Yesterday, after several weeks of research and data gathering, I ordered a new Mits 65" Platinum Plus (Model 65611) RP HDTV from my local retail store. It is due in in about a week. My sales guy is very knowledgeable about HDTV's since he has been selling and using top line equipment of this type for over ten years that I am aware of (he sold me my current Toshiba 55" analogue TV when he worked for a different local company ten years ago).
When I asked my guy about purchasing an extended warranty contract, he said that they don't offer one because the newer digital TV's are so reliable and trouble free they feel extended warranty's are just an unnecessary additional cost for their customers. He said a few years ago when you had to have a service person in just to calibrate your TV, the extended warranty was needed. Now days, with calibration available on your remote and with the better reliability of the overall TV's, it's normally a waste of money. He says putting a good surge protector on the TV and other devices is the best insurance.
I certainly intend to put a good surge protector on my system. Do you feel he is correct on the warranty issue and an extended warranty is probably not justified?
If you feel he is "out in left field" on this and an extended warranty is highly recommended, do you have any suggestion where I can purchase an extended warranty on a Mits TV purchased from my local retailer?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Mike
Extended Warranties...Yes or No?
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Guest
Basically, in most places the warranty is a way to make a few extra bucks. Most sales associates make 10% of the warrranty, so if he's pushing a $300 warranty, its because he'll make a quick $30. The only time I've ever bought a warranty was when A. The item had a rep for having hardware issues B. The warranty went at least 5 years. C. The repair (any) would cost perhaps double what I paid for the warranty. D. If an issue does occur, I get the entire item replaced (regardless if its made anymore) with a new part, no reconditioned parts thank you.
For example, I bought an extended warranty from Radio Shack for a 700 watt RCA receiver for $59 that covered 5 years. Very cheap, and it covers my speakers included. If the receiver fails in 4.5 years, I get a new one because I'm quite sure that DTS receiver will be considered ancient by then. Once it goes disco (discontinued) Radio Shack will just instruct the store mgr to give you a replacement model. I've seen this many times where a customer has come in with a 486 cpu and 450mb hard drive. The motherboard burned out, radio shack can't get it replaced, and she walks out with a free upgrade - p4 1.5 with 10gig hard drive.
I turned down Circuit City's warranty for my tv. They wanted $350 for 3 years. Unless my whole tv blows, I'll never get even with that amount. Now I've seen a lot of postings here where somebody has had 3 or 4 problems. I say after 2 repairs to ask for the item to be replaced. If you scream loud enough, threaten to go to the BBB or your local congressman, speak to the district mgr, etc. you'll get a new one.
Jesse
For example, I bought an extended warranty from Radio Shack for a 700 watt RCA receiver for $59 that covered 5 years. Very cheap, and it covers my speakers included. If the receiver fails in 4.5 years, I get a new one because I'm quite sure that DTS receiver will be considered ancient by then. Once it goes disco (discontinued) Radio Shack will just instruct the store mgr to give you a replacement model. I've seen this many times where a customer has come in with a 486 cpu and 450mb hard drive. The motherboard burned out, radio shack can't get it replaced, and she walks out with a free upgrade - p4 1.5 with 10gig hard drive.
I turned down Circuit City's warranty for my tv. They wanted $350 for 3 years. Unless my whole tv blows, I'll never get even with that amount. Now I've seen a lot of postings here where somebody has had 3 or 4 problems. I say after 2 repairs to ask for the item to be replaced. If you scream loud enough, threaten to go to the BBB or your local congressman, speak to the district mgr, etc. you'll get a new one.
Jesse
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Guest
Check your credit card's extended warranty program. Most credit card companies will automatically double your warranty (up to an additional year) if you buy the product with their credit card. I bought my TV and they extended my warranty from one year to two, no cost.
You may want to check it out at the websites for AMEX, MC and Visa.
Jim
You may want to check it out at the websites for AMEX, MC and Visa.
Jim
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Guest
how does that work -- getting the extra year warranty with your credit card company?
if something goes wrong with your set in year 2, do you call the credit card co. and have them send someone out to fix your set?
or do they call the manufacturer to send someone out? or the store where you bought the set?
if my set goes down, i want someone to fix it -- at my house -- a.s.a.p.
Rich
if something goes wrong with your set in year 2, do you call the credit card co. and have them send someone out to fix your set?
or do they call the manufacturer to send someone out? or the store where you bought the set?
if my set goes down, i want someone to fix it -- at my house -- a.s.a.p.
Rich
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Guest
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Guest
HISTORY
Extended warranties have become all the rage over the last 20 years. Initially it was sold primarily as a service to the customer with a nice profit for the retailer. Much has changed in this industry. Over the last ten years there has been significant price erosion and profit margins have become quite small. For many companies extended warranties make the difference between being profitable and barley making it so now they are heavily pushed. Due to companies going under and leaving many customers with useless contracts the laws in many states have been changed to protect the consumer. It is recommended that your extended warranty be with an insurance company rather than the retailer.
PRICING
I have had many customers very happy they had an extended warranty and also many who were upset that it was never used and therefore a waste of money. First lets talk about those products that come with a full one year warranty for parts and labor. If you are going to purchase an extended warranty on such a product than get the longest one available which is typically 4 or 5 years. Choosing this option increases the chance that you will be able to actually make a claim. Most are setup that they are charging you one
Extended warranties have become all the rage over the last 20 years. Initially it was sold primarily as a service to the customer with a nice profit for the retailer. Much has changed in this industry. Over the last ten years there has been significant price erosion and profit margins have become quite small. For many companies extended warranties make the difference between being profitable and barley making it so now they are heavily pushed. Due to companies going under and leaving many customers with useless contracts the laws in many states have been changed to protect the consumer. It is recommended that your extended warranty be with an insurance company rather than the retailer.
PRICING
I have had many customers very happy they had an extended warranty and also many who were upset that it was never used and therefore a waste of money. First lets talk about those products that come with a full one year warranty for parts and labor. If you are going to purchase an extended warranty on such a product than get the longest one available which is typically 4 or 5 years. Choosing this option increases the chance that you will be able to actually make a claim. Most are setup that they are charging you one
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Guest
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Guest
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Guest
When I bought my KP-43HT2 at Best Buy in July, I was pressured by 3 saleman to buy an extended warranty.
They swore they were telling me the truth and they weren't on commission so they had nothing to gain (they didn't say anything about a bonus program for selling extended warranties which they probably have). They told me "every RPTV needs annual service" and that the extended warranty more than paid for itself by including these service visits. They claimed the Sony model I was buying specifically listed scheduled maintenance intervals and that I was making a huge mistake and taking a huge risk...blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
I refused the extended warranty and guess what, my tv has no recommended service schedule to clean and align the guns. I guess that's why they didn't pull out a manual and show me the supposed service schedule. The owners manual only says that if the picture ever darkens substantially, the interior of the cabinet, the screen and guns may need to be cleaned by a qualified technician. That's far different than quarterly or annual service.
I understand that other RPTV do require regular maintenance, so it may have been an honest mistake. Then, again I think it was just so much hard pressure selling and scare tactics.
I don't buy extended warranties. Not on cars. Not on appliances. Not on electronics. It's just a way to pad a store's profit margin.
Kevin
They swore they were telling me the truth and they weren't on commission so they had nothing to gain (they didn't say anything about a bonus program for selling extended warranties which they probably have). They told me "every RPTV needs annual service" and that the extended warranty more than paid for itself by including these service visits. They claimed the Sony model I was buying specifically listed scheduled maintenance intervals and that I was making a huge mistake and taking a huge risk...blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
I refused the extended warranty and guess what, my tv has no recommended service schedule to clean and align the guns. I guess that's why they didn't pull out a manual and show me the supposed service schedule. The owners manual only says that if the picture ever darkens substantially, the interior of the cabinet, the screen and guns may need to be cleaned by a qualified technician. That's far different than quarterly or annual service.
I understand that other RPTV do require regular maintenance, so it may have been an honest mistake. Then, again I think it was just so much hard pressure selling and scare tactics.
I don't buy extended warranties. Not on cars. Not on appliances. Not on electronics. It's just a way to pad a store's profit margin.
Kevin