Warranties... to extend or not?
By ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
October 18, 2007 10:12pm CST
We have all bought some big ticket electrical items sometime in our life. Things like your fridge, television, Hi-Fi sets, Computers, heaters, ovens, air-conditioners...etc. And they all come with warranties. The standard these days is 1 year. And most of the time, the warranties only covers damages that is not due to wear and tear.
Depending on where you get your electrical items from, there are some shops that offer extended warranty.
An extended warranty is coverage for electrical or mechanical breakdown. It usually only cover the cost of repairing the item and may include replacement if the item is not repairable or deemed uneconomical to be sent for repairs.
These warranties extend the period of the manufacturer's standard warranty. Extended warranties cost extra and usually for a percentage of the item's retail price or some fixed price that are offered by the retail shops itself.
I usually have reservations about buying warranties unless I know that I am able to use the item well beyond the standard warranty. So far, most of the items I bought are still good way beyond their extended warranties. So much so that sometimes, I feel it is redundant to buy extended warranties.
Do you feel the same way as I do?
What are your takes on warranties and extended warranties?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@ahnah69 (141)
• Singapore
22 Oct 07
Warranties or extended Warranties is just like a insurance.
Depends on individual budget and able to change or not.
If warrant on expensive items and yet not so easy to be outdate, then it is fine.
But if on a inexpensive item and yet easy outdated like DVD Player... then no point.
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
22 Oct 07
I agree with you totally! I feel that it is only good to buy extended warranties for items that you know you cannot do without. And if the cost of repairs is expensive, then getting the extended waranties is good.
But in recent years, when I go window shopping, I always over hear the sales person pushing the extended warranties to customers who bought items like irons, vacuum cleaners, DVD players, mini-compo set, fans and even shavers too!
And the best part, these people actually buy them for the mentioned items!
@Pompon (1757)
• Poland
19 Oct 07
I think extendind warranty is useless. If something don't shows any fabrical mistakes in a first few months it will last long. I would want to extend my computer warranty if I didn't knew that in a year it will be worth 33% less and some parts will be for exchange because of technology development but that's it.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
22 Oct 07
I also agree with you that extending warranty is useless, especially on some items.
But for bigger ticket items that one intends to use for longer, isn't it better to get them extended?
But then again, if proper care is taken with using the appliances, it will last pretty long.
In the past, I know things are done better. Appliances last longer with proper care and maintenance. But now a days, I think twice about not buying warranties for bigger ticket items like Plasma TVs, Air-Conditioners, Fridges... etc etc.
For computers, it will really depend on your usage to decide whether to buy warranties or not.
1 person likes this
