Yearly Maintance question-Can I do this myself or buy the extended svc contract? HELP

[jstasak]

I just bought me Mits 48311 and did not (at least yet) buy the extended warranty/service contract. It seems like the only thing that the extended service contract offers is yearly maintance. How easy is it (or necessary) to clean the lenses and do the yearly checkup YOURSELF ?

My thoughts on the extended service contracts:

1. Like has been said many times, electronics that are defective usually break within the first few months. So these are covered by the manufactures warranty. Buy it on a MC/Visa or Amex and you get at least anther year covered.

2. Get a high-quality power surge protector (which includes CATV/SAT/DSS) input and if you get a surge, the protector should stop it at the unit. If not, those protectors cover connected equipment (some up to like a gazillion dollars).

3. You homeowners insurance also covers lightning and surges.

SO, I seem to be covering all the "benefits" of an extended service contract EXCEPT yearly maintance.

QUESTION ? Can a novice technofile become smart enough to do most of the yearly maintance on his Mits on his own ? Are there any good posts that outline what/when/how (or what NOT/when NOT/how NOT) to do your own maintenance.

Thanks in advance for all your expertise.

[woodman]

Originally posted by jstasak
I just bought me Mits 48311 and did not (at least yet) buy the extended warranty/service contract. It seems like the only thing that the extended service contract offers is yearly maintance. How easy is it (or necessary) to clean the lenses and do the yearly checkup YOURSELF ?

Oops! The ONLY thing is yearly maintenance? Au contraire, mon frere ... that's the least thing that such a service contract provides! What an extended warranty contract gives you that is of the GREATEST importance is some bit of leverage/protection in case troubles develop with the TV set you buy.


My thoughts on the extended service contracts:

1. Like has been said many times, electronics that are defective usually break within the first few months. So these are covered by the manufactures warranty. Buy it on a MC/Visa or Amex and you get at least anther year covered.

2. Get a high-quality power surge protector (which includes CATV/SAT/DSS) input and if you get a surge, the protector should stop it at the unit. If not, those protectors cover connected equipment (some up to like a gazillion dollars).

3. You homeowners insurance also covers lightning and surges.

SO, I seem to be covering all the "benefits" of an extended service contract EXCEPT yearly maintance.

QUESTION ? Can a novice technofile become smart enough to do most of the yearly maintance on his Mits on his own ? Are there any good posts that outline what/when/how (or what NOT/when NOT/how NOT) to do your own maintenance.

Thanks in advance for all your expertise.


To answer these in order:
1. This "general wisdom" is not correct! In "the good old days", it was more likely to be true than today. The sets that we're dealing with today are vastly more complex than anything that came before them ever dreamed of being! This, coupled with the decline in competency of service techs AND the lack of adequate technical support from the mfgs. AND the overall cheapening of the product - makes it MANDATORY to protect yourself any which way you can. This also goes to make the choice of a retailer to buy from of much greater importance than ever before. This is the worst possible time to shop for the lowest possible price - if it means buying from the "wrong" retailer.

2. GOOD advice.

3. Homeowner's insurance may cover lightning strikes, but often come with a fairly high "deductible" - making that a last resort option.
No, you haven't covered all the benefits except the yearly maintenance (see the extended answer under #1).

QUESTION? Yes, you CAN do the yearly maintenance yourself. Cleaning of lenses and the mirror are really no big deal, and convergence is something that's been refined to the point that it no longer takes a competent tech to perform it.

Hope this gets through to you, and you avoid making a mistake here

[Ratman]

OTOH...
I know that 'extened warrantys' at sale time overlap. For example, if your TV has 1 years parts and labor from the manufacturer and you purchase a 3 year extended warranty, you actually lose a year.

I know that with Circuit City, at sale time time, I chose to decline the extended warranty. And... I just got a notice that my one year manufacturer's warranty will expire soon. They are now offering an extended warranty for my TV for 3 years that is cheaper than the warranty offered at purchase time!

YMMV