So I'm in Best Buy today buying a set of cheap on ear headphones for my son for his computer and Ipad usage. I picked out a pair of Sony's for $19.99 and while the guy is ringing me up he is pushing the extended warranty for another $5. That's 25% of the cost of the product. I say no thanks and he persists with the virtue of extended warranties. In all my years of buying electronics: Tv's, Computers, Monitors, stereo's, speakers, etc. I have never bought any extra warranties and I have never been burned buy not buying one. This has saved me thousands over the last 20 years. If I ever do get something that goes bad, I can use the money I have saved from previous years of not buying to cover it. I am so far ahead of the warranty curve right now, I don't see myself buying one anytime soon.



This poll is for electronics only, cars and other expensive things don't apply.

They are a bad deal.

I only purchased one in my entire life. And it was on a gift to a family member, to ensure that they wouldn't have any issues if it failed. Other than that, I always hate the dreaded extended warranty sales pitch. The sales guy gives it to you and then the cashier is also required to run down the list of options even though you say you are not interested up front.

Most profitable product line in the shop.

They're a ripoff.

Extended warranties are huge money makers. They're right up there with term life insurance when it comes to profitability. The last time I bought one was for a hand-held video camera and that's because my ex insisted on getting one.

Never buy any warranty from best buy. You can find millions of horror stories online where they refused to fix items under their personal extended warranty. They are horrible about trying to charge to extra for computer repair even if it is under warranty. I had a friend who they pulled the hard drive out of her laptop and refused to give it to her unless she paid a 300 dollar fee for data recovery (even though the hard drive was perfectly fine.) She called the police and the put the hard drive back in and pushed her out the door before the cops arrived.

All that and she even had the 2 year extended full bells and whistles warranty.

My wife and I have Best Buy Black Tie for our iPhones - $15/month each. She's the one who really needs it - replaced her phone once already and they are, what?, $300 to replace otherwise; before we had iPhones she went through one/year, jumping into swimming pools, flying across the room, etc. But this far into the time we've had them (just under 2 years) I think it may be about time to stop mine at least, hmmm, I should swap my phone out then drop the Black Tie service.

I do have the EVGA program for a swap on my MB which is warranted for life - $29 extra - replaced once in two years.

No extended warranties on any other electronics. I do put fans behind my monitors though.


WC

Sales people push extended warranties because retailers often make more off that sale than they did on the sale of the product you are buying. They are a rip-off-pure and simple.

I bought one once for my first playstation. I had it replaced once free of charge. Honestly don't remember if I bought it at Electronice Boutique or at Best Buy.... and even that was at the unction of my friend. I'm glad I listened to him for that purchase.

I buy seperate warrentees (Mack Pro) for my video cameras. One repair easily covers the warrantee price.

Other than that I never buy them. PC/TV/used cars. NOPE.