Extended Warranties compared

[prismatic]

Circuit City-City Advantage protection plan for PDA's $59.99 for two-year warranty. Free Repair and

shipping (includes parts, labor, shipping). Unlimited power surge coverage, no lemon guarantee,

Nationwide service contract 1-888-333-2333. No physical damage or screen breakage coverage.
Random experience when calling: Seemingly endless voicemail menus, called 3 times, only once did I

finally take to a friendly helpfull representative. Plan is transferable.

Impression: Not impressed

Staples: 2 Year Carry-n Protection Plan with Screen Protection for PDA's/Handhelds $39.99 - 2 year

carry-in protection plan that includes screen protection. 100% parts and labor coverage., Plan is

renewable and transferable. 1-866-782-9155 ***BONUS*** Several times the local staples manager has

thrown in the extended warranty at no charge, when purchasing my PDA's at Staples.

Link here: target=_blank>http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Brow...pe=1&Sku=452035 (http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/Sku.asp?PageType=1&Sku=452035)

Impression: Impressed, Best Value**

Best Buy: 2 - Year Performance Service Plan(Carry-In) PDA $69.99 1-888-BESTBUY. This plan covers

manufacturer's defects in materials and workage that are the result of normal usage.Products,

including those within the original manufacturer's warranty period, may be repaired or replaced with

a comparable product, or Best Buy will issue a voucher for the original purchase price at our

discretion. Could not determine if screen breakage protection is included. Plan is transferable.

Impression: Undecided

CompUSA- 2Yr PDA Replacement Service Plan + Screen Protection $99.00. PDA Carry-In Repair Plan
Repair of your PDA if it becomes inoperable during the duration of the plan. If your covered product

fails**, carry it into any CompUSA location nationwide forrepair. plan includes: Over 225 certified

CompUSA Service Centers, 24/7 Technical Support Call Center, screen protection.

Link here: target=_blank>http://www.compusa.com/products/pro...5419&pfp=SEARCH (http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=295419&pfp=SEARCH)

Impression: Pricey, Not impressed

Palm:2 yr Extended Warranty with Screen Replacement.Extends the original manufacturer's warranty for

another 12 months Provides a one-time replacement of the Palm™ device screen during the term of the

contract Must be within the original manufacturer's warranty to purchase this plan. Can be purchased

for any palm still undercoverage ot the original manufacturers warranty regardless of where

purchased.

Link here:
target=_blank>http://store.palm.com/product/index...parentPage=shop (http://store.palm.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1309096&cp=1179763.1308856&parentPage=shop)

Impression: Impressed, Good Value

The above information is Based on manufacturer's information available online as well as some

personal experience as indicated in text above. Although I usually don't purchase the extended

warranties on my PDA's because I upgrade so frequently, I decided to purchase the Tungsten C

warranty from palm because I felt I would hang on to this unit for over a year and felt the extended

warranty including screen replacement for $39.99 was good value. I have to add that I have never

received service for a PDA under an extended PDA warranty. Perhaps users that have had actual

experience with this can elaborate how the above plans stack up in actual use.

[cerberus]

I love BB plans. Although screen breakage is not covered. I worked as a tech at BB for a few years. PDA screens simply do not break unless excessive force is put on them(i.e. sitting on them, dropping it, etc) We went through a training seminar showing what heat and cold do to a screen and unless you freeze the unit and then stick it into a 350 degree oven, the screen is nearly indestructible. hey can however have defects that cause them to break. If you are willing to work with the people at BB and not jump down their throat at the first sign of a problem, they will most likely give you a replacement.

[kdn102]

I have the CompUSA plan, although high in price it covers any malfunctions, even accidental damage and loss!

I have this feeling my CLIE will be breaking soon. I almost dropped it just now! Had it dropped that would make 4 times. It must be designed in such a way to slip out of my hand easily (yeah, it was quite odd, some guy came to my house one day and wanted a mold of my hand...). So maybe I will be able to report ;)

[berliner]

Anyone know if Best Buy covers accidental damage? My NX-60 has a small crack near the power button. It still is completely functional, but I wonder if my Best Buy warranty will now be worthless because of the crack.

[kdn102]

I am pretty sure it does not. Read the fine print in the warranty booklet. From the online fine print(the plan I found was 69.99):
"This Plan covers manufacturer's defects in materials and workmanship that are the result of normal usage."

[MikeD]

Does the compusa warranty cover for the value of your PDA when you purchased it? Ie: I buy a PDA at $400, 1.5 years and 4 product cycles later ;) I want a new PDA because mine is acting up. So I decide to cash in on this warranty thing. I go to compusa and what will they say? Will they say, "well you spent $400 on this.. so go find something that's $400 and you can get that" ie: store credit for PDAs?? Any idea?

[kdn102]

They were a little unclear about that when I questioned them. Basically you are entitled to ge a new PDA with the same or better features as yours. This is of course open to interpretation.

If you get pissy about it and complain a lot they will probably give you closer to what you paid for it. But if you break it 4 product cycles later, the low end model will most likely be better than then one you are replacing anyway.

[OcellNuri]

The way they do it at my local CompUSA is they give you what you paid for it, and you can apply that towards any other unit. I had a T615, and I paid $415 for it. When it broke, I got $415 towards a new unit.

[ojleblanc]

So am I right to understand that only the CompUSA warranty covers accidental damage??

I spilled a smoothie all over my NX70V the other day and my Clie is, not surprisingly, ruined! I had no extended warranty. (I wish the poll had the following option "Bought no stinkin' extended warranty, now I'm stinkin' sorry!" :) )

When I replace it (ouch!), I'd like to buy an extended warranty, but one that covers accidental damage. Is the CompUSA warranty the only option, then? And will they warranty a PDA even if I do not purchase it from them??

[OcellNuri]

I know that my local CompUSA would cover a smoothie accident. I say "my local CompUSA" because you really have to talk to each store and see what they will and will not cover.

When I bought my plan, I drilled them hard. They said it covered accidental damage.

"So if I drop it, it's covered?"
"Yes"
"If I drop it face down in mud, it's covered?"
"Yup"
"If I leave it behind my car, and back over it, it is covered here?"
"As long as you didn't mean to do it, yes."
"Wow."

That is an exact dialog I had with the salesman.

[ojleblanc]

Thanks, Ocell. That's informative and funny!

[MikeD]

I bought my Clie nr70v from Dell.com with discounts and they sold me a protection plan. I don't know if they're still allowed to do that but I have the receipt here with my clies SN on the receipt showing I have the protection. We'll see what happens though when that new clie comes out and I go to upgrade... I'll just tell them about the MS bug... (or back up over it in my car! ;) )