Sports Authority is pushing a new “Extended Coverage Plan” for footwear that runs for one year after Sports Authority’s 30-day warranty expires. The extended warranty, which costs between $4.99 and $15.99, supposedly even covers normal wear and tear. So how is this profitable?
Texas Electronics Retailer Sued For Deceptive Sales Practices
By May 29, 2009
The Texas Attorney General filed suit against aptly named electronics retailer Conn’s, accusing the store of aggressively marketing extended warranties to customers, then doing everything in its power to avoid honoring those warranties.
Seven Things That Aren't Worth Your Money
By March 29, 2009
Want an extra $1,000? The Wall Street Journal has a list of seven things that you can easily stop buying without making drastic changes to your lifestyle.
Office Depot Employee Claims He Photoshops Price Tags
By March 17, 2009
Who needs to lie about inventory when you can inflate the price directly? LAPTOP has uncovered more dirty secrets of Office Depot employees being dishonest to customers, this time by altering price tags on clearance items to incorporate the cost of an extended service plan.
Office Depot To Employees: "Don't Lie About Inventory"
By March 13, 2009
An anonymous Office Depot employee sent us this internal reminder from HQ that addresses this week’s allegations that associates and managers lie about inventory depending on the customer. Now the next time you’re told by an Office Depot associate that the laptop you want is out of stock, you can say, “Are you absolutely sure? Because I know you had a Sales Practices Reminder on March 12th about lying to customers.” And if a manager tries to get all up in, uhm, your grill area, you can say, “Don’t you have some tasks to go check off in your Task Manager?”
Office Depot Employees Claim They're Told To Lie About Stock If You're Not Buying Extras
By March 11, 2009
According to LAPTOP mag, Office Depot has implemented such a stringent sales quota program that the company has essentially broken the in-store laptop buying experience. If you don’t buy accessories and extended service plans, many associates will tell you the laptop is out of stock. Of course, this doesn’t happen at every Office Depot, but LAPTOP writes that they were surprised by the number of similar reports they received of it happening at multiple locations.
Sorry, Your XBOX 360 Isn't The Right Kind Of Broken
By March 9, 2009
By now, most people know about the dreaded Red Ring of Death issue on the XBOX 360 — and the accompanying 3 year warranty. What many do not know is that that 3 year warranty only covers the “3 red lights” issue. If you get any other error code, you’re out of luck.
How Do I Use My Circuit City Extended Warranty Now?
By January 27, 2009
When Circuit City finally went pining for the fjords, we all understood that their extended warranties and service plans would remain in effect. Assurant Solutions, the company servicing these plans, came right out and said so last week (warning: PDF). But the company contracted to service David’s TV said they can’t reach Circuit City for more info on how to handle in-home support calls, so they’re not going to do anything.
Best Buy Threatens To Replace A $2200 Sony Laptop With An Asus EeePC
By November 4, 2008
Is there a difference between a Sony TZ ultraportable laptop and an Asus Eee PC? Reader Ignacio bought Best Buy’s accidental damage protection plan for his $2200 Sony TZ laptop, and when he did, indeed, drop it — Best Buy threatened to replace it with a $600 Asus Eee PC, and finally decided to issue a $1200 gift card — the price of a 15″ Dell notebook. Fair?
Circuit City's "Advantage Protection Plan" Doesn't Live Up To The Sales Pitch
By October 22, 2008
A reader signing off as “Sucker” wants to let the world know that Circuit City’s extended warranties/replacement plans aren’t living up to the sales pitch. When he bought his XBOX 360, the salesperson assured “Sucker” that if the XBOX broke (as they tend to) that instead of having to wait around for a replacement — he could get a refund in the form of a gift card. He accepted. Guess what didn’t happen?
Ex-Best Buy Employee Regrets Selling Warranties Now That He's A Customer
By September 15, 2008
We just got an email from reader Mike, who claims to be a former Best Buy employee who regrets selling all those extended warranties now that he’s actually trying to use the one that he purchased.
Personal Finance Roundup
By August 14, 2008
When should you spend to save? [MSN Money] “Are warehouse store memberships a good deal? How about extended warranties? It all depends on the products — and on you, the shopper.”
CompUSA Says They'll Make Sure Your TAP Service Is Honored
By July 23, 2008
Lonny Paul, the director of e-commerce for the rebooted CompUSA, contacted us today regarding a reader’s tale of TAP woe. Lonny writes,
What Is CompUSA's TAP Service Like, Post-CompUSA? Not So Great
By July 22, 2008
(Update: The new CompUSA contacted us to say they will make sure all TAP agreements from the previous incarnation of the company are properly honored.) Remember when CompUSA shut down? Before it emerged from its ashes to fill my inbox with daily email circulars, it announced that Assurant Solutions, the company that underwrote its Technology Assurant Plan (TAP) extended-warranty service, would be honoring all remaining TAP agreements. Now a Consumerist reader, Tom, has a problem with the power cable on his laptop, and Assurant Solutions says they won’t replace the frayed cable: “[The CSR] tells me that he is unable to help me any further since the damage isn’t accidental.” Apparently “honoring” means “we’ll take your calls, but turn you down.”
7 Confessions Of A Sears Electronics Salesperson
By April 9, 2008
A Sears electronics salesperson has generously offered to share some insider knowledge of how the game is played at Sears.
LEAKS: Best Buy Internal Doc Says Their "Extended Warranties" Are A "Myth"
By March 28, 2008
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.
Microcenter Tries To Sell You A Replacement Plan For Thermal Adhesive
By March 25, 2008
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.
