BrightStar’s 5-Year In-House Warranty
Reviewed by Chris Hill, President, BrightStar Systems · Last updated October 23, 2026
9-Point Quality Control and Testing Process
- Inspect hardware for signs of physical damage
- Ensure that hardware has proper racking/mounting accessories
- Verify that equipment has proper serial number identification
- Remove any dust or debris from equipment
- Ensure that fans and power supplies are operational
- Restore equipment to factory default settings
- Test all physical ports
- Ensure that device will run for least 1 hour after full operating temperature is reached
- Verify that all modules are operational and error free
Every unit passes this 9-point check, including at least one hour at full operating temperature, before it ships. That is why fewer than 1% of the units we ship come back under warranty.
Warranty
Fewer than 1% of the units BrightStar ships are returned under warranty.
BrightStar Systems provides a 5-year in-house warranty to end users and a 90-day in-house warranty to resellers.
MSPs, integrators and solution providers installing equipment for a client are end users; the 5-year warranty passes to their client. Brokers and dealers buying for stock or resale get the 90-day reseller warranty.
What’s covered. The warranty covers hardware failure in normal use of the unit we shipped, including every physical port, the power supplies, the fans, supervisor and routing-engine modules, line cards and other modules, the module slots, and the chassis and backplane. If any of these fail during the warranty period, we will, at our option, repair the unit, replace it with an equivalent tested unit, or refund it. Optics and cables bought from BrightStar are covered on the same terms.
Advance replacement. If you’re an end user in the United States and a covered failure is confirmed with our team, we ship a tested replacement the next business day after your RMA is approved, before you send the failed unit back. No deposit is required, and we pay shipping both ways. Return the failed unit within 10 business days using the prepaid label we send; if it isn’t returned, the replacement is invoiced. If we don’t have an identical unit in stock, we ship a functionally equivalent tested unit, or repair, replace or refund under the standard process below. Claims from outside the United States follow the standard process.
The warranty runs from the date of shipment and covers defects in materials and workmanship and equipment that fails to perform to the manufacturer’s published hardware specifications. It does not cover software, firmware or licenses; damage from misuse, accident, improper installation, inadequate power or environment, or unauthorized modification or repair; damage in transit after the equipment has been handed to the carrier; cosmetic condition; or consumable items such as batteries and filters beyond 30 days.
To make a claim or request an advance replacement, request a return material authorization (RMA) from BrightStar within the warranty period and identify the unit by serial number. We respond to every RMA request within one business day. No item can be returned without an RMA number. BrightStar will provide a return shipping label for units confirmed defective. Within 10 working days after the unit arrives at our warehouse, BrightStar will, at its option, repair it, replace it with the same or an equivalent unit of like condition, or refund the price paid for that unit, less 20% for each full year since it shipped. This is the sole remedy under the warranty; a warranty claim on one unit does not entitle the customer to return or cancel other units or orders.
BrightStar is an independent reseller. Our warranty is BrightStar’s own; it is not a manufacturer warranty, and equipment is not sold as eligible for manufacturer support contracts, software subscriptions or other OEM programs. Whether a manufacturer will provide such coverage is a matter between the customer and the manufacturer.
Return Policy
Returns of non-defective equipment may be requested within 30 days of receipt and are accepted at BrightStar’s discretion.
To request a return, obtain an RMA number from a BrightStar representative within 30 days of delivery. Equipment must be uninstalled, unused, complete with all accessories, and in the same condition and packaging in which it shipped. The customer pays return freight and bears the risk of loss in transit. A 15% restocking fee is deducted from the refund, together with any outbound freight BrightStar paid; refunds are issued to the original method of payment after the equipment has been received and inspected. There is no restocking fee when the return is for a defect covered by the warranty above.
The following cannot be returned except under the warranty: items sourced or special-ordered to fill a customer’s order; new factory-sealed items once the seal is broken; items that have been installed, configured or licensed by the customer; items shipped outside the United States; and any item more than 30 days after delivery. A change in requirements, inability to use the equipment, inability to obtain a manufacturer support contract or license, incompatibility with equipment or software not specified in the quotation, and customs or import issues at the destination are not grounds for return, cancellation or refund.
Full terms: Terms and Conditions of Sale (Rev. 2026-10). Where this page and the Terms differ, the Terms govern.