ISO 22059
Consumer Warranties/Guarantees Certification
Any business that sells high-value products should offer a warranty with each purchase to consumers. There are a few reasons why warranties are beneficial for both businesses and consumers, and you should find that it helps to increase sales for any high-value items that you have.
The rapid globalization of production and the shift in manufacturing and distribution systems has created a new need for consumer protection. The internet and mobile telephones have revolutionized the way the business is conducted. The increased usage of the internet has had a great impact on developed and developing countries. Nearly all countries are experiencing a high demand of e-commerce activities. This new phenomenon has led to the disparity of knowledge between traders and consumers. The advancement of technology has placed at the disposal of consumers a range of complex and sophisticated products, consumable and non-consumable. To protect consumers against faulty products requires the design of new measures.
Rapid expansion of developing economies has led to the inclusion of millions of new consumers in the global market. While this is of great benefit to the standard of living of those consumers, the levels of protection they receive from consumers’ law and good business practices is much lower than that received by consumers in the developed world.
The Importance of Warranties
A warranty is a written agreement that assures the customer that the manufacturer/seller will repair or replace the product if necessary within a specified time frame. There are a number of different types of warranty and companies can create their own guidelines, but they are important because they make the purchase of any high-value item a lot safer for consumers. In addition to this, it allows a business to outline the terms and situations where they both will and will not cover the cost of repairs or replacements.
One of the most important ways that a warranty helps a business is that it can be used to build trust between customers and them. Buying a high-value item is a major decision and can be a risk for a consumer, so they will feel a lot safer if they know that there is a warranty in place. Most people have had experiences where they have bought a product that was faulty out of the box or developed an issue very quickly, which can be frustrating and costly if there is no warranty in place. By offering a warranty, you can make the consumer feel a lot safer in making the purchase because they know that they can trust your business to cover the cost of repairs or a replacement if the product does not work.
What is a guarantee?
A guarantee is a written statement provided free of charge by the manufacturer. It usually includes assurances about the quality of the item, or service, as well as a promise to provide repair or replacement if something goes wrong within a set amount of time (for example, within 12 months after purchase). It is a legally binding document that can be enforceable through the courts if necessary.
The guarantee should have the following information:
- What goods the guarantee applies to
- The name and address of the person who will honour the guarantee (known as the guarantor)
- How long the guarantee is for
- How to make a claim under the guarantee
- What action the guarantor will take
- If you have to pay any charges for getting the product repaired (such as postage and packaging)
PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS CONTINUITY
Businesses are responsible for the safety, durability and performance of their products, whilst complying with applicable laws and adhering to international norms of behavior. The purpose of
ISO 22059 is to help manufacturers and/or suppliers to develop, implement and improve product warranties/guarantees. Warranties/guarantees should protect the consumer from product defects.
Manufacturers and/or suppliers should demonstrate their commitment to consumer warranties/ guarantees by adhering to the principles set out in this document. These principles include the following:
- Developing, implementing and maintaining appropriate consumer product standards to ensure consumer protection in relation to product safety, performance and durability;
- Making a commitment to the prompt and effective implementation of remedies when a consumer product fails to conform to the expected safety, performance and durability;
- promoting a product quality culture among manufacturers and/or suppliers by establishing manufacturing standards that support the terms in the warranties/guarantees; and
- establishing processes to maintain compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and standards, such as those defined in ISO 10002.
Global recognition as a reputable supplier
Certification is recognized internationally and accepted throughout industry supply chains, setting industry benchmarks for sourcing suppliers.
Win more business
Procurement specifications often require certification as a condition to supply, so certification and verification opens doors
Business resilience
Avoid downtime and financial losses with effective management of risk, emergency preparedness and contingency planning.
Legal Compliance
Understand how statutory and regulatory requirements impact your organization and its customers.
What is ISO 22059?
ISO 22059 specifies the form and content of warranties/guarantees that a manufacturer and/or supplier can use to address reasonable expectations of products by consumers.
ISO 22059 is applicable to transactions between businesses and consumers of new and used
products, including online transactions. This document is also applicable to products associated with services to complete a transaction (such as, buying clothes that need alteration).
