LinkNewNet Warranty Policy: Coverage, RMA & Returns for Pre-Owned Network Equipment

Aug 07 , 2026 5

TL;DR: Every pre-owned network device sold by LinkNewNet ships with a 3-month free hardware warranty from the delivery date. We cover hardware failures (dead ports, failed power supplies, faulty fans, component defects) with repair or replacement at our cost. You can extend coverage to 6 or 12 months by request, and our RMA process takes less than 48 hours to approve once the fault is confirmed. Software licenses and support contracts (such as Smart Net Total Care) are not part of the hardware warranty and are documented separately on each listing.

What the Standard 3-Month Warranty Covers

Our standard warranty protects you against hardware defects on every unit we ship. It applies from the date you receive the equipment, not from the order date.

If you need a unit to run continuously in production, we recommend our extended warranty options below — many of our data-center customers run a 12-month policy on core switches and firewalls.

Extended Warranty Options

Extended policies are quoted per unit and depend on the platform, age, and configuration. Contact our sales team at /contactus or WhatsApp +86 189 5477 6148 for a quote — most extended-warranty requests are answered within one business day.

When the Warranty Period Starts

The warranty clock starts on the delivery date shown on the courier tracking record. This protects you from any time lost in transit or customs — we do not count the days your unit spends in a shipping container or a customs warehouse.

For orders that include pre-shipment testing or extended configuration (common on firewalls and routers), the warranty still starts at delivery, and we provide the test report for the unit before payment so you know exactly what you are receiving.

Support Contracts and Software Licenses Are Separate

A common question from buyers of pre-owned Cisco equipment is whether a Smart Net Total Care (SNTC) contract or DNA license transfers with the hardware. The short answer: hardware warranty from us is independent of manufacturer support contracts.

• Hardware warranty (ours): covers the physical unit and is administered by LinkNewNet directly.
• Manufacturer support (SNTC, E3N, etc.): contracts are tied to the original owner's account and generally do not transfer automatically. We document the license and contract state of every unit before shipping, and we explain what does and does not transfer on each listing.
• Software licenses (DNA, Smart Licensing, etc.): perpetual "E" licenses embedded in the hardware stay with the unit; term subscriptions need a formal transfer. See our SNTC contract guide and Cisco DNA licensing guide for details.

RMA Process (Repair or Replacement)

If a unit fails within the warranty period, this is the process:

We never ask you to return a unit before the fault is confirmed, and we never charge a "restocking" fee on warranty RMAs.

Returns and Refunds

If a unit arrives and does not match the listing (wrong model, missing modules, different configuration than documented), tell us within 7 days of delivery and we will arrange a return, replacement, or refund at your choice. Items that are functionally correct but do not fit your project can also be returned within 7 days, subject to a 10% restocking fee and the unit being in the condition it left our warehouse.

Custom-ordered or specially configured units (e.g., a unit tested against your exact port map) are only returnable if they arrive defective or non-conforming.

Warranty Exclusions at a Glance

• Physical damage after delivery (shipping damage must be noted on the courier's delivery record within 48 hours)
• Damage from power surges, incorrect voltage, or environmental failure
• Software, licenses, and manufacturer support contracts (documented per listing)
• Unauthorized repair attempts or modifications
• Data loss or configuration changes made after delivery

Contact the Warranty Team

Email: contact us here · WhatsApp: +86 189 5477 6148. Have your order number ready — it lets us pull up the test report, serial number, and shipping record instantly.

FAQ

Q: How long is the warranty on pre-owned equipment from LinkNewNet?

A: Every unit ships with a 3-month free hardware warranty from the delivery date. Extended options (6 or 12 months) are available on request, with priority RMA on longer policies.

Q: Does the warranty cover software or licenses?

A: No. The hardware warranty covers physical defects and component failures. Software licenses (such as DNA) and manufacturer support contracts (such as SNTC) are documented separately on each listing, and we verify what transfers before you pay.

Q: What happens if my switch fails after 4 months?

A: If you hold the standard 3-month policy, we still help: our engineers diagnose the fault for free, and we can often supply a replacement unit at a discounted rate. If you took the extended 12-month policy, the fault is covered in full.

Q: Do I have to pay return shipping for a warranty claim?

A: For confirmed hardware failures, we cover the replacement or repair; the buyer arranges the return leg. For units that arrive non-conforming (wrong model or configuration), we cover the return entirely.

Q: Can I get an advance replacement?

A: On select lines and with a 12-month policy, yes — we ship the replacement first, and you return the faulty unit within 14 days. This is the standard choice for production switches and firewalls.

Q: How do I prove the delivery date for the warranty start?

A: We use the courier's tracking record. If you bought through a reseller, just forward the order reference and the unit's serial number and we will look up the shipment.

Q: Is the warranty transferable if I resell the unit?

A: The remaining warranty follows the hardware, not the person. Tell the next owner the order number, and they can file claims directly with us.

Q: What should I check when the unit arrives?

A: Within 48 hours of delivery: visual inspection for transit damage, boot the unit, check that the serial number matches the invoice, and spot-check two to three ports. Anything abnormal, report it with photos and console output — see our testing and quality control page for what we check before shipping.