struggling with the word "guarantee"

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carkenord@juno.com - 14 Nov 2006 19:21 GMT

I know that the books say that it means "an assurance" or "a
promise"......

Is there an implication here that if that promise isn't met, that there
is a consequence? I sense "yes"........

So I buy item XYZ, which carries a 30 day guarantee. I take that to
mean that the XYZ will function as it was designed to do, for at least
30 days, or I can get my money back. The consequence for the failure
of the promise, is that I get my money back.

OK. In real life, I bought a Ford truck and the spark plugs are
"guaranteed for 100,000 miles".

There are 2 things here I am unsure of. One, what is the promise?
Two........what is the consequence if the promise isn't met.

I asked the Ford saleman the same question........he just had a blank
look. I climbed the corporate ladder a bit, and asked some people
higher up the same thing. Basically the same blank look.

So I am wondering, in the context of Ford trucks.......exactly what
does "guaranteed for 100,000 miles" mean?

In general, in everyday life, does the word "guarantee" or "guaranteed"
really mean anything any longer? Does it carry any REAL weight or
meaning or strength?

Thanks folks....... Lee Carkenord

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Tony Cooper - 14 Nov 2006 19:50 GMT

>I know that the books say that it means "an assurance" or "a
>promise"......
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> really mean anything any longer? Does it carry any REAL weight or
>meaning or strength?

The word "guarantee" does not stand alone in any agreement. The
provisions of the guarantee will be spelled out. In some cases, the
guarantee states that a defective item will be replaced but cannot be
returned. In some cases, the guarantee states that the item will be
repaired but will not be replaced or eligible for return. In other
cases, some adjustment may be made based on the usage before the item
became unusable.

In the context of the Ford truck guarantee, read it and the provisions
will be explained. You may be guaranteed something, but you won't
know what until you read it.

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Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL

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Ray O'Hara - 14 Nov 2006 20:19 GMT

> I know that the books say that it means "an assurance" or "a
> promise"......
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>
> Thanks folks....... Lee Carkenord

You'll get a free spark plug to replace the bad one.
The problem has to be with the plug. A plug ruined by lack of maintenance
of the engine on your part wouldn't qualify.

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Adrian Bailey - 14 Nov 2006 21:01 GMT

> I know that the books say that it means "an assurance" or "a
> promise"......
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> look. I climbed the corporate ladder a bit, and asked some people
> higher up the same thing. Basically the same blank look.

Instead of asking them those questions, why don't you just tell them to
f*cking give you some new spark plugs?

Adrian

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / November 2006

struggling with the word "guarantee"