Comments on: Should you buy an extended warranty on HDTVs?

By: Aiesha Akaisha

Aiesha Akaisha — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:02:20 +0000

OMG I am so lucky!!!! I signed up for an extended warranty on my plasma TV, and the very next week it broke. Protection Headquarters, found at http://www.protectionheadquarters.com/ saved me thousands. Thanks again guys!

By: Don’t buy that extended TV warranty | Sync Blog

Don’t buy that extended TV warranty | Sync Blog — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:04:35 +0000

[...] covered this topic previously on Sync (back in 2008), but recent US-based numbers suggest the advice still stands: You donm’t need [...]

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:38:24 +0000

Having worked for staples as well as dell and HP at a call center, I can honestly say that warranties are great. It depends on the type though. Most Manufacture warranties are limited, and some stores operate differently. For instance FutureShop takes over the manufacturers warranty and substitutes their own. By doing this they shorten the coverage of your batteries life, which most manufacturers cover for 1 yr. Staples covers laptop batteries for the duration of the warranty. considering the price of laptop batteries these days, thats awesome. Now Dell has the best with their complete coverage nothing held against you warranty.. aka complete care. Tech right to your door or box to your door and even running over your laptop is covered. ohh that raises another point, Manufacturers DO NOT PAY for shipping in most cases, so that warranty may save you lots in the long run.

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:56:56 +0000

Albert, I do not work at FS but I do work for a similar retailer. Either the person who sold you the extended warranty didn't explain it properly or you didn't listen. It's an *extended* warranty which means it kicks in after the manufacturer's warranty expires. In the case of your laptop HP provides a one-year warranty and you should have contacted HP first, not the retailer.

Between poor sales techniques and people who don't listen, there are a lot people who assume an extended warranty means "fix everything for any reason". In the last week I've had to explain to one customer that the warranty, extended or otherwise, didn't cover the damage caused by dropping her laptop into a bathtub full of water.

In another case, a customer argued with me when I told him there would be a $50 fee for a virus cleanup on his machine. He threatened to raise hell with the extended warranty folks unless I did the cleanup for free for him. I dialled the number for the extended warranty center, handed him the phone and served other customers while he sputtered and cursed and got red in the face as they told hime the same story I had just delivered.

It's the duty of both the sales rep and the customer to know what you're buying and whichever one fails to do so is an idiot.

By: Albert

Albert — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:46:49 +0000

I wouldn't get the extended warranty unless they offered my a significant deal on it.
I bought a $1000 dollar laptop and thought I might as well go and get the extended warranty because I'd be dragging the laptop around the house and around work. After three months, my battery was toast...I took it back to futureshop and they wouldn't replace the battery under the warranty and I said...I paid 400 bucks for this extended warranty and it's absolutly worthless?
Clerk: Yup

I called up HP and they mailed me a new battery, no questions asked. I will not buy anything at Futureshop, when I go to upgrade my home theatre I'll be spending around $5000. I'll go in to FS and say, "this is what I'm spending for a new HT, how about that battery?" Then just walk out.

By: Bytrat

Bytrat — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:01:18 +0000

Extended warrenties are a waste of money most of the time. Brand Name Electronics are generally well built and don't fail too often. Yes sometimes things happen but not for everything. This is just a cash grab by the retailer to pad thier bottom line – if you don't make a claim do you get your money back? No!!! Most problems usually occur within the manufacturer's warrenty period any ways. Besides which, either warranty won't cover consumible items. And a few companies will even try to screw you out of coverage if they can – labelling something as user caused (not covered) rather than a manufacturing defect (covered).

By: BQ

BQ — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:20:14 +0000

I don't agree you should forgo the extended warranty. Stuff breaks. What I agree with is that the extended warranty that the stores offer is rediculously priced. A company called SquareTrade offers extended warrantees at a fraction of the price of the stores. Based on most of the feedback I've seen on the internet, most claims have been handled well. I purchased this warranty for a GPS I bought for $US150 for 20 bucks for 3 years on top of the manufacturers warranty. Futureshop wanted 30 bucks per extra year. Do yourself a favour and at least do a search and check it out.

By: Rob Daly

Rob Daly — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:27:38 +0000

I have to disagree about not buying an extended warranty with a new HDTV. This is electronics and electronics can fail at any given time and to have too repair one of these HDTVS the costs can be pretty expensive, you could be looking at least $500 and upwards.Work out a deal when buying an extended warranty the stores have some play.

By: Kirk Bowlby

Kirk Bowlby — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:09:33 +0000

Bought an extended warranty on my HDTV when I purchased it in 2005. This year the warranty put paid for a repair costing $850.00. I was certainly happy about my $200.00 extended warranty package.