I “bought” (OK, it was free) a Cuisinart SmartPower Duet blender/food processor at a garage sale a few weeks ago.  I was told that the light went on, but nothing else happened.  It belonged to a family member who told them it was still under warranty.  Since they were moving out of state, they didn’t want to be bothered.

Now the dilemma…Apparently, Cuisinart doesn’t have local authorized repair facilities like most other manufacturers. The booklet indicated a three year warranty, so I called the toll free number and learned that the serial number on the machine indicated that it had been shipped from their warehouse three years AND TWO MONTHS earlier.  Since I didn’t have an original receipt showing a later date, they chose to use that one.  Their warranty assumes that not only did a product instantly transport to a particular store (or store warehouse), Cuisinart makes such incredibly in-demand products that they fly off the shelves.   I know that some people keep receipts for everything they’ve ever purchased, but honestly, if asked to product a receipt for a small appliance purchased years ago, would you be able to?  If the answer is “yes,” don’t bother to comment.  Only naysayers, please.

My feeling is that any warranties should include potential time in transit and sitting in inventory, but the customer service rep did not agree.  Her suggestion was that I send it in for repair and wait for the postcard to see what the charges might be and then authorize them or not.

It looks perfectly new (everything is untouched), I opened up the device and saw nothing untoward inside, there is no electrical smell, nothing.  They sell for about $75-80 new, which would probably be what they’d like to sock me for repairs.   So…….any suggestions here?