Cover for TV

Marvel1

I'm currently looking for a new TV and confused over whether to get a 3 free breakdown cover/coverplan, as with Argos it's about £70-£100; Dixons from £139-£159. Are they really worth it? Because the TV's I like are within my budget but the option for cover is going over.

jonesMUFCforever

IMO no they are not worth it.
You automatically should get a 12 month warranty with the purchase - why not put some money aside every month in an account towards repairs or replacements if required.
I was lucky that my first Hitachi telly bought when I bought my first house lasted 13 years - my next 2 lasted about 4 years between them (cheap and nasty just waiting to buy proper LCD or Plasma when we go digital and HD).

You could look at John Lewis who give 5 year guarantees with their tv sets.

cariad84

I agree - put the money aside each month to cover possible problems. I got Coverplan with Currys and it was an absolute con! I forked out £280 to cover an £800 laptop in 2002 and the laptop's been nothing but trouble and it always comes back from "repair" in its original faulty state!

geordie_joe

I don't think they are worth it. They are covered by guarantees for at least the first year and most last for years. You have to be unluky to get one that needs repairing.

You also have to think that the TV may be selling for £600 today, but in two years they will be on ebay for £50. And you wouldn't waste your money buying one because it doesn't have internet access built in and it can't re-order your food when your fridge is running out.

A few years ago I had a TV which was covered by my household insurance. It was 4 years old, or just over, when I was decorating and instead of moving the TV tried to stretch over and paint behind it. It fell face first onto the floor and broke.

The woman at the insurance company said "Just go out and buy another one for the same price, send us the receipt and we will pay you." The original TV cost £599 so I bought one at argos for £549 which was the nearest priced one they had.

The insurance company paid me £99. When I complained and told them the replacement TV cost £549 they said "yes, but it was a better spec than the one you had. We replace new for old but only like for like. We could have supplied you with a TV of the same spec for £99 if you'd only waited, so that's all we will pay"

The point is, your TV may have cost you £600 today, but next year it will be on sale for £400, the year after for £200 and the year after that you won't be able to sell them for £50 on ebay.

You have to think about what the same spec TV will cost you in a couple of years. Not that you will have to pay what you paid today to replace it.

garyd

Extended Warranties purchased through a retailer are usually overpriced, it's to help them make a huge profit!

However there are companies that sell cheaper stand alone cover, do a search.

Or home insurance companies offer a blanket cover for a number of home appliances, though these usually carry a maximum claim limitation.

The days of original purchase price cover are long gone. New for Old is most common and yes this does mean 'like for like' however you will usually find in the T's&C's a reference to something like 'same or similar'.
Here is the clever bit! The replacement model should not be less than the original specification therefore if your model has a function (not just aesthetic/cosmetic) for which its use of you can justify then the replacement will need to have a similar function thus increasing the value of the settlement.

exel1966

The average TV will last for approx 10 years ! Problems usually surface around years 5-7+, therefore to purchase extra cover is almost certainley NOT worth it. The average price to repair a fault if one does occur prior to the 5 years is approx £55 as it usually only a minor problem. Rarely does it involve great expense.

Now for Dixons !!! Personally I wouldn't purchase anything form the the Dixons Group (Dixons, Currys, Pc World) as the ethics of the managemnt are poor to say the least. They thrive on the average customers lack of product knowledge by selling these warranties on comission. Every store has a target to meet and will say almost anything to get the customer to sign up to them. DO NOT believe a word of what their sales staff tell you.

As Ejones said, go to a reputable, knowledgable company like J Lewis if you have one nearby.

Browntoa

I've never had a new TV break down on me, even cheapies

I'm sure you don't need to buy cover these days

garyd

exel1966 wrote: »

The average TV will last for approx 10 years ! Problems usually surface around years 5-7+, therefore to purchase extra cover is almost certainley NOT worth it. The average price to repair a fault if one does occur prior to the 5 years is approx £55 as it usually only a minor problem. Rarely does it involve great expense.

As Ejones said, go to a reputable, knowledgable company like J Lewis if you have one nearby.

exel1966,
Where do you get your figures?
Those given may have applied some years ago but unfortunately not now, especially with the influx of supermarket brand tvs. Also, there is no way the industry can yet be aware of the average reliability of plasma and/or lcd tv's which is very important due to the unneccesary, IMHO, phasing out of crt tv's.
And £55 for an average fix?!! Again, based on aging figures methinks.

I agree totally with the J Lewis reference, mind.:rotfl: