Disappearing Ink on Thermal Paper?

dpippenger asks: "A few days ago my rear projection TV made a soft clicking noise and the color balance suddenly went a bit blue. The set was only about 3 months old and I neglected to get the in store warranty. I decided to try and cash in on the 1 year manufacturers warranty which only required an original sales receipt as documentation. I quickly opened up my file cabinet and retrieved the receipt in question. I was fairly upset to find the sales receipt was printed on a slippery thermal paper (pretty common these days) and after only 3 months was noticeably degraded. The paper was discolored slightly and important blocks of text like the model number were just gone. After some conversation at the TV repair shop they finally accepted it as proof of warranty. The problem is this receipt is my only evidence of warranty for an entire year. I have to wonder what the receipt will look like in another 9 months and if it will be unacceptable as proof of purchase next time I need repairs. Have any other readers had a similar experience or have tips on preserving these thermal receipts?"

Send in the registration card

[The Clockwork Troll]

In most cases, sending in the registration card along with your sales receipt "activates" your warranty.

Could be less of a hassle in situations like yours.

Yes

[$exyNerdie]

Yes, I had similar issues with one store which I wouldnt name here. But in other case, circuit city was able to retrieve my information from their system.
Also, in a related case where it seemed quite deliberate, the manufacturer of Western Digital hard drives had some models with like $80 mail in rebate. To get the rebate, I was supposed to cut the bar-code from the box and mail it with my receipt form. I usually make a copy of the bar-code cut-out before I mail it for the rebate. But Western Digital was smart about it. The bar-code portion was shiny metallic look so that when you try to make a photo-copy, it comes out as black due to reflection which means that you are prevented from making a photocopy. I tried many photo copy machines but no luck. I finally was able to scan it and print it which wasnt as good as the original because metallic reflection. And then I mailed it to them but never got the rebate back. I called them about 8 times over a period of 4 months and they told me that they never received it.
So it might seem that seller's are not at fault but sometimes they use these tricks from thermal paper to using bar-code on reflective background to their advantage !!

Just my $0.02

photocopy

[gmhowell]

Make a photocopy of the receipt. Register the item (I hate the latter, as it's a pain, and can lead to junk mail, but that's easier to deal with than a recalcitrant repair shop).

I've purchased most home electronics at big box stores, like Circuit City and Best Buy. Say what you will, but there was one time I needed proof from Circuit City that I bought the item, so that I could get some warranty work (I would have let them take it, but was then living several hours away from a Circuit City). They printed out the receipt, and mailed me a new copy. I've heard tell of other people presenting a driver's license with an address matching the one in their computer, and getting a printout of the same thing.

See, complying with all of the stuff that gets michael and the YRO gang up in arms can have benefits.

To be 100% on point: I have no idea how to preserve that sorta thing. Store it in the freezer instead of a filing cabinet? Or put the cabinet in a sealed container of Nitrogen or CO2 or some other fairly inert gas?

Re:duh

[coryboehne]

Funny enough I've found a much better method.

If you purchase something from Best Buy, Office Max, Staples or other stores that have a triplicate recipt for credit cards that have seem to not work when swiped you can take advantage of that situation pretty easy... I'll spell it out for you.

0. Contact your bank and request an additonal check/credit card.

1. Purchase a Rare Earth Magnet [rare-earth-magnets.com] with your new card. Be sure to pick one of the larger magnets available..

2. Store your new card with your new magnet for about a week or so.. Whenever you think about it swipe the card past the magnet a few times... This will ensure that the magnetic strip on your card will be completely destroyed.. Thus they will never be able to scan this card.

3. Now go to the store that uses said evil thermal paper recipts and purchase something with your card.. Smile as they break out the 1980's era credit card imprint tool..

4. Profit?(or at least don't lose your proof of purchase)

You now know how to avoid the problem in the first place while not making a scene demanding a proper receipt.