Extended Warranties

[CoffeeGuy]

Gimme your thoughts. Extended warranties. Do you see it as a good deal ? Does it depend on how much was paid for the merchandise ?
Personally, I've never purshased one untill last Friday, and I still cant figure out why. A Cyberhome dvd player $39 + $14 extended warranty
(2) years. Given the way that products are made, at least in my expirience, nothing seems to ever break down. Maybe I've just been lucky. A $15 mail in rebate will nearly negate the EW. But it could have reduced the over all price. And if something happened to it, just get another.

[SLICK RICK]

I use to purchase the extended warranty when I bought things from a retail store, but now I do most of my shopping online. So now I do not purchase any warranties.

SLICK RICK

[bugster]

I suppose it depends on where in the world you live and local consumer protection laws. For myself I rarely buy them as they are not worth it. Modern consumer electronics are generally so reliable that if they are going to go wrong its usually down to a manufacturing defect and the fault will show up within the one year manufacturers warranty. The only items I have purchased extended warranties for in recent years were a washing amchine (gets lots of use in our house, water, mechanicals and elctricals do not mix well in my opinion) and a laptop which was destined for a rough life in the hands of my wife!

[Solarjetman]

The only thing I would buy an extended warentee for is your car. The majority of electronics break down within a few weeks if they ever will break down. Usually the manufacturer or the store will replace it within 60 days. That is plenty.

I suppose an exception could be made for those several thousand dollar plasma TVs, but for a $40 DVD player, the choice is clear, don't buy it.

[MOVIEGEEK]

"I suppose an exception could be made for those several thousand dollar plasma TVs, but for a $40 DVD player, the choice is clear, don't buy it."

I bought one of those $40 DVD players on Friday for a gift and the salesperson wanted to sell me a $30 extended warranty,I almost laughed in her face.
In the past I have bought extended warranties on two of my cars and they were well worth it but now most auto manufacturers warranties are 5years/100,000mi.

[bugster]

"In the past I have bought extended warranties on two of my cars and they were well worth it but now most auto manufacturers warranties are 5years/100,000mi.

I Wish That may be true in the states but in the UK many are 3 years/60,000 miles and some are still 1 Year

[redwudz]

I bought one several years ago with a ecomomy computer monitor. The only reason it made sense if that if the monitor failed, I could just bring it back to the local store and not ship it across county to the manufacturer. Of course, the damn thing is still running years later. I also got one with a Apex 1500 for the same reason, but it was only $15 with a $75 unit. I did this because of the high failure rate of those units. It's still running also. If you are interested in an extended warranty, read the fine print. If the unit is reported as problematic, and the warranty is replace instantly with no shipping, and the price is low, maybe. But 90% of the time, you are wasting your money. The reason they are cheap is that the failure rate is very low for electronics devices in general. Read the warranty that comes with the unit closely before even considering an extended warranty. As stated many times, units usually fail in the first week or month while still under the manufactures warranty.

[Craig Tucker]

Extended waranties are a rip off

[Faustus]

Depends on the product and the price of the warranty. For example if I was buying a $200 27" TV and they offered me an extended warranty for like $20 I'd turn them down. TVs last fine.

However whenver I buy a computer componet from newegg.com and I Know its a part prone to die (Video card, CPU, PSU) I usually pick up their extended warranty. I do so because the price is acceptable, and because I trust them not to jerk me around if it does die.

[lordsmurf]

Never seem to need it, too many rules. Not worth it to me.

[gmatov]

Peronally, think they're a rip-off. I've been offered 10 buck warranty on 20 buck toasters, things like that.

As to Apex, mine died after 6 months. Called their 800 number, was told it was one year parts, 90 day labor, they'd fix it for a flat 39 bucks hip it from PA to CA. Minimum 50 bucks to fix a 59 buck DVD player. I pased.

I was giftedwith a MAG monitor a few years ago, died within a year, called their 800 number, argued a little, was sent a prepaid shipping label sent it, got it back within 5 days. (Found out later it had a 1 year instant, 48 hour, actually, replacement. Didn't know about it when I called them.)

Bought another MAG from BB, 1year warranty, they tried to sell me a warranty, said no. Checked on line, found that it had a 3 year warranty except for BB. They buy them for a couple bucks less then try to sell you their own warranty.

Same thing with HDDs and OEMs. They get 'em for 2 bucks less, only 1 year Mfg warranty, (This when they all came with 3 year.. Now they're mostly 1 year, anyhow. )

Also, off subject but what the hell. Bought a gas stove about 27 years ago, was called anually to buy their warranty, about 40 bucks a year. Around year 10, they called again, , I said "Oh, you've been calling me all these years, and I've been saying No, and just a short while ago I had a problem. " She was all happy to hear it, till I said my oven light bulb had burnt out. They called for about 5 more years.

Bottom line, not worth it.