Are Extended Warranties Worth It?
With standard warranties dwindling, you need to decide whether to pay for coverage you used to get for free. Our survey of 2000 readers reveals some surprising data about extended plans.
By Alan Stafford
Cost Comparison: Shop Around for Extended Warranties
Service plan costs vary--and you need to be aware of coverage overlap. For example, warranties from Best Buy, Circuit City, and CompUSA/Good Guys overlap a manufacturer's warranty period, meaning you're paying for double coverage.
| Company | $2500, 42-inch plasma HDTV | $400 digital camera | $125 inkjet photo printer | $40 DVD player |
| Best Buy | $400/3 years | $60/3 years | $30/2 years | $40/3 years |
| Circuit City | $500/2 years | $80/3 years | $30/1 year | $10/1 year |
| CompUSA | $600/3 years | $50/2 years | $25/1 year | $20/1 year |
| Dell | $549/4 years1 | $59/2 years | $37/2 years2 | n/a |
| Wal-Mart3 | $388/3 years | $44/3 years | $19/2 years | n/a |
| CHART NOTES: Prices given are for comparable products; not all stores carry the same brands. Warranty periods listed are in addition to the manufacturer's coverage. n/a = not applicable.FOOTNOTES:
1 Total warranty length; it is a Dell product. 2 A two-year warranty on a Dell printer is $29. 3 Minimum product cost for warranty eligibility is $50 on the Web site and $300 in stores. |
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