Warranty Poll...

[Nomad-Man]

Looking at the dxu it comes with a 3 yr warranty and the FVU (which a lot of people here seem to recommend) comes with a one year warranty.
Of course price is different as is specs, but im wondering if a 3 year warranty is worth the extra $.
Alot of people claim that if anything is going to go wrong, it will in the first year of ownership.

So my question is

If you got a One year warranty.. Did you end up upgrading your one year warranty or not.

[Tan Mann]

I did...wiht 3 different models in the past...

let's face it...it is a notebook... if is for mobile use...it will get bang up a bit...the few pesos required to get the warranty up to 3 years is very much worth it as far as I am concerned...

As I am technically competent, I just went with the EZserv Depot warranty upgrade...In the past, IBM has sent replacement parts to me to fix anything that went wrong up to and including a BMDC card that I fried accidentally...

[admsteiner]

I upgraded my 2378-FVU to a 3 year on site warranty with thinkpad protection.

In retrospect I'm not sure I needed onsite vs. depot, but as I planned on having this laptop last until I finish law school, three years was a must. Furthermore, I prefer to be able to treat my laptop like a normal possession and not worry about putting books on it, giving it a light toss onto a table, spilling on it, etc so I went with the accidental protection (primarily for the LCD).

Whenever I've sold a thinkpad to a friend (6 in the last few months...helps when ppl think you're the computer guru) I've always told them to get the TPP.

Adam

[Nomad-Man]

Ok so my next question is.. whats the difference between the
Thinkpad protection and warranty service upgrade?
you can get either for the same period of time.

[JHEM]

Warranty covers defects and failures in the Thinkpad. HD die? Covered. MB release the magic smoke? Covered. USB stop working? Covered.

TPP covers the Thinkpad against damage you inflict on it. Your roomie uses the display to crack walnuts? Covered. You fall into the pool with your Thinkpad on your shoulder while negotiating the crowd around the bar at a kegger? Covered.

Regards,

James

[craigg]

I almost never buy an extended warranty for any consumer electronics. I use either a Visa Platinum or Signature card and get double the one year warranty on most items anyway. I rarely keep any computer more than two years and at that time they have already depreciated significantly anyway. Most extended warranties are nothing but pure profit for the marketers. Companies like Best Buy practically live off the profits of the extended warranties they sell and their sales reps are trained to push them. My Thinkpad came with a 3 yr warranty but if I could have bought it for less without it I would have.

[baraider]

come to think of it, most credit card double the warranty....so if i buy the tp with my amex and the tp has a standard 3 years warranty, does that means i have 6 years warranty with amex?

[davidlg16]

I think you get 4 yrs...

come to think of it, most credit card double the warranty....so if i buy the tp with my amex and the tp has a standard 3 years warranty, does that means i have 6 years warranty with amex?

[Leon]

Read the small print on your CC warranty extension carefully.

Thinkpad warrantys are an exception to the usually (accurately described) extended warranty "racket" described above. Thinkpad warrantys are designed and priced to be a value added service at a VERY good price/performance point. Their availability, comprehensiveness, and pricing are one of the reasons that I bought a Thinkpad. Wouldn't/don't leave home without either one.

Even if you anticipate an early resale, the warranty is 100% transferable, and will greatly increase the saleability and usually the price.

[JHEM]

come to think of it, most credit card double the warranty....so if i buy the tp with my amex and the tp has a standard 3 years warranty, does that means i have 6 years warranty with amex?

All of the ones I'm familiar with, especially the AMEX cards, will double the standard warranty up to one additional year.

Regards,

James

[Nomad-Man]

So the 3 year warranty on the DXU then is just a normal warranty.
NOT thinkpad protection?

[craigg]

The Visa Signature program extends the original warranty for one additional year and provides the exact same benefits as the original warranty. I am not saying that the IBM extended warranty is bad but for many they're just duplicating coverage that they already can receive for free. Here is the fine print:

Warranty Manager Service offers Extended Warranty Protection
coverage that doubles the free repair period under the original
manufacturer’s written U.S. repair warranty up to one (1) additional
year on eligible warranties of three (3) years or less when an item is
purchased entirely with your eligible Visa Signature card.

Once your claim has been verified, the item will be repaired or
replaced at the sole option of the insurance provider, but for no
more than the original purchase price of the covered item, up to a
maximum of $10,000, as recorded on your Visa Signature card
receipt, and $50,000 maximum per cardholder.

Extended Warranty Protection will pay the facility directly for repairs, if
possible, or you may go to an authorized repair facility and file a
claim for reimbursement.

[Leon]

It is NOT a bad thing... but just to be clear:

It will NOT add to Thinkpad Protection (if you get it from IBM), ONLY the original repair warranty;

If you rely on the CC warranty after he IBM one runs out, you CANNOT extend further with IBM if you desire.

Not saying that people shouldn't utilize this; only that they should have all the facts.

[JHEM]

It is NOT a bad thing... but just to be clear:

AND the CC warranty is not as painless as calling EZServe and getting them to send you a shipping box.

It's not a bad process with AMEX, at least not in the 4 occasions I've had to resort to them, but you do need to clear a few hurdles first including: proof of purchase, proof of original warranty, and getting a repair estimate on your own.

But it is nice to be reimbursed the total original purchase price of, for instance, a 2YO 2MP digital camera that is positively ancient by today's standards.

Regards,

James