BestBuy and "Performance Service Plan"

[tc17]

I was wondering if anyone knows whether BestBuy's "Performance Service Plan" is worth it? Or just a ripoff?

I purchased an IP4000 printer from them recently for $128 (with tax) and was debating if I should get their extended warranty (PSP) (3 years for $29).

I did a search on Google, and read conflicting comments. Although I did see that two States were suing Bestbuy for several things, one of them for not honoring some products covered under their "Performance Service Plan".

Right now I kind of doubt I will buy it. But am not certain.

Thanks for any replies.

 

[Insomniak]

We sell the same deals at Office Max, known as "Max Assurance". They're worth it on a couple items - mostly stuff with a break risk like digital cameras or PDAs. For printers, PCs, stuff that's just going to sit at home I wouldn't waste the cash. The odds that something like that will crap out while you're covered are pretty low.

Bottom line, if it's something you'll have with you when you're out and active (digicams, PDAs...maybe flash drives...) you might want to consider it. Other than that, I wouldn't bother - unless of course you're buying from me, in which case you definitely need it. Employees who sell these things get a SPIFF (comission) on them in their paychecks usually.

 

[Comp625]

Haha, not us at Staples. SPIFFs are no longer a thing of today but we're still pushed to sell our service plans. From Staples, they're actually quite worth it for on-the-go items that are likely to break if the user f-ed up.

 

[tc17]

Do these types of plans cover you even if you use generic compatible ink instead of the manufacturers ink?

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: tc17
Do these types of plans cover you even if you use generic compatible ink instead of the manufacturers ink?

You're pretty much insuring your money. The terms of most of these agreements are "If you don't hit it with a sledgehammer, we'll refund your money in the form of a gift card".

 

[BlueWeasel]

I agree with the others. Unless it's a high priced item that you'd be using on the go with a higher chance of dropping/breaking it (ie, an Ipod or PDA), then I wouldn't bother.

 

[Tanner]

I like used items w/ the plan. I had a cellphone from a user here that the battery continually died on after I had it for a while from them...took it back and AMAZINGLY ENough, BB just said, well, you've got $180 worth...pick a phone! SWEEEEEEEEEET!

good luck having that kind of service from BB. I was inline recently trying to straighten out a problem...and they were arguing w/ someone over a service plan on what appeared to be a brand new TV...who knows Y.

you've got to figure, they do NOT sell the service plans to help YOU. They're selling them b/c they make $$$$ OFF OF THEM sadly

 

[SeTeS]

Yeah, I had that plan on some nokia 8290's i got from BB. Both phones crapped out twice in 2 years, and in the end I got full credit and got a couple of t68i's instead.

Since then, I usually opt for cheap deals at amazon or the like.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Insomniak
We sell the same deals at Office Max, known as "Max Assurance". They're worth it on a couple items - mostly stuff with a break risk like digital cameras or PDAs.

Just a couple of minor questions about those plans, specifically at OM - are they "money back" or "product replacement" plans? Do you need to "register" them online in order for them to be valid at all, or is that only to obtain the extra month of warranty coverage, in exchange for giving up my personal details for marketing purposes? Just curious, I bought a couple of them to go with a pair of cheap clearance CD-RW drives I purchased a while back. I was told that I would get a replacement equivalent product, so I figured that it would be a cheap gamble, in case the drive does break, I would probably end up with a DVD-burner or combo-drive replacement. For an extra $4, I figured it was worth the gamble.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Just a couple of minor questions about those plans, specifically at OM - are they "money back" or "product replacement" plans?

Product replacement is usually how we refer to them. The actual course of action is that if your product fails, you are sent a gift card by mail for the full amount you paid at the register, including sales tax. If you got any mail-in rebates after the register, you get to keep that money. It is not discounted from your gift card refund.

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Do you need to "register" them online in order for them to be valid at all, or is that only to obtain the extra month of warranty coverage, in exchange for giving up my personal details for marketing purposes?

That is just to get the extra month for giving up personal details.

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Just curious, I bought a couple of them to go with a pair of cheap clearance CD-RW drives I purchased a while back. I was told that I would get a replacement equivalent product, so I figured that it would be a cheap gamble, in case the drive does break, I would probably end up with a DVD-burner or combo-drive replacement. For an extra $4, I figured it was worth the gamble.

As mentioned, if they break, you'll get a gift card for what you paid for them, including tax. This is assuming you did not hit them with a sledgehammer or set them on fire, etc.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Insomniak

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Just a couple of minor questions about those plans, specifically at OM - are they "money back" or "product replacement" plans?

Product replacement is usually how we refer to them. The actual course of action is that if your product fails, you are sent a gift card by mail for the full amount you paid at the register, including sales tax.

That doesn't actually sound like "product replacement" to me. (Sounds like "purchase-price refund" - I fear that I may have been mislead.) I'm not bitter, of course, I knew that I took a gamble.. I guess I should dig out the paperwork to find out what the fine print says for certain.

Originally posted by: Insomniak
As mentioned, if they break, you'll get a gift card for what you paid for them, including tax. This is assuming you did not hit them with a sledgehammer or set them on fire, etc.

Nah, I don't do fraud. I figured when I bought them that they would probably be cheap taiwanese-made drives that might fail in a year on their own, but so far, I'm actually pretty impressed with them. They were a pair of Benq 5224P CD-RWs, sold in 48X I/O Magic boxes. They're actually quieter than my Sony/Lite-On 52X, and have the front-panel play/stop controls.