Extended Warranty

[El Ray]

I read the FAQ on this topic. I think it makes sense to buy a warranty for my Toshiba 46" DLP as long as the bulb is included. Does anyone have a recommendation on which companies to use? The store where I purchased it wants $300 for a three year program. Not sure how good they are however.

[mjones73]

Repairmaster is one company to look into, shop around, the prices on their warrenties can vary greatly from one place to another.

[El Ray]

OK Here are my choices. I can get a 3 year contract that runs from the expiration of the manufacturer's warranty from Repairmaster for $180.
Or I can get a contract from my retailer that runs 3 years from date of purchase (overlaps the manuf. warranty) for $250 and it covers the bulb. It would be $100 extra for another year. My set is a Toshiba DLP that cost me just under $2000.
Given the cost of the bulb of about $250, it seems like the retailer's deal is better. Of course it assumes I would have to replace the bulb at least once which I think is a safe assumption.

[El Ray]

In case anyone's interested (which I doubt) I went with the 3 year store warranty that runs from date of purchase rather than from date of manuf. warranty expiration. It was $250 and includes bulb replacement unlike aftermarket warranties.

[raff]

Thanks! Since it includes the bulb replacement, I would do it too.

[BadCamper]

I'd be careful about bulb replacement. I know Best Buy, for example, does NOT replace bulbs in some LCD RPTV or DLP TVs. Since they are designed by the manufacturer to be replaced by the consumer, Best Buy expects the same.

[Deanwr]

Free lamp replacement but It took a week for a Tech to show, 5 weeks to get the replacement lamp, and a another week for the tech to replace it. When asked why it took so long, the tech said it was Sonys fault for building inferior products!

[tharinmfp]

I'd be careful about bulb replacement. I know Best Buy, for example, does NOT replace bulbs in some LCD RPTV or DLP TVs. Since they are designed by the manufacturer to be replaced by the consumer, Best Buy expects the same.


These statements are not true.

[BadCamper]

These statements are not true.

Not unless their policy has changed since the inclusion of DLP and LCD rear projection televisions into their stores. Upon the arrival of our first DLP, a a 50" Samsung, the company quickly released a sales tip on their "Employee Toolkit."
The tip was a reminder to the product specialists that the Best Buy performance service plan (PSP) does not warrant items that are specifically excluded by the manufacturer, such as "burn-in" of RPTVs. In the case of LCD & DLP bulbs, their replacement can only be warranted if a defect can be found. Regular usage of the bulb does not warrant replacement by the manufacturer.
Don't believe me? Ask a salesman to look it up on their toolkit.

[TheAntMan]

Badcamp....you touch, play, dream...how come you don't own one yet?? :nono2:

[BadCamper]

Badcamp....you touch, play, dream...how come you don't own one yet?? :nono2:

The room I'm staying in right now is about 10' x 9'...not too comfortable for the size of television I envision myself buying. (likely 50" or more) Just graduated college as well, so there are other expenses to be overcome first. I think once I've paid my car off I'm going to break down & pick one up.

I was a salesman at best buy for 4+ years, hence the "touch, play, dream" quote. I was, and am not in the business of misinforming people, however. That's why I joined places like this, years ago, to brush up on the latest technology news...to get live, raw feedback from consumers about the sort of products I was selling.

[tharinmfp]

Not unless their policy has changed since the inclusion of DLP and LCD rear projection televisions into their stores. Upon the arrival of our first DLP, a a 50" Samsung, the company quickly released a sales tip on their "Employee Toolkit."
The tip was a reminder to the product specialists that the Best Buy performance service plan (PSP) does not warrant items that are specifically excluded by the manufacturer, such as "burn-in" of RPTVs. In the case of LCD & DLP bulbs, their replacement can only be warranted if a defect can be found. Regular usage of the bulb does not warrant replacement by the manufacturer.
Don't believe me? Ask a salesman to look it up on their toolkit.

I will verify tomorrow.

[ret369]

The room I'm staying in right now is about 10' x 9'...not too comfortable for the size of television I envision myself buying. (likely 50" or more) Just graduated college as well, so there are other expenses to be overcome first. I think once I've paid my car off I'm going to break down & pick one up.

I was a salesman at best buy for 4+ years, hence the "touch, play, dream" quote. I was, and am not in the business of misinforming people, however. That's why I joined places like this, years ago, to brush up on the latest technology news...to get live, raw feedback from consumers about the sort of products I was selling.

I am looking at my BB warenty now, it DOES indeed say bulbs are included

[El Ray]

Repairmaster also offers a separate bulb warranty (that covers normal burn out) but it must be purchased at the time of purchase of the TV.

[BadCamper]

I am looking at my BB warenty now, it DOES indeed say bulbs are included

The clause in particular that I'm citing from their performance service plan brochure is the following. It's located on the second column underneath General Exclusions:

Also not covered are replacement costs for lost or consumable parts (knobs, remotes, batteries, bags, belts, etc).

Also, I read nothing about "bulbs" or "bulb replacement" in the brochure. Could you cite where you find this? Around 4 years ago they did change borchures, after a legal dispute in Florida. Perhaps if you have one of these old brochures it might say this, I don't recall. Either way, it would be a moot argument, as your warranty would have expired since those brochures were last found in a store.

After leaving the sales floor of best buy I switched over to the in-store technician department. I learned first hand that a number of customers have been misinformed about the warranty and what it precisely covers. Vacuum bags and belts, single-use batteries, and other equipment designed to be replaced by the consumer are not covered by their policy, if the manufacturer makes it implicit that it is the consumers responsibility.

If and when a store does choose to cover such a replacement, they are either doing so to satisfy a disgruntled customer or out of ignorance for the policy. Either way, the store is penalized for it.

I've got nothing to gain by providing false information. I still work for the company seasonally. I own stock in the company.

[tharinmfp]

The clause in particular that I'm citing from their performance service plan brochure is the following. It's located on the second column underneath General Exclusions:

Also not covered are replacement costs for lost or consumable parts (knobs, remotes, batteries, bags, belts, etc).

Also, I read nothing about "bulbs" or "bulb replacement" in the brochure. Could you cite where you find this? Around 4 years ago they did change borchures, after a legal dispute in Florida. Perhaps if you have one of these old brochures it might say this, I don't recall. Either way, it would be a moot argument, as your warranty would have expired since those brochures were last found in a store.

After leaving the sales floor of best buy I switched over to the in-store technician department. I learned first hand that a number of customers have been misinformed about the warranty and what it precisely covers. Vacuum bags and belts, single-use batteries, and other equipment designed to be replaced by the consumer are not covered by their policy, if the manufacturer makes it implicit that it is the consumers responsibility.

If and when a store does choose to cover such a replacement, they are either doing so to satisfy a disgruntled customer or out of ignorance for the policy. Either way, the store is penalized for it.

I've got nothing to gain by providing false information. I still work for the company seasonally. I own stock in the company.

I think you may be thinking of the old Service Plans. Now, we will cover bulb replacement and even come out and do a REAL yearly maintenance check. We want our customers to be happy. I hope that over the last two or three years, people have started to see a difference. I know I try to give my customers the best possiblel information available, however, I am only one person. Sorry for the confusion, I just want everyone to have the correct facts. :)