Extending the Warrantee - Is it Worth It?

I'm about to purchase one of the new "S170" models and I noticed that the standard warrantee is only a year. Upgrading by adding another two years costs $200.

Can anyone tell me, based on their experience with SONY, should I pay the extra $200 for the two years?

Please help - I'd like to order it tomorrow night.

 

I don't have any experience with the Sony's, but I do have experience in extended warranties. I would definately get the warranty.

Let me tell you a story (the picture goes wavy and we're now in the past [ ]). My brother's girlfriend bought a Toshiba notebook 3+ years ago and I recommended the extended warranty. Luckily she bought it because 2+ years later, she had replaced the LCD, systemboard, modem harness and keyboard (a few times). All these repairs, if not covered under the extended warranty, would have cost her close to $2000 Canadian. With that, she could have bought herself another notebook, talk about a HUGE savings. (Story over, picture goes wavy again and we're back to the present [ ])

Some people may recommend against it and others may recommend putting it under your insurance, but I don't think your insurance will cover standard wear & tear repairs. Getting the extended warranty is one of the best insurance policies you can get for your notebook. If they have an Accidental Coverage warranty, you may want to consider that if you're accident prone or you travel A LOT with your notebook. That will also cover your notebook if you drop it (by accident of course).

-Vb-

 

I ordered my S170 last week and had a real hard time deciding on extended warrantee. In the end I paid the extra $200 because I intend to have this laptop in use for at least 3 years as I usually pass it down to someone else in the company once something better attacks me. Plus I ordered the DVD burner and intend to use the drive a lot and don't want to worry about wearing it out. I intend to use the laptop pretty hard and the idea of knowing I don't have to worry about paying a huge repair bill makes it worth the extra cabbage.

 

Last night I spent almost an hour on the phone with a VERY helpful sales rep at Sony and learned about some sneaky bits on their extended warrantee.

The one available on the website for a two-year extension. Even if you get this, you're only covered for 90 days on labor.

If you order by phone, additional options are available, including one warrantee called "Onsite Service plus Accidental Damage Protection". This includes 100% on parts, 100% on labor and they will send a SONY technician to your home or office within 24-48 hours to repair the unit onsite if possible. In addition, even accidental damage (excluding abuse and neglect, such as leaving the laptop in a locked car for hours in over 100 degree heat) is covered. So if you drop the machine and destroy the display, it's covered.

I'm glad I checked with them. I think I'm going for one of the warrantee options available by phone.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Gilthoniel

 

I'd also be interested to know the price for an additional two years "Onsite Service plus Accidental Damage Protection" warranty.

 

Gilthoniel,

What did you mean that you're only covered for 90days on the labor? So after the standard 1 year, you only get 3 months of labor coverage in your 2 year extension?
I know that Toshiba for example, will repair a part on your unit under the extended warranty. The part is covered by a 90day warranty or the remainder of the existing system warranty whichever one is longer. If the part fails again within the 90days or remaining system warranty, they will do the repair free. Is it possible this is what they meant? If not, that's pretty much a bait & switch. Get you to buy the cheaper warranty and then when you find out about the catches, you switch to their more expensive warranty.

-Vb-

 

No, I mean that, even on the standard one year warrantee it's only 1 year on parts, 90 days on labor and 90 days on software.

Here are the options that the sales rep led me through:

OPTION 1 - Express Ship Extended Service
Includes 100% Parts and Labor, plus express shipment of the machine back and forth.
1 Yr = $125
2 Yr = $200
3 Yr = $330

OPTION 2 - OnSite Warrantee
Includes 100% Parts & Labor, plus, if you problem can't be fixed over the phone, a Sony tech will come to your home or office within 24-48 hours and attempt onsite repair. If that's unsuccessful, he'll take it with him. This version does NOT cover accidental damage, but it's possible that your personal property may be covered for accidental damage on your home owner's insurance policy.

2 Yr = $154
3 Yr = $250
4 Yr = $360

OPTION 3 - OnSite with Accidental Damage Coverage
This is the same as Option 2, but it also covers accidental damage such as dropping the machine or having something smash into it. This does NOT cover negligence, such as leaving it locked in a car for 5 hours in 120 degree heat.

2 Yr = $200
3 Yr = $316
4 Yr = $440

All these warrantees replace the existing warrantee. That is, they start as soon as you register the machine with Sony.

I hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the great info. I presume the "years" of option 2 & 3 are typos and are actually 1, 2, & 3 yrs? (or the other way around, option 1 should be 2, 3, & 4 yrs). Kind of odd that better options are actually cheaper.[ )]

 

If that's how their basic warranty works, then I'm not touching Sony products. I'll just stick with the HP & Toshiba lines.

-Vb-

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Venombite

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Gilthoniel

No, I mean that, even on the standard one year warrantee it's only 1 year on parts, 90 days on labor and 90 days on software.<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

Thanks for all the info, Gilthoniel.

I know you called Sony and talked with them at length, but reading the online details of the Warranty option, I found the following:

<blockquote id='quote'>quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>1- Year Limited Warranty Statement
SONY ELECTRONICS INC. ("SONY") warrants this computer hardware product ("Product") as follows:
Labor: For a period of twelve (12) calendar months from the original date of purchase, SONY will repair defects in the Product (for notebook computers: this does not include the supplied battery pack) at no charge, or pay the associated labor charges to a SONY authorized personal computer service facility. After the applicable period you must pay for all labor charges.

Parts (for notebook computers: this does not include the supplied battery pack): For a period of twelve (12) calendar months from the original date of purchase, SONY will supply, at no charge, new or rebuilt, at SONY's option, replacement parts in exchange for parts. Any replacement parts will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or ninety (90) calendar days from installation by SONY's authorized personal computer service facility, whichever is longer.

This Limited Warranty covers only the hardware components packaged with the Product. It does not cover technical assistance for hardware or software usage and it does not cover any software products whether or not contained in the Product; any such software is provided "AS IS" unless expressly provided for in any enclosed software Limited Warranty.<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

So, either the website is wrong (and you have a legitimate claim to 1-year Parts AND Labor until they correct the error), or the person on the phone was mistaken on the Labor.

The sales people at Sony have recently made a few mistakes on the details of the S and A series since the products are brand new, so I wouldn't put it past them to make an error on a warranty detail.

 

Darrow,

That looks more like what I was indicating before. That's how Toshiba does their warranties. That would definitely be more reasonable than the 90 day labor on a 1 year warranty. If it is actually 90 days labor standard warranty, I'm sure most people would probably return their Sony notebooks to go for another brand. Or at least I would.

-Vb-

 

I found this discussion of purchasing a Sony extended warranty from another vendor on Sony TR World Forum:

Extended Warrany with Accidental Damage Protection from CDW

VAIO NB ONSITE & ACCIDENTAL 3YR SEE NOTE $266 (CostCentral)

Sony VAIO Service Pack 3 Year Onsite Service $249.95 (CDW)
Sony VAIO Service Pack 3 Year ADP and Onsite Service $315.99 (CDW)

Accidental Damage Protection may NOT be sold in the following states: AK, AR, DC, DE, FL, IA, ID, LA, MA, MN, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>it list for $315 but ask for them to sell it to you for $275

you can also cancel it at any time and get a prorated portion back.<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>
3-Year Accidental Damage Protection Extended Service for Sony VAIO Notebooks $278.99 (Ecost - possibly only if you purchase notebook there)

Sony PDF explaining extended warranty options

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Skyshade