OEM vs. VAR Warranties
What's in a warranty?
A warranty is something you hope you never need, but when something goes wrong with your hardware, you'll certainly be glad you have one. Understanding your warranty options before you make a purchase decision is crucial, but also can be difficult.
In some cases, the warranty you have may not actually provide the level of coverage you need when your hardware fails. Other times, you may pay a premium price to get a very generous warranty that you don’t need, as replacing your hardware out of pocket after it fails may be the cheaper option. This is why gaining a clear understanding of the warranty options available to you is so important.
Original Equipment Manufacturers and Warranties
Buying hardware from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) can be a great choice for some companies. OEM hardware is produced in large quantities without the extras that typically come with hardware purchased from a value-added reseller (VAR), such as customized configurations, various warranty options, and support agreements. As a result, OEM hardware offerings can be cheaper than hardware sourced through other channels.
However, you must be able to weigh the implied costs of what you’re giving up in order to verify that OEM hardware is a good fit for your organization. This is particularly true of warranties. The warranties provided with OEM hardware can be shorter than those provided with hardware purchased from resellers, or even completely nonexistent.
Knowing exactly what your warranty includes and how long it will cover your equipment can be difficult when you purchase directly from the OEM. Companies that are aware of the risks may be willing to self-insure their hardware purchases. On the other hand, if buying hardware without clear knowledge of the warranty makes you nervous, OEM hardware may not be right for you.
Value-Added Resellers and Warranties
A value-added reseller (VAR) is a company that sells hardware or software offerings with special features or services that provide value beyond fulfillment. Their offerings may cost more than those of OEMs in some cases, but the additional value provided by VARs often outweighs any differences in price.
This is often true when it comes to warranties. Providing a diverse array of warranty options to help buyers find the option that is right for their specific company is one of the primary benefits of working with a VAR. It also means that the buyer won’t have to worry about whether or not a particular hardware offering provides an adequate warranty.
At Aventis Systems, we offer a wide variety of warranty programs because we know that our customers want to feel confident when buying new IT hardware. If you’re one of the many companies that finds the lack of transparency provided by OEM hardware warranties to be confusing and worrisome, we can help. Contact us today, and we’ll help you select the warranty option that best meets your requirements.
