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After one week of normal use the Timex TX5170 stopped functioning: The readout displayed random digits. The battery tested fine (1.5 volts on my voltmeter), but I decided to give the TX5170 the benefit of the doubt, so I went out and bought a new alkaline AAA battery and installed it. And, lo and behold, the TX5170 sprang back to life -- for six hours. Then it gave up the ghost completely. Installing ANOTHER new alkaline battery did no good. I once met a retired advertising executive who purported to be the guy who came up with Timex's classic slogan, "It Takes A Licking But Keeps on Ticking." My problems with the Timex TX5170 recalled this slogan to my mind. "Perhaps that's the problem," I said to myself. So I covered the TX5170 with chocolate syrup and proceed to lick it. Alas, still only random digits in the readout. [Just kidding.] The online product description states that the TX5170 is covered by "Timex's one-year warranty." That sounds good, only the "instruction manual" included with the unit does not mention a warranty, nor does it provide any contact information for the manufacture. The fine print on the back of the unit itself states that it was manufactured in China for the Maverick Corporation of Edison, New Jersey, and that the name "Timex" is used under license in the United States and certain other territories. Very helpful. So the question is, how much time and effort am I going to expend to gain satisfaction for a non-functioning fifteen dollar thermometer?