service plans

If You Give Sears Your Phone Number, They Might Harass You Like A Clingy Stalker

By 2.9.12

Sears, Sears. We know that you’re desperate. But acting clingy and desperate is no way to win over customers, especially the ones who have just made a purchase in your store. While it seems like every retailer is pushing their service plans on customers, they don’t usually resort to phone stalking, like what you did to your poor customer Mike. He had to resort to contacting the FTC and your corporate offices about the stalking.

It’s over, Sears. You should have taken the hint one of the first few dozen times you called. Now Mike really never wants anything to do with you again.

Best Buy Takes 115 Days To Repair Your Washer

Best Buy Takes 115 Days To Repair Your Washer

By Ben Popken 10.5.10

As if you needed further proof that buying the store-offered service plan is a bad deal, Terri says that it took Best Buy to 115 days to repair her LG front-loading washer. That’s a lot of days to go without clean undies. [More]

Does This Potty Seat Need An Extended Warranty?

Does This Potty Seat Need An Extended Warranty?

By cwalters 11.20.09

Kelly just bought a plastic Baby Bjorn potty seat at Babies R Us. When the cashier rang it up, the system told her to ask Kelly if she’d like to pay another 30% of the purchase price for a service plan.

Auto Service Plan Promises Refunds, Then Goes Bankrupt

Auto Service Plan Promises Refunds, Then Goes Bankrupt

By 10.4.09

If you asked us, we would recommend that you not buy a third-party extended warranty for your car. If the main selling point for said warranty were that you would receive a full refund if you never filed a claim…we’d suspect that something might go wrong with this plan.

Watch Out For Best Buy's Extended Warranties

Watch Out For Best Buy's Extended Warranties

By cwalters 7.30.09

HD Guru took a deeper look at the extended warranties and service plans Best Buy pushes on customers who buy expensive electronics like hi-def TVs. You probably won’t be surprised to find out that the fine print negates a lot of what the person or pamphlet on the sales floor will try to promise you—but you might be surprised at just how useless these plans can be when you get right down to it.

Office Depot To Employees: "Don't Lie About Inventory"

Office Depot To Employees: "Don't Lie About Inventory"

By cwalters 3.13.09

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?”

How Do I Use My Circuit City Extended Warranty Now?

How Do I Use My Circuit City Extended Warranty Now?

By cwalters 1.27.09

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.

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

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

By 3.28.08

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.

6 Confessions Of A Former RadioShack Employee

6 Confessions Of A Former RadioShack Employee

By 1.11.08

Note: This is not a rant or venting session. I was laid off after the holidays, and I have no hard feelings about it ( Layoffs happen to everyone these days) . This is simply a guide to shopping at RadioShack ( henceforth known as RS) for any consumer who likes or buys electronics,written by someone who’s sold far too much of them.

When Should You Buy A Warranty?

When Should You Buy A Warranty?

By cwalters 12.7.07

SmartMoney has added its opinion to the argument of what warrants extended coverage and what doesn’t. Here’s their list of when and why you would want to buy that extended warranty—adjust their advice accordingly based on your own tolerance for risk and your history with dropping and spilling things.

Don't Buy Warranties For Your Gizmos, Says Consumer Reports

Don't Buy Warranties For Your Gizmos, Says Consumer Reports

By cwalters 11.21.07

The executive editor of Consumer Reports spoke to Newsday about warranties and service plans for consumer electronics, and how it’s pretty much always an unnecessary add-on that you should avoid. The stories that make it to the Consumerist are usually the exception; in reality, it’s rare that consumer devices break before you replace them anyhow.

Best Buy Asks You To Wait 21 Days Before Escalating Your Issue

Best Buy Asks You To Wait 21 Days Before Escalating Your Issue

By 10.17.07

The thought that I’m going to have to endure another seven years of this nightmare while my service plan is still in effect makes me want to shoot myself in the head. The only hope I have is that you’ll screw up and erase the extended warranty I paid for so I have an excuse to throw these worthless appliances into your parking lot and replace them with a set that actually works, from a company that actually cares if their customers are sickened by the thought of ever doing business with them again.

Best Buy’s service plans do seem to have this effect on people, there’s just no denying it. We hope Speedball tries an EECB now that his spleen is good and vented.

Consumer Writes, Consumerist Criticizes

Consumer Writes, Consumerist Criticizes

By consumerist.com 6.21.06

We definitely love you guys, but it’s not all snuggles all the time here at The Consumerist. If you send us something, we’re not afraid to post it and say when you’re being a jerk. We don’t want to lose you as a reader… and as much of a jerk as you may or may not have been, we can nine times out of ten understand your frustration. But we also want you guys to be reasonable, polite, responsible consumers, and that means the occasional light slap.