How important is a warranty?

I'd want at least a 1 year warranty if it's new and a some sort of crash replacement scheme is a bonus. I figure any manufacturing defect is likely to show up within the first year so I wouldn't really rate a 5 year warranty much more than a 1 year one, lifetime warranties are fairly meaningless IMO and only a couple of companies could really back them up.

It would have to be a pretty big saving (i.e. similar to second-hand light use pricing) for me to want to give up a 1 year warranty assuming the frame was £1000+

Gazzaputt wrote:

Very important to me. I want at least 5 years with a lifetime being better as this does show confidence from the manufacturer in their product.

This is why when buying 2nd hand I like to see a big discount.

^
This

2nd prices are crazy considering the lack of warranty available

Monty Dog wrote:

Warranties are a marketing gimmick and are typically an excuse for poor quality products - those that make the most of their warranties are often the worst for quality - Google Trek or Litespeed warranty issues if you need proof.
Incredibly there's people still out there that think that a warranty covers them for their own incompetence or accidents.
If you buy the right product, then chances are you won't need the warranty.

Are they? Viner frames come with a 5 year warranty and they're not a poor quality product. I think it's more a case of them putting their money where their mouth is. i.e they know they can offer a 5 year warranty because they know a very small percentage will come back.

Surely if a company makes a poor quality product they wouldn't offer a warranty because they'd end up out of pocket with that many frames going back?

It's a bit like saying car manufacturers warranties are a gimmick. We all know most cars are built to a good standard - but would we buy a brand new one without a warranty?

FWIW Viner don't make their top-end product, so probably just make it a contracted liability on their supplier - product breaks, supplier coughs-up.
Spend years setting up business in the US where everyone wants a warranty and yet the quality of some products was appalling - it's an insurance policy that pays and people believe that getting a free-placement when the cr@p first one breaks is good service! Many European and Japanese mfrs focus on the getting the product right in the first place rather than covering their ar$e with a piece of paper.