Ah...extended warranty on an HDTV pays off

[conjur]

Bought my HDTV back in March 2001 and a circuit board (2HDW board for those of you with Mits sets) that apparently is a somewhat common failure is going out. Some inputs I get these vertical lines through the image (looks like interference). Called up HHGregg customer service and gave my old phone # (have moved since) and they show my warranty good thru Mar. 2006 and a tech is coming out a week from Fri.

Going to have him fix a few other minor problems that I could do myself but would rather him do it since he'll be here.

 

[DrumminBoy]

whatd the warranty cost you when you bought the tv?

 

[conjur]

Cost an extra $400 for the 5 years. The part alone is about $235.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Ditto. Circuit City just called and said the parts for mine are in and he's coming to fix it tommorow.

 

[spidey07]

So you got a solder joint going out on your convergence board.

Let me know sometime bud and I'll redo your raw convergence from scratch to you aint stressin her so much.

I do charge a 750 of Jack Daniels though.

 

[Kaervak]

Nice deal man. My mom has an extended warrany on her new Maytag washer & dryer. Paid $1200 for both, extended warranty for $50. Hell of a deal.

 

[spidey07]

Now where is that thread where everybody told me you're a sucker for buying an extended warranty on a big screen TV?

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Now where is that thread where everybody told me you're a sucker for buying an extended warranty on a big screen TV?

Actually I thought most said it was a good idea on them.

 

[Maximus96]

i was under the impression that extended warranty on anything is a waste of money. read somewhere a while back that they're the biggest profit margin for companies like best buy. is this no longer true?

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: zaku
i was under the impression that extended warranty on anything is a waste of money. read somewhere a while back that they're the biggest profit margin for companies like best buy. is this no longer true?

Depends what you buy.

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: conjur
Cost an extra $400 for the 5 years. The part alone is about $235.

:Q

How much did the TV cost??? How long was the original manuf. warranty?

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: zaku
i was under the impression that extended warranty on anything is a waste of money. read somewhere a while back that they're the biggest profit margin for companies like best buy. is this no longer true?

Depends what you buy.

On items like big screen TV's ... it is a good buy.... what are you gonna do if something goes wrong? Throw it on top of your car and drive to a store?

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: conjur
Cost an extra $400 for the 5 years. The part alone is about $235.

:Q

How much did the TV cost??? How long was the original manuf. warranty?

Don't remember the length of the original warranty. The set cost me about, oh, $3200 or so. Similar model 55" now goes for about $2k. The price of (somewhat) early adoption.

And, spidey, I've done convergence many a time in the Mits menus. Even did the electrostatic focus adjustment myself. Then I had it ISF calibrated but the set's been moved a couple of times since then and could use some good servicing. But, once this guy does his work on it, I'd be more than happy to set you with some Jack...although Woodford Reserve would be my preference

I wish I'd gone ahead and gotten that grid layout someone at The Spot had drawn up for Mits sets. I drew one out on my glare screen once after marking off the spacing and it did help me to remove that dreaded "speed bump" problem most Mits had out of the box.

 

[Marauder-]

Yeah - for big screen televisions (32" and up) - it's a good idea to purchase a plan if you're getting it new. Even the highly regarded Sony Wega line has more than its fair share of problems. The extended warranty plan is just only good for items known to malfunction. You should skip on most common appliances.

 

[RaiseUp]

You got Jipped on the Warranty.

 

[kazeakuma]

Extended warranties rule. I bought a $800 dvd player in 1999 and paid an extra $80 for another 4 years warranty. Well due to where I live electronics die fairly easily. It died and I got a replacement of equal value! Not only that but I got to keep the old one, woohoo! (It still works, just overheats like a mother. I see me modding it in the future )

 

[madthumbs]

Bah.. what happened to extended warrantees = pure profit? Just avoid brands like Sony and find a reputable repair person. I don't like warrantees because they limit you to a specific repair person/ place which often sucks. Not just for that, but if you skip every warranty offered to you; you'd save way more than enough money to cover whatever could possibly happen that won't be covered under homeowner's. Convergence is something you'll want to learn to do yourself unless you've got gobs of money and no time.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: madthumbs
Bah.. what happened to extended warrantees = pure profit? Just avoid brands like Sony and find a reputable repair person. I don't like warrantees because they limit you to a specific repair person/ place which often sucks. Not just for that, but if you skip every warranty offered to you; you'd save way more than enough money to cover whatever could possibly happen that won't be covered under homeowner's. Convergence is something you'll want to learn to do yourself unless you've got gobs of money and no time.

Well, at the time, I was making over $100k/yr so $400 was nothing. Now, I'm making about 1/2 that (gotta love this economy) so it's paying off

And, I do know how to do the convergence myself but that doesn't help when a specific board has gone bad (after reading around The Spot and AVSForum, it appears it's a 2HDW board) and that board alone is $235. And, I'm tired of tweaking the convergence a couple of times a month...something else has gone awry if I have to do that that often.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: madthumbs
Bah.. what happened to extended warrantees = pure profit? Just avoid brands like Sony and find a reputable repair person. I don't like warrantees because they limit you to a specific repair person/ place which often sucks. Not just for that, but if you skip every warranty offered to you; you'd save way more than enough money to cover whatever could possibly happen that won't be covered under homeowner's. Convergence is something you'll want to learn to do yourself unless you've got gobs of money and no time.

I'm covered till 2006 and this will be the third time the repair person from Circuit City has been out to look at this odd problem. He has to replace a board and I don't feel like throwing a 54" widescreen in tha back of my truck to take it somewhere and don't even want to know what a big screen tech charges. Sometimes the specific repair person sucks but thankfully the CC guy knows my TV and seems very competent. I figure the $400 extended warrenty has probably already paid for itself.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: RaiseUp
You got Jipped on the Warranty.

hey, thanks for the quality post, please keep em coming!

Lets look at the cost of repairs on things like a big screen folks. The average service call is going to start at around $79. This includes your first 15 minutes of service in my area. Well after they come out the first time, they are going to need to come back to install whatever part you need, and you will pay for the road service and parts. Those guys get around $50 an hour plus road service fees.

I will take it in myself you say? Ok fine, you saved the road service charge, but risk having your tv fall out the back of your truck.

I had a tuner replaced on my set a couple years back. The part was $65. After road service, labor, and the other BS they add on there the bill was well over $300. My warranty cost me $249. My remote broke, so warranty bought me a new one (remotes run about $85.) So as of right now the warranty has saved me about a hundred bucks, and I still have 2 years left on it.

If you are buying a vcr, dvd player, cheap tv, or microwave, dont bother with a warranty. If you are buying something expensive, and something that you wouldnt want to be without for extended periods of time, think about a warranty. I would factor a warranty into the purchase price of major purchase.

I sell electronics and have to deal with the grief that goes along with it. If you have a warranty you are all set. If you dont, you will end up crying to a manager who will tell you that you have to figure out how to get it serviced.

 

[DurocShark]

I'm a firm believer in the complete uselessness of extended warranties.... EXCEPT in high dollar items like these that can't be easily taken to the store/shop. Plus it sounds like you got a decent deal on the warranty too. $400 for a $3200 tv sounds good.

Glad it worked for you! :beer:

 

[radioouman]

I believe in warranties for high dollar items also, but there are only two items that I own that I consider high dollar. My car, and my house. I've never spent over $500 for an appliance or piece of electronics (aside from the computer) so an extended warranty doesn't make a lot of sense for those smaller items. (27" JVC TV = $300)

 

[DanJ]

Originally posted by: zaku
i was under the impression that extended warranty on anything is a waste of money. read somewhere a while back that they're the biggest profit margin for companies like best buy. is this no longer true?

Accessories are the biggest profit items for stores like BB and CC.

Example: $30 USB cable costs $1.50.

 

[Karsten]

On general I am against extended warrantys as well. On items like a Big Screen... heck yeah, it makes sense and even I will call HiFi Buys in 2-3 month to come out and do the yearly TV service!

 

[Budmantom]

I bought a 54 hdtv and my cc extended the warranty for another year, they will sell me an extended warranty for $180 to cover me for 5 years total (circuit city wanted almost $400).