Hey BungeeGuide for homeowners and renters
Keep every receipt and know when the warranty ends
Warranties fail in a boring way: not because the company says no, but because by the time something breaks, nobody can find the receipt or remember when it was bought.
- Every claim asks for the same three things: proof of purchase with the date, the model and serial number, and what went wrong.
- Photograph the receipt the day you buy; thermal paper fades.
- Keep it at least until the warranty ends, and longer if it supports your taxes.
- Put the end date somewhere that will remind you a couple of weeks before.
The three things every warranty claim asks for
- Proof of purchase, with the date. The receipt or order confirmation. As the FTC puts it, the receipt proves the date you bought the product, and that date starts the warranty’s clock.
- The model and serial number. Usually on a sticker inside the door, on the back or underneath, and often printed on the box or the receipt. Photograph it while the thing is new and easy to reach.
- What went wrong, and when. A short note and a photo or video of the problem. Dated is better.
Some companies also ask you to register the product, and a few require a registration card before they’ll provide warranty service. Check the warranty card that came in the box; it says.
How long to keep receipts
| Why you’re keeping it | Keep it at least |
|---|---|
| A return | Until the store’s return window closes. See return windows. |
| A manufacturer’s warranty | Until the warranty ends: often 1 year for appliances and electronics, longer for some parts. |
| An extended warranty or protection plan | Until the plan ends, with the plan’s own paperwork. |
| Your taxes | Until the period of limitations for that tax return runs out, as the IRS explains. |
| Insurance, for what you own | As long as you own it. A claim after a fire, flood or break-in goes much faster with receipts and photos. |
A simple system that actually works
The best system is the one you’ll still be using in eleven months, when the washer starts making that noise.
- Capture it at the counter. Photograph the receipt before you leave the store, or save the email receipt the day it arrives.
- Add the serial number the day it’s installed. One photo of the label. You will never want to pull the fridge out to find it later.
- Write down the end date, not the length. “1 year” means nothing in eleven months; “ends June 3, 2027” does.
- Set a reminder two weeks before. Enough time to notice a problem and file before coverage ends.
- Keep it all together. Receipt, warranty card, manual, serial number, in one place you can search.
Or toss it to Hey Bungee
Share or snap the receipt and the warranty card. Bungee reads the store, the total, the date and the warranty length, keeps the model and serial with it, and brings it all back before coverage ends. Ask “is the washer still covered?” and it opens the receipt.
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Good to know
- Other brands’ parts. According to the FTC, a manufacturer generally can’t require you to use specific parts or services to keep your warranty coverage, unless it provides them free or has an FTC waiver.
- Implied warranties. Even without a written warranty, the FTC explains that implied warranties, like the promise that a product will do what it’s supposed to do, exist in every state unless the item was sold “as is” where the law allows.
- Credit cards. Some cards extend manufacturer warranties on purchases you made with them. Check your card’s benefits guide before you pay for a repair.
Questions
Do I need the receipt to make a warranty claim?
Usually you need proof of purchase. The receipt proves the date you bought it, and that date is what starts the warranty.
Is a photo of a receipt good enough?
A clear photo taken on the day of purchase is far better than a faded slip a year later, and many companies accept it. For big purchases, keep the paper too until the warranty ends.
Where is the serial number?
On a label, usually inside a door, on the back or on the bottom. It’s often printed on the box and sometimes on the receipt. Photograph it when the product is new.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your warranty card and your tax adviser have the final word.