating: 20 Votes
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Xikum
90 months ago
Why are people trying to defend Apple here? Are you that loyal to a brand that you literally ENCOURAGE a company to be devious in a way that DOESN'T benefit you whatsoever?
Rating: 19 Votes
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rollzst
90 months ago
good news, it is very misleading on their website. Lets hope something is done.
Rating: 17 Votes
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macchiato2009
90 months ago

Why do we have to protect stupid people? Can nobody read these days?


they are called consumers and you are one of them :rolleyes:
Rating: 15 Votes
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sasza
90 months ago

Great news.

Most manufacturers are now giving 2 year warranties by default in the EU now, including the likes of Samsung.

Yet Apple are still trying to get me to pay an extra £60 on top of the £700 I paid for my scuffed up iPhone.

Someone needs to sack Tim Cook.


Exactly!

Nokia, Samsung, LG - you name it. Every one of them is giving 2 years warranty for their poduct in the EU. What is Apple waiting for?
Rating: 13 Votes
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MartinSpoon
90 months ago

If you live in the EU you should know about your laws, no? So why the need for companies to advertise it for them?


It's mis-selling something, which in UK at least is a big issue just now (banks selling insurance products that did not cover the people they were sold to).

Apple want to sell me something that is mostly covered for free as part of my legal rights. That's exploitation of the customer.
Rating: 13 Votes
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iReinventnv
90 months ago
I think all products should come standard two year protection in all 50 states we demand quality.
Rating: 12 Votes
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zin
90 months ago

Another idiotic lawsuit. So Apple has to spend their money to have special advertising for the morons who live in Europe and don't know that the law there makes all manufacturers give you a 2 year warranty. And who gets the money from the lawsuit... probably the government. These stupid laws and stupid lawsuits really make me sick. A company should be free to have whatever warranty period they wish, and if the consumer wants more then they can buy more coverage or not by the product. Let market demand and competition dictate what is needed.


I'm sure Apple won't go bankrupt by inserting a sentence in the online checkout informing you of your rights. I find it insulting you categorize an entire international community bloc as "morons".

The point here is not that Apple didn't sufficiently advertise the EU-Wide warranty, but that they actively tried to deceive you into purchasing their own warranty by implying that that is the only way of receiving a second year of warranty service.

:rolleyes:
Rating: 12 Votes
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UK-MacAddict
90 months ago
Surprised nobody has mentioned the dismal 90 day phone support. If its over 90 days you have to pay Apple extra for them to even talk to you further about the issue :eek: Surely phone support should be available all the time like it is at most other companies.
Rating: 7 Votes

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