5-Year Warranty

While big-name manufacturers are forcing their customers to purchase their so-called warranties, we have decided that enough is enough.

How often do you hear these familiar words while paying for that new electronic device: "Would you like to purchase our 3-year extended protection plan?"

My unwavering reply: "Nope!"

"But sir!" they always push back [usually in a whiny, almost condescending voice], "if it breaks… [insert long sales pitch here]"

"If I don't buy your protection plan, how long is the regular warranty?"

Answers typically range from 3 – 12 months. My last TV had a 12-month warranty…. It died 12 months and one week after we bought it. I guess I should have bought the extended warranty, huh?

But this is where my blood starts to boil. These manufacturers and large retail chains know exactly what type of equipment they are selling. They know how they were made, where they were made, and with what quality of components. They know the statistics of how many units will be defective right out of the box (DOA), they know how many will fail within the first 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. So armed with that knowledge, what exactly are they saying when they only offer a 90-day warranty? Even if they offer the holy grail of warranties (a full 365 days), they are clearly stating that they do not expect a significant number of their products to last beyond that first year. Or at least that is the message I hear when the clerk looks down his nose at me and asks if I want to pay more than the sticker price that's already breaking the bank.

Asking me to pay for an extended warranty sends this message: The manufacturer, as well as the retailer, knows full well that the device will likely break and they are not willing to cover that expense. It used to be that a manufacturer would proudly stand behind their product. Those days seem to be well in the past. Now they want the customer to "stand behind" the product. The customer gets to shoulder the cost of the warranty. Really?!

As I find myself competing with big-name computer manufacturers, I'm always on the lookout for ways to distinguish myself. Obviously I cannot compete with their resources, and their sheer size puts me to shame. But here is something I can do. I can carefully select quality components with a proven track-record while building MC-brand computers. I can put my own neck on the line when things go bad, which in turn will further motivate me to weed out the lower quality components and select only the best-of-the-best.

So with all that being said, Master Computing makes the proud announcement that we are now offering a 5-year warranty on all house-brand computers. What could be better than that? Well, let me tell you. Not only does this new warranty apply to future purchases, but we will also retroact it so that all computers purchased since January 1, 2011 will automatically have their warranties extended.