Defining Extended Warranty Coverage For Riding Mower

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - What does an extended warranty cover on a riding mower?

When a lawn and garden store in Springfield, Missouri sold a $6000 riding mower in the spring, it said that it stood by its product. And it did; it picked up the lawnmower twice for what it deemed minor repairs.

When the summer ended, the customer sued to get all his money back. Ultimately, the customer and store owner settled for a refund but it cost the store owner $10,000 in legal fees.

Which leads to the legal question: if you're buying a riding mower, what do you need to know about the warranty and service contract?

In general, warranties for a certain period of time come with the purchase price. You may be asked to buy an extended warranty, which would cover damage not caused by lack of maintenance or abuse by you - so it would cover an engine seizure if you had kept the oil up to date but wouldn't cover your stupidity, like running over a stump.

Know your habits to decide if the types of damage that will be inflicted would be covered.

A service contract, on the other hand, will provide for annual maintenance like blade sharpening, oil changes, and so on. Before buying either an extended warranty or service contract, ask what it covers and what it doesn't to avoid getting mowed over by a big uncovered repair later.