Notebook Warranty help - ServiceNet vs WaCA vs Acer Advantage

I am thinking about purchasing the new TravelMate 8210.

I want to get an extended warranty but don't know who I should get it through.

Some sites such as Newegg.com or CDW.com offer an extended warranty through ServiceNet.

Other websites such as Buy.com or TigerDirect.com offer an extended warranty though WaCA.

Another option would just buy an extended warranty through Acer Advantage. I see that Newegg.com also sells the Acer Advantage extension warranty for about 1/3 the price of acer, shown here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834999066

The only problem is that I don't see the TravelMate 8210 listed as a compatible model. Do you think it would be compatible anyway?

I want to have a warranty service that sends me the replacement part first before I send back the defective part. I also, do not want to have to send in my whole laptop in, just for one part to be repaired.

Out of the three services listed above, what are people's recommendations?

 

Anyone???????

 

Um, I got the Acer Warrenty (from CDW if I recall) which seems to be fine, of coruse I've not had to use it yet (and touch wood I won't).

Unfortunately no clue what those other two are like, I got the Acer one simply because it will cover me in foreign countries (and to be honest I had no idea the other two existed, but the Acer one as opposed to say a Best Buy or Circuit City one).

 

With the Acer warranty.... If a part were to go bad such as a hard drive; would they send you the replacement part first and then you send the defective part back or do you need to send in the part in first?

 

I would be utterly surprised if it was anything other than the later (and I've not checked but).

Most of the "cheaper" notebook warrenties work in the "you send us the notebook, we confirm what's broken, fix it, and send it back" variety. Unfortunately the normal user doesn't have a clue what's wrong (most of the time) with his notebook, so for a manufacturer to rely on the user to say what's wrong is unlikely.

 

The problem is that I would use the laptop everyday and wouldnt be able to send in the whole system to be without it for a week or so. If that is the case with Acer's warranty then I may need to look for an alternative.

I currently have a dell and they always send out the replacement part before I send back the defective one.

 

Well I'm somewhat used to Toshiba (my last few laptops) who definately did not send out replacement parts first, then again I never asked for it.

I'd say you're going to have to call each of the possible warrenty people and check to see if they do that, and make sure it's listed in the details of the warrenty. I have a spare backup computer because the number of times my motherboard has died is... too many (not that often, and never yet with my Acer, but I've gone through about 4 toshiba motherboards).