Appliance insurance tip.

[Mully]

And not everyone has contents insurance, and nor does everyones contents cover power surges. Also there is the matter of the excess with most contents insurance, of which our policies have none, not to mention the effect on premiums. Despite your cynical viewpoint, in a lot of cases extended warranties do have real added value, as backed up by the examples above.

I agree with you somewhat. However, Miss Mully worked in consumer electronics retail and they were told to push extended warranties cos they were basically pure profit for them.

Now, we refuse to buy extended warranties, simply because:
A: We are satisfied with the powers of the CGA (and it's limitations - we run most of our electronics on surge protectors anyway); or,
B: We don't expect the item to be worth fixing in two years (Ipods, or laptops, for example. We keep backups and if the laptop lasts longer than about 2 years, we're generally satisfied)

Using the CGA, I have hammered Farmers for outdoor furniture that was 3 1/2 years old, and The Appliance Shed/F&P on a fridge that was 4 1/2 years old. Farmers were gracious and gave us a prompt refund but F&P tried to argue the toss with me that the fridge only had a 12 month warranty (my sister's fridge).

Until I put it in writing using words like "Consumer Guarantees Act" and "Fit for Purpose" and "Reasonable Period" and "Advice received", at which point, they folded like a cheap suit.

[vifferman]

The picture on my 5 year old Loewe TV went all crappy, and when I took it in, they said it wasn't worth fixing, so it cost me $28 to have it recycled. I talked to the repairer about what TV to replace it with, and he said it didn't make much difference, but to make sure I paid for an extended warranty, as so many TVs die quite early on in their lives, or just outside warranty.
SO I did - bought a 37" Panasonic Viera plasma (like yours, ynot slow?) and paid for the extended warranty while I was at it.

Then a few months later, I realised my Loewe had crapped itself because of EMF damage that had also taken out our house alarm system. I didn't twig at the time, or I could've got at least part of the cost of the new TV from the insurance claim.

And not everyone has contents insurance, and nor does everyones contents cover power surges.

It would have in our case, and we already had an excess on the alarm, so it would've been worth claiming. I just never twigged: the TV's sound went off, and the picture went strange colours after the lightning strike, but I turned it off and on again, and it seemed fine. Over a period of a couple of months after that, the picture slowly deteriorated and suddenly went altogether. The appliance serviceman said the power supply was ferked, and would cost nearly $300 to fix, but even if he did, it would need further repairs in the future. Sounds typical power surge to me...
We don't have surge protectors on anything (two TVs, 6 or 7 PCs, a home theatre system, alarm, various appliances...) Kinda dangerous, I guess.

[ynot slow]

My point with claiming through contents insurance is having to pay excess $250 vs $199 consumer excess,and had had issues with power surges before in old house,were resolved fine by insurance,especially when they pinged Telecoms arse for the fault which was caused by them.

Phoned the customer service 0800 number,got told get any repairer to pick up tv,they will contact us with your claim number and get back to us.We were told by sales guy to drop it off when we phoned Saturday so had tv in car,whipped to repairers to save time.

And they said 12 months can be at outer limit of some tv's,wtf,this was invoiced on 04/08/08,had the guy on in the store about getting it fixed re just outside warranty,saying pretty sure the tv should last longer than 12-13 months from new,he couldn't really argue that is accepted time for a tv to last,they all spout the better brands last longer than wharehouse or other so called shitty brands.Let him off by showing invoice with surge protector and warranty payment.

So far all ok,we wait and see the outcome,but according to booklet,they have option of repair,replace,refund.And if replaced(is obsolete model now)am curious if they chuck in free cover as well,bearing in mind I still have 23 months to go,assuming manufacturers 12 months(just expired)plus extended 24months which has started to be used.

[Warren]

My tip is to keep your receipts. I have seen lots of broken stuff on trade me which could have been returned.

I have also recently had a run in with warranty. I have a 3.3 year old F&P washing machine which I brought second hand which still had the extended warranty (5 years). It stopped working so I called the warranty providers who sent out a repairer. It turns out that a sock accidentally got down the middle of the agitator where the washing powder goes (my mistake, evidently) and killed the machine ($400 to fix). It was not covered because it was caused by accident. I ended up paying the repairer $104 for the house call which would have been free if covered by warranty, and fork out to get another washing machine.

[ynot slow]

Yep the terms and clauses sound like it's not worth the hassle,but you can even transfer the warranty if you sell the item,costs $25 to change details.

[Fatjim]

That way all bases covered.Be interesting to see what happens.

Sounds like you got raped in all your orifices you mean.

I've never had a power related failure of an appliance, and if I did, I'd rather pay out $100 excess for a new TV, than $300+ on an extended warranty.

It's not unreasonable to expect a major appliance to last 10 years.
The last TV, washing machine, fridge, microwave, dryer, video player, DVD player that I have had to replace all lasted well over 10 years. In fact, I've only had to replace the microwave, the rest are well over 10 years old.

[ynot slow]

Was really tempted not to take the extended warranty,but figured if it was a $500 tv too bad,but at $1650 special thought wtf.Glad I did,the repair crowd tested it needs new power supply and best part of $600-700 plus labour,etc.Waiting for the insurance company(warranty crowd)to get back to me,chances are write off,so then await there idea of replacement if that happens.

[onearmedbandit]

Usually they will contact the original branch and ask them for a comparable replacement up to the value that you spent in the first instance, usually minus any previous repair costs. Panasonic don't make a 37" plasma any longer, haven't done for over 12mths, so expect something like a TH-L37S10Z. It's a full HD LCD 37" with digital tuner. Current retail is around the $1800 range so this should fit if they cover you for the full amount.

[scracha]

Extended warranties are a waste of money on new products; they offer no extra protection over the consumer guarantees act.

Good luck with the CGA, you'll need it. The 3 year factory warranty on my Toshiba laptop was worth every penny*

[Mully]

Usually they will contact the original branch and ask them for a comparable replacement up to the value that you spent in the first instance, usually minus any previous repair costs.

Noel Leeming told me I'd get store credit if they decided not to fix my TV - unfortunately, they decided to fix it.

Good luck with the CGA, you'll need it. The 3 year factory warranty on my Toshiba laptop was worth every penny*

You speak from experience?? Please expand for my curiousity...

[scracha]

You speak from experience?? Please expand for my curiousity...

Well I sell and fix laptops and if I've bought a warranty for my OWN laptop then what does that tell you?

Mind had a failed cooling fan in its second year. A $20 part but a complete #a$tard of a job as you basically have to disassemble the whole notebook. Quite unusual on the Toshies BTW. Sent it away and it arrived back 3 days later. Freephone number and free courier pickup and return. Had backed up my data but it was still on it anyhoo. Very impressed.

Sony's service is exceptional. I find HP's service pretty reasonable too. Can't comment on Lenovo or Asus as no failures (yet). I've stopped selling a very popular brand of PC's and laptops as their failure rates and service were so bad and until they improve I've no intention of touching them again.

Quite a few lappys with NVidia graphics chips are cooking themselves and landing in my workshop. The majority are <3 years old and just not worth fixing (to do them properly you need infrared soldering) and unless you're charging Chinese labour rates.

[Mully]

Well I sell and fix laptops and if I've bought a warranty for my OWN laptop then what does that tell you?

That you don't trust your own workmanship?? :P (p/t)

Ah, OK. so no bad experience with the CGA, but a very good experience with your extended warranty

I would say that less than two years for a laptop was inside the "reasonable period" covered by the CGA anyway. Admittedly, I would doubt you'd get as quick a resolution with the CGA as you got with your warranty.

[ynot slow]

Phoned the 0800 number this morning,they had only had contact from repairer as to the insurance companies invoice system,as they phoned to say power source kaput and couple of items as well.

Repair company had sent a fax to give costings,so will be repaired,once details organised.

[scracha]

That you don't trust your own workmanship?? :P (p/t)

Ha ha. But the cost of the warranty was way less than what my time was worth.

[mister.koz]

Those extended warranties are a pain in the arse to sell. I used to work in electronics at farmers. First you have to convince the customer that the product is good enough to buy then crap enough to need a warranty..

Not to mention that the bosses are on your back for a huge Item/warranty ratio. I sold 35 computers one day and got barrelled for only selling 10 warranties..

I think they are good depending on the situation, the $269 warranties for a $400 ps2 were the hardest to sell because they truly didn't seem all that worth it.

Harvey norman ones are pretty sweet though, not bad on price.

The thing you get for the cost is piece of mind, i had one on a washing machine, the pump was blocked and fucked up so i called the warranty people, they sent someone around, turned out to be a hairpin and they footed the bill.. all organised for me and all polite. Pretty good service for a $150 warranty on a $900 appliance.... My excess is $150 so it was a fair gamble