Geek Squad vs SquareTrade Extended Warranty. Which is better ?

[pontifex]

Wait wait.... Are you guys telling me there are actually suckers that agree to those extended warranty offers they try to sell you when buying an expensive computer / appliance?









Bwahahahahahahahahaha. Seriously, do a little research in knowing that extended warranties are a _CASH_COW_. They make shitloads of profit off of them for a reason.

I thought the general rule was if you could easily replace the item then they were a bad deal but if not they may be worth it.

So like spending $30 for a warranty on a $50 item is stupid but spending $200 for a warranty on a $3000 item isnt so bad?

But i realize that this is atot so $3000 is pocket change to most of you.

 

[gamefreakgcb]

Can you get a warranty from Microsoft to cover that laptop? Microsoft Complete or something like that.

I had the XPS 9550 for a month. Its a solid laptop. The battery life sucked on it though.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Buy with an AMEX. don't be scammed

This. So much this.

Appliances and computers and such are items that I don't ask "Which credit card will give me the most cash back?". Instead I ask the question " Which card will help me out the most if this falls to shit?"

The answer is AMEX. It commonly doubles your manufacturer warranty.

 

[TwiceOver]

This. So much this.

Appliances and computers and such are items that I don't ask "Which credit card will give me the most cash back?". Instead I ask the question " Which card will help me out the most if this falls to shit?"

The answer is AMEX. It commonly doubles your manufacturer warranty.

I could be wrong, but I think the OP is more concerned about accidental damage. Does AMEX help with that? If so, sign me up!

 

[zinfamous]

I could be wrong, but I think the OP is more concerned about accidental damage. Does AMEX help with that? If so, sign me up!

Probably, but I'm sure it depends on the case. I don't know anyone that has better customer service. IME, they default to refund/charge cancel first, then investigate the details if they actually care.

Usually they will follow the policy of the manufacturers warranty and extend the policy a bit in terms of coverage and duration.

Bottom line is that accidental damage is going to be circumstantial anywhere you go. I would absolutely trust AMEX over Squaretrade or Best Buy when it comes to honoring that.

 

[RossMAN]

If you are going to go with Geek Squad you are betting that Best Buy will remain operating and honoring warranties for the length of the warranty period. IMHO, that isn't a safe bet.

I wouldn't buy either.

-KeithP

he's suggesting that Best Buy, the company, may not be in business throughout the duration of the warranty.

Bolded for emphasis. Does ahmadka remember Circuit City, Future Shop and Sports Authority? Besides doesn't BB just ship off the laptop, probably to a third party or Dell directly? Why not cut out the middle man and go with ST or Dell directly?

I've had the same experience with them. Sadly enough, their best support now is through facebook messenger... I no longer buy Dell products.

Great advice. I recently used Facebook Messenger for assistance with a major hotel after 6 frustrating calls to their customer support including their "executive" customer service both of which yielded no results. After providing my details and complaint, it was resolved within one hour. In the future, I'll probably use FB Messenger whenever possible to contact companies directly.

<snip>

I would absolutely trust AMEX over Squaretrade or Best Buy when it comes to honoring that.

Agreed.

ahmadka,

• I'm assuming this is the overpriced Dell laptop you purchased? Congratulations you overpaid but as long as you're happy. If it were me, I would have purchased a similar laptop with more reasonable specs such as 1080p, minimum RAM/HD and upgraded those last two myself which are incredibly easy and cost effective. Even an idiot like myself who knows NOTHING about hardware (typing this on my wife's Dell Inspiron desktop) can open a laptop and upgrade RAM/HD as shown in this video. You would have saved a bundle of money by purchasing from the Dell Outlet (refurbs) or even CostCo here are two models I'd consider $1,249 and $1,099 (on sale through 5/31/16). I only glanced at the specs but they both offer 4K, 16GB RAM and some other goodies but they're not XPS series. Of course purchasing from CostCo, you get their awesome warranty (2 years standard - no clumsy insurance) and generous 90 day return policy. I believe if you purchase with an Amex credit card it adds another year, making it 3 years total.
• By now I've probably convinced you to add me to your ignore list, annoyed or got you thinking maybe you did pay too much?
• How did you pay for your laptop? Please be specific with the payment method, for example did you use $100 BB rewards + rest on plastic? Did you finance it? Did you purchase it using a Visa, MasterCard, Amex or Discover? Debit or credit card? Although none of these offers a comprehensive 3 year accidental warranty what they offer is better than nothing and another layer of protection that costs $0 extra. If you didn't pay for your entire purchase with a credit card, are you able to return and rebuy so the entire purchase is on your credit card?
• Contact Dell again this time using Facebook Messenger, even if you're anti-FB like I am sign up for a fake account using a throw away e-mail address. Make sure to provide your correct contact info and details regarding laptop including servic tag, retailer where it was purchased, purchase price and date purchased. They might come back a higher price, advice them BB offers the same warranty for $XXX and see if they'll accept your counter offer. Before finalizing the offer, ask to see the complete terms and conditions. For your peace of mind you will have a written transcript of your contact with Dell.com so they can't claim something else was offered.
• Consider using Facebook Messenger again this time to contact Best Buy regarding the extended warranty, tell them you're considering purchasing an extended warranty through another provider what can they offer you? Remember when (not if) BestBuy goes out of business, your warranty may go with it.
• Bottom line, here's what I would do if I were in your shoes today:
  Heed my advice, return the laptop if possible and save around $1,000 buying from Dell Outlet, CostCo, Fry's, MicroCenter, eBay, etc.
  If you're unable (or unwilling) to return the laptop, make sure the entire purchase is on a premium credit card which offers some warranty for FREE.
  Using Facebook Messenger contact Dell expressing interest in purchasing an extended warranty, don't forget about the power of price matching against a competitor (Best Buy).
  If that fails, buy from ST sometimes they offer coupons (check RetailMeNot.com), in the past I've received up to 40% off ($50 discount max) coupons via e-mail, its worth checking out. A few minutes of Googling could save you big bucks.
  This isn't an investment, it will eventually break and resale value will plummet after just a few months. Be prepared to sell it for under $1,000 after one year of ownership.
  When BB goes out of business one day, hopefully you're not left high and dry.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Congrats on your new lappy. Don't pay any attention to the haters, it wasn't a bad price. The Geek squad warranty is competitive too. Laptops break and if you use the warranty once it will have paid for itself. I don't buy warranty on everything but a laptop makes sense, especially an expensive one.

It's been a tough time for some retailers but Best Buy isn't going out of business. In February 2016, Best Buy exceeded sales and earnings estimate for 4Q16 and most analysts are either buy or hold for the stock.

 

[shimpster]

Hi guys. I recently purchased a new Dell XPS 9550 for $2300 from Best Buy and want to purchase a 3 year Extended Warranty with ADH for it. Best Buy sells theirs 3 year Extended Warranty $320, while SquareTrade sells the same for $420 (after a $40 discount). Both's Term & Conditions seem to be the same, in fact lot of points actually seem like they were just copy-pasted. SquareTrade however doesn't show you the specific T&S for YOUR product until after you purchase their policy, so that could be different. What they show you before purchase are just 'sample' T&S.

With the above said, I don't know which to purchase. Does anyone have any opinion regarding which might be better, or what points to think about, etc ?

My credit card gives a free extended warranty if used for the purchase. Usually just return the item and replace it with another if sumthing goes wrong. Most pooterz are warranted for a time frame per the manufacturer, the extended warranty is a very clever money making scheme

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Amex extends the warranty another year on top of the original manufacturer's warranty. Amex also has a 90 day accidental/theft warranty.

If you want to go beyond that, the Best Buy warranty isn't bad at all. My friend got it for his TV a while back. 3 years later speakers went out. BB sent a tech but they didn't have parts for that TV anymore. BB gave my friend the full cash credit for his TV.

 

[QueBert]

Wait wait.... Are you guys telling me there are actually suckers that agree to those extended warranty offers they try to sell you when buying an expensive computer / appliance?









Bwahahahahahahahahaha. Seriously, do a little research in knowing that extended warranties are a _CASH_COW_. They make shitloads of profit off of them for a reason.

Bought a $129 mechnical keyboard from BB, paid iirc $20 for an extended warranty. KB broke within 6 months, took it back and got a brand new one on the spot. Maybe 6 months later that one broke. Took it back, got a replacement instantly. Also the price had dropped $30 so I got cash back when I took the 2nd one back. I'm on my 3rd keyboard now. Would I get a warranty on everything? Shit no, but for many products it's the way to go. And ymmv, but my BB hasn't even checked any of the 3 KB's I returned, I tell them it's broke and I leave with a new one. They'll also give me store credit if I don't want another KB. My KB's acting up right now, a few keys are sticking bad and 1 isn't always registering. 4 keyboards for $20 extra, plus I got $30 back when they had a price drop. So I ended up making money to get the warranty. I don't much like Squaretrade or the Amex ones because I'd have to ship my shit off and wait. Last time I returned my KB I was literally in and out of BB in 4 minutes and half that time was me walking to get another.

 

[RossMAN]

Still on sale through 5/31/2016, the other laptop URL no longer works.

http://www.costco.com/Dell-Inspiron...Graphics-|-4K-Ultra-HD.product.100227554.html

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Bought a $129 mechnical keyboard from BB, paid iirc $20 for an extended warranty. KB broke within 6 months, took it back and got a brand new one on the spot. Maybe 6 months later that one broke. Took it back, got a replacement instantly. Also the price had dropped $30 so I got cash back when I took the 2nd one back. I'm on my 3rd keyboard now. Would I get a warranty on everything? Shit no, but for many products it's the way to go. And ymmv, but my BB hasn't even checked any of the 3 KB's I returned, I tell them it's broke and I leave with a new one. They'll also give me store credit if I don't want another KB. My KB's acting up right now, a few keys are sticking bad and 1 isn't always registering. 4 keyboards for $20 extra, plus I got $30 back when they had a price drop. So I ended up making money to get the warranty. I don't much like Squaretrade or the Amex ones because I'd have to ship my shit off and wait. Last time I returned my KB I was literally in and out of BB in 4 minutes and half that time was me walking to get another.

What kind of shitty keyboard are you buying lol.

Amex hasn't made me ship anything back. They just give me a credit on my account.

 

[Elixer]

I would also use a Amex, and forget the "extended" warranty, since there are just too many stipulations, and they always weasel out.
You can also put aside the cash you saved from not getting the warranty into the rainy day fund for laptops, since they all will eventually will fail.

 

[QueBert]

What kind of shitty keyboard are you buying lol.

Amex hasn't made me ship anything back. They just give me a credit on my account.

Logitech G710+, apparently quite a few people have issues with them. I <3 the keyboard, if I didn't have the ability to drive 1 mile and get a new one in about 3 minutes I would have swapped it for a Corsair or something else. It's going out again, which is fine I'm going to go get another new one *shrug*