09-05-2003, 04:00 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Discussion on CompUSA's TAP Program
http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=88726&perpage=10&pagenumber=1
Brighthand as a long discussion going on the Technology Assurance Plan, or TAP, that CompUSA offers, which is essentially a program that will guarantee a repair or replacement if something goes wrong with your product. I have personally been told when buying things there, like PDAs, that they will replace it with a new device, not a refurbished one, but I'm not convinced that is what the TAP Agreement states. I'll let you dig into the contract and the thread to come to your own conclusion.
Two thoughts. First, I know people have abused this. I can't tell you how many times people "break" their PDA then go to CompUSA to get a newer model, knowing full well their current model has been discontinued and is out of stock. :roll: This is probably why CompUSA is cracking down.
Second, how many of you buy these things, which are essentially extended warrantees? I never buy an extended warranty. Those things are pure money to the ones selling it. I've probably saved enough over my life in not buying extended warranties for TVs, computers, cars, PDAs, lawnmowers, toasters and just about anything else that plugs in, and a few things that don't, that I could buy a new car. I've also had to shell out less than $1,000 over that same time period for repairs where one of those extended warranties would have come in handy. I've definitely come out ahead which proves my point. Had I purchased all of those thing, resellers would have been way ahead, which is why they push them so hard. "Hey, you need this extended warranty. It is such a good deal for you!" :deal:
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09-05-2003, 04:05 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,911
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I have never bought an extended warranty ever. I think that they are a waste of money. If you take care of your stuff you're fine. I might get a warranty on a new car if I got one. The weather is harsh on cars where I live.
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09-05-2003, 04:07 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 734
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I never bought these before, but when my Ipaq 3630's battery died on me two years ago, I thought it might be a wise investment. This is the kind of warranty that covers the basics, but unfortunately, they won't replace the device if it meets with an "accident" as far as I know. If I could get such a warranty - I would. And I'd abuse it for sure. You'd be stupid not to.
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09-05-2003, 04:16 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,162
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I have never bought an extended warrantee myself.
Circuit City I have heard (I think from a thread on this forum actually) is cracking down on their policy too. With cell phones at least I believe they now give you a phone number to call where you can have your phone sent to them instead of just exchanging it.
I think all these stores used to be lax on allowing these things for the sake of customer service and the philosophy that they may get scammed a few times, but it's worth it to make it a nice process for the legit returns. Now they are tightening up due to abuse.
A friend of mine was told by best buy when he got a crack in the screen that their plan didn't cover physical damage.
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09-05-2003, 04:21 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 8
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I originally bought an extended warranty from Best Buy only to have my first "defective" item turned down since it had a "bruise" on the casing. They said I dropped it and voided the extended warranty which only covers against internal electronic parts and the unit must not have been abused. My accidental dropping of the phone occurred months prior to the unit failure and was unrelated.
I learned about the CompUSA's TAP coverage at that time and took advantage of it when I bought my first 3635. I travel extensively and have kids so I thought it was a good investment. As it turned out, the 3635 screen digitizer went out a few months later and the TAP covered me. Since the 3635 was discontinued I picked up a 3835 for a slight charge and then bought another TAP to cover it. That unit was much better lasting me about 13 months before the screen also went out with burnt pixels, not to mention bad battery performance. I took it back under the warranty and picked up a 5455. That unit lasted all of 2 weeks before it started hard resetting itself at random, yes, the charge was full. I talked with CompUSA extensively about it, they even gave me an additional battery to see if that worked. But in the end the unit was just defective. I didn't return it to CompUSA as it would have cost me the fee of another TAP to do that, I opted to use the manufacturer's warranty instead and after 6 weeks of sending in and receiving back in the same condition I finally was awarded a new 5450 to replace it. I explained this to CompUSA and they said the TAP would cover the new unit. I was happy, although had I know it would take me weeks to get back running again I would have exercised the TAP first.
It has been 6 months since all my problems, and the 5450 still functions perfectly. I have no plans to "break it" for an upgrade, but I thank God for that TAP now or I would be into a serious investment for my organizer over the past couple years.
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09-05-2003, 04:22 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 443
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I stay away from extended warranties. No one would sell them unless they were profiting from it.
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09-05-2003, 04:22 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 137
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I normally don't buy extended warrantees but I did when I bought my last cell phone from Best Buy. I knew plenty of people who had bad experiences so I thought I'd spend the money.
I went thru 5 Nokia cell phones in the last 3 years. I had dial pads go out on 2 of them (6160's I think). Another one just died. I lived with poor range on an 8260 for a year before I finally complained to an ATT rep in the store. He agreed and swapped it for a 6360 which I'm very happy with. It has the best range and battery I've ever had.
Each time they just gave me a new phone without any hassle, always the current model in the same price range.
dart
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09-05-2003, 04:26 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 718
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The only extended warranty I ever buy are on new cars. For a new car, I can definitely justify it. I just bought a new Ford Explorer and I extended the three year warranty to five years for $1000. On my old Explorer, I just had to pay $600 for new brakes. Even small things, like the power window motor in my Camaro convertible costs $200. Plus, with this extended warranty, you get free brake replacements at 45,000 miles plus free oil changes for the five years. Car repairs are too expensive to quibble about an extra $1000 on a vehicle that already costs $40,000. And as we know, stuff has a habit of breaking just after the manufacturer warranty ends 
But on things like PDA's, warranties are a waste. Especially in my case since I replace my PDA's with the latest and greatest so often (6 months average lately).
So, the moral of the story is, there are some things that extended warranties are worth it for. High mantenance stuff you plan on keeping for a long time are a good example. Cheap PDA's that you replace often are not.
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09-05-2003, 04:27 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 378
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Extended Warranties
I'm so glad you added: "not only is it never, I get belligerent when the salesman asks me a second time." I thought it would end with "never."
I had a part-time job with Best Buy for about 3 mos. I quit before I got fired because I was expected to sell a Extended Service Plan with every computer I sold. I didn't push it when someone told me "no." I don't like being pushed into something I don't want and I don't push anybody.
__________________
"It's alright to pick your friends, but not to pieces."
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09-05-2003, 04:28 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 717
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The only time I ever bought an extended warranty was years ago and it was for the car, which was a good thing because I got my engine replaced at 110K. Since then I always buy everthing on my CC which always doubles the warrany or at least gives me an extra year and it is free.
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