extended warranties

lawsuits

$54 Million Best Buy Lawsuit Over Lost Laptop Dismissed

Raelyn Campbell's $54 million pro se lawsuit against Best Buy over her lost laptop was dismissed on a procedural issue, thus showing the difficultly of suing a big company for a lot of money without a real lawyer. The trouble all started when she sent a laptop in for repairs to Best Buy, who lost it gave her the runaround for months, and then tried to buy her off with a $900 gift card. They later upped their offer to $1,100, but Raelyn decided to make 'em pay for all the lost photos and tax returns and the potential privacy invasion, and, to get big headlines, went for $54 million. She got some decent press, including a Today show appearance, but no money. In fact, she also had to pay the other side's legal fees, all two hours worth. I think she got what she was looking for, though: the satisfaction of getting Best Buy's name in the national spotlight for their tendency to let customers' laptops get lost and not really care about it. You can read the docket here.

$54 Million Lawsuit Against Best Buy? Poof, Gone [NAM] (Thanks to Wade!)
PREVIOUSLY: Woman Sues Best Buy For $54 Million Over Lost Laptop

12:03 PM on Wed May 7 2008
By Ben Popken
5,587 views, 42 comments

Latest by Consumer007: @Thain: While one can certainly make a good argument the $2500 might have been a good offer to accept, who the hell are you to say consumers don't have a right to make a big deal in the media about more »

insiders

7 Confessions Of A Sears Electronics Salesperson

A Sears electronics salesperson has generously offered to share some insider knowledge of how the game is played at Sears. Inside you'll learn why you shouldn't buy the extended warranty, why the salesperson keeps steering you towards one certain brand, and the pricing codes that tell you whether or not you're buying a discontinued product. Enjoy!
More »

11:54 AM on Wed Apr 9 2008
By Meg Marco
25,065 views, 62 comments

warranties

LEAKS: Best Buy Internal Doc Says Their "Extended Warranties" Are A "Myth"

An internal Best Buy training document sent to The Consumerist reveals Best Buy's position on the "Extended Warranty" debate. Best Buy says they don't sell those pesky "extended warranties" that get so much bad press— instead they sell "performance service plans." The document also instructs Best Buy employees on how to sell these warranties to Upscale Suburban "Barry" and "Jill." It's important for consumers to be familiar with these tactics so they are able to recognize them while shopping in a high pressure sales environment such as Best Buy. Understanding the sales pitch puts you on equal ground with the salesperson. More »

8:34 AM on Fri Mar 28 2008
By Meg Marco
12,584 views, 70 comments

Latest by tcp100: I just want to add that this has been Best Buy's position for at least 15 years. I worked there when I was in high school, in the early 90s, and we all got the exact same spiel.. "They aren't warranties, more »

stupid

Microcenter Tries To Sell You A Replacement Plan For Thermal Adhesive

Reader Joe says:

Monday I bought 1.75 grams of thermal adhesive at Microcenter for $2.99. At checkout I was asked if I wanted to buy a replacement service plan. I was dumbfounded.

More »

9:59 AM on Tue Mar 25 2008
By Meg Marco
11,366 views, 48 comments

retail

Making Price Drops Conditional On Extended Warranty Purchase Could Be Illegal

A few days ago we wrote about haggling at retail stores and how some sales people will cut you a deal if you get the extended warranty, since they earn commission off selling those. Well, reader Stephen writes:

In Michigan at least, it is illegal for a rep to base a price reduction on the purchase of an extended warranty. A few years ago, I was buying a returned Tivo from Best Buy, and the SA tried to tell me he'd give me a better price if I bought the plan. I stopped him right there, told him I knew that this was illegal and that he knew it too. Suddenly the lower prices was no longer conditional on the purchase of the extended service plan.

Something to remember next time you're wrangling over that HDTV. Michigan's statute, inside... More »

11:32 PM on Wed Mar 19 2008
By Ben Popken
3,769 views, 49 comments

Latest by wellfleet: @oakie: also, reading through some of your previous posts, you may want to brush up on what "whom" means and when it is appropriate to use it. more »

cars

Extended Car Warranties Are A Ripoff

Most consumers spend more on extended warranties than they get back in repair savings, according to a Consumer Reports reader survey. On average, buyers paid $1000 and got $700 back in the amount of money they saved in repair costs."Extended warranties sell costly 'peace of mind' for repair nightmares that probably won't occur," said Rik Paul, automotive editor, Consumer Reports. "Sellers know what tends to break, and in most cases consumers are betting against the house." The only one with a peace of mind is the dealer as he tallies up his profits. Consumer Reports instead recommends putting the money you would have spent on an extended warranty into a money market or mutual fund to insure against the unlikely event of big repair costs from parts failure.

10:00 AM on Tue Mar 4 2008
By Ben Popken
4,141 views, 86 comments

Latest by music_love931: I`m scared to drive cars because I don`t know how to drive. _____________________________ Glenn Johnson The ProAuto Guard Product Warranty Includes: Coverage for 5 Years/100,000 ADDITIONAL miles on all internally lubricated parts of the: * Engine * Transmission * Transfer Case ZERO Deductible! * 30 Day Money Back Guarantee * more »

complaints

Woman Sues Best Buy For $54 Million Over Lost Laptop

Raelyn Campbell is suing Best Buy for $54 million for losing her laptop and lying to her for months about it. She bought a laptop from Best Buy with an extended warranty, it broke, she sent it in for repairs, months later she didn't have her laptop and after getting the runaround the store finally said it had lost her laptop and offered her a $900 gift card. She paid over $1,100 for the laptop, she paid for software on it, and it had irreplaceable photos, music, and personal information, including her tax returns. She freely admits she chose the high figure to attract media attention. She tells the Red Tape Chronicles "I can't help but wonder how many other people have had their computer stolen (or) lost by Best Buy and then been bullied into accepting lowball compensation offers for replacement expenses and no compensation for identity theft protection expenses." She also has a blog.

A Lost Laptop, A $54 Million Lawsuit [Red Tape Chronicles]

10:39 AM on Tue Feb 12 2008
By Ben Popken
12,654 views, 158 comments

Latest by dweebster: OH - I just got it: if you fail to backup your hard drive before giving it to "Best" Buy, then it's perfectly acceptable for the company to lose it and lie to you about that for a year. Like when more »

warranty

Wickes Furniture's Stupid Warranty

Reader Dustin writes in with a slimy customer service experience at Wickes furniture. The upshot of the story is that the salesman tacked on a 3-year extended warranty without asking Dustin if he felt the need to insure his furniture against "manufacturing defects" to the tune of $89.99. More »

3:31 PM on Wed Nov 15 2006
By Meg Marco
11,424 views, 10 comments

consumer reports

Consumer Reports Warns Against Extended Warranties

Consumer Reports has an excellent article this morning warning against the fraud that is the extended warranty. From the article: More »

9:10 AM on Mon Nov 13 2006
By Meg Marco
1,175 views, 15 comments

youtube

Don't Be This Consumer

This kid bought a video ipod from Best Buy, along with a $100 extended warranty. A few months later, it started getting slow and glitchy. He took it back and got pissed because Best Buy told him to mail it in, on his "own dime," on the Apple warranty. More »

11:04 AM on Mon Aug 21 2006
By Ben Popken
220 views, 14 comments

Consumerist

Xbox Live Won't Refund Points For Game They Can't Deliver

Gawker Media Network