We generally don't recommend buying the extended warranty, because most products won't need repair until after the extended warranty coverage ends. But extended warranties can offer real value and additional features that might be worth it to you.

Buying a used iPhone can save you money (I've never bought a new one). However, buying secondhand comes with its own issues. Before you buy, make sure to check its serial number at Apple's web site. It will show you if the phone is covered by a warranty, or if it can be covered by Applecare.

Hey Lifehacker, Recently I had a long-running warranty dispute with an electronics manufacturer. They "repaired" the item in question a few times but I was still having issues. In arranging a replacement, I had to sign and agree to not discuss the terms of the warranty with anyone but a lawyer. The provider claimed "neither party is responsible, but we are replacing the product to avoid ongoing dispute" in the paperwork.

When you buy an Apple gadget from Apple itself (and, indeed, from many of its resellers), AppleCare is pushed pretty heavily to extend your warranty beyond a year, even though strictly speaking most of Apple's products should be warrantied for longer than that. It appears that Apple may be changing its policy, with reports that it's extending that coverage out to two years, gratis.

Dear Lifehacker, Is it possible to get the manufacturer to replace a hard disk drive that stopped working after the warranty period? The laptop is nearly 1.5 years old (so its out of the one year warranty period )and the HDD just stopped working out of the blue. Thanks, Driven To Despair

Dear Lifehacker, I have a portable air-conditioning unit (yes, I know the power usage is an issue, but at the time it was needed for my heavily pregnant wife to be comfortable) which I purchased in February 2011. It has a two-year manufacturer's warranty and this weekend it failed under warranty. Unfortunately, the manufacturer (Hotpoint) went into administration in April last year.

Nothing sucks more than having a gadget break down and finding out it will cost hundreds of dollars to fix. Don't have the cash to spend on a repair? Here are some tricks for fixing it even if you're fairly sure the warranty doesn't apply.

Lifehacker's Consumer Power Week continues with a handy guide to exercising your consumer rights if you have an out-of-warranty iPhone that's developed a fault. Despite Apple's frequent posturing, there's plenty you can do, as Jason Discount explains.

There's a small light-coloured dot inside many gadgets, including iPods, that turns pink or red if the device's internals seem to have been exposed to water or significant moisture. Generally, they're put there so that a service technician can end their search for the cause right there.

Sometimes it's worth buying the extended warranty, and it's definitely worth using the regular warranty you get for free. Companies often find ways to avoid paying for repairs, however, so how do ensure you get the most out of warranty?

We aren't the biggest fans of extended warranties, but tech blog Unplggd shows us that even though you shouldn't buy one, the fact that they're offered can tell you whether a refurbished product is worth buying.

Apple appears to have made an internal change to its AppleCare extended warranty policies, allowing anyone with an existing AppleCare Protection Plan to transfer it to a new device.

It's wise to keep product boxes while a product is in warranty for ease of return shipping. Tag the boxes with warranty expiration dates to remind yourself to pitch the old boxes.

What happens if a company sells you faulty goods? The correct answer is that they should offer a refund or replacement, but apparently that's not always the case -- even if the company is a consumer giant like Apple.

Back in January, Vodafone agreed to ensure that customers got a decent warranty deal when they purchased phones on contract after striking a deal with the ACCC. At the time, we noted there was one glaring exception to that rule: the iPhone.

Another day, another slapdown of companies ignoring Australian consumer law by the ACCC. This time, it's Nokia Care Centres under the microscope, with the phone service organisation promising to withdraw unacceptable terms and conditions.

Most consumers are aware that they're entitled to have goods replaced if they prove faulty early in their life after purchase, but just how long does that period last? In the case of Vodafone and mobile phones, the answer now turns out to be "more than two weeks" thanks to an ACCC court ruling that should help everyone who owns a mobile phone.

Sony's offer of an extended three-year warranty on new Bravia TVs sounds like a good bargain. While we'd never advise turning down an offer of extra protection, the deal, like many warranty extensions, might not be quite as tasty as it first appears.