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fenrisulfr
January 25, 2009 10:51 PM
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that is B.S. i hope she gets punished in some way

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Keavy_Rain
January 26, 2009 5:13 PM
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@fenrisulfr: She works for Sears. Isn't that bad enough?

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BlackMage is doing the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!
January 26, 2009 3:28 PM
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@fenrisulfr:

Um, she is most likely performing her job to the letter. I would bet anything that the more \"protection\" plans she sells, the higher her commission is.

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Peter Stork
January 25, 2009 10:55 PM
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When I worked for Liquidation City a couple years back I was able to lead the St. Louis market in selling service plans during the month of December by implementing a funny policy: honesty. I told the customers the cost of the plan, what it covered, what it wouldn't cover, and what their options were otherwise. If I didn't believe it was a good deal ($75 for three year on a $200 tube? Um, no.) I would do my job and offer it, and then let the issue drop. Since Circuit was running a test that quarter where they covered accidental damage and single-pixel replacement on LCDs, it was easy - and customers loved that I didn't try to BS them and was honest about our service policies. Crap like this will hurt you far more than what you gain from the few suckers that buy in.

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TechnoDestructo
January 26, 2009 4:44 AM
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@Peter Stork:
It won't hurt in the span of time that the people making the idiotic decisions are in charge. In the meantime, one customer spending a ton of extra money on illusory \"services\" that don't cost any money is worth several ordinary customers. It's best to exclusively go after the suckers and the people with more money than they know what to do with than to try to please a large portion of your potential customers. At least, as long as the suckers keep coming.

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kbrook
January 26, 2009 12:04 AM
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@Peter Stork: Honesty as a selling policy. What a concept!

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mythago
January 25, 2009 10:58 PM
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Please report this to your state's Attorney General/consumer protection department. If they get a bunch of complaints they may investigate.

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Casimir Couvillion
January 25, 2009 10:59 PM
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What do they fill it with, blinker fluid?

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7 replies
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chauncy that billups
January 26, 2009 2:36 PM
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@Casimir Couvillion: No. They fill it with the blood of that little girl who was on that commercial a couple years back, yapping about \"little tiny mirrors.\"



+ Watch video



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Plates
January 26, 2009 3:15 AM
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@Casimir Couvillion: Possibly winter air or summer air, depending on season of course.

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MightyDwarf56
January 26, 2009 11:55 AM
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@Plates: Don't forget to grease up the the coanooter valve!

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BaronVonHawkeye
January 26, 2009 1:48 PM
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@MightyDwarf56: I can't believe that people will replace their blinker fluid yet forget to check your headlight fluid. Which are more important, headlights or blinkers? This is why the Consumerist needs to police their comments more; this is a public safety crisis here!

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RecordStoreToughGuy_starcommandseries.com
January 26, 2009 2:15 PM
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@BaronVonHawkeye: I'd change my own blinker fluid if I could just find the damn metric screwdriver you have to use to get the cover off. But I stopped using regular wiper fluid and replaced it with prop wash. Works much better now.

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InThrees
January 25, 2009 11:51 PM
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@Casimir Couvillion: Forget elbow grease - muffler grease needs to be replaced at the same time you flush your blinker fluid.

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Pink Puppet
January 26, 2009 12:03 AM
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@InThrees: Oh, man, I completely forgot all about that. Though I do have one question: with proper greasing, how long do the muffler bearings last, anyway?

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Thassodar
January 26, 2009 12:29 AM
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@Pink Puppet: They usually last 3 - 4 years. If you can get some common cents, sometimes they're easy to come by.

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TaterTom
January 26, 2009 1:27 AM
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@Thassodar: Muffler bearings are sure to last longer if you regularly replace your 710 liquid.

Also don't forget to use cold-weather air in your tires during the winter for improved traction.

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Pink Puppet
January 25, 2009 11:07 PM
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@Casimir Couvillion: I don't have any blinker fluid, but do you think someone would spot me some if I pick up extra elbow grease while I'm at the store?

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kathyl
January 25, 2009 11:18 PM
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@Pink Puppet: If you go to Costco, you can get big vats of elbow grease for cheap. I'll split one with you!

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ken2148
January 25, 2009 11:01 PM
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Every time a sales person gives me the hard sell for a \"protection plan\" I tell them \"I didn't know this [product here] was so crappy that I need a protection plan. I change my mind I don't want to by it now. I guess it wasn't as reliable as I thought\". And if they keep pushing I'm not afraid to walk away.

It amazes me how many \"myths\" the sales people come up with to try to sell these \"protection plans\". \"Protection plans\" are evil and a waste of money.

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Kogenta
January 26, 2009 4:36 AM
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@ken2148: I guess it would depend on what exactly the details of the \"protection\" being offered is, because some of them can be a good investment, but they are hard to come by. By far, most plans are \"crap\" and shouldn't be purchased ever.

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nucwin83
January 26, 2009 5:45 PM
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@Kogenta: Exactly.

When I worked for Ritz Camera, it was a little known fact that their Extended Service Plans covered everything up to fire and theft. Meaning that you could throw the camera against a wall in a fit of rage, and they'd repair or replace it.

I know at least one customer who asked how long the repair would take, we estimated two weeks. He walks out of the store, comes back later with the same camera, though heavily mutilated, and said he accidentally left it on the top of his truck and drove off. We call up ESP, they authorize a replacement right there, and he walked out happy.

Don't know if the plans are still the same now with the way the economy is.

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Sparkstalker
January 26, 2009 6:48 PM
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@nucwin83: They are - I made sure to get one on my camera and any expensive lens. Yeah, it's a lot of money for peace of mind, but considering the things I'll climb/crawl on to get a good shot, it's well worth it.

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jamar0303
January 26, 2009 7:48 AM
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@Kogenta: The Chinese Best Buy stores tack one case of accidental damage per year as well as one battery replacement in the same interval onto their protection plans so it becomes worth it depending on how much batteries cost and how rough you are with your stuff.

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pecan 3.14159265
January 26, 2009 5:04 PM
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@jamar0303: What exactly are the Chinese Best Buy stores?

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badgeman46
January 25, 2009 11:18 PM
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@ken2148: I always ask those clowns why they sold me a crap product if they are so sure its going to break! I'm under the impression that lots of these big box retailers like Worst Buy, Bankrupt City, and others are more in the business of selling warantees than they are selling products. Kind of like those car dealers who are more in the financing business than they are selling cars. Or even like Monster Cable is more in the business of squatting on trademarks than they are selling cables.


At anyrate, I refuse to buy any of those new fangled tvs. My 1995 set is big and works great, and its not going to \"burn out pixels.\" The tv at work just broke and its not even 6 months old. They build crap these days!

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Verucalise (Est.February2008)
January 26, 2009 2:49 AM
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@badgeman46: Anyone who makes such a huge purchase should at least have basic knowledge of the product, and what factory warranty was available on it. Good job OP for doing your homework instead of being bullied. I'm still very much disturbed by how this saleswoman said the TV would need to be recharged in 5 years, yet the warranty was only for 3. Only individuals lacking common sense would be lured into this scheme.


I agree, Badgeman. I have a 27\" Sanyo tube television (not even flat screen) I bought back in 2006 when my 1990 26\" General Electric TV finally died. (It had such a beautiful picture on it... I was so upset.) I paid $125 for the Sanyo.


I'm not into High Def, or anything like that. The picture is clear and decent, and I won't cry if it breaks in 2,5, or another 10+ years. The more intricate the technology, the higher the chance of breakage.


Awesome for all of you who want and can afford the flat screens.... myself? Perfectly content with primitive technology.

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frodolives35
January 26, 2009 4:50 AM
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I have a 12 year old 25 inch sanyo I am giving to my daughter still works great. My son just gave me his 37 inch hitachi as he upgraded to a new 50 inch 1080p. Free is the only way I would replace that sanyo out here in the sticks you learn to not be picky about tv quality as the rabbit ears get 3 chanels fuzzy. I guess its a new antenna for me with the digital switch.@verucalise:

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dragonfire81
January 26, 2009 5:12 AM
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@frodolives35: As a previous poster mentioned, Salespeople are driven hard to add the protection plans because they are big moneymakers (when people buy them and never use them).

It's no surprise they come up with BS lines to sell them since the person most likely to buy is someone who does not know the product well and is therefore likely to buy into whatever bogus \"facts\" the salesperson is using to try and sell the warranty.

The previous poster was right. The company doesn't give a crap about your product sales, it's the upsells and add-ons that determine whether or not, in their eyes, you're an effective salesperson.

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Traveshamockery
January 26, 2009 3:36 AM
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@verucalise: It's funny that you critique the misinformation given by the salesperson, then typed this unqualified statement:

The more intricate the technology, the higher the chance of breakage.

Consumer Reports has said that LCD and Plasma reliability is already higher than old CRT technology ever was.
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Anonymous
January 28, 2009 8:07 PM
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@InfiniTrent:

Consumer Reports never said that. They stated the jury is still out on the long term repair rate (see December Issue). Their only data on flat panel repair is from 2005 to 2008 and how many people in that survey have had their tv under 1 year when nothing happens? Of course nothing happens during the first year, that is why all these companies give you 1 year manufacturer warranty with their tv's. Why not 3? Why not 5? If these tv's are as reliable as Consumer Reports says, then what are the afraid of? Making more money? Even LCD Computer Monitors are coming with 3 years.

I think the sad thing is how many people DON'T buy service plans based off what other people say. How many people know someone who has had a LCD or Plasma flat panel for more than 3 or 4 years? To say that these things are as reliable as the old tube tv's is just plain ridiculous. You are comparing a technology thats been out 50 years against a tech that hit the stores 5 or 6 years ago, if that. And there are thousands of posts all over the internet from people who have had trouble with these tvs and guess what, they NEVER pay the high repair bill, they go out and buy a new tv.

What is in it for Sony or Samsung to make a product that will last a long time? They come out better if the tv only lasts a couple of years because they know people are just going to buy a new one and guess who they buy from again? People have to have their Sony or Samsung, etc because Consumer Reports said they were the best. Even if the last one crapped out on them, they still buy the same brand and you better know that Sony, Samsung, etc knows this.

Answer this question. Why would Sony stop making the \"tried and true\" tube tvs they became famous for? Because the damn things lasted 15-20 years on average that is why. It was good for Sony when those tv's sold for $800-2,000, but as soon as they hit rock bottom, they stopped making them. If they are barely making a profit and know that everyone who buys one is most likely not going to be buying another one for quite sometime, you could go out of business.

I see the service plan as a pretty good investment IF you want to keep a tv for a long time. One of the dirty little secrets these tv manufacturers don't want you to know is that most of these tv's CAN'T be fixed do to lack of parts. (Do you really think Sony has a bunch of parts somewhere for the tv you bought 3 years ago?) Big companies like Best Buy and Sears write it off and you get a brand new tv if you have a service contract and they can't fix the tv.

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mewyn dyner
January 26, 2009 4:22 AM
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@InfiniTrent:

Indeed. As a technology, LCD TVs are actually much simpler than CRTs. A lot goes into shooting a beam of electrons toward a phosphor screen and deflecting it properly, while with an LCD it's just a matter of twisting the right pixel to the right degree. CRTs also lose a lot of brightness with age and have a much lower quality when aged than plasmas, DLPs or LCDs. I'd rather have one of the newer techs than a CRT any day. They are actually vastly more reliable and better quality, especially with age.

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scottr0829
January 25, 2009 11:45 PM
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@badgeman46: They are basically in the business of selling the warranties. When I worked at Best Buy 5 or 6 years ago (holiday season), they flat out said a sale of a computer isn't good enough. There is no margin since they must keep those prices low. If we didn't sell the plan or accessory, we were frowned upon.

Full-timers also told me stories of the managers basically refusing to sell to someone (or driving the person away) because of pressuring the customer so much to buy those plans and accessories. That is how stores are rated at the box stores.

I knew it wasn't for me when I sold a lady a computer and was able to get her to buy the plan and a ton of accessories because that is what she \"needed\", even though I knew she only needed a computer to do what she would need it for. It was at that point I didn't go back to work the next day...

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PinkBox
January 26, 2009 2:43 PM
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@scottr0829: You are 100% correct. I worked at BB when I was younger, and they had morning meetings that pushed their silly protection plans HARD.

I hated having to ask customers to purchase one, but my job depended on it.

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Mooshie
January 25, 2009 11:04 PM
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Wouldn't this qualify as a scam?

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Outrun1986
January 25, 2009 11:08 PM
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Sears has been doing this for as long as I can remember. One good trick is to not register your TV, however registering may have other benefits.

You probably don't want to NOT pay for your TV with a credit card for obvious reasons, but if you pay with cash they will have no way of getting your name and phone number to call you to bug you about the plan.

I bought a 140$ CRT TV at Sears many years ago and they kept calling me to ask me to buy the protection plan, it would happen like once a week. I still have that TV in my bedroom and its working perfectly.

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kathyl
January 25, 2009 11:17 PM
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Salespeople sometimes do a similar thing with laptop computers, where they insist that almost every laptop's battery goes bad within three years and that the service plan will replace it for free, which would \"more than pay for the plan\".

Maybe at the markups that *they* sell the batteries it would pay for itself, not to mention the fact that battery failure is far from a foregone conclusion, much less within the first three years of the battery's life.

I think the media that covers consumer issues (other than Consumerist, obviously) needs to be better about getting the word out about what a bad deal these plans usually are.

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ajlei
January 26, 2009 4:26 AM
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@kathyl: Yeah, I can second InfiniTrent. My laptop's close to two years old and although it still functions wonderfully, the battery will drain within an hour if not plugged in. And batteries run about $100, so I don't plan on buying another one anytime soon.

Still, I'd buy a second computer before I bought a sleazy protection plan.

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jamar0303
January 26, 2009 7:50 AM
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@ajlei: Wow, your laptop doesn't age very gracefully. Mine still gets me a good 6 hours after 2 years. A far cry from the 15 it had (Panasonic, if you're wondering) the first few months, but it still does the job.

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dculberson
January 26, 2009 3:42 PM
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@jamar0303: Well, sounds like you've lost more than 50% battery capacity, which is probably pretty close to what Ajlei has lost. Most inexpensive laptops don't start out with a 15 hour battery life! (Is yours a Toughbook? Those are really nice.)

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HogwartsAlum
January 26, 2009 3:16 PM
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@jamar0303:

Mine is about a year old and the battery fades pretty fast, but I usually use it plugged in anyway. I almost never use the battery.

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Traveshamockery
January 26, 2009 3:48 AM
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@kathyl: Have you ever looked at the prices for legitimate OEM laptop batteries? And if you've ever used one regularly on battery power, you know that the max charge starts to fade after 6-12 months.

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kathyl
January 26, 2009 3:45 PM
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@InfiniTrent: Eh, mine's three years old, on battery power at least half the time, and it still holds the same charge that I recall it holding when it was new.

And yeah, I did look into battery replacement costs after that conversation about the protection plan, and I could buy two new, compatible batteries for what the cost of the plan they were pushing on me would have cost.

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Anonymous
January 28, 2009 5:32 AM
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You guys should google lithium ion battery life. Whether you use a battery or not, by fully charging it or not, there is an expected life for laptop batteries that is mainly determined by age and heat. li-ion batteries that live in hotter-running computers don't last as long. The average age is around 3 years before it's not very useful anymore. There are occasional incidents when they last longer, but it's not the norm. There are limits to how many complete discharges, but it's not normal for that number to be reached within it's expected life. Basically just do whatever you want regarding your battery and expect it to be dead within 3 to 4 years max.

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oldtaku
January 25, 2009 11:17 PM
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It's a pretty good policy in general not to buy anything at Sears. Certainly not any major appliances like a washer or dryer or big-screen TV. They're not what they used to be, and haven't been for at least a decade.

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Lance Uppercut
January 25, 2009 11:31 PM
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@oldtaku: I wouldn't buy electronics there, but only because there are much cheaper outlets available.


For appliances though they are still the first place I look. I've never had a problem with any Kenmore item.


I even bought my last mattress there.


I just decline the extended service plans and I never hear from them again.

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Lance Uppercut
January 25, 2009 11:33 PM
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@Great Mutato: and tools. Despite all the complaining I see on Consumerist about the tool warranty almost every tool I own is Craftsman.


Overall I think Sears gets a little more hate than they deserve.

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oldgraygeek
January 25, 2009 11:29 PM
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I answer calls like that (and every other telemarketing call) with a series of questions:
\"How do I spell your name?\"
\"What was that company name again?\"
\"Where are you located?\"
\"No, I didn't ask where the head office of _______ Incorporated is: I asked where you are sitting.\"
\"Are you employed by ______ Incorporated, or by another company?\"
\"What's the name of that company?\"
\"Is this the number on my caller ID?\" [or \"The caller ID seems to be blocked; what number are you calling from?\"

When I can't get any more answers, I demand that they Never Call My Number Again... and promise legal action against the companies involved and the telemarketer personally if I ever hear from them again... and \"My wife is a lawyer, so I can get you charged with criminal harassment and defiant trespass without spending a dime.\"

Most of them never call back.

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Rectilinear Propagation
January 26, 2009 5:04 PM
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@oldgraygeek: Wasn't there a flowchart that had similar instructions on how to question telemarketers.

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mythago
January 25, 2009 11:32 PM
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@oldgraygeek: You know the part about your wife getting them charged isn't true, but hey, if it works....

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jamar0303
January 26, 2009 7:52 AM
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@mythago: I doubt most of the people sitting on the other end of the phone are smart enough to know that.

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i_love_life
January 25, 2009 11:31 PM
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After working in Best Buy's customer service for 2 and half years and seeing ghosting on almost all the plasmas being sent out to service, it is a good idea to get a protection plan on something that you spend so much money on.... but re-filling the gas??? seriously?!?! that's absolutely ludacris and I've never heard such a thing. This lady clearly has no idea what she's talking about.

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Charles Mousseau
January 26, 2009 9:21 AM
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@i_love_life: It is not a good idea to get a protection plan, irrespective of the cost. They are a gamble that your product will break down. They are priced to represent a substantial profit for the company supplying them. And they are a zero sum game. If it generates $1 for Best Buy, that means it cost the customer $1 more than it would have to not take their chances.

Do you not get it? Probability that your product will need service that is provided by the protection plan (and not by the manufacturer's warranty) times the value of the services the warranty will provide equals a dollar value. The plan is then priced to be substantially above that dollar value, thus representing a long term profit for the company providing the plan.

By definition, if Best Buy offers the plan, it's statistically very good for Best Buy and very statistically very bad for the user -- they are offered because they generate a profit. And they are pushed because they are, statistically, an abominable ripoff for the consumer. Any client concerned about preparing for the television failing should put the money in a locked interest bearing account for the length of the manufacturer's warranty and they'll wind up even farther ahead in the long run than by gambling against your statistical edge that is greater than any slot machine or game in Vegas is LEGALLY ALLOWED TO OFFER.

And that whole \"peace of mind nonsense\" means nothing. If you can afford to buy a fancy TV, you can afford to repair it. If you cannot afford to repair it, you cannot afford to buy it.

I defy Best Buy, or any company who would \"poo poo\" my thinking on the subject, to open up their books to the client when offering this service. Let them see how much you gross per year on services plans, and how much you spend per year honoring them.

If they're so great for the customer, why do you pressure them into buying them at the store and do not allow them to come back and buy it any time for the next 30 days, once they've had a chance to go home and think about it?

Doing that could ONLY be good for Best Buy, right? Start the plan from the moment the product is bought, not the moment the warranty is bought. In theory, if your plan \"makes sense\", you'd make even more money letting them buy it for the same price and letting them apply it retroactively, and it won't bite you in the butt because the product will still be under manufacturer's warranty, making it hard for them to run any scam that hurts you.

Of course, none of this matters. They are a staggering profit for Best Buy, a staggering rip off for the customers, and you coming on (maybe even during company time) to parrot their rhetoric will get you nothing.

Not that I could blame you. I would imagine that Best Buy could not survive if they never sold another service plan from this day forward, so you must protect that golden goose at all costs.

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jackal676
January 26, 2009 5:23 PM
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@Charles Mousseau: Circuit City allowed you to buy the plan up to 30 days later, too.

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AirIntake
January 26, 2009 3:46 PM
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@Charles Mousseau: Last I checked, Best Buy does allow you to come back and purchase their PSPs or PRPs for the next 30 days (14 days on computers and game systems). I have done this on a PSP for my first Xbox 360.

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badgeman46
January 25, 2009 11:40 PM
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@i_love_life: I just don't get why all those new fangled tvs are junk right out of the box.

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Anonymous
January 25, 2009 11:39 PM
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I work for Sears and this isn't our policy at all. I apologize for the salesperson. Each associate is held accountable for selling the protection plans or not. IT IS NOT our policy to lie or be dishonest please send me an e-mail with details so I can forward this up to that store manager.

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bohemian
January 25, 2009 11:52 PM
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My last two experiences with Sears involved some kid in the tire department trying to tell me I needed the rear springs in my car replaced because they were broken. He pointed to the end of the spring up in the wheel well and tried to tell me it was broken off so I needed new springs right now. I left and got tires at Sams.
Experience number two involved trying to get a set of line wrenches so Mr. Bohemian could finish fixing my car. I spent fifteen minutes telling the sales guy no I don't want a credit card repeatedly so I could buy this set of wrenches with cash and get home.

Fark Sears.

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dculberson
January 26, 2009 3:49 PM
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@bohemian: Welllll.. it's not actually impossible that your springs are/were broken. I've had broken springs in one of my cars and my mother in law had a broken spring in her car. In my case, I didn't even notice a ride change as the shocks were pretty worn so it was riding harshly already. But when I disassembled the rear suspension, sure enough, both rear springs were broken at the spring seat. That was a Honda and the springs were \"captured\" by the seat. My M-I-L's car is a Saturn and the spring seat was pretty minimal, so when the bottom of the spring broke it made the spring jump over the seat and caused that corner of the car to ride about 6\" low.

Broken springs are not that uncommon if you've got a lot of miles on the car.

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RandaPanda
January 26, 2009 1:21 AM
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@bohemian: New \"springs\"?! Seriously? I'm guessing the tweed in the automotive department meant \"shocks\" (which I admit, look a bit like springs, depending on the type that you have on your car).

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opsomath
January 26, 2009 12:54 AM
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lol...do they offer to give it a new coat of plaid paint for free, too? or possibly go over its circuitry with a wire stretcher?

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TrueBlue63
January 26, 2009 1:11 AM
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There are certain things for which a protection plan is good! Unfortunately most protection plans are not reliable. Far too frequently, it turns out you have been sold an insurance policy for which the retailer is simply an agent, and if they claim that you aren't covered, you have no re-course.

I knew when I needed a cabinet depth fridge, I was getting the plan, because this type of fridge frequently needs repairs, and they are expensive.

But Plasma TV, LCD TV, the plan is usually too expensive versus the replacement cost.

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DaddyMagicBritches
January 26, 2009 1:11 AM
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Amazing how much consumers are confronted with this type of shenanigans almost daily.

Just yesterday, I take my car into a Mr. Tire for three things: Rotation, Oil Change and a repair of a tire that won't hold air. -- $50

As I am waiting, the mechanic comes out and reads a lit of things I need to the tune of about $1100. Transmission pan is leaking and the power steering is making lots of noise. I told them, I ain't got $1100. On the way home, I stop at Walmart and pick up a bottle of power steering fluid for $8 and fix the noise and when the weather turns warm, I will replace the transmission pan gasket for under $50.

As far as the plasma goes. I just bought a Panasonic 50\" at COSTCO for <$1000. Came with a free 2-year warranty and no one tried to upsell me anything.

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Bruce Bayliss
January 26, 2009 7:27 AM
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@DaddyMagicBritches:
Um, you haven't got the money to keep your car running, but you've got money for a flash TV?
What bit am I missing here?

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pecan 3.14159265
January 26, 2009 5:07 PM
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@Bruce Bayliss: There are some things you can do yourself, and some things you can't. If he can replace the pan gasket for $50, why should he pay someone else the parts and labor (which would be a lot more than $50)?

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MrEvil
January 26, 2009 8:00 AM
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@Bruce Bayliss: He was lying to get the sales guy to back off.

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Sparerib
January 26, 2009 4:55 PM
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@MrEvil: Or his priorities set his TV before his car. Mine do too. I don't need a car, but I needs me some Guiding Light.

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Cyberxion101
January 26, 2009 3:38 PM
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@MrEvil: It's amazing how literal minded most people are around here, aint it? What's funny is that most people will give you a long-winded, convoluted explanation for nearly any story you see here, but when confronted with something that requires a bit of creative thinking, the lights go off. It's amazing really.

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Ragman
January 26, 2009 1:42 AM
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Bought a 19\" LCD tv from Sears for $200. The first extended warranty letter I got in the mail wanted over $100 for the plan.

The best was at BB. Bought Nokia phones for $50 each. Tried to sell us the replacement plans for $50 each. Told them I'd just buy a new phone if it broke.

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Epsilon748
January 26, 2009 5:28 PM
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@Ragman: That's all well and good except that cell phones aren't $50 a piece from a retail store. I worked for AT&T, and assuming you're in contract, the reason the phones were so cheap is because the carrier uses your contract signing/renewal to subsidize the cost of the phones. For example, we had phones that were free for contracts, but cost $199 to buy outright (either you were still in contract and they wouldn't subsidize you until your next \"upgrade\", or you just wanted a new phone early). This cost difference was due to the fact that you got a discount because you promised to be a customer for 2 years (or longer) and they cut you a break, so to speak. To cut this rambling short, if your phone breaks a year into the contract, you'll a) have to shell out full price for a new phone b) try to find a replacement on ebay and cross your fingers c) end the contract early or go without a phone.

On the other hand, if that was just a $50 prepaid phone and it breaks, you'll only lose the cost of the phone plus your airtime. While CSR's can usually tie a replacement phone ESID to an old number, they're not happy to do it. I've had to do this before, and trust me, even the corporate CSR's run you through the loop. So the cost of the replacement plan on prepaid phones also factors in the loss of all your accumulated airtime. Trust me, if you were one of those people that used the $100 a year prepaid plan, you'd be pretty upset to lose that with your also dead/lost phone.

In my opinion, phones and (expensive) mp3 players tend to be worth it if the service plans aren't too expensive, while most everything else is a ripoff. Really anything with a built in, non removable battery is worth it too.

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ChesterKollx
January 26, 2009 12:06 PM
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@Ragman: I actually bought a $1 prepaid cellphone (you had to buy at least $5 in minutes). They actually wanted $10 for the replacement plan.

They also offered to activate the phone for $30. They tried to turn a $6 purchase into a $50 purchase.

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ameyer
January 26, 2009 4:24 AM
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@Ragman: My favorite was from PCMall.com (IIRC)
I was going to buy a $6 (or so) microphone. They seriously tried to sell me a protection plan for $60.

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Verucalise (Est.February2008)
January 26, 2009 3:04 AM
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Useless warranty/protection plans are everywhere. Many people pay $5 a month for that cell phone protection plan for their cell phones, myself included until 2 years ago. The sales people warn, badger, manipulate you- \"If you lose your phone, drop it in a mud puddle, anything pretty much... it'll cost you HUNDREDS to replace.\" I paid $5 a month for 16 months to Verizon, $80 total. When my cell phone broke, the company wanted a $50 deductible just to get the claim started... on a phone that I could buy on Ebay for about $40. I essentially was paying $130 for a phone, almost the full replacement retail value.


I quickly cancelled the protection plan. I refused to give them one more red cent. I got my cell phone used off of ebay for the price of $30 including shipping. It was not worth renewing my contract to get a phone for free.


I'm sure these protection plans are smart for the $400 blackberry phones or whatever they are... not for a phone as basic as my own.

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MrEvil
January 26, 2009 8:02 AM
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@verucalise: Might not be worth it on a simple clamshell or candybar phone. But on smartphones it's a NECCESSITY especially when you're not off contract.

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tbax929
January 26, 2009 7:44 PM
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@MrEvil:


Agreed. I have the plan on my Blackberry and have already used the insurance twice in the past 3 years.

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cotr
January 26, 2009 3:14 AM
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they did this with the tv i bought over Black Friday (twice). thankfully i bought it on AMEX so i just rejected it.

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Baji Irwin
January 26, 2009 5:05 AM
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Coming from a Liquidation City employee, laptops are sometimes worth it for the plan, look at the most basic 2 year that covers the hard drive(unless u get a SSD) and the battery. Chances of both not operating right within 2 years is pretty good. The battery WILL only hold a good charge for a year or so.. so replacing that battery is a huge +. On tvs it was an offer, counter the customer's response, if still objecting give up.. I hated pressuring people into purchasing something they didnt want. Hence offering monoprice.com to tons of customers for hdmi cables :)

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consumerfan
January 27, 2009 11:03 PM
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@Baji Irwin: Except that your laptop may include which covers your battery for two years.

You have to check before you buy.

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jwissick
January 26, 2009 6:37 AM
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I would not buy a plasma tv. They may be banned soon due to the RF noise they generate. The USA may follow suit.

Plasma screen TVs could be banned under new EU legislation

Large screen Plasma TVs have had a bad reputation among users of the Short Wave radio spectrum because of the high level of RF interference they can generate and many radio users will be pleased to see them go.

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Charlotte Rae's Web
January 26, 2009 5:58 PM
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@jwissick: No, it would be 20 years before it was even close to being banned here in the US and frankly I don't ever see it happening.

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HDTVTECH
January 26, 2009 10:46 AM
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While \"plasma recharges\" (what a joke!) are not a good reason to buy extended warranties, lead free solder is. All manufacturers are now using lead free solder during the manufacture or these sets. Try googling \"lead free solder problems\". This stuff is job security for me and a good reason to consider an extended warranty.

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Dusty Wilson
January 26, 2009 12:28 PM
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@Baji Irwin

Laptop hard drives and any other hard drive usually has a 5-year manufacturer warranty. If it dies, just RMA the poor thing and get a new one. You do not under any circumstances need a service plan to cover a hard drive.

Laptop batteries suck, it's true. But they'll usually last you at least as long as you'll tend to keep the laptop. It's usually the second owner that has to get the new battery.

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Anonymous
January 26, 2009 2:16 PM
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I am a sales associate at Sears. Managers push thier employees to get credit card applications and protection plans by threatening them by telling them their work hours will be cut and recently have told us we will be written up and job terminated if we don't get any credit applications and protection agreements. I would quit but need the job, though it's not anough money to live off. (It is my second job). I basicallyt inform the customer of what the plan covers, if they don't want it, I don't push it.

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buckfutt
January 26, 2009 2:33 PM
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Here's what you should take from this: NEVER GIVE SEARS YOUR PHONE NUMBER. For that matter, never give ANY retailer your phone number.

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adama4ld
February 8, 2009 6:29 PM
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If you do not give Sears your phone number, you have no warranty. Sears warranty records are kept under a customer's phone number. Those who decline are completely void of the manufacturer's warranty.

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Michael Cohen
January 26, 2009 9:42 PM
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BEST BUY tried the same trick a couple years ago. Told us the TV would need its \"comb filter\" cleaned, that dust and things clog this up and one must clean the filter every year or two or the TV will stop working. We didn't fall for it and we've had the set for a few years now. Works fine. (almost ALL service contracts are total ripoffs, guaranteed!)

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Eric
January 30, 2009 7:38 PM
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A friend told me that she would not buy a plasma TV because Sears told her the same thing. I started laughing in her face and then realized that she wasn't laughing because she actually believed this trash.

In any case, I am surprised that it wasn't a one-time occurrence.

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IntheKnow
February 26, 2010 10:54 PM
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Haven't we as a society had enough of the extended warranty nonsense. Since when is a \"salesperson\" an engineer. These are not salespeople; they have been indoctrinated into a culture of half-truths and lies. Sears is not the only one. What is the meaning of the three years anyhow? It is a minimal risk assigned by Sears actuaries with approx a 50% or more gross margin built in. Proof of the abject ripoff of this is that Sam's Club offers an additional 3 years for $179. Same repair benefits. Unfortunately, there are still enough gullible consumers in society that succumb to this \"pitch.\" Sad commentary on how Americans treat each other as well.

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