EEVblog #799 - How To Remove Warranty Void Security Stickers

[coppice]

If the warranty void sticker gets broken in the first year, can't you get it replaced under warranty?

[AF6LJ]

I always wondered if that would work.
Thanks Dave
 

[vk6zgo]

Purchasing power has a great impact upon warranties.

When I worked for Telecom Australia & later, the 7 Network,we quite often opened new equipment up,either to  make necessary modifications,just to "have a look",or in many cases,as part of the process of installation.

An upside for the suppliers was that they knew if it was a "silly" fault we would probably  just fix it ourselves,so if they did get anything back,it was almost certainly an intransigent fault,which they in turn,could "duckshove" back to the Manufacturers.

[DimitriP]

In some cases (pun intended ) the screws have some sort of adhesive that makes them kind hard to break loose the first time. Usually there is distinctive break-off feel as you are breaking it loose. Once reassembled that break-off feel is no longer there.

The tip may have some of that residue. Clear, green, blue ,black etc.
Use something of similar color if you want to claim "never opened"  after reassembly.

[Armxnian]

The funny thing is, for Siglent's meters and signal generators, you don't even need to remove the warranty sticker. Just take off the two side screws in the back and the one screw on the bottom of the chassis and just pull it out.

[helius]

Nice tip, thanks Dave!
About "release papers": they are coated with silicone so nothing can stick to them (particularly ink or glue). One major use is for dry mounting machines, and they can be purchased from dry mounting vendors (like Seal, now part of D&K Group). But the sheets are usually much larger and less nimble than ESD bags!

[Fungus]

In some cases (pun intended ) the screws have some sort of adhesive that makes them kind hard to break loose the first time. Usually there is distinctive break-off feel as you are breaking it loose. Once reassembled that break-off feel is no longer there.

Cyanoacrilate...

[Towger]

So these laws also apply to non consumer products such as oscilloscopes?

Or course. At least 1 year manufacturer's warranty. The sticker means nothing.  Actually if you are a consumer the item must last 'a reasonable length of time'. For an expensive item the courts can deem that to be 5 years.

[pickle9000]

Even though there are protections in place (for some) when removing an anti-tamper sticker, why not save yourself and the seller some grief. Keeping it in one piece allows them to run it though the warranty process without any issues.

[Bud]

Why bother, you can buy a sheet for a few buck on ebay, search for "security stickers", also available from bunch of other places.

[timelessbeing]

alternative to the anti-static bag ...


(0:00 - 1:00)

[Psi]

AvE posted a response video, with his technique

[HighVoltage]

I usually keep these stickers off and only add them later, if needed.
Just in case I have to get in to the instrument again.

[Fungus]

Why bother, you can buy a sheet for a few buck on ebay, search for "security stickers", also available from bunch of other places.

I won't say "Agilent" on them though.

[Macbeth]

AvE posted a response video, with his technique

"OWNERSTICK"  That guy is hilarious. Subscribed!

[station240]

I know had some test equipment teardowns where he explained how even finger prints can put precision resistors etc out of value.
Perhaps more accurate would be "calibration void if sticker removed".

The funny thing is, for Siglent's meters and signal generators, you don't even need to remove the warranty sticker. Just take off the two side screws in the back and the one screw on the bottom of the chassis and just pull it out.

Yeah I've seen a part that has clips down one side, and the warranty sticker down the other. So you can open the plastic case up like a clam, mess with it and put it back together without removing the sticker.

[German_EE]

For the high value items I'm normally very good when it comes to warranty stickers and I leave the case shut until it expires. The day after that warranty expiry? I'm in there looking for all of the interesting stuff.

Be careful with locked screws though. Somebody earlier mentioned using cyanoacrylates to lock them back in place and this is a really bad idea because that screw may never come out again! There are proper screw locking compounds available and in this case you really do need to use the correct item.

[ornea]

OWNERSTICK.  Perhaps dual purpose.  Once side for removing stickers and the side for prying open plastic cases or anything that usually gets done with finger nails.  I would pay 10 bucks for that.

What did he say that coating was as slippery as?

Now, where's that ice bucket. 

[Fungus]

Be careful with locked screws though. Somebody earlier mentioned using cyanoacrylates to lock them back in place and this is a really bad idea because that screw may never come out again!

That was me.

I guess I should have mentioned that you use a really really small drop. Tiny. Obviously you don't want to cover the screw in it.   

And yeah, they sell the proper stuff. That's probably best.

[AF6LJ]

AvE posted a response video, with his technique

I always wondered if that would work...
Now I know.

[isaiahA]

That is a creative idea. I will have to try it next time

[jpelczar]

Also works nicely with this ridiculous camera stickers which various companies want to put you on your cell phone cameras when entering office buildings - anyone more intelligent than a trained monkey can bypass this pseudo-"security" shit. I also used some oil which will prevent the stickers from glueing.

[Stephan_T]

Why bother, you can buy a sheet for a few buck on ebay, search for "security stickers", also available from bunch of other places.

Are there also
Warranty Void if
used with Batteriser
stickers available? The industry may have some demand for them, if/when a specific product really ships.

It would be funny to see how companies like Rigol or Siglent react, if you sent in one of their devices with an Oops Agilent Sticker.

[bigdawg]

The warranty stickers are utter nonsense. I'm sorry but equipment gets bashed about, moved, scraped, etc. If the sticker gets torn during the move from one desk to another, or scratched with a test probe or something the warranty is void? really?

It's just theatrics. The law (at least in the UK) won't let them off with that nonsense. In fact if a piece of equipment is less than 6 months old then no matter what is wrong with it the default is any problem is considered a manufacturing fault - even if the problem is the idiot using the equipment, it is for the manufacturer to prove it was the user who broke it and a poxy little sticker is not adequate proof.

That then gets on to the usual 12 months warranty. Again that is actually not the law. A piece of equipment should last as long as should be expected for what it is - determined by the courts. This will often mean much longer than 12 months. I would say all test equipment is expected to last longer, however the onus is then on the user to prove the failure was caused by a manufacturing defect rather than himself or fair wear and tear.

you are spot on. I had to relocate to a different building few months ago, and scratched out the warranty sticker from a shimadzu spectrometer. A month later, it started giving me trouble, and the technician replaced the peltier+pcb without even paying attention to the sticker (or lack thereof!). I dont know about the exact law stateside, but I dont think I have ever encountered any reputable manufacturer refusing to fulfill their warranty obligation based on the sticker alone.

[AF6LJ]

Also works nicely with this ridiculous camera stickers which various companies want to put you on your cell phone cameras when entering office buildings - anyone more intelligent than a trained monkey can bypass this pseudo-"security" shit. I also used some oil which will prevent the stickers from glueing.

if they were really serious about it they would hand you a padded envelope Have you right your full name on it and insist that you keep your cell phone, camera or whatever at the reception desk as a condition of entry.
That really is a separate issue from the tattle tail tamper stickers placed on a new piece of equipment.