Warning about APC warranties

bremen1874 · 16 Feb 2009 at 15:47

If you're in the market for a UPS please be aware of possible warranty problems if you don’t purchase from an authorised reseller.

I purchased a 3000VA APC UPS about 18 months ago from a well known online seller. Recently the UPS has started to tell me that the batteries need replacing. As the item was inside its 2 year warranty I contacted APC to get the batteries replaced.

APC are now telling me that they will only honour the manufacturer’s warranty if the UPS was purchased through an authorised reseller and that I should pursue the warranty claim through the reseller. The reseller is telling me that they only offer a 12 month warranty on items they sell.

I am still pursuing this issue both with APC and the reseller and still hope to get the problem sorted.

If you are in the market for a UPS it may be worth checking with the manufacturer and the seller to ensure that the warranty beyond 12 months will be honoured. According to the APC website the list of authorised resellers is very short.

Ben M · 16 Feb 2009 at 15:51

If I were you, I'd contact trading standards and see if they're allowed to do that.

lunarwolf · 16 Feb 2009 at 15:53

ouch, looks like you are a victim of administrative ping pong

Phil2008 · 16 Feb 2009 at 15:59

Plus using socket strips void the warranty aswel, but I would be lost if I didnt use them, cos theres only 4 sockets on my belkin ups, and I have about 12 plugs plugged in to it

, so I just have to lie if something goes wrong with mine.

jbloggs · 16 Feb 2009 at 17:55

I bought a APC Smart UPS 1500i of a certain auction website about 15 months, and had problems with it from the word go in that it would drop the connection to the software on the comp. after a number of weeks, I talked to APC quite early on, but as it was not that bad I just let it go, but finally decided to get it sorted, so contacted APC after about 9-12 months and after a couple of tests, they simply sent me out a new one which works well with the APC Powerchute Business Edition software....

bremen1874 · 16 Feb 2009 at 18:13

When I was speaking to APC they could tell the build date of the UPS from its serial number. In my case it appears that the UPS had been sitting on a shelf somewhere for approx. 12 months before it was purchased.

According to the build date it was out of warranty so they needed proof of purchase before they would deal with it. It was after I sent the proof of purchase the problems started.

The extended amount of time it sat on a shelf before purchase goes a long way towards explaining why the batteries failed after 18 months of use.

Phil2008 · 16 Feb 2009 at 18:15

Ive had no probs with my belkin ups and it never lets me down when the power fails or during a storm.I just leave it to get on with its thing and I never bother with it.. Oh yeah Ive had mine just under a year now and wouldnt never use my pc without 1.

Edit: Apparntly If your storing batteries, they have to be recharged every 3-6 months.