It’s the only PC part with a true lifetime warranty
Do you have broken RAM sticks in your drawer? Maybe your RAM stopped working right in the middle of the RAM apocalypse? Don’t worry, as many memory vendors offer lifetime warranties on their products.
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These lifetime RAM warranties are legit
You may have heard about the RAM lifetime warranty and thought it sounds too good to be true. But it turns out these lifetime warranty practices are sort of legit.
The main reasons why RAM is the only PC component typically covered by a lifetime warranty are that the DRAM chips used in RAM sticks have no moving parts, generate little heat during operation, and operate at a low, constant voltage (unless you overclock).
Oh, also, DRAM cells have about 10 billion times the endurance of NAND cells used in SSDs. In other words, unless a RAM stick is faulty from the start, there’s a good chance it will work for decades. That’s why buying used RAM isn’t a bad idea, especially now in the midst of the RAM-pocalypse.
RAM lifetime warranties have a number of limitations: they are, after all, called limited lifetime warranties. That said, if you have a few broken RAM sticks, chances are you can get a replacement or at least some of the money you spent on them.
Now, as I said, a lifetime warranty on RAM is not a lifetime warranty in the buyer’s lifespan sense. It covers the lifespan of the product, i.e. the length of time it is reasonably expected to last. For example, Kingston defines product life as “the normal length of time products are used in the industry.”
Of course, the manufacturer has the final say on how long the RAM will last reasonably, but if you haven’t broken it through overclocking and there’s no physical damage to the sticks and chips underneath the heatsinks, you should be entitled to a replacement or refund.
You can ask for a warranty even ten years after purchasing the memory, but you probably won’t get a replacement that matches the original product’s specifications. In most cases, you can get a full or partial refund, a replacement that the manufacturer considers equivalent or comparable to the RAM you purchased, or store credit if the seller has an online storefront.
Do not expect a refund that reflects the current market value of the memory. In these situations, the refund is the original purchase price or fair market value, the one who is lowest.
In addition to the sticks being free from any physical damage, you must also be the original purchaser (warranty is void for used sticks). In some cases, you may also need proof of purchase. If you don’t have proof of purchase, many manufacturers count the start of the warranty period from the date of manufacture (they can easily verify this by looking at the serial number), but some may request it.
Note that a lifetime warranty may not apply in some countries that consider it a fixed term or whose laws do not recognize a lifetime warranty. Some manufacturers include these terms in their warranty policies.
For example, TEAMGROUP states that “the company’s lifetime warranty may not apply to customers in certain countries or states due to conflicts of law, but this limited lifetime warranty does not affect customers’ right to receive the longest warranty period permitted by law in those areas.” »
Although it offers a lifetime warranty for its memory, Crucial states that “the limited lifetime warranty is limited to 10 years from purchase in Austria, Belgium, France and Germany.” If your country considers the lifetime warranty to be a fixed term, you may be out of luck. That said, Micron, the company that owns the brand, recently shut it down, so I’m not sure of Crucial’s current memory warranty status.
Here’s what to expect from the RMA process
After you have decided that you want to exercise your rights as a customer, you should first check whether the manufacturer of the memory in question offers a lifetime warranty. Most RAM brands do this, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. When it comes to popular memory brands, G.SKILL, TEAMGROUP, Corsair, Patriot, and Kingston all offer a limited lifetime warranty on their RAM.
Once you are sure that the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty, I recommend inspecting the sticks for any signs of physical damage. If they appear to be in good condition, try to find proof of purchase. Not all providers require one, but it’s best to have one just in case.
The next step is to go to the manufacturer’s website and find the RAM request form online. You should easily Google this. If you can’t find it, look for their customer service or technical support emails; every RAM manufacturer should have at least a few of these.
Before you embark on this adventure, be aware that there is a good chance that you will have to send the RAM to the company’s regional headquarters and pay shipping costs. Those living in the United States can invoke the Magnuson-Moss Act of 1975 to try to avoid paying shipping costs. If you are outside the United States, you should research your options in case you are asked to pay the shipping bill.
You should also be prepared to spend a few days communicating with company representatives to obtain an RMA authorization. Once you have been approved and shipped the memory, you will have to wait for the company to process the RMA after receiving the RAM, which can take a few weeks.
I recommend asking the representative how long it usually takes to process the RMA and emailing them as soon as that time is over. Once the company has processed the RMA, they should notify you and present you with options (a full or partial refund, store credit, or replacing your RAM with the same or equivalent memory).
If you have broken RAM sticks, it doesn’t cost you anything to try to take advantage of their warranty. The worst that can happen is that your claim is denied, but if you can get a refund or, better yet, a replacement, it may be worth it.
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