A single device can be covered by three distinct warranties at once. They don’t have the same duration, the same responsible party, or the same strength. Mixing them up means either paying for something that was free, or giving up a right you still had.
1. The legal guarantee of conformity
- Who owes it? The seller.
- How long? 2 years in France (1 year for second-hand goods).
- Cost? Free, automatic.
- How strong? Very: the defect is presumed to have existed since purchase, and it’s up to the seller to prove otherwise.
This is your default protection — the one to invoke first for any breakdown within two years.
2. The commercial warranty (the “manufacturer’s warranty”)
- Who owes it? The manufacturer or the seller, depending on the contract.
- How long? It varies: often 1, 2 or 3 years, sometimes more.
- Cost? Included in the purchase price.
- How strong? Entirely dependent on its contractual terms: they alone define what’s covered and what isn’t.
It’s an extra offered by the seller or the manufacturer. It never replaces the legal guarantee and can never reduce it.
3. The extended warranty (paid)
- Who owes it? An insurer or the retailer.
- How long? Whatever you pay for (often +1 to +3 years).
- Cost? Paid, pitched at the checkout.
- How strong? It varies, often with exclusions, deductibles and caps.
It’s an insurance contract, not a legal guarantee. Whether it’s worth it depends on the price, the exclusions and the reliability of the device.
The table that clears it all up
| Legal guarantee of conformity | Commercial | Paid extension | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Responsible party | Seller | Manufacturer / seller | Insurer / retailer |
| Duration | 2 years (1 year second-hand) | Varies | Your choice, paid |
| Cost | Free | Included | Paid |
| Burden of proof | On the seller (24 months) | Per contract | Per contract |
| Can it be reduced? | No, it’s the law | — | — |
The classic checkout trap
“Is your one-year manufacturer’s warranty really enough? For €49, add the extension.” This pitch works because it glosses over the 2-year legal guarantee you already have for free. In many cases, the extension only starts covering you after the period already protected by law.
Before paying, ask yourself the only question that matters: what does the law already give me?
Keep track of each one
What really matters is knowing, the day something breaks, which warranty is still active and until when. With Keept, you record each item’s purchase date and the duration of each warranty; the app calculates the expiry dates and alerts you before they pass. No more digging through terms and conditions at the worst possible moment.