Posted by Aaron J. Bossig on 02/03/07 00:51

Doug Jacobs <djacobs@shell.rawbw.com> wrote in
news:12s7isuf2vo4tce@corp.supernews.com:

>> There are some items for which an extended warranty is a given:
>> Laptop computers and high-end TVs. The chances of something going
>> wrong are fairly high, and the cost of repair/replacement makes the
>> initial warranty purchase a more practical alternative. Other items,
>> such as desktop PCs, mp3 players, and yes, DVD players, are less
>> likely to be serviced, and usually I'd advise getting the warranty
>> only if the price is exceptionally cheap.
>
> Even for these high-cost items, you should always be aware of what the
> MFG's warranty covers.

Absolutely.

> In some cases, the so-called "extended"
> warranty adds nothing beyond what the MFG's warranty does.

Very true. Always read the fine print. Also, if you are going to
buy an extended warranty, shop around. You can get them from
manufacturers, dealers, and third parties. Some offer better deals than
others.

> As for electronics, if the item manages to work for the first month
> you use it, chances are it's OK and not going to have any problems
> beyond normal wear&tear (which isn't covered.)

That has not been my experience.

> Now, I recently bought a large screen TV from a smaller store and did
> buy their extended warranty mainly because it includes one free bulb
> change - which would normally cost almost as much as the warranty plan
> in the first place. Their warranty plan also offers a number of
> consumer-friendly options - mainly because the store wants to keep you
> coming back repeatedly for all your AV needs.

The two things I always advise warranties on are big screen TVs (for the
reason you just mentioned) and laptop computers. The warranty on my
computer includes replacement batteries, and since I do tend to want
new batteries every year, that'll pay for those. Plus, mine covers
accidental damage (great for a guy who takes his laptop all over the
world). Also, I'm really picky about dead pixels and stuff like that,
which is also covered. In this particular case, the fine print is my
friend.

Of course, I'd not be as confident in getting it on other types of
products.


--

Aaron J. Bossig

http://www.GodsLabRat.com
http://www.dvdverdict.com

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