Technology is becoming more and more essential in our daily lives. Most, if not all, of us are wildly connected to the computers, smartphones, and other devices that make productivity in the modern world possible. As these different devices become more essential, it becomes important to protect and warranty them against damage or malfunction. The problem is that most manufacturer’s warranties are terribly limited, and extended warranties tend to be rip-offs. SquareTrade Warranties, on the other hand, offer a comprehensive warranty with very little risk of loss.
Not only are SquareTrade Warranties cheaper than every other extended warranty I have seen, but they also offer a broad-range of services and perks that make them a viable choice for gadget lovers. Also, SquareTrade Warranties are available to Ebay patrons; they are the only company I have seen that offer warranties for technologies that you can buy second hand. SquareTrade’s best feature, however, is the ability to cancel a warranty at will – a must in our rapidly evolving technology landscape – but more on that later.
What Makes SquareTrade Warranties Worth It?
First, SquareTrade Warranties offer fantastic benefits. All Warranties come with these basic coverages:
They cover 100% of parts and labor and, for everything except cell phones, replacements are made with zero deductibles.
If the item cannot be fixed, SquareTrade will refund the item price.
SquareTrade offers free in-home service for large TVs and appliances.
All warranty claims come with a five-day service guarantee.
You can cancel or transfer anytime.
Many of these features are similar to other company’s extended warranties. BestBuy offers similar features, but a SquareTrade warranty costs much, much less. For example, an extended warranty on a $299 PS3 would cost $59.99 from best buy, but the SquareTrade warranty costs only $38.99. For $16 more, you can add accidental damage coverage to your SquareTrade Warranty, and it is still a better deal than the BestBuy Warranty. With the Accidental Handling Coverage, you get a replacement of your PS3, with no deductible, even if you spill something on it or drop it. There are no other warranties that are as affordable and cover so much.
Secondly, SquareTrade Warranties are the only option for many Ebay buyers. For example, my son purchased a used iPod Touch on Ebay. He was able to get a warranty on the device for an additional $16.99. The battery on iPod Touch stopped holding a charge after two months. There was no AppleCare protection, and PayPal could do nothing; with SquareTrade, we received our money back. We were then able to move forward on another device. The exchange only cost us $17. Overall, we were very pleased; $17 was certainly worth the piece of mind.
Thirdly, there are coupons, and lots of them. A quick search on coupon sites reveals discount coupons for SquareTrade from 10% – 20%. Overall, this makes an affordable warranty a steal. Had we used a coupon on my son’s iPod, we would have saved an additional $3.50.
Lastly, they have a very liberal and generous refund policy. This year alone, I have upgraded computers three times. I am drawn to easily droppable and fragile tablet style devices, and so a warranty is a must. SquareTrade gave me a very reasonable deal on warranties that include Accidental Handling Coverage for less than $100. Every time I sold a device and upgraded, I was able to cancel the warranty and get cash back. Yes the refunds were prorated, but I only lost a few dollars each time. The SquareTrade Warranty on My HP TouchSmart was similar to an extend HP warranty, but it cost over $200 less. When I sold the TouchSmart to move to an Asus T101MT, I actually pocketed a few dollars on the warranty refund.
For me, an overprotective gadget-addict, extended warranties are always tempting, but the cost and limitations have always scared me away. SquareTrade Warranties, with their affordable options, complete coverage, and generous cancellation options has moved extended warranties from the temptation column to the no-brainer column.
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/squaretrade.com
