Electronics: Product Warranties Options

[Mommy]

I found this article on Yahoo!, and I think it's stupid.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/devlin/20403

I posted this in response:

Coming from someone who has worked at both Best Buy and CompUSA, it depends more on the type of product you are buying. The author is right, research brands and specific model numbers before diving in on a huge purchase.

Items such as desktop computers, I wouldn't buy a warranty on because chances are you have at least one friend who knows how to fix computers. Computer parts are cheap. On the other hand, I would buy a laptop warranty. I know a lot about computer hardware, but I'm not comfortable opening up a laptop. Most computer nerds feel this way. Plus, laptop parts are more pricey.

Cameras? Meh, I bought a warranty on my Cannon S500, and it needed a major repair 2.5 years after I bought it. I got the warranty cheap, though, because I worked for Best Buy. On cameras, the price is declining so quickly that I would say don't buy a warranty. The camera will last at least 2 years if you researched a good one and by the time something goes wrong, you will want to upgrade anyways.

Game consoles? I would buy the warranty. Something always goes wrong with those darn things. The warranties are fairly cheap and cover any type of product malfunction, lasers etc.

Cell phones? Don't buy a store's warranty. Buy the warranty through your cellphone carrier. Costs $4-$5 a month, and you pay $60 for the replacement but it covers EVERYTHING including theft, water damage, physical abuse, getting mad at your significant other and throwing it against a wall, loss, etc. Store warranties only cover product malfunction. If they see a hint of water damage or physical abuse, you are SOL.

DVD players? DONT BUY A WARRANTY (unless its a blu-ray or HD player and I dont know either way on that one because I dont know much about that technology yet). TV's I go both ways on. Warranties are SOOO EXPENSIVE on tv's. If you can afford the warranty, I say go for it.

Car stereo equipment? Yes on deck and speakers, up to you on amp and subs. I've never known anyone to have problems with amps and subs. I notice decks seem to go out rather easily, especially the high-tech ones. Additionally, I believe Best Buy's warranty covers blown speakers, but make sure on that before you buy a warranty on speakers.

NEVER buy a warranty on a game or anything cheaper than $300. It's a waste of money.

Finally, its important to remember that Best Buy and other retailers won't touch the item for repair if it is still inside of the manufacturer's warranty. For example, if you buy a 2 year replacement plan from Best Buy on the game console system Nintendo Wii, if it's within the first year, they will tell you to go through Nintendo for repairs (which Nintendo is great about. Takes you 10 days to get it back; whereas Playstation can take over a month). So, in actuality, you are only paying for a one year warranty that starts when the manufacturers one ends.

[impala454]

I dunno about "never buy a warranty for anything cheaper than $300", but I agree with most of it.

[Mommy]

just seems like a waste...unless the warranty is really cheap

[impala454]

Kinda like insurance

[Mommy]

god...car insurance, yes

health insurance is worth it

[impala454]

Just sayin... insurance/warranties... those things that suck to pay for until you need em.

I actually just got a letter from Samsung asking if I wanted to extend the warranty on my 61" DLP.
$723 for 3 more years
$268 for 1 more year

Sounds insane but I'll prob do the one year, just because I've heard of an issue that can come up. It's a part I could buy and replace myself for $100 or so, but why risk bricking a $2500 TV?

[pebkac]

Just sayin... insurance/warranties... those things that suck to pay for until you need em.

I actually just got a letter from Samsung asking if I wanted to extend the warranty on my 61" DLP.
$723 for 3 more years
$268 for 1 more year

Sounds insane but I'll prob do the one year, just because I've heard of an issue that can come up. It's a part I could buy and replace myself for $100 or so, but why risk bricking a $2500 TV?

I agree. There's certain things that you'd have to be an idiot not to buy some kind of extended warranty on. Laptops, HD televisions, SLR cameras, and game systems come to mind.

[Seeker]

if you buy ANY warranty at best buy/compusa/circuit city then you're a complete moron and don't deserve to breathe air

WARRANTIES ARE A SCAM

[impala454]

The Best Buy warranties used to be awesome... until they went up in price like 500%. Used to be like $100-200 for a $3,000 TV, now it's like $600. Also used to only be like $20-30 for a $400-500 product, now like $75-100. The actual warranty is awesome (full replacement at the price you paid, etc) it's just the price that sucks now.