Edge impact guarantees

In our section /knowledge/characteristics/edge-impact/ we have explained the edge impact resistance of porcelain and ceramic tableware in terms of its property. This article deals with the value and seriousness of so-called edge impact guarantees, as they are currently pronounced on the market by some manufacturers.

Term edge impact guarantee

In order to better understand the term "edge-impact guarantee", we first analyze the word according to its three components.

Edge refers to the outer edge or corner of a surface or object. Edge in general refers to a line where two different surfaces meet. Thus, the edge is a component of the body (the name for the fired porcelain mass) and the glaze (which is applied to protect the body). It follows that the warranty extends to the glaze and the body.

Impact in physics (mechanics) refers to an energy-charged impulse effect (force impact) in which two or more bodies briefly exert force on each other. The supply of energy is necessary to accelerate a body and is therefore a fundamental quantity for the force effect (measurement) of impact or blow. The consequence of a blow is the change in the state of motion of a body, possibly also the change in shape or composition. One differentiates

a straight, central, elastic impact
a transverse elastic impact
an eccentric impact
a rough impact

Guarantee refers to the legally binding promise of a legal entity about a certain property, action or omission already before the occurrence of a certain event. In case of functional defects during a warranty period, the manufacturer or seller who issued the warranty undertakes to restore the functionality free of charge. The terms of the warranty are set out in a warranty certificate. Language usage often makes no distinction between the statutory warranty obligation and an additional voluntarily offered contractual warranty, while - from a legal point of view - they are different rights or obligations.

Conclusion - edge impact guarantees for tableware translated

Manufacturers of porcelain or other ceramic tableware provide a durability guarantee for the edge of a piece of tableware (usually flatware) against a mechanical impact with their edge impact guarantee. Usually, the warranty is limited in time and is stated with different time periods and conditions. Thus, this warranty consists of four components:

Definition of the product
Intended use
Time limit
Load limit

From the warranty conditions for edge impact of other brands

With these findings, we read the warranty conditions of some tableware suppliers and analyze their business practices. We have marked the striking positions in bold for you.

Villeroy & Boch: "... as a ...German company, Villeroy & Boch AG is therefore able to provide a guarantee on edge impact resistance for tableware series...The guarantee covers plates, saucers, flat and deep plates of the Hotel & Restaurant series made of "Premium Porcelain"....The guarantee only applies to new first choice products from the date of invoice, and is only valid upon presentation of the original invoice document. The warranty applies to edge chipping that occurs during normal use.... All edge chipping caused by unusual, abnormal or abusive use, as well as breakage of the body or parts of the body, are expressly excluded from this warranty.... "

Vega-Direct: "... The warranty applies to the edge impact that has occurred during professional handling and normal use. Edge chipping caused by improper handling, ... breakage or parts of the shard are excluded from this warranty...."

Nisbets: "... The edge impact warranty applies only to normal use such as refrigeration, serving, washing and storage in accordance with the Nisbets Conditions of Use. No warranty claim is valid for damage, improper use or other breakage damage. Buyer assumes the cost of shipping to Nisbets"

Churchill: "... To be eligible for the Churchill 5 year Edge Chip Policy the attached registration document must be returned within 60 days from the date of the original invoiced order. Terms and Conditions apply.... This warranty covers edge chipping only (not breakages)... “in normal food service use,” which includes refrigeration, serving, washing and storage. The warranty does not extend to other types of breakage and the validity of the warranty claim is at the sole discretion of Churchill.

RAK Porcelain: "... To make use of this service, you must register the form with the proof of purchase (invoice) with us within 30 days of receipt of the goods, otherwise we will not be able to recognize the warranty claim.... This warranty covers damage only when used as intended. The warranty does not cover breakage or damage caused by improper use of our products."

The terms of such guarantee provisions

In ignorance of the goodwill behavior of these tableware suppliers, which may extend beyond these warranty conditions - whether for reasons of prestige or the preservation of an advertising effectiveness - we summarize the tangible legal existence of these warranty conditions for you.

All warranty terms and conditions lack "energy" in the definition of blow.
As a substitute, all suppliers use the definition "normal use" or "intended use"
Each of these suppliers - as well as Holst Porcelain - can clearly demonstrate the edge impact resistance of its tableware in physical units of measurement (mostly in joules).
Usually - in probably all brands of hotel porcelain known to us - "normal use" always falls below the load limits of the tableware.
Restrictions such as "applies as refrigeration, serving, dishwashing and storage" highlight clauses that make it easier to get out of warranty.
Clauses such as "You must register with us" are customer trapping - and certainly difficult to reconcile with data protection law.
If one strikes an "edge" into the "edge" of a piece of tableware, the shard and glaze have suffered a break. Breakage is expressly excluded for all of the above suppliers.
If guarantees apply only to the first choice, it should be noted that in the hotel porcelain segment is sold mainly mixed assortment.
Not one of the above suppliers guarantees the hardness of its harness.

The value of such warranty provisions

Since we do not wish to enter into a competition law dispute with the presentation of this topic, we will refrain from a detailed appraisal of the value of such edge impact guarantees and leave it to the reader to draw the appropriate conclusions. It is a fact that almost every utility porcelain - whether with or without warranty - is manufactured for and suitable for the intended use. The thin (fine) household porcelain as well as the more solid, partly edge-reinforced hotel porcelain.

In most cases, however, such guarantees are given for a material that is not real porcelain! Therefore, be sure to pay attention to the Material descriptions. Ceramic, Vitrified, Vitreous, Durable, New Bone China, Stonecast u.a. deteminations please are not to be confused with real hard porcelain!

Such materials may be equal to, and in some cases superior to, the mechanical resistance of porcelain, but in terms of glaze hardness, such tableware lacks the hardness of a high-fired feldspar glaze and is therefore usually more susceptible to cut and corrosion.

Since we at Holst Porcelain produce only genuine feldspathic porcelain with our High Alumina (porcelain), Alumina (porcelain) and Hard Porcelain qualities, there is no need for such a guarantee with footnotes and fine print. More

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