I Finally Pulled The Trigger For An HD TV

[goreds2]

I got it at HHGregg. They wanted $1241 but I negotiated down to $1169. It was on sale to begin with. It is set up and looks great.

Thanks for everyones advice through this procedure.

I did NOT get the warranty. ($279 for 3 years / $379 for 4 years -

)

The factory warranty is 1 year parts and labor.

Amazon.com: Panasonic VIERA TC-P50G25 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV: Electronics@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RvFAGdBIL.@@AMEPARAM@@51RvFAGdBIL

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Link fixed.

 

[goreds2]

Does everyone agree on not taking the in-store warranty?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Not worth it... if the set last 3 years you made out find and will probably want the latest technology TV anyways.

 

[goaliebob99]

I think its a matter of personal preference. I have a 4 year old DLP HD set that I never took the warranty out on and its still going good. I think branding could play into it too. I bought a very cheap hd set from walmart (sanoyo) and that TV didnt last more than 5 years before it busted. I think you'll be safe with a panny as long as your not constantly moving the tv around and it sits in one spot like mine does.

 

[Digital Dude]

Square Deal and other warranty companies sell direct to consumer. If you check over at slick deals you can see what's cheap warranty wise. I bought a warranty for our JVC HD-ILA RPTV that had unlimited lamp replacements, didn't go extended warranty for my Panny plasma though.

Here is a link for no middle man extended warranty...

Square Trade Warranty 30% off Today (3/16/10) Only - SlickDeals.net Forums

 

[goreds2]

Square Deal and other warranty companies sell direct to consumer. If you check over at slick deals you can see what's cheap warranty wise. I bought a warranty for our JVC HD-ILA RPTV that had unlimited lamp replacements, didn't go extended warranty for my Panny plasma though.

Here is a link for no middle man extended warranty...

Square Trade Warranty 30% off Today (3/16/10) Only - SlickDeals.net Forums

Wow! SquareTrade.com can give me the 3 year for $139 after the promo code (PICKEM) where HHGregg wanted $279. That seems slightly tempting now. Thanks for posting that. :up

 

[TNGTony]

Extenmded warranties are nothing more than revenue generators for electronics stores. The rise in extended warranty sales came about when competition in electronics stores ramped up to the point where there was nearly no profit in selling the product itself. Electronics stores had to find a way to make extra money. For a while a salesman's job depended on selling a certain percentage of warranty vs the merchandise sales. I know. I was there during the transition.

When I used to work in electronics sales, I was paid 17% commission on extended warranties. If I broke a certain plateau, that number jumped up to 21%! The other 79% was nearly all profit for the company. I think only 5% was set aside as the liability.

I was a pretty good sales person and could easily make my quota, but I felt like a theif or a swindler.

Warranties aren't always a bad deal, but for TVs, they should never be more than about $40-$60 for 3 additional years. At the very most they should cost no more than the going rate of a home service call. Best Buy used to do this through a third party in the 90s. $40 for TVs 28" and larger. $30 for TVs 27" and smaller. That's gone now because there wasn't enough profit!

It is a better idea, if you think of buying the warranty that costs 10-20% the price of the actual item to take that money, go to the nearest casino and bet it all on red. Your odds are better that you will come out ahead.

See ya
Tony

 

[bicker]

I disagree about the blanket, categorical nature of some of the assertions. I do agree that it doesn't make sense to get an extended warranty on a LCD, LED or plasma HDTV, especially these days. Early on, assuming burn-in would have been covered, then there is something to be said for having taken the extended warranty on the very first set of mainstream plasmas. And even today, I think you're playing with fire if you don't get an extended warranty on a RP DLP. Even if I had never used mine, the $150 I paid for it would have been worth it. As it is, it saved me at least that much with respect to the light-tunnel collapse.

Again, my objection is to the categorical assertions that include significant portions of what's offered, wherein extended warranties do make sense. There is a big difference between what is essentially a fully solid-state device and a device with lots of moving parts and other aspects that not only make failure more of a concern, but make repair (as opposed to junking it) a more viable approach to resolution.

 

[jayn_j]

So, Bicker, your point would be that the folks who are setting the rates don't factor projected reliability in and just give a blanket rate for all 55" TVs? That hasn't been my experience.

 

[bicker]

It isn't my experience either, and no I'm not saying that. However, the nature of insurance is that it is a service provided for a value. Many things that can go wrong with a DLP can be repaired, and would fall under a warranty. Many things that can go wrong with a LCD or plasma cannot be repaired, and are excluded under a warranty. Yes, that will make a warranty cost less, but that will also mean that the chances of ever needing the warranty is a lot less, and that (and this is the important bit) that self-insurance becomes a lot more palatable, for most people. Would they be better off, financially, saving their $150 and taking their chances? Probably, if they were machines, but the idea of paying $500 to replace a color wheel is quite distressing to some people (while the idea of paying $50 for a replacement cover on a compartment is not very distressing at all).

 

[rglore]

Samsung factory wants $720 for each of my DLPs for an additional three years or $240 for one year, no thanks. I can buy a new one for less money and get additional features.

 

[diogen]

Insurance - especially electronics - is nothing but statistics where you, the consumer, are kept in the dark.

In an established industry it isn't too hard to calculate/predict the failure rate and costs associated with it.
But dividing those total costs over the number of units you get the non-profit insurance cost.
Here is the trick: you are charged about 5 times that much.

Statistically speaking, it is highway robbery.
But those few who actually get their unit repaired/replaced by paying some $50 over 5 years will always keep this discussion going...

Diogen.

 

[bicker]

Insurance - especially electronics - is nothing but statistics

If you buy insurance without realizing that a company is making profit, then you're pretty stupid. I don't think anyone really falls into that category. However, to say that insurance is "nothing but statistics" is simply not true. Insurance is statistics and psychology. The benefits consumers get from insurance, with regard to psychology, are two-fold: First, many folks place a significant value on peace-of-mind, that they will not face the prospect of a large repair/replacement expense, which they didn't budget for in advance. Second, some folks place a value on avoiding the frustration of having to pay more for something, to repair/replace, it, after they already paid to purchase it. These are both intangible, unquantifiable benefits, but benefits all the same. Star Trek's Mr. Spock, of course, would never perceive such benefits, but perfect reasonable humans can and do.

 

[diogen]

If you buy insurance without realizing that a company is making profit, then you're pretty stupid.

I think buying extended insurance is stupid and therefore don't do it. Never regretted it.
Do you know the difference between 5% profit margin (Dell's PCs) and 75% (extended insurance)?

However, to say that insurance is "nothing but statistics" is simply not true.

I think you don't know what statistics is. Hence, we don't have a discussion point.

Diogen.

 

[mike123abc]

The problem with TVs is that once they have gone past warranty the chances of getting a successful repair drops quick. This is especially true with cheaper brands.

But, I have pretty much found that 1 year plus 1 year CC warranty has worked well for me. They failed quickly or never stopped working.

 

[jvc]

Extended warranties are definitely money makers for the sellers. BUT, if something happens, you'll be glad you got it.

We bought a 5 hp tiller from Sears, a few years ago, and got the extended warranty. Just after the manufacturer's warranty ran out, the transmission broke on it. Sears fixed it. When I picked it up, the lady said, "you'd better be glad you had the extended warranty. If you didn't, the transmission would have cost you over $400." I didn't get one with my Samsung LED DLP tv though.

My stepfather has also used extended warranties a couple of times. They make enough off the people that don't have a problem, to cover those that do, and still come out ahead. It comes down to how comfortable you are getting one...........

 

[TNGTony]

Add all the money you spent on extended warranties over your lifetime. Subtract the actual cost of replacement or repair (whichever is less) and see how well you made out.

It may have changed, but when I sold extended warranties, it was a blanket price for categories of products. VCRs were $49, $99 and $149 for 1 two and three year extended warranties. It didn't matter if the VCR cost $200 (El-Cheapo samsung --at the time they were junk---) to $1200 for a JVC SVHS monster recorder/editor. The average price for a VCR was $350 at the time.

At the time the TV categories were 1.5-12", 13-18", 19-26", 27-31", 32-42" tube, and 32 and up projection.

The blanket statement holds from personal experience as some one who made a living on ripping people off until he couldn't live with himself any longer and found a new line of work. Extended warranties ate pure 100% unadulterated profit for the store. The only thing it buys is peace of mind if you have no mind for your money.

See ya
Tony

 

[diogen]

There is one way to play the extended warranty game to your adavantage.

After deciding to get a certain product for a certain price and facing the extended warranty spiel, tell the sales person you won't mind if it's included for free.

You might be surprised with the outcome..

It worked for me once in FutureShop.

Diogen.

 

[jvc]

Add all the money you spent on extended warranties over your lifetime. Subtract the actual cost of replacement or repair (whichever is less) and see how well you made out.

Not a fair comparison. Over your lifetime will definitely come out a lot more than paying a repair for one or two instances. It would have been extremely hard to shell out $400 at one time, for the transmission. The extended warranty was included in the monthly payments for the tiller.

Also, over your lifetime, it's sorta a blanket of comfort, knowing you're covered if something happens. Kinda like hospitalization insurance. Most people will pay more than they'll ever get out of it. But, they still pay it, just in case.