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I like to get the most for my money, and really, who doesn't? Maybe you've been faced with the same dilemma as I have when preparing to fork over hard earned dough to procure a new piece of technology. I'm talking about that awkward moment when the salesperson or cashier asks you if you'd like to buy the warranty to cover your purchase. I sometimes had no idea what to do, especially when asked on the spur of the moment at the tail end of the sale.
One particularly lucid day, I answered this profound question with yet another question, which is always an excellent tactic in these sort of situations where you need to buy time, I guess. I inquired as to if I could buy the item now, and take the extended warranty literature home with me to peruse at my leisure to see what was covered, possibly to come back within the return period to purchase the warranty for my item. Bingo! At that store, it was no problem to do just that. I paid for my purchase, took the pamphlet and gave myself the time to thoroughly interpret and understand what was included under their terms. It worked out well for all parties involved, too. I eventually came back and bought the warranty, and that warranty in turn covered my item when it totally putzed out on me two and a half years later. Epic win.
Policy will vary from one store to another, but most of the time they are so eager to sell the insurance to us that they won't turn you away from buying it a reasonably short time later. Provided that you are within the return period, you bring the receipt and perhaps bring the item with you back in to the store as well, to prove that it's not already been damaged since you took it home, most stores will happily oblige, but make sure you don't forget to ask before you make the purchase. Plus, as far as value for your individual lifestyle, if you're like my friend who is always way too busy to bother with such trivialities or maybe just don't want to deal with paperwork or warranties and are willing to gamble on the purchase, then you may want to pass up extended coverage altogether.
Before making your final decision, make sure that you understand what will and will not be covered under the terms of the agreement. I tend to drop cell phones. Often. Oh, and cameras, too. I know what types of destruction I tend to incur most often. It's the little victories, you know? I have avoided immersing my technology in water for quite some time, and that's a darn good thing. Most cell phone, computer and camera warranties do not cover water damage, and many don't cover droppage. Different cell phone carriers cover different things under their corporate insurance plans, too, so you'll want to check with the carrier you are considering before you make any commitments.
But occasionally they do cover those types of incidents, and some stores now offer an additional extended warranty for an extra charge that will cover water damage to certain items. I found a store that would cover water damage, total breakage, and even vandalism under their warranty, offering a gift card for the store in the full amount of the original purchase, minus the cost of the insurance plan. Plus, if the item were to stop working due to no fault of my own, they would make a few reasonable attempts to repair the item to like new quality, or else replace both it and the warranty. That store won my business, and I bought my camera from them that very same day. It feels amazing to take it to the beach during Florida's stormy season, knowing that I will still have a camera even if it gets soaked or sandy.
Take a little time to thoroughly understand the terms of the extended warranty coverage you're offered. You may find that the warranty is just a waste of money at one store, while another store offers an unbelievable value. That can make all the difference in how much of a bargain you end up with in the long run.
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