warranties extended POINTLESS

Horasio

I don't bother with them - like any insurance, they like to wriggle out of paying out by using some obscure small print clause.

I also feel the shop asst tries to bully you into buying one - they obviously get commission on the sale.

I have had no use for them, so save the money - if a thing breaks, buy another one, it is cheaper in the long run and gives less hassle.

jobbingmusician

It depends on what you are buying the warranty on.

Agreed, there is no point in covering the first 12 months as you are already covered, and if offered an EW you should point this out to the salesperson.

Work out what the EW will cost, what this is as a % of the new price, and think about how likely the item is to break down.

My rule is - washing machines and computers are worth it (except that my OH can fix either ). Anything else - buy a new one.

TTT_2

When flat widescreen TVs were still quite rare I bought one for almost £1100 as ours was dead and I wanted to future proof my self as much as possible. I took an extra 2 years warranty at a cost of about £175 at the time but got £100 off the tv by agreeing to take this warranty. The tube on the tv died on me at 2 yrs and 10 months,called warranty company,they collected tv ,replaced the tube and back good as new!
I would generally agree that most warranties are a waste of time but I would always give serious thought to getting one if the item is a relatively new style of product or seriously expensive to repair.

IvanOpinion

Good point TTT, anything involving new technology can always be flakey. I try to avoid real leading edge stuff for this very reason (also why spend £1000 today when you can spend £500 6 months later once they have ironed out all the problems).

ivan

JohalaReewi

There are other ways of getting extended warranties. Some credit cards offer free extended warranties as one of their benefits (like Nationwide) as long as you buy the item with the card. You can often get an addon to your house contents insurance to cover breakdown of domestic machines. This will work out a lot cheaper than separate extended warranties. Or shop around for your own policy - type domestic appliance insurance into google (uk). Don't just accept what you are offered without checking what's available elsewhere.

moonrakerz

Generally extended warranties are not good value. If you really feel you need one - DO NOT buy it at the same time as you buy the appliance. There will probably be a cheaper one on offer from the manufacturer in the box or you can get get a much better deal direct from a warranty company.

Anthony_MK

I paid around £200 for a 5 year warrantee on a 43" Toshiba TV from Comet 5 and a half years ago. In year 2 the tubes went and were replaced, in year 3 they went twice and were replaced, as was the contrast board, halfway through my final year the tubes went again and because it was too costly to repair I was give £1,500 (purchase price of TV) to spend on a new telly at Comet. Needless to say I spent the full £1,500 and paid £200 for a new 5 year warrantee.

Our washing machine has been repaired half a dozen times in the last 2 years, requiring two drum changes. Cost of warrantee, less than £50.

I dont get warantees on everything, but whenever i do, I rarely regret doing so.

IvanOpinion

Anthony_MK wrote:

Our washing machine has been repaired half a dozen times in the last 2 years, requiring two drum changes. Cost of warrantee, less than £50.

I think I would have asked for my money back and bought a better machine (or alternatively got a better maintenance engineer) ... did the machine smell of lemons by any chance or did it have a sticker saying 'Manufactured at 9AM on Monday 5th April 2004' on it

Ivan

hollydays

Think John Lewis offer 2 year warranties on their electricals

zappomatic

hollydays wrote:

Think John Lewis offer 2 year warranties on their electricals

And 5 years on TVs - so Comet charged the poster above £200 too much.