Walmart 3-year service plan for TVs

[Xtempo]

This will be my first post in this area and I hope it fits here

Does anyone have a 3-year service plan from Walmart for a TV? I recently bought a TV from Walmart, Hitachi 32" Class LCD 720p HDTV 60Hz, L32A404. Would the extra $45 be worth it? I've looked at some of the reviews on Walmart.com and they generally seem positive with some very poor ratings

link

looking for input that's not on Walmart.com and from real people

[MaCruz]

Get the warranty if it's just $45. For 3 years, I'd do it and since you mentioned it has positive reviews. Why not?

Some say warranty is a waste of money, and others say it's useful in time of need. I slapped a 5 year warranty on my Panasonic TV I bought in January from Best Buy just in case so I don't feel like spending over $500 on a new TV after 2 years. If you have bad luck with electronics, I'd consider warranty. That's just me.

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by MaCruz

Get the warranty if it's just $45. For 3 years, I'd do it and since you mentioned it has positive reviews. Why not?

Some say warranty is a waste of money, and others say it's useful in time of need. I slapped a 5 year warranty on my Panasonic TV I bought in January from Best Buy just in case so I don't feel like spending over $500 on a new TV after 2 years. If you have bad luck with electronics, I'd consider warranty. That's just me.

I agree with MaC. Personally though, I have had fantastic luck with past warranty purchases through Best Buy on products that failed. They have basically swapped out warrantied products (at full price even 1-3 years later) for a brand new product/store credit. It has certainly been worth doing from my experience. However, I have no experience with Wal-Mart warranty programs, it might be worth a shot at only $45.

[Xtempo]

I have gotten warranties with BestBuy though I have never had to use them. so I guess its coming from Walmart and I'm a bit skeptical especially since I bought a discontinued 32" Hitachi.

I think most people giving reviews have bigger TVs than 32 and the one I saw with a 32 said no one came out to fix it, it only had to be shipped somewhere.

thanks for the replies

[LeAnn]

I get warranties because it seems to guarantee that I will not have an issue for the length of the time I have the warranty. The day after... that is another story

BUT, I did get a warranty for a printer once from Bestbuy that was super. I had to keep returning this printer over and over and finally they just upgraded it for no charge.

[My_Two_Cents]

In general, extended warranties on today's top-brand electronics are a BIG waste of money. Research has shown that failure rates are in the 1-3% range, and most of those failures are within the manufacturer's warranty period. Would you bet $45 in Vegas on a chance to win $400 when the house odds were 98% in their favor?

That being said, $15 a year for piece of mind is not that much, particularly with a second tier brand (relatively speaking) like Hitachi.

Now MaCruz, on the other hand, threw his $$ down the crapper!

[MaCruz]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Now MaCruz, on the other hand, threw his $$ down the crapper!

See my updated sig below...

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by MaCruz

See my updated sig below...

Love it!

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by MaCruz

See my updated sig below...

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Love it!

Bravo!

[OrlandoEastwood]

I got the 3 year plan on my Vizio in case if something ever happens to it.

[lettucenpico]

I bought the 2 year plan for my Vizio 3 weeks ago for 65 bucks. Does anyone know if they were suppose to give me some kind of card? or do i just keep the receipt?

[iam1bearcat]

$45 for 3 years for a hd tv? jeez, i just spent $22 for one year on a freaking $100 Sony Cybershot digital camera

so, yeah, get it

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by lettucenpico

I bought the 2 year plan for my Vizio 3 weeks ago for 65 bucks. Does anyone know if they were suppose to give me some kind of card? or do i just keep the receipt?

they should have given you a booklet (probably blue) that says "warranty plan" or something on it. no card. and if you don't have the booklet. no biggie, next time your there just go get one from the electronics desk. there's a number in that booklet you call. but keep your receipt (make a copy of it actually, otherwise the ink will be long gone in 2 years) because they'll need the serial number and other junk off of it if something does go wrong.

[Xtempo]

so I bought it yesterday. So far I've not received anything by email only that I purchased it-I used paypal so I got that message but nothing else.

When do I get it? In the account- order summery area it says view and print the document but it goes to the page to purchase it.

[U4K61]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

In general, extended warranties on today's top-brand electronics are a BIG waste of money. Research has shown that failure rates are in the 1-3% range, and most of those failures are within the manufacturer's warranty period. Would you bet $45 in Vegas on a chance to win $400 when the house odds were 98% in their favor?

That being said, $15 a year for piece of mind is not that much, particularly with a second tier brand (relatively speaking) like Hitachi.

Now MaCruz, on the other hand, threw his $$ down the crapper!

+1
I agree 100%. The house wins, you loose. I hear the consumer only gets back about 10% on their investment, so I am not willing to forfeit the other 90% just to buy into the 'piece of mind' hat trick they sell. Never started out with one thoes store warranties and never regretted it later on.

My take: Chances are when the item is new, it works just fine. When store warranty ends, it's old and in need of repair.

[Xtempo]

I realize I'm more confused about the warranty.

I bought the plan a few days after buying the TV. couldn't see it when I was buying the TV and got an email saying would I like a service plan.

So how does it work for the TV when I bought the two separately.

Would they know about the previous purchase?

Do I need to call the 800 #?

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

In general, extended warranties on today's top-brand electronics are a BIG waste of money. Research has shown that failure rates are in the 1-3% range, and most of those failures are within the manufacturer's warranty period. Would you bet $45 in Vegas on a chance to win $400 when the house odds were 98% in their favor?

That being said, $15 a year for piece of mind is not that much, particularly with a second tier brand (relatively speaking) like Hitachi.

Now MaCruz, on the other hand, threw his $$ down the crapper!

Agree wholeheartedly! Anyone who has ever worked commission sales knows that these warranties are almost pure profit for the sellers, which by default makes them a poor value for consumers. Back when I worked in sales, extended warranties earned about a 30% commission, spiffs (extra gifts like boxes of steaks, etc) and prizes like vacations for those who sold the most.

Electronics do sometimes fail... but if you add in all of the extended warranties you DON'T buy... you've usually saved enough money to replace the rare item that fails after the manufacturers warranty has ended.