Lifetime in this case means lifetime of the nozzle. Much like the Craftsman brand, this product has materials and components that were built to last. This makes it easy to guarantee performance and longevity. For this reason, very few people ever have to worry about warranty returns, and when there is one, it is a quick and simple process. You can't just drive down to the ultimate hose nozzle store on the corner, but the manufacturer is very easy to work with. It is a manufacturers warranty, so you will have to go through them for any replacement, but all information is included with your nozzle when it arrives.