Extended Warranty?

[peegreen]

I bought a basic calcualtor for $9 and when I got to the register, the checkout girl asked if I wanted the extended warranty. I chuckled but had to ask how much it was. She politely responded it was $6 and added 1 year to the manufacturers warranty. I still chuckle when I think about it.

[RBolton]

Regardless of the product, if you purchase an extended warranty or service contract, only consider one offered by the manufacturer of the product. After market warranties are a gamble at best. As stated they will most likely be out of business or refuse to pay as agreed when needed. I do not know if Airstream offers or backs their own service contract.

At my new car dealership I only sell the service contract offered and backed by the manufacturer of the new vehicles I sell. I do not sell an after market service contract and I do not allow my service department to get involved when a service customer has an after market warranty. They will do the repair and bill the customer. It is then up to the customer to collect from the after market warranty company.

Extended warranties or service contracts are no different than any other insurance product. They are only as good as the company backing them. They provide the owner with repair coverage in the event of a break down and sometimes these repair bills can be catastrophic - several times the price of the contract. They also provide peace of mind that in the event of such an occurrence, the repair bill will be paid, as well as towing and in some instances trip interruption protection (hotel accommodations) and alternate transportation.

We all carry insurance on our cars, homes, trailers and even our lives. Just because we have never gotten to take advantage of them do we consider them not necessary. Especially in the case of someone with life insurance. I've never seen anyone mad because they didn't die, and thus wasted all that money on life insurance.

If you have the means and/or the will power to sock away funds to cover future repairs or if you're handy enough to do the repairs yourself then maybe you don't require a service contract. But, if you can find a reputable warranty provider and an equally reputable repair facility, like the idea that future repairs needs are taken care of and can afford the coverage then perhaps you are a candidate for a service contract. When financed with a purchase it may only raise the monthly payment by $15 or $20 dollars.

I can sell a 7 year plan on a $30,000 vehicle for about 7% of the price of the car. That's a bargain compared to extended warranties on electronics and appliances. I laugh and walk away from these also. Roger

[Kevbo10]

wow, some excellent advice here. thanks, kevbo