A timely reminder from Consumer Reports...

[alfreda89]

As you start your holiday shopping, you can save hundreds of dollars by saying "no, thank you" to extended warranty offers. (snip!)

Consumer Reports estimates that Americans could save $1.6 billion dollars this year -- money you can spend on holiday gifts or just save for a rainy day. (snip!)

Extended warranties are great for retailers, but a notoriously bad deal for you. Our data shows that products seldom break within the extended-warranty window (typically around three years), and when electronics and appliances do break, the repair often costs about the same as the cost of the warranty.

Retailers give you the hard sell because they often make more money on the sale of an extended warranty than they make on the products themselves. That doesn't mean it's right for you.

Yes...I'm still aggravated....

Comments

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

The exception to this rule is, Laptop Computers. I kill mine in 2-3 years, and even if they survive that long, they need new keyboards and new thises and thats.

The one time I didn't get one, the first time, I ended up stuck for the cost of a new mother board. I ended up just buying a new one, but if I'd had the warranty I'd have got a new one for no extra cost.

The time I had The Lemon, I ended up with a brand-new Vaio in year 3, for free.

I buy the 4-year, and by year 3 am using it, then in year 4 I make sure all's well before the warranty expires, with a checkup and any new parts that need fixing.

I've had this machine for a year and the keys are already starting to wear down. New keyboard will be in the cards in another year, for sure. And the graphics ae starting to act a bit odd. As I said, I kill laptops. Warranties are like life insurance--they save me thousands.

Otherwise, nope, don't bother.

Occasional warranties

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Actually, that was my first thought. Anything with moving parts or lasers, etc. involved should have a warranty. My lap top was free, but if I'd purchased it, I would have a warranty for it.

I always buy extended warranties for my new cars. There's always something major that goes in the 4-6th year, and warranties help. For example, I moved down here with a large Ford Taurus. After driving the hills for a year or so, the transmission died (Year 3). And then died again (year 5). So I got rid of the car after that -- I figured that it was possessed or something. But just those two things were $1200 jobs -- not to mention the CV joints or the bolt installed wrong that sheered off in the oil pan.

But I've killed printers from how many pages I run. They need a sub report on this topic...

[oliana0.livejournal.com]

They are probably talking about things like TVs and power tools. TVs and power tools rarely break after 90 days if they don't break before. And when was the last time you had a blender break?

PCs, cars, etc. are things that are notorious for breaking. Extend those warrantees, but not TVs, stereos, blenders, power tools. They pressured me into extending the warranty on my CD changer for my car claiming that it would need aligning and cleaning that would all be free for three years if I extended my waranty from 1 year to three years. Still works as well as the day I got it, nearly seven years ago.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Do you use the CD player constantly? I ask because a CD player has a laser that can go out of alignment, etc. I agree that blenders, power tools, etc. why have an extended warranty? I'm a big fan of them for cars, but not much else...although if I did not have W to handle computer hiccups, I'd probably have an extensive "We'll come out and fix on-site" warranty...

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

The one thing they recommend getting an extended warranty for are--heh--Apple Computers, since the out of the box warranty is only 90 days.

My iBook 3-year warranty runs out early next year, and I'm wondering if Apple offers anything beyond that. The lettering is wearing off a few of the keys, but I've heard enough horror stories about the new MacBooks and apontaneous shutdowns that I want to wait a while before getting anything else.

Fact is, I really don't want a new laptop now. I just sprang for more RAM, and the thing runs fine (knocks all wood within reach). But I'd like another few years on the warranty if I can get it.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Yes -- cars and computers. Everything else depends on your own previous experiences (I did try to get warranty on the new windows...nothing is as well-made as it used to be, alas -- )

[lindajdunn.livejournal.com]

I agree. The extended warranties I have purchased on the desktops have paid off handsomely. The last time one failed, the model no longer existed so I gave the store my 2-year old computer and they handed me a new one.