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Home audio & video: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it????
U.K advice
by pwm55 - 12/6/07 1:38 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieHere in the U.k we too are faced with the same high sales pitch, my reply back to the salesperson is whats in it for you? often as not like store card sales they are on a bonus for each extended warranty sale made. To the question is it worth it my simple answer is NO, for low value goods forget it for the higher value if you need extended warranty my advice shop around the stores are out to make the extra profit at your expense cheaper cover can be found elsewhere.
My experience is that white goods like TV's etc are so reliable nowadays it is simply an unnecessary on cost,with every new product you buy put the extended warranty cost into a savings account then either A) use the monies for the repair or B) spend it later on something you need
Extended Warranties
by bradac - 12/6/07 1:41 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieWhen asked if I want extended warranties my reply to the assistant is always "So you don't expect this item to last more than a year?" You can guarantee the reply is that they have hardly ever known one to break down within 4-5 years and that the warranties aren't really worth it but they have to try and sell them.
Tony B, (over in England )
No Thanks
by dayv46 - 12/6/07 2:40 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieI had always steered clear of the warranty because I had never had a failier. Then Lightning struck and took out a TV that was only a year old. I went to purchase a new one and the salesman gave me the warranty pitch. I specificly asked him about Lightning and he assured me if the set was damaged by a electrical surge and couldn't be repaired in a reasonable amount of time it would be replaced. I asked what that time was and he said 30 days maximum or less. Over 3 months later I still had no TV. I called customer service at every level at Best Buy and even got a promise of a new set but because the repair shop they used had ordered parts I had to wait. So no Thanks to your Warranty. I'll save my money for when Lightning Strikes.
extended warranties
by jimmieske - 12/6/07 3:12 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieThe value of extended warranties varies from person to person;some people are comfortable with the manufactures warranty and others are not.
The peace of mind of knowing that you have a 3,4 or 5 year extended warranty has value, what the customer has to decide is it worth the cost.
One feature of some extended warranties allows for the replacement of an item if it is deemed a lemon(having 4 repairs in a three year period.
Thanks,
Jim Mieske
Here "across the pond"........
by livesound66 - 12/6/07 3:18 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieHi Guys,
Here in the UK it pays to take out your own warranty if you consider it necessary. It's far far cheaper and more comprehensive in it's cover over potential faults.
Just in passing, I bought a Nikon 'Coolpix' S4 during a trip to Australia in March & April this year. It was great and took some really good snaps with it's 10X zoom. I then put it away until a trip to Spain that was coming up in November, only to find that the electronic shutter had stuck and the LCD screen was blank. OK it's under warranty, no sweat. WRONG!!
Nikon operate a "Zonal Warranty" for most of their digital products, including the 'Coolpix', and my warranty came under the Asian zone and was useless in the UK, so I had to shell out $130 dollars to get it repaired, even though this appears to be a common fault with this particular model.
I don't know what the US law is, but in the UK my contract is with the retailer in Sydney, Australia, so I'll have to go on a 24hr flight to visit them. Shame!! Actually I'm going to phone them.
Apart from that I'll need to take action under Australian law.
Still, we all learn from experience.
Have a great Xmas holiday, sorry to go on a bit,
Mel Gordon
Freelance Journalist
When would I buy one?
by chwalmsley - 12/6/07 3:21 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieMy normal reaction when offered one is to say something like "If it is that unreliable I think I should reconsider buying it" However it is like an insurance policy. If it would cost a lot to replace and you would suffer if it failed then I would take it. For instance I have it on this laptop from Dell although it is coming up to four years and I haven't used it.
Depends on the equipment, and who you get it from!
by Don7A - 12/6/07 3:23 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieFor solid-state items such as computers, cameras, audio, cell phones and the like; I pass on any extended warranties. Generally failure will occur almost instantly, or certaninly within the first few days or weeks, when a store return & replace is the best option.
For items with moving parts, for example-printers or washing machines,we have had wonderful experiences with getting the extended warranty services FROM THE MANUFACTURER, and getting great service. Technicians have come to the house to replace a very worn out HP Laserject MFD, and we are on our third drive bushing on our 8 yr old Whirlpool washing machine. We generally offer a ~$20 tip to the tech for their time, but have not seen a bill, other than the cost of the warranty
Extended Warrantys
by 1957joe - 12/6/07 3:24 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieI never buy them, if you do the math in the long run your way behind.
I bought a Sears shop Vac about 12 years ago> the sales person asked if I would like to buy an extended warranty on the vac. I said ok but i want it to start after the first year and he said he couldn't do that. I said doesn't the shop vac come with a one year warranty and he said yes. I said why would i want to pay for the first year if it's free.aaaah no answer.
By the way it still works, the vac i mean.
Depends on the item
by Lawros33 - 12/6/07 3:28 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieGenerally, I strictly avoid any extended warranties, but there are exceptions. When I purchased a new York heat pump employing new technology 3 years ago, I thought that $500 for a 10 year all parts and labor extended warranty was a good gamble. And, indeed, it was - it took several years and numerous service calls (all for free) to work out some kinks in the system. Another good choice for an extended warranty based on my experience would be a dishwasher. We've gone through a number of them fairly quickly - the last was a Kenmore bought about 18 months ago where the motor appears to have gone already. Didn't get an extended but sure wish I had and certainly will in the future.
Depends where it is & what it's for.
by singletrack - 12/6/07 3:41 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieI buy extended warranties on big items like TVs, but not on smaller, cheaper items. They have paid off a few times & when I don't need them, they're small enough that I can rationalize it as $20-40/year insurance.
One recent experience, though: I bought a 3-year warranty @ Best Buy on a Sony HD TV, 3.5 years ago. My TV started having color problems with 6 months left on the warranty, so I called for service. After 7 visits over 6 months, (3 of which the guy just waved a magnet over the screen and declared it healed) the problems never went away.No Best buy says my warranty is past and it will cost me $99 per visit to get the tech out again. If he didn't fix it in 7 free visits, what makes them think I'm gonna pay a hundred bucks per visit for the privilege?
My next TV won't be from Worst Buy and I will check the service history of anyone I shop from next time.
Not worth it
by alex_penyfai - 12/6/07 3:41 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieMy view, based on lots of stories in the past few years, is that they are almost always a total fraud. I know of no-one who has had a good experience, they are very expensive, and the company will try anything to get out of paying. Here in the UK, there are many reports on TV consumer programmes relating horror stories about this rip-off
alex_penyfai
Extended Warranty
by keith601 - 12/6/07 3:42 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieI think that if a Store feels it necessary to try and sell Extended warranty. Are they saying they do not have a lot of faith in the products they are selling or is it (as I suspect) just another way of upping there profits.
Keith
No way.
by GroverCleveland - 12/6/07 3:57 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieI have almost never bought an extended warranty because I believe it encourages manufacturers to reduce the quality of what they sell. A good product shouldn't require a consumer to invoke a long warranty. If a product doesn't perform well during its expected life cycle, I don't buy another. That's why I stopped buying Dell computers.
On one of those rare occasions when I did buy one, I had a lousy experience. I bought a digital camera for my daughter at 6th Avenue Electronics. When I took it in under warranty because the digital viewfinder was not working, they told me the problem was caused by her abuse and refused to replace it. I couldn't do anything because the camera is too cheap to sue over.
Warrenty Woes
by jar86 - 12/6/07 4:00 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieI usually buy the warranty because I worry about buying an expensive product and then it breaks and then I gotta pay, possibly, heftier repair fees. Usually, though, I don't wind up using the warranty...still..piece of mind I suppose.
One time, I bought a combo DVD/VCR player and bought the extended warranty and a few months after the purchase it broke. The store fixed it and then a few months later, it broke again...and this kept happening and happening for 2 years, the length of the warranty, and after about the 6th time in the store...I gave up. That's probably my worst experience with an extended warranty.
Never buy any more!
by dpwolves - 12/6/07 4:06 AM In reply to: Extended Warranty.........are they worth it???? by jraggieThe last extended warranty I bought was for a digital camera which cost around £500. When the hinge for the battery cover broke, I was told this wasn't covered as it was a mechanical fault rather than an electrical fault!
I've found recently that more items are being sold with 2 or 3 year guarantees anyway, and as far as I was aware 2 years is the minimum European requirement for guarantees anyway (please confirm/rectify this!)
I once bought an item over the phone, where I was told by the agent that it was a 'legal requirement' for him to describe the extended warranty in detail. When he finished and I said I wasn't interested he became quite nasty, virtually telling me I was stupid not to buy! This would seem to support the idea that agents receive commission on these insurances.
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