Warranty News Headlines
January 1, 2006 to today
- Sony Gulf tries to stop UAE retailers from selling gray market PlayStation 3 consoles before official March launch.ITP Technology, December 30, 2006
- Freezers and refrigerators made in Taiwan and China sell in Pakistan despite having no warranty.
Daily Times, December 30, 2006- New China Life Insurance Company CEO resigns over concealed real estate transactions.
China Daily, December 30, 2006- Maruti Udyog Ltd. to begin exporting remanufactured vehicles, but India's import ban to continue.
Financial Express, December 29, 2006- Canon recalls some PowerShot A530 and A540 digital cameras because of battery overheating.
Press Release, December 27, 2006- Canada's Mega Group and Phoenix AMD International agree to co-brand a furniture protection and extended warranty program.
Furniture Today, December 27, 2006- XcelPlus International Inc. backs FlexTek ethanol conversion system with engine warranty.
CarJunky.com, December 26, 2006- National Retail Federation says fraudulent returns will cost the industry $3.5 billion this holiday season.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, December 25, 2006- Consumer Affairs editor says people are better off not buying cell phone insurance.
Beacon News, December 24, 2006- Microsoft lengthens Xbox 360 warranty from 90 days to one year in the U.S. and Canada.
Press Release, December 22, 2006- General Motors offers Chevrolet U-VA in India with a 3-yr./100,000-km. warranty.
India Times, December 22, 2006- Mercedes-Benz USA to pay $1.2 million fine, make voluntary recalls and extend warranties for emissions defects.
Associated Press, December 21, 2006- ServicePower?s Field Service Solutions Division certified for Qualcomm's Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless.
Press Release, December 21, 2006- Circuit City says extended warranty net sales were $103.3 million, or 3.5% of domestic sales, in the quarter ended Nov. 30.
Press Release, December 19, 2006- W3 Solutions appoints Sonic Marketing as its primary independent distribution partner for Canada.
Press Release, December 19, 2006- Swiss watchmakers sound alarm over Web sites selling counterfeit replicas online.
Swiss Info, December 19, 2006- EDS predicts increased outsourcing of warranty operations in 2007.
Press Release, December 19, 2006- CSM Worldwide expects European light vehicle sales to grow 2% in 2007, above 21 million units.
Press Release, December 19, 2006- High-tech car gadgets are cool, until they need repair.
Bankrate.com, December 19, 2006- New bill in South Africa would make home builders' warranty liable for roof leaks and refunds.
Business Day, Johannesburg, December 18, 2006- Nintendo offers to replace the defective original version of the wrist straps for the Wii Remote.
Online Notice, December 18, 2006- Experian and Carmax study finds it easy to wash titles of flood-damaged cars across state lines.
CNN Money, December 18, 2006- MSX International Inc. appoints Peter M. Leger as president and CEO.
Press Release, December 18, 2006- Microsoft Vista's Jan. 30 release date forces PC retailers and manufacturers to promise free upgrades to holiday shoppers.
Boston Globe, December 16, 2006- Better Business Bureau gets nearly 40,000 requests per year for assistance with auto warranty issues.
Midland Reporter-Telegram, December 15, 2006- Prudential analyst cuts rating on Best Buy & Circuit City, fearing lower extended warranty attach rates.
Seeking Alpha, December 14, 2006- Gartner Consulting Worldwide IT Benchmark Report sees 2.8% IT spending increase in 2007.
Press Release, December 14, 2006- HP offers consumers buying PC now a free Microsoft Windows Vista upgrade on DVD next year.
Press Release, December 13, 2006- TV repairman is busier than ever, thanks to popularity of expensive and failure-prone models.
The Trentonian, December 13, 2006- Recycled vegetable oil used to power engine in 1975 Mercedes, costing 50 cents a gallon.
Alaska Star, December 13, 2006- CSM Worldwide predicts U.S. auto sales to fall to a nine-year low of 16.2 million units in 2007.
Press Release, December 13, 2006- Three former Mitsubishi Motors executives acquitted in first of three alleged design flaw cover-up trials.
Associated Press, December 12, 2006- Reliant Home Warranty Corp. retains Clipper Marketing Inc. to manage its investor and public relations.
Press Release, December 12, 2006- Roundup of tractor manufacturer's policies towards the use of biodiesel as fuel.
Farmers Weekly, December 12, 2006- Some online sites sell gray market goods with no warranties, and sometimes no repair options.
USA Today, December 11, 2006- GM says customers are placing a value of $2,000 on the longer powertrain warranties.
Detroit Free Press, December 10, 2006- Independent repair shops worry that longer GM & Ford warranties will shift work to dealers.
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, December 10, 2006- Dell loses a customer's laptop, so he sues a Dell kiosk at a shopping mall in Paramus NJ and wins.
Associated Press, December 9, 2006- Assurant Solutions partners with PlusOne Solutions Inc. for background checks and screenings of independent servicers.
Press Release, December 8, 2006- Toys "R" Us Buyer Protection Plan and National Product Care Co. draws stack of complaints.
Consumer Affairs, December 8, 2006- Mepco Insurance Premium Financing Inc. to sell its insurance business but will keep its warranty payment plan business.
Press Release, December 7, 2006- Jewelry retailers say they are seeing heightened consumer concern about conflict diamonds.
Associated Press, December 7, 2006- Amnesty International details November meeting held to discuss "Kimberley Process" diamond warranties.
Press Release, December 6, 2006- Apple Computer says less than 5% of iPods fail, and most last years.
Wall Street Journal, December 6, 2006- Costs related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act increasing for small businesses, report says.
CFO Magazine, December 5, 2006- Despite embargo, Dubai serves as trade gateway to Iran, but warranty services prove problematic.
ITP Technology, December 5, 2006- Analyst at Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co. says Dell's under-accruals are what led to SEC investigation.
Computer Business Review, December 4, 2006- Dell's accounting practices are no cause for concern.
Stock Market Beat, December 4, 2006- NARDA counters Consumer Reports' extended warranty warning.
This Week in Consumer Electronics, December 4, 2006- Washington Attorney General lists factors to consider when deciding whether to purchase a service contract
The Columbian, December 4, 2006- Automotive Service Association opposes expansion of California Air Resources Board's emission warranty regulations.
Automotive Body Repair News, December 4, 2006- Lehman Trikes Inc. to offer three-year unlimited mileage warranties on its motorcycle conversions.
Press Release, December 4, 2006 (PDF file)- Lenovo ThinkPad T60 has only a one-year warranty while most business laptops have three-year coverage.
CNET, December 4, 2006- Home warranty insurance takes the fear out of buying and makes the house more appealing.
Porterville Recorder, December 4, 2006- Total North American RFID market in 2005 for manufacturing and logistics was $74.8 million, study says.
Frost & Sullivan, December 4, 2006- Stainsafe has a long history of customer dissatisfaction; BBB has processed 1,913 complaints.
Consumer Reports, 6-Dec- Gefen Inc. lengthens warranties on switching products from one year to two.
Press Release, 6-Dec- Getting the best forecast by combining judgmental and statistical methods.
APICS Magazine, 6-Dec- Research firm says Dell's warranty accounting leads to "at least three troubling conclusions."
CRN, December 1, 2006- Value Added Services explains how service plans are used to increase sales overall.
Dealerscope, December 1, 2006- GM says increased fuel efficiency and longer warranties behind recent sales gains for light truks and SUVs.
Associated Press, December 1, 2006- Bankruptcy judge approves Delphi's settlement of accounting fraud charges with the SEC.
Associated Press, December 1, 2006- Magazine's annual capital equipment spending survey finds warranty a top 5 target for cost reduction.
Assembly Magazine, December 1, 2006November 2006- Aon Corp. completes the sale of the Aon Warranty Group and the Virginia Surety Co. to an Onex Corp. affiliate.
Press Release, November 30, 2006- Onex Corp. completes the acquisition of the Aon Warranty Group for CA$800 million (US$710 million).
Press Release, November 30, 2006- Opel and Vauxhall warranty costs since 2000 are down 70% overall and are down 36% per vehicle.
Business Week, November 30, 2006- Warranty Direct UK says 19% breakdown rate for year-old cars jumps to 28% for 7-year-old vehicles.
Press Release, November 30, 2006 (Word file)- Toys "R" Us allegedly bundles Nintendo Wii with three games and extended warranty for $450.
WMAQ-TV Chicago, November 30, 2006- GAP Support introduces home warranties across the Middle East and North Africa.
AME Info, November 30, 2006- Siemens Business Services to do all warranty work for Xerox copiers in the U.S.
Press Release, November 29, 2006- Subaru aftermarket extras keep warranty valid.
Detroit News, November 29, 2006- AGCO's SisuDiesel engines approved for up to 100% biodiesel blends with no change in warranty.
Press Release, November 29, 2006- ServiceMaster CEO expects the American Home Shield warranty business to double within the next five years.
Bloomberg News, November 29, 2006- Philippines propose tax breaks for ethanol and coco methyl ester diesel blends, but car companies balk at warranty implications.
Manila Bulletin Online, November 28, 2006- ServiceMaster Co. appoints Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs as its financial advisors to explore strategic alternatives.
Press Release, November 28, 2006- Snap-on Inc. completes acquisition of ProQuest Business Solutions
Press Release, November 28, 2006- Seagate Technology lengthens the warranty on Maxtor internal hard drives to three years.
Press Release, November 28, 2006- Consumer Reports says 10% of rear-projection TVs need repair in first two years, making extended warranties worth considering.
WRAL-TV Raleigh, November 27, 2006- Blood Diamond film producer suggests consumers ask to see the Kimberley warranty before buying.
Diamond Intelligence Briefs, November 27, 2006- Russian commander says use of converted ICBMs for satellite launches helps it lengthen the remaining fleet's warranties.
RIA Novosti, November 27, 2006- Postini study says 91% of all email now junk mail.
BPM Today, November 27, 2006- Reporter shops for Canon, LG & Sony products, along with extended warranties for each.
Charlotte Observer, November 26, 2006- Consumers should try to negotiate product and extended warranty prices together.
News & Observer, November 26, 2006 - Freezers and refrigerators made in Taiwan and China sell in Pakistan despite having no warranty.
December 2006