Sony ADH not available -- Alternative warranty?

Just got off the phone with Sony and found out that you can only purcahse the accidental damage coverage from Sony if you buy the laptop from them.

Since I picked up my laptop from Amazon, I cannot get ADH.

I feel pretty strongly about having ADH coverage and am curious if any of you have picked this up through a third party. In particular I would like something that will cover the machine from:

Normal mechanical failure
Water damage
Being dropped/sat on

The base of the laptop is extremely sturdy but the screen is disturbingly flexible. I will not keep the laptop if I cannot get accidental coverage.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

I purchased a 3 year warranty with ADH from SquareTrade. There's a 20% off coupon lying around. When you go to the website, click on "Laptop Warranty" at the bottom of the page.

 

I purchased mine from NewEgg.com, I also saw them for sale at BHphotovideo.com. It's also substantiably cheaper if you order from a third party. I purchased my Z from J&R and my Warranty from Newegg and had no trouble activating it online, though i purchased them on the same day.

 

How do you add ADH to SquareTrade? It says it can be done during checkout but the option never shows up, unless it is not allowed if the cost of the laptop exceeds a certain amount...

 

You have to click on "Laptop Warranty" at the bottom of the page in order to go through the ordering process where you specify price range and ADH. Don't click on the "Get a Warranty" link on the home page.

 

As I thought, $1999 is the cap w/ ADH and costs $400. Any higher cost for the laptop and it is just the standard warranty.

 

Your information is incorrect. You can get Sony branded extended warranty with accidental coverage from other vendors. This includes:

1. The warranty itself.
2. For laptops purchased from authorized Sony dealers.

However, you have to purchase the warranty within 30 days of purchasing the laptop as shown on the receipt.

 

Some have voiced concerns over Sony actually honoring the ADH side of the warranty if purchased from an authorized vendor. Any thoughts?

 

Could you direct me to a place that would sell one?

The laptop was purchased through Amazon (Amazon themselves, not a marketplace vendor). It was purchased 25 days ago, so within the 30. The Sony rep said that ADH is only available on laptops purchased from Sony directly. He was happy to sell a non-ADH. I appreciate that they are often wrong about stuff like this but he wasn't a support person - he was the guy who was trying to sell me a warranty.

Edit: is this what you're talking about? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834996264 I'd hate to buy it and find out it's not for my model or something, and there's no clear indication. You can search the Sony part number and find lots of places selling it, but I'm not 100% sure it's the right part.

I need a guarantee for my warranty!

 

I don't feel like taking a chance that ADH would work, so I'm looking at a Square Trade warranty. I've e-mailed them asking if the $1999 cap is usable for a laptop costing more than that. If so, I'll just do that and eat the (small) difference if there's ever a total loss.

Will post back with their reply as others may find it useful.

 

Yeah, yeah, I keep replying to myself.

Anyway - SquareTrade will NOT give ADH on a Z purchased from Amazon, regardless of when you buy it apparently.

Really surprised/annoyed as Sony won't either. Which means there's apparently no way to get true ADH coverage unless you buy it through Sony.

 

What? That sounds really weird. Amazon themselves sell a SquareTrade 3-Year Laptop Warranty with ADH for Laptops $1500-2000. It specifically states in the item description:

"Your item must have been bought on Amazon. If you bought your item elsewhere, please call SquareTrade at 1.877.WARRANTY."

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002I01TZA/

 

Emailed them that link and asked if they could explain.

I'm inclined to just buy it and see what happens.

Loved Tremors, by the way. Great job.

 

theres a check box that allows you to add adh after you hit get quote

you can try earlyspring10 and see if you can still get 30%

 

Thanks - I went ahead and did that and it all came through fine.

I have no clue what the e-mails I have were talking about as they made no sense. Among other things they gave me a quote that was far over the price listed on their website - $349 for 3 years with NO ADH (I asked for clarification twice); the website sells that package for 199.


Hah. I just had another e-mail from SquareTrade After typing the above and before clicking to Post. They've apologized and said that the website warranty with ADH works fine with the Z.

So questions answered:

How does the coverage work?
1. If the ST goes up to $1999 and you have a Z worth more, they will either repair it or cut you a check for $1999. This makes it a good option for models close to the 2K price but not for the really high end units.

Is it prorated?
2. ADH does fully work right up until the end. If in year 3 the machine were destroyed in compliance with the contract they would give you the full $1999. It's not pro-rated for payout.

What is the cost?
3. The above code does still work. I picked up a 3 year ADH for $349.

When does it work?
4. The disclaimers on their site apply - notably, if you buy the warranty after the laptop, ADH doesn't kick in for 30 days. The normal coverage starts immediately but they seem to rely on the Sony warranty until it expires anyway.

 

hi guys,
did anyone ever use ST to fix your computer? i bought 3 year express shipping from sony but 30 days have gone and i cant get ADH. and they are way more expensive than ST.... so i'm thinking of cancelling sony contract and get the ST one.
anyone with experience on this?
thanks

 

I have no experience with the repair side on a computer, but a few coworkers have had them on TVs and other electronics and spoke very highly of them. In particular, they indicated that claiming a problem wasn't met with instant refusal or any other BS.

I used Warranty Direct on a car once and had to fight for hours for every thing I asked them to do. It was horrendous and in one case they agreed to do one thing on the phone then told my mechanic to bill 80% to them and 20% to me for a fully covered repair. Left me extremely skeptical about 3rd party warranty products, but I still bought the ST.

 

hmm i read some mixed review online. it seems that they often not repairing the computer and give you the price of the computer. i'm just thinking about the ADH... though my compt isn't the high end Z but i heard that vaio is quite fragile

 

I'd be fine if they just paid out the repair cost, but I'm also happy upgrading my hardware ever 6 months

On top of that, I'm very close to their limit. If I was far off from it then I'd not buy this warranty.

 

So I had a question, the Z I bought was $2,099 but I got it with BCB making it $1,795.

When buying the ST warranty, should I put $2,099 or $1,795.

Thanks for your help!

EDIT- I also want Accidental coverage and just realized it cannot exceed $2,000, so in this case, can I simply put $2,000? Don't know if that's lying or anything lol

 

You might want to check with ST, but I'd check and check again. And maybe then call them.

I'd insure it for what it would cost you to replace it. If you can buy it again for $1795 then that's the right price.

 

Thanks for your reply! Well I spoke to a rep AND emailed them like you said. Fortunately (or Unfortunately lol) I got the same person each time. Basically the rep told me that I could put the $1795 value in if I had proof of both receipts to show my total as $1795.

I tried getting him to give me the ADH past the $2,000 mark but he insisted it was policy and whatnot.

Anyway, some more useful information for members is a 20% off code. The previously mentioned code was only good for 10% off now (probably because it expired or something), but I tried this one and it worked for 20% off.

Square Trade 20% off code: RGF44BBY

Enjoy