Margaret Arnold • March 30, 2025
Warranty Wisdom: A Mother’s Lesson

While I'm not an expert on warranties, I am the daughter of a mother who took advantage of them for small home products. With three daughters in the house, she purchased a few blow dryers especially when her three teenagers cared enough to wake up early and style our hair. I remember our mother packaging up a non-operating Conair blow dryer and shipping it to take advantage of the product warranty at the time (today it’s three years). Decades before the internet, there is no doubt she kept the product literature to reference the important warranty and shipping information.


In her last months of life, she once instructed me to look up warranty and replacement information on her favorite Ottlite sewing lamp she had in her office that wasn’t working. She loved this lamp and was determined to have it in use again. I remember lovely conversations with the customer service person explaining the issue, what we should do next and even a friendly follow-up email! 


In that spirit, and with the ease of the internet, I have taken advantage of a few product warranties. My research and approach are based on my love of the product itself and doing a quick cost-benefit analysis, including product quality, time and shipping costs. However, I have found the first step is to create a simple warranty tracking system for my favorite products – whether through browser bookmarks, email folders or paper files – just as I’m sure our mother did with her product literature as there wasn’t a piece of paper she won’t hold on to “just in case.” 


"A Customer is never out of warranty, even if his product is."

Seth Godin

Every time a product falls short of its expected life span or promoted quality, I think of our mother looking for the warranty information, calling customer service and packaging and shipping the item back and patiently waiting for the replacement. In doing so, I am thoughtfully considering the product sustainability and quality promise and remembering her practicality and persistence.


Here are examples of items I have purchased and extended the product life through the warranty and my original investment that is helping me life more sustainably:


  • Ceramic knives  – I wrote about my favorite Kyocera ceramic knives in an earlier post. Ceramic knives are wonderful to work with, but they can chip or the tips can break over time and use. I will continue to use and gift these knives as they are a family favorite.
  • Insulated mugs – I received a Tervis classic insulated mug with collegiate branding as a gift and I’ve never turned back. These mugs keep a drink warm and have such fun designs – from your favorite team and nature to seasonal and Snoopy. Recently, curious about their lifetime warranty for an interior film that had developed, I took advantage of Tervis’ lifetime guarantee and was very pleased.
  • Wool socks – Over 15 years, I have purchased dozens of Smartwool merino wool socks for various activities and occasions, including as gifts. In that time, I have taken advantage of the product guarantee. As they mention on their website, the process has evolved. The process use to be returning the sock for a complete replacement. Today, you take a few pictures of the wear or tear and they will send you a digital gift card to purchase the replacement.

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Past Blogs

An Earth Day Project to Last a Decade

By Margaret Arnold • April 26, 2025
Earth Day has significant meaning for me. Beyond falling during my wedding anniversary week (4.23), this global day has involved cleaning ditches with my children and outdoor spring projects. It's ideal for honoring Earth's wonders as nature awakens in Minnesota. For a third year, my gift to Earth is a forest management project first shared last year on LinkedIn . My husband and I have tackled buckthorn eradication , transforming our woods to reveal 300-year-old oaks, black cherry, cedar trees and the land's natural contour. While I attempt to embrace simplicity, this conservation project isn't simple! Eradicating this invasive shrub (and larger old trees) from our forest will take a decade or more. It demands physical work and resources, but the rewards extend beyond restoring native habitats in my corner of the world. my gift to the earth is a forest management project ...

Miles, Enduring Friendships and Loose Change

By Margaret Arnold • April 13, 2025
Last Sunday, three friends and I celebrated spring birthdays with a long walk and brunch. Though still brisk walkers as former "runner girls," we paused to appreciate the beautiful spring morning as we wound through streets, a wooded trail with frozen ground, and finally a shared-use path. Greeting passing runners reminded me of my younger self, but I've grown content with my natural walking habit. Four years ago, I retired from decades of running for a consistent walking routine. I no longer feel compelled to justify my walking routine against running and have fully embraced this new habit and discovered unexpected treasures beyond the well-known health benefits. EACH WALK OFFERS BRILLANT SUNRISES, UNIQUE CLOUD FORMATIONS, CHATTERING BIRDSONGS ...
A Northface puffer jacket with patches

Repairing Gear is Cool (even for a boomer)

By Margaret Arnold • March 22, 2025
On a downhill ski trip this winter, I skied with three fellow boomers. One of the skiers was sporting the same lightweight puffer jacket I’ve worn and treasured for years. As we compared notes, we realized all three of us had the exact jacke t (color, style) circa early 2000s. We laughed about our shared attachment to our well-worn piece, each telling stories on why we wear the jacket today – a warm layer with a shell, a light work jacket, etc. While all of our trusty puffers had seen better days (a total of 70 years of use or more), we weren’t giving up on them. Back at home, I sent these women a picture of my own jacket with it's repairs. Using patches, I’ve given my puffer a new life and a new look – and have created a few stares. The shapes, representing the outdoors, perfectly adhere to the tears to prevent the jacket from further disrepair. ... outdoor enthusiasts were keeping, repairing, and proudly wearing their well-worn gear ...