Best Buy - Performance Service Plan - how much are they worth?

[gamer4Life]

I recently bought a PS3 slim, and got a 3-year Performance Service Plan (PSP) and a Natural History Collection blu-ray all for $345. My question is, how much is the PSP actually worth? Not sure if I got a deal, or something that "seems" like a deal.

Also, say my controller breaks in year 2 or my USB port breaks...and they replace it. Will they fix/replace my PS3 if my blu-ray drive breaks in year 3?

[Winkle]

I recently bought a PS3 slim, and got a 3-year Performance Service Plan (PSP) and a Natural History Collection blu-ray all for $345. My question is, how much is the PSP actually worth? Not sure if I got a deal, or something that "seems" like a deal.

Also, say my controller breaks in year 2 or my USB port breaks...and they replace it. Will they fix/replace my PS3 if my blu-ray drive breaks in year 3?

Best Buy and FS's PSP are completely worthless.

They won't replace your controller, the PSP is for the system itself not the controller or cables or anything else bundled with it. Also, good luck trying to get them to repair or replace anything because they will give you the run-around and make it as difficult and frustrating as possible for you so you will give up.

In the event that they DO take it back in, first off all, they won't replace it with a new one on the spot, no chance of that happening, the best thing you could hope for is that they will either send it back to Sony for repairs for you and you won't have to cover the cost (big "if" there) or they give you a refurbished machine.

Edit: Hrm... so the total after the PSP and Blu-Ray was $345? They gave you the Blu-Ray for buying the PSP? The Natural History Collection retails for $120 normally at BB so maybe that's not so bad after all. At least the Blu-Ray offsets the PSP :)

[gamer4Life]

Yeah, PS3 + PSP + Natural History for $345.

-- but only after I agreed to buy a Blu-ray remote and red dualshock controller for $60 altogether.

Are you sure they don't fix/replace the controllers? The salesperson told me that they'll fix the controllers, but he could be a new guy... he even mentioned some problems that might happen with the controller to get me to get the PSP.

[Winkle]

Are you sure they don't fix/replace the controllers? The salesperson told me that they'll fix the controllers, but he could be a new guy...

Sorry to say it but don't take their words for it, plus its not a verbal contract. If you take it in, they can easily give you the run-around and make excuses like "that guy's new" or "he didn't know what he was talking about".

You have to realize that the PSP's are essentially a scam, they'll say anything to get you to buy it because it's 100% profit for them so they always push those really hard. Usually you can negotiate and they might throw in some goodies for you to sweeten the deal but don't expect to get much outta the PSP's.

Unless you purchased a specific PSP for the extra controller/remote, those won't be covered. I don't know what the official policy is towards bundled controllers (there probably isn't one) but I'm pretty sure BB will do everything possible to not cover it.

[Fox]

I think you got an ok deal. It sounds like they discounted the PS3 a bit to offset the cost of the service plan.

At full price, the service plans are not worth it. But when they discount them it can be worth it, for certain products. I swore I would never get a service plan from Best Buy, but actually sprang for one earlier this year after talking the guy down from $400 to just over $100 on a 4 year plan.

The actual service you get varies. I've seen people receive escalated service after firing it up on the company blog.

[appleb]

You can probably refund the PSP at customer service if the item is within the return period. The customer service rep shouldn't give a fuss because they aren't directly affected by the commission anyway (just don't bring it back to the same salesperson you bought it from, obviously).

[Super strokey]

You can probably refund the PSP at customer service if the item is within the return period. The customer service rep shouldn't give a fuss because they aren't directly affected by the commission anyway (just don't bring it back to the same salesperson you bought it from, obviously).

YEah i would return the PSP 100%, they suck.

[Winkle]

I think you got an ok deal. It sounds like they discounted the PS3 a bit to offset the cost of the service plan.


They won't discount the PS3... probably the Blu-Ray collection or the remote or extra controller... console profit margins for BB/FS are extremely narrow... they make something like $10 off each PS3/XBox sold.

[Fox]

They won't discount the PS3... probably the Blu-Ray collection or the remote or extra controller... console profit margins for BB/FS are extremely narrow... they make something like $10 off each PS3/XBox sold.

I agree on the console margin, but it doesn't necessarily matter. For some reason, they discount the item rather than the service plan. I price matched a TV there, which I know for a fact I bought at below their cost, and when I added the service plan later, they still knocked $ off of the TV receipt.

Maybe that didn't happen in this case, but I wouldn't be surprised. They're getting the same amount of $, it's just a matter of how it shows up on the receipt.

[gamer4Life]

YEah i would return the PSP 100%, they suck.

I don't think I can return the PSP alone outright... that would mean I get the PS3 + blu-ray for $275 - sounds like a loss for them.

[Winkle]

I don't think I can return the PSP alone outright... that would mean I get the PS3 + blu-ray for $275 - sounds like a loss for them.

Not your problem. Doesn't hurt to try. Worst that could happen is that they laugh you out the door.

[eightyeight]

Former BB employee here. Lots of misinformation in this thread:

- Everything in the box is covered. PS3, controllers and cables. Whatever came in the box is covered under the PSP.

- If your PS3 breaks, BB will evaluate the product before deciding what to do. When I worked there, I would say PSP warranty requests resulted in 50/50 shipping for repair/exchanging for new one on the spot. I understand BB has since tightened up their policy now and are more often sending consoles for repair, but if you can convince the manager there is no way they will fix your PS3, you can get a instant exchange (be polite about it, though).

- To get that bundle price, they'll either discount the high margin product or simply package everything together into a $345 bundle. The latter is the safest method as it prevents people from returning the PSP later and getting a $250 PS3 or whatever it works out to be.

- "PSP is a rip-off" is an opinion. Something like 1/5 customers will buy a warranty without even having to upsell it to them. Often you think it is a rip-off until you have to use it.. Then when it saves your out-of-warranty PS3 in a few years, you will probably go on to buy a PSP for the rest of your console purchases for the rest of your life.

With all that said, IMO I would never buy a PSP. The probability of breaking vs. cost offset is too great for me.

OP however got a sweet bundle. $345 for all that is a great price... I might even had jumped on that to be honest. Sounds like they were getting killed on PSP numbers that day, and you just happened to be there at the right time when their supervisor told them to sell PSPs with whatever they need to offer.

[gamer4Life]

Thanks for the info.

Here's another question.... if I buy another black controller and one breaks, how do I tell which one broke?

Will they service my PS3 for 3 years or up until they replace it?

[The Great Raj!]

Former BB employee here. Lots of misinformation in this thread:

- Everything in the box is covered. PS3, controllers and cables. Whatever came in the box is covered under the PSP.

- If your PS3 breaks, BB will evaluate the product before deciding what to do. When I worked there, I would say PSP warranty requests resulted in 50/50 shipping for repair/exchanging for new one on the spot. I understand BB has since tightened up their policy now and are more often sending consoles for repair, but if you can convince the manager there is no way they will fix your PS3, you can get a instant exchange (be polite about it, though).

- To get that bundle price, they'll either discount the high margin product or simply package everything together into a $345 bundle. The latter is the safest method as it prevents people from returning the PSP later and getting a $250 PS3 or whatever it works out to be.

- "PSP is a rip-off" is an opinion. Something like 1/5 customers will buy a warranty without even having to upsell it to them. Often you think it is a rip-off until you have to use it.. Then when it saves your out-of-warranty PS3 in a few years, you will probably go on to buy a PSP for the rest of your console purchases for the rest of your life.

With all that said, IMO I would never buy a PSP. The probability of breaking vs. cost offset is too great for me.

OP however got a sweet bundle. $345 for all that is a great price... I might even had jumped on that to be honest. Sounds like they were getting killed on PSP numbers that day, and you just happened to be there at the right time when their supervisor told them to sell PSPs with whatever they need to offer.

My friend bought Xbox 360 with PSP and he had red light issues after 11 months. He took it back and they couldnt fix it (after 2 weeks) so they offered him a FULL REFUND! or exchange. My friend exchanged it for a new one and came home and thought about getting PS3 instead so next day he went back and asked if he can switch it for PS3 and they gave it to him without any problems.

I was with him all this time and I realized the value of the PSP. From now on, if I buy anything over 200$, I will buy PSP with it for sure.

[Super strokey]

My friend bought Xbox 360 with PSP and he had red light issues after 11 months. He took it back and they couldnt fix it (after 2 weeks) so they offered him a FULL REFUND! or exchange. My friend exchanged it for a new one and came home and thought about getting PS3 instead so next day he went back and asked if he can switch it for PS3 and they gave it to him without any problems.

I was with him all this time and I realized the value of the PSP. From now on, if I buy anything over 200$, I will buy PSP with it for sure.

I take it you work there?

[The Great Raj!]

I take it you work there?

Yes i do work there and I come here to see the price errors that my site makes so I can contact them and get it fixed like i did with ps3 today.


cant blame ya but yah we did get the best deal from that PSP