Extended Warranty?

V00DOO

Diamond Member
Dec 2, 2000
3,817
2
81
I just brought a Hitachi 51S500 Rear Projection TV and it comes with a 1 year manufacture warranty. I was offered 3 years extended warranty for $399. It's worth it to pay $399 for the extended warranty? What is your opinion on extended warranty especially for expensive eletronics?
 

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
22,530
13
81
No will be the response by most here. If you use certain credit cards they will extend your warranty for free.
 

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
What exactly does the warranty cover? Make damn sure you read the fine print. The crap that spews from the salesman's mouth != the truth, especially when it comes to warranties. If it covers anything that happens to it except unintentional/intentional physical damage it'd probably be worth it, especially if the TV is pretty expensive. ($1500+)
 

isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
Try to get it from like GE or something. They offer extended warranties and it should be way cheaper than 399
 

sillymofo

Banned
Aug 11, 2003
5,817
2
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Actually, extended warranty is not all that bad, but it depends of what products you're buying it for. I would buy exteded warranty on big purchases, one is because it would cost you just as much for a ONE TIME service on that TV set. Seconely, depends on the warranty, some of them cover maintenance, which is needed for a projection TV.

Most of you know by now that I used to work at the GG, and I sold and bought warranty. I have used warranty on numerous of products, and the best warranty to get is the replacement service. (This is kinda wrong, but I can think of all kind of excuses to get me a new DVD player two years after the original purchase). So depends on what is covered on the warranty, it's a safe bet to get it on shiets that you value.

EDIT: And I hope you're smart enough to know what products not to buy warranty on. ;)
 

V00DOO

Diamond Member
Dec 2, 2000
3,817
2
81
The TV Cost $2,000. I don't know the exact extend of the warranty but it does cover in home repair. I am not firmiliar with GE or other company extended warranty, can you give more info. Here is the link to the TV I got but I didn't get it from Circuitcity.

 

sillymofo

Banned
Aug 11, 2003
5,817
2
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If it's GE warranty, then it's the same as what I sold in the past, they're good warranty. If I remember correctly, they do cover a one time replacement of remote control also, should that become "defective". Just make sure that you call them out every year to check on your "blurry, and the color is way off, and I can hardly see anything" TV and you'll be fine.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,034
440
136
If the 3 year extended warranty begins AFTER the 1 year mfg warranty ends then yes it would be worth it.

How did you pay for the TV? If you used a credit card, which one?
 

V00DOO

Diamond Member
Dec 2, 2000
3,817
2
81
I paid for the TV with my Discover Platinum. Where can I get more info on the GE warranty which sound very interesting. I need to back to the place I purchased the TV to get more info on the extended warranty.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,034
440
136
Originally posted by: V00DOO
I paid for the TV with my Discover Platinum. Where can I get more info on the GE warranty which sound very interesting. I need to back to the place I purchased the TV to get more info on the extended warranty.

It's a shame you didn't purchase it using a premium cc such as Visa, MasterCard or Amex which would have given you an extra year of extended warranty coverage for free :(

I called Discover a while ago, they said their card offers no such perks :(
 

V00DOO

Diamond Member
Dec 2, 2000
3,817
2
81
Origianally Quoted by: Rossman
It's a shame you didn't purchase it using a premium cc such as Visa, MasterCard or Amex which would have given you an extra year of extended warranty coverage for free

Damn I have all those major credit cards too. For those that's interested I found a link to GE extended warranty service.
GE Extended Warranty Quote
 

Ness

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2002
5,407
2
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It's worth it if you use the warranty. A little while before it's up (about 6 months or so) make a claim that the picture quality has greatly decreased since you bought the TV... because in most cases, it does, so it's not just fraud.

To be honest, it's a bit under-handed, but they will probably replace your TV because a decline in picture quality can't necessarily be fixed, unless it's like a projector where you can replace the colored bulbs.

Point is, most people get these warranties and forget about them because they don't think that even the slightest thing wrong with it is worth the effort of getting it fixed. If you get the warranty, make sure you put it to use.