Comments on: I Make My Own Extended Warranties

By: richard lewis

richard lewis — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:23:08 +0000

been receiving steves tips a long time- i am a member of the moose lodge here and the stick i bought from steves yrs a go not big enough- i take tips to lodge and share i also have got a lot to join steves tips- at 73 this may be my last stick and my ss check want buy a good one- thanks for all you guys do richard

By: JAS

JAS — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:57:18 +0000

Too bad techies were not told how to use spell checkers.

Bought a DELL Inspiron E1705 a couple of years ago. Works fine….except the right side enter key, fell off, was replaced…not by DELL, 2 letters W and less than/dash came off. Now use a separate wireless kepboard bt BELKIN, Have NEVER had a problem with it. The batteries do last years longer than the BELKIN wireless mouse that came with it.

By: Jack Worgan

Jack Worgan — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:57:56 +0000

Hi guys I totally agree with you on the extended waranty with one exception. Laptop computers. I bought six Toshiba laptops at $600 each for six of my grand children. One year warranty. The first one went one day after the warranty. Three more failed after about 3 or 4 months. Seems Toshiba builds a guaranteed income into the main boards. The power connector. The connector is made with a very thin metal sleeve in the socket. If you move the laptop around on the table or any where else with the power cord attached, their is a high probability of cracking this sleeve.

I took the first one to a computer repair shop. The technician took one look and said, $400 labor plus parts running from $45 to $85 dollars. I ask how he could tell with looking at the computer. He said, Easy, there are four more Toshiba’s sitting there on the table waiting for new connectors.

I have found, during the years, that by turning any electronic equipment on and letting it run continuously for six weeks, it solves the warranty problem. If the unit doesn’t fail in the first six weeks, it probably will not fail for a long time.

By: Ed Hanus

Ed Hanus — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:42:27 +0000

I never get the extended warranty! It is just another scam to get my money into their pockets. If the product is made by a good, established brand you should not have a problem.
A major appliance should last 8 to 10 years. if it goes bad around that time it is not worth the money for a service call.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 07:48:48 +0000

On most electronics I agree, no need for an extra warranty. But if it has moving parts (cd/dvd player) or it is for a child then I would and do get them. I gought a gameboy from Bestbuy for my son. He removed the battery cover and lost it and the battery. I brought it back and they exchanged it,no questions asked. I waited to re-gift it to my son after we talked about it. No problems with it since. Same with a portable dvd player. He didn’t do anything I could see, it just stopped working after 2 years. With 3 yr warranty I brought it back to Target, but had to jump through one hoop, but got a new one (with better battery life). But for TV’s,pc’s no. Maybe for a $200+ laser printer.

By: Irenkè

Irenkè — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:09:34 +0000

I too have purchased extended warranties many times in the past. Now I buy service/maintenance contracts for certain things such as my new heat pump/air conditioner unit. I also have insurance and repair services for my cell phone, my land phone, home alarm system, major appliances, termites insurance, etc.. I have to admit I rarely had to use those services but when I did it worked out pretty well. I really can’t afford to waste my money on all this stuff and I hope I’m doing the right thing.

By: Michael Cantone

Michael Cantone — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 13:24:07 +0000

No Warranty Please!

I believe in buying top to middle of the line quality products which in case you did not realize it is that they sell warranties the same way which is part of the buy something you do NOT need because if it is electronics it will DIE within the one year MANUFACTURE’S warranty.

By: radioman

radioman — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 06:35:34 +0000

Great story, that reminds me of the old adage that it will break right after the mfr. warranty expires!

I really liked your part about questioning the quality of the item to begin with, maybe you should cancel
your sale if it really needs an extended warranty, telling them in that case just put it back on the shelf
and cancelling your entire transaction. Won’t they just love that one! I always say “No, thank you as the
other commenter Sharon G. says to do. I never buy extended warranties myself because I buy quality
products in the first place, reasonably assured the big name mfr. will honor it to keep satisfied customers
who then promote good-will in the rare event a warranty situation ever arises in case of premature MTBF.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 02:39:05 +0000

I do the support of those extended warranties for more companies than you can imagine. We do several companies, both current and gone out of business. We are in the US and we know more than anyone, the kind of scam that is running. If anyone reads the fine print of the warranty when the get it home they um, cancel. on most laptop warranties, good luck getting a repair if you drop it. Staples won’t tell you that the warranty they just sold you doesn’t have accidental damage coverage. Also, for all but 1 of the businesses we support, if the OEM warranty covers it, we don’t. The number of service denials because of those 2 things makes us want to pull our hair out. “Why?” you ask. Because we got into the biz because we are techs and want to help people with thier technology, and the warranties we are working with do not allow us to do so, and then we have to deal with the person who sat a 65 inch TV on top of the milk crate and the 8 year old pulled it down and the LCD screen is now cracked and it isn’t covered and the company that sold the warranty is out of business and why did they tell him that it covered accidents when it doesn’t, etc, etc, etc. Be aware….The only warranty that is worth anything is an accidental damage warranty on a laptop, if you have kids using it (up to age 25) or are a klutz. it doesn’t matter if it is from your credit card, the OEM or the vendor, read the fine print before you can’t return it anymore.

By: Carol

Carol — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 01:50:42 +0000

If you use certain charge cards for credit (not debit)purchase, your manufacturer’s warranty is doubled. You can still pay off the item in 30 days (same as cash) using bank’s money, double your warranty for 0% interest and $0 for the warranty. Don’t buy until you can afford things. Ask 4 questions of yourself when about to buy something. If you get a ‘no’ to any one of them, DON’T BUY! (1) Do I want it; (2) Will iit enhance my enjoyment of life; (3) Can I pay cash for it and (4) DO I NEED IT. You’ll save a heap of money!