extended warranty on LCD tvs? useful or useless?

[CJJ25]

i am deciding if i should take a 4 year PSP on a LCD tv...what do you guys think?

[zzz3]

Warranties are great but the more important question is cost (i will assume you are contemplating fs/bb warranty, since they are the most common and cost 20-30% of the product itself, for tvs at least :eek:).

1. Many credit cards will automatically extend the manufacturers warranty coverage by a year (the easiest method for customers to take advantage of)
2. Manufacturers often offer direct warranties which are much more reputable and usually cost less
3. If for some reason direct warranties are not adequate, and a third party warranty is required, Mack warranties are regarded as the best solution
4. If you some how manage to negotiate the bb/fs warranty to an acceptable price (paradox ;)), make sure you read the terms and conditions in the brochure, the staffs explanation is usually just a summary of benefits, not limitations/exclusions etc...

[craftsman]

You also should factor in who is going to be doing the extended warranty work - not everyone is a factory service centre.


Should you buy it?

In the end, an extended warranty is like any insurance policy - how lucky do you feel? I've known people who buy it on everything and never had to use it. But I've also known people who never buy it and everything breaks on them.

[Blackmajik]

It depends on how much it is really. I bought 3 years warranty on my TV for $150 so it wasn't so bad just to be on the "safe" side. Small purchases I usually do without but larger purchases I would and you will get different answers from everyone. BTW do the manufacturer come to your house or you have to lug the TV to the repair center if the warranty is based on the manufacturer and not the store where you bought it from?

[CJJ25]

$2000 tv and $250 4 year psp

how is the price?

[zzz3]

$2000 tv and $250 4 year psp

how is the price?

I just saw your other post, the samsung is a very reliable television (according to Consumer Reports as one example), you shouldnt need anything more than a warranty extension from your credit card imo. Save the $250 for cables/stand or invest it towards a sound system. If you feel the bb/fs warranty is the route you want to go i would attempt to get a better price (i.e. $200)...

[CJJ25]

I just saw your other post, the samsung is a very reliable television (according to Consumer Reports as one example), you shouldnt need anything more than a warranty extension from your credit card imo. Save the $250 for cables/stand or invest it towards a sound system. If you feel the bb/fs warranty is the route you want to go i would attempt to get a better price (i.e. $200)...

forgot to comment.

thanks guys.

btw, do LCD tvs today still get burn in problems??

[pitz]

On a plasma...maybe. Those high voltage power supplies can be problematic, and they run very hot. (heat is to electronics, as an ugly girl is to my libido).

But on a LCD, I definitely wouldn't. Especially if the LCD is LED-illuminated. Reliability on those will be extremely high, especially from a reputable manufacturer such as Samsung.

[sparkytech]

Re, Burn in

It can happen but not as easily as on a plasma. You would have to leave a static(non moving) image on the screen a long time to get burn in. All manufactuers have spec for their sets as to how long a static image can be left on the screen.

Remember, LCD and plasma parts are expensive.

[tmpz]

Warranties are great but the more important question is cost (i will assume you are contemplating fs/bb warranty, since they are the most common and cost 20-30% of the product itself, for tvs at least :eek:).

1. Many credit cards will automatically extend the manufacturers warranty coverage by a year (the easiest method for customers to take advantage of)
2. Manufacturers often offer direct warranties which are much more reputable and usually cost less
3. If for some reason direct warranties are not adequate, and a third party warranty is required, Mack warranties are regarded as the best solution
4. If you some how manage to negotiate the bb/fs warranty to an acceptable price (paradox ;)), make sure you read the terms and conditions in the brochure, the staffs explanation is usually just a summary of benefits, not limitations/exclusions etc...

Completely agree.

I would only consider extended warranties with anything goes, physical damage, accidental, straight up exchange.

The regular manufacturer warranty is good enough.

[oakjefferson]

I dont' believe extened war. cover burn in or lost pixles below a certian amount (12 I believe)

[ppl4golf]

I'd only consider extended warranty on stuff that I can't haul out of the house and dump easily (eg Washer/Dryer/Fridge etc)

For TVs, the extended warranty basically buys some peace of mind from the 3rd and 4th years, when the cost of the extended warranty may actually 'buy' you better stuff then.

As all RFDers should do, buy with your credit card with coverage whatever is the best bang for the buck at present, no future proof BS, no PSP BS...if it breaks after 2 years, repeat the process. You are better off that way $wise.

[ppl4golf]

I baby my toys and don't have burn-in (yet)...

However, my 2005 Viewsonic 27" LCD TV from Costco is nasty with image persistency, image retention or whatever you call it. It is terrible and all these red RFD banners will appear greenish if left for ~0-15 minutes. it takes a long time to go away but it seems to disappear after a week or so.

Also have 2007 LG plasma and that beast is nasty with image retention from day 1. It is only noticeable in dark scenes.