Cautionary Tale – Service Plans from big box stores

A year ago, I purchased an over-sized ground blind that was rebranded by the reseller. At checkout, I paid an extra $30.00 for two additional years of service. At the time of I purchase, I asked “how does this work”. Response, “Oh, it’s a no questions asked, rips, tears, broken poles, zippers, etc… All covered. You start claim and we will either replace or provide you funding worth the replacement.”

Fast forward a year. I had a few items rip fall apart on this blind. I knew they would, it was pretty cheaply made. However, since I had the additional warranty, I figured no big deal. So I’m prepping for the upcoming turkey season I decide to get this task done now. I call the 800 on the receipt. After 45 minutes of back and forth I’m told my only option is to ship the blind to a warranty shop. They will fix everything and send back. The process will take 6-8 weeks. But they will pay for return shipping.

I realize I can get my blind fixed and should be happy. However, I’m still frustrated I was sold a bill of goods. So, I wrote said store and expressed my frustrations. The response I got was a bit maddening. “We sincerely apologize that the process has been arduous for you. We are not privy to Asurion’s internal processes.”

So my words of caution. Don’t believe the person at the cash register when they tell you it’s an “easy” process. Maybe I should only be frustrated with myself for being gullible.

Thanks for the insight. Makes me glad I have said no every single time.

The only place I ever believe someone at the check out counter is at Everts…and if he’s the catfish guy…I’m still cautious.

I like Mike have never paid for an extended warranty. I far as I can remember I have never wished that I would have.

Good point though Koots. If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen and even if it is written down, it doesn’t mean it will happen.

A lot of retailers rely on these ‘service plans’ to be profitable in certain categories. A lot of electronics in particular are very low margin, or in some cases come with pricing rules from the manufacturer(apple comes to mind). I work for a big retailer and I can tell you that we make basically $0 for every Apple product we sell, we just hope that people buy accessories or extended warranties with those products.

What they don’t tell you is that in most cases the service plan doesn’t offer much more than the manufacturer’s warranty. And in most cases, the manufacturer’s handle warranty claims a lot better than some third party warranty service.

Every so-called expert I have heard or read an article on says to NEVER buy an extended warranty. Every place you go the store wants to sell this because it is a huge profit maker for them. When you can’t trust a catfish guy you know its bologna, err I mean Spam.

Many of them start the extend warranty on day one. You would think a 2 year extended warranty would start the day after the manufacturer’s 1 year warranty expires, well that’s not normally the case. The extended starts on day one so all you are getting with a 2 year extended warranty is 1 additional year. Watch the fine print.

mx your plug is out.

Nutz is right. The devil is in the fine print details and on a spur of the moment “at the checkout” decision, we aren’t likely to be able to understand what we’re getting or not getting.

As others have said, it’s almost never a good deal.

The best “extended warranty” I’ve ever used is certain American Express cards offer an extended warranty on most things bought with the card. This extends the warranty for 1 year beyond the standard warranty. I’ve used it once on a TV the went belly up. The pathetic warranty was–get this–90 days! On a freaking $789 TV.

Grouse

After as many years as BK and I have not bought extended warranties for ANYTHING we are finally over the hump and will have saved money no matter what.
Good going BK!!!!

The best extended warranty I’ve had so far and it never costs extra is rods and reels that are “Sheels” branded items. You only need to bring in the sails receipt to customer service along with the replacement item. It was a no questions asked no hassle swap.

I broke a rod Sheels brand “One” (love those) swap and done.

I bought the extended warranty on a harbor freight Chop saw and it was worth it, as the saw burned up in about 6 months. They gave me a new one, but that one died rather quickly as well.