Home audio & video forum: are extended warranties worth the $$ for plasma TV?

Extended warranties are like insurance policies. The companies would not offer them if they did not, overall and in the long-run, make money. The reason why you should consider an extended warranty is similar to the same reason you have insurance for your home: just in case. If something does go wrong, you will have not have to pay the full price for repair. The likelihood, though, is that nothing will go wrong.

If you think you can afford the most expensive type of repair (i.e. full replacement), then you may want to avoid extended warranties. If you would rather pay a lesser amount up front and have the "peace of mind" that you will not have to pay any more, then go with the warranty.

I bet that the companies have though very hard about what to charge for each different type of product, so I think the philosophy is the same no matter what you buy.

Ultimately it is a personal decision based on your aversion to risk.

I hope that helps.

- Cale
http://HaveToAsk.com

On part where you buy them. For instance, Tweeter filed for bankruptcy re-organization just a few days ago. I was originally going to buy a plasma and the extended warranty from Tweeter but when I heard they were on the ropes, I went to BB. I know Tweeter gets their extended warranties via a third party, but that still made me nervous.

BB extended warranties are cheaper then CC. There are also a few places you can find on-line that sell extended warranties. How reputable those are, I do not know.

In addition, you can buy an extended warranty from the manufacturer if you buy the set from an authorized dealer. Sony's extended warranties are actually pretty reasonable. Sony doesn't make plasmas though.

As others noted, it's up to your peace of mind. I just dropped $2,000 on a Sony SXRD rear projection set. BB's extended warranty ($349) for three years covers one bulb replacement ($250) for my set. I figure an extra $100 just to cover whatever else could go wrong was worth it.

Good luck.

I brought a 42" Maxent EDTV(Enhanced Definition Television) from best buy in 2004. The sensor in the Tv went bad they came and fixed it (extended warranty). Recently the same sensor went bad again and the red and black clips that you plug speaker wire into for surround sound broke off, called them again and this time no part number for the sensor or the speaker terminals so I got a new TV 42" Panasonic HDTV again (Extended warranty). My rule if you send 2,000 or more get the warranty because you never know what may happen and don't buy off brand stick with a name brand.

The insurance companies probably don't sell directly to the public because that would cut out the highest profit margin item in every electronics store, and they are not about to loose those stores that sell billions of dollars worth of policies for your one policy. I own a furniture store and I sell the fabric protectant which is the highest profit margin item in my store, and I know that the company I sell will not sell directly to the public. If they did, all the furniture stores that sell their product would drop them for someone else that doesn't.

I think another thing that is important to note is that most TV comes with a manufacturers warranty of about 2 years now. If you use an American Express credit card (others may offer this too check the fine print) and keep the receipts, they will automatically add another year on the to warranty so you're effectively getting a 3 year warranty. So if you actually do go ahead and buy a warranty you're only getting 1 maybe 2 extra years of warranty out of it. In my opinion if it doesn't break in 2-3 years, it'll probably last 5 and the extended warranty isn't worth it.

SONY WARRANTEED THE LATE, GREAT KD-34XBR970 for two years parts + labor, and two years on the CRT itself.

PANASONIC offers one year parts + labor, as well as 2 years on its glass PLASMA PANELS.

OKEY, it's not enough to make a blanket statement about warranties in general; but at least it's a start.


Happy Father's Day,

Riverledge.

River.

Another big profit item for your seller - that and cables generate more profit then the TV - had Panasonic 42" plasma I bought in 2005 - extended warranty they kept mailing/calling me about is now more then the cost of a new 42" plasma - research say that 70% to 80% of what they charge are profit - Why not buy on card that extends/doubles the manufactures warranty.

Take the money you would spend on the warranty and invest it! Sadly most folks who are talked into these things by salespeople who terrify them about what could happen are the folks who can least afford it!