Extended laptop warranty always pays off
Yesterday I replaced my old, big and noisy Sony PCG-FRV26 laptop with a new, fast and slim Toshiba Satellite A105-S361 and I didn’t pay a penny. Thanks to the BestBuy extended warranty!
Here is the story. It started about 4 years ago when I bough my first laptop from BestBuy. It was Toshiba Satellite 1800 and I paid for it $1099. It was a good computer for that particular time. The sales man offered me to buy an extended 3 years warranty to “protect my investment” for $249. It was a tough call for me because I was kind of short on money but I bought it anyway. I am so glad that I did it. Toshiba Satellite 1800 was not a very reliable laptop and during first 2 years it was repaired 3 times. After it broke the fourth time I took it to BestBuy and politely mentioned about “No Lemon” policy and they granted me a laptop exchange. They applied $1099 toward my new laptop. I bought Sony PCG-FRV26 and paid only the difference $1349-$1099=$250. They offered again to buy an extended warranty and this time I didn’t think a lot and paid $249 right away. Sony laptop worked fine for a year but then it started to break. First the CD-ROM drive stopped spinning, then the AC adapter stopped working and finally the laptop didn’t boot at all. I took it to BestBuy for repair and left it there. After that I was calling on status every 2 weeks trying to get my laptop back. Every time they were telling a different story why it is not repaired. Finally, after 2 months they called me and explained that my laptop would be replaced. The same evening I went to BestBuy and picked up my new baby Toshiba Satellite A105-S361 for $1199. It was cheaper then Sony laptop, so they just exchanged it and I didn’t have to pay anything. I love it! They tried to give me a cheaper laptop, but after I explained them how much I suffered during these months without my laptop they gave up.
Do you know where I go tonight? You are right; I’m going to buy an extended warranty again!
Entry Filed under: Extended Warranty Tips
December 15th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
dhanasekar,
If you purchased a basic 2-year warranty, the broken screen will not be covered. Broken screens, liquid spills, dropped laptops are covered only if you purchase Accidental Damage Protection Plan.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
i bought a toshiba Satellite L-310 2 weeks back and my monitor is cracked by my mistake. I have 2 yrs of international warranty but they are asking to pay to replace.
Pls suggest will it not be covered under warranty. pls provide me some ideas to recover the problem.
May 1st, 2008 at 11:30 am
Sarah,
The System Guard warranty covers accidental damage and your broken screen should be covered too. I think you are fine, they will replace the screen at no charge.