Story Comments

Seriously? 'Do something patriotic' and buy a warranty? I thought this site was called *Smart* Money.

Tell you what -- take the money you'd spend on the warranty and with it, do something patriotic: *pay your taxes.* You know, the ones that pay for your roads, your schools, your police force. You get to do something patriotic *and* get a return on your investment. Oddly most of the 'do something patriotic -- spend what you should save!' camp tends to be in the 'lower taxes' camp as well. Guess patriotism only goes so far.

Finally, TO ALL THE CONSUMERS READING THIS PANEL:
WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF ON THE FENCE OF WHETHER OR NOT TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OR SERVICE PLAN, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING TWO ITEMS...

1) FORGET EVERYTHING YOU HAVE EVER READ AND THINK FOR A SECOND. ASK YOURSELF, 'DO I THINK THERE MAY BE A VALUE IN PURCHASING THIS?' THEN GO WITH YOUR FIRST GUT FEELING, BECAUSE YOU MAY BE SORRY YOU DIDN'T.

2) IF YOU STILL FIND YOURSELF ON THE FENCE, DO SOMETHING PATRIOTIC! 85% OF THIS COUNTRY'S ECONOMY IS DRIVEN BY DOLLARS EARNED ON COMMISSION. FROM THE SALESPERSON EARNING HIS OR HER SMALL PERCENTAGE, ALL THE WAY TO THE CEO, YOUR MONEY SPENT WILL STIMULATE THE ECONOMY. HOPEFULLY YOU NEVER HAVE A REASON TO MAKE THAT WARRANTY CLAIM, BUT IF YOU DO, YOU ARE COVERED. AN ADDED BONUS: THAT REPAIRMAN IS EARNING COMMISSION TOO!

Secondly, I am sure Bussty intended to make a valid point, but that 'sentence' of his could really use a spell and grammar check. Within the text Bussty has written, there is a hidden context/subliminal message influencing anyone who may consider a purchase from him: 'Don't buy from me. I do not take my profession seriously, therefore any advice I offer you should not be considered. If you are not in a rush to buy, you should probably shop elsewhere.' --A prime example of why some retailers, while offering premium products and services, are struggling...they don't pay those few extra bucks to their employees, so at the end, they don't earn the profits they are looking for.

First of all, I agree with everything Pauly has said. I am also extremely disappointed with consumer advisors and media that will denounce extended warranties as a bulk category, without first doing dilligent research into which retailers truly provide you prompt and friendly service, and/or replacement. I think it is quite irresponsible for these 'trusted resources' to produce such 'reports' to the general public, without doing equal research to, at the very least, play Devil's advocate.

In all the years I've been buying electronics, I've either been extremely lucky or shopped wisely as I have never had to use the warrenties I've purchased and plan never to buy one again. To me they are a waste of money. The last item I purchased one for was a compact, book shelf sized CD player. I used it well for 6 years before I had any problems, and by then even the extended warrenty had expired. I did have some bad luck with 2 over the range microhoods. However, they malfunctioned right out of the box so the store took them back without question.

Second, I am appalled by what the consumer 'experts' list as products on which are worth a warranty. New televisions seem to have quite a lot of problems, so from what i've read if you want to buy a television you should take out a warranty in recognition of the inevitable problems such as bulbs burning out. The product should be better...period. Consumer reports should advise not to buy the tv if you simply cannot rely on the product. My customers would run if i told them they needed a warranty beacuse the product is made to fail. I work hard with my customers to make the most intelligent purchases based on product history, so when the camera breaks, it was probably because they were using and enjoying the product a little too much.
Thank you, Paul

I work for Ritz Camera selling electronics as well as 'extended warranties'/service plans. First, As a salesperson and not a clerk, I profit from selling a service package, and I am well aware that my company also profits from these packages, but I have a hard time understanding when making profit from your services became a case against it's significance. I have never refused a single camera for repairs or replacement when honoring a service agreement in four years of working with the company.
Our contracts are easy to understand and include all damage other than from fire and of course loss.
Does this sound like a scam? As a sales professional I am disappointed with media and consumer resources who are grouping all service packages as fraudulent without making proper distinctions for those business' that currently honor what they sell.

this is not always ture i work for a verry large company in custermer service where we sell jsut aobut every apliance u can imagine and owen at least 12 name braqnds and in every apliance u buy u should always buy a extended warenty it will always come with a 1 year full warenty after taht if u dont ahve one then u are out of luck as most things like fridge oven micro stove washer dryer all ahve control boardswich will cost u more in the long run to repair then the apliance actuley cost and in all ovens and stoves if u ever use the self clean fuction they get to hot and burn out the control baords just a heads up if u are thinking of not buying a extended warenty they are well worth it if u are buying a large apliance