We bought a Gateway laptop at Best Buy and don't know whether we should pay for the extended warranty. It's $200 for three years. This is our first laptop. They told us a battery might last as little as nine months, even if we use the computer mostly on electric power. Also that we have to be very careful with the screen, as it could break. Our credit card extends the manufacturer's warranty for a year.

We will be mostly using our PC at home but will take the laptop in the car and occasionally a plane when we travel.

Any advice on whether we should buy the extended warranty? Thanks.

I'm sure you'll get a variety of opinions, but I rarely get the extended warranty because most consumer electronics will either function perfectly for a long time or obviously malfunction within the manufactuer's limited warranty period, typically 90 days, or in your case, a whole year. Sometimes it only takes 5 minutes to know it's a dud.

Batteries can be more more temperamental. The old NiCd cells were notoriously poor performers. Newer chemistry (such as lithium-ion), together with smarter recharging circuits that control charging current and monitor temperature, would probably improve your odds of getting good battery life. My 2 year old Dell laptop is used in both modes (line power or battery) and the original battery still works OK.

In my experience screens don't break or even get damaged that often unless you're apt to be very careless, such as leaving it open next to the dart board. It sounds like just sleazy scare tactics by the store / salesman.

Best Buy is betting that they'll keep your $200 after three years without having to repair or replace anything. Most of the time they win. Are you feeling lucky, punk?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Professor,

Good advice Professor
By the way do they have the optional "Payment Insurance" thing running over there in the States? Sometimes its called "Payment Protection"
This almost doubles what you'd pay retail regardless of you paying your instalments on time and there is No refund
FYI This is a legitimate! scheme run by many Mail order companies
Ps Quite often it is added without asking!
I found this on a UK Finance page

quote:

You should also be wary of insurance add-ons when taking out a loan. Most loan companies will try to sell you payment insurance with a loan.
The cover is aimed at ensuring the loan is repaid, even if you lose your job through sickness or unemployment, but it's an expensive extra which can add considerably to your monthly outgoings.
Borrow £5,000 from Goldfish for three years, for instance, and the loan will cost you £153.77 a month.
Take the payment insurance and you'll be spending £174.96 a month - more than £20 extra for cover you may not need.

Consumer groups here in Britain regularly advise that customers should not take the store's offer of extended warranty. The advice is that stores make an enormous amount of profit on these.The protection is very expensive. If you feel a need for one then shop around. Insurance companies offer such protection very cheaply and directly.

I'm told that the extended warranty has the highest commission for the salesperson. That says a great deal.

quote:

By the way do they have the optional "Payment Insurance" thing running over there in the States? Sometimes its called "Payment Protection"

I've never heard of it.