Third Party Warranties

I spent Christmas with my younger sister this year. In addition to her husband, she has two sons, ages 11 and 13. Like a lot of households in that demographic, several electronic gifts were opened on Christmas morning.

My sister, who is meticulous in her research, was interested in finding the best deal she could on warranties for the high-priced equipment that would soon be in the hands of her rambunctious offspring. She found a company called Square Trade. Numerous excellent reviews in hand, she decided to take the plunge.

She was able to purchase inexpensive warranties for a DVD player, a Nintendo Wii, an iPod Touch and a digital camera. In all cases she was able to get coverage well under the cost that the individual manufacturers were offering.

Shortly after purchasing my Kindle, I received an email from Amazon urging me to purchase a two-year warranty on my new device for $65. Remembering my sister’s experience, I went to Square Trade to see what they had to offer. iPhones, iPods and Kindles require an additional optional premium for coverage of their glass faces, which can be shattered when dropped. (Having had the glass on my iPhone break in just this way I can attest to how easily it happens!)

I purchased a three-year warranty, including the added premium for $43.99. I had to enter the date I purchased the device and what I paid for it. Square Trade is also willing to hang on to your receipts if you scan them and email or fax them to the company. They are quick to point out that this does not preclude you from having to produce the original receipt if required. Square Trade guarantees to either fix the device or replace it, following the purchased coverage.

Neither my sister nor I have had to file a claim with Square Trade and clearly the ‘proof is in the pudding”, which I can’t provide. Nevertheless, a web search reveals many good reviews of people who have had to file claims with them. Obviously I’m hoping I won’t need to find out if they’ll come through, much preferring my Kindle never has any problems; having said that, I feel pretty confident that Square Trade will come through if needed.

Square Trade will warranty equipment within three months of purchase. If you have something you’d like to warranty but are hesitant to pay the price the manufacturer is offering for coverage, you might want to stop by Square Trade and check out their prices.