Extended warranty?

[danbob6144 170]

I recently purchased a Canon Rebel T3 and was 'pressured' by the salesperson to get their two-year extended warranty. He noted that the warranty would pay for yearly cleanings and suggested this involved taking the camera apart and cleaning it. He suggested this was an important protection.

While I almost never purchase an extended warranty on consumer items, I'm torn about this one, since I don't have any experience with a DSLR. I only plan to use the camera in normal indoor and outdoor settings, i.e., not climbing mountains or kayaking. Plus, I'm pretty careful about how I handle these types of items. What are your thoughts about getting this warranty?

Thanks
Dan

 

[KmH]

Is it transferable? The camera makers warranty isn't.

Extended warranties have big profit margins and stores often provide sales people with extra $$ incentives (spiff) for selling them.

I quit buying new gear years ago because I decided even the camera makers warranty wasn't worth the extra cost of buying new.

 

[danbob6144 170]

I agree about the high profit margins connected with store-warranties. In this case, the warranty isn't transferable, but the service is supposedly provided by their in-house staff.

 

[christian.rudman]

Check out Mack Warranties. They are pretty clean, and the Diamond Service plans are superb. We sell them at my camera store for new and used equipment (and they are transferable), and the Diamond plans even have accident protection for the little things that happen. Obviously our sales staff gets some nice spiffs off of these, but check them out yourself and I get nothing extra for pushing them. Just a nice little bit of insurance to have.

 

[joealcantar]

I agree about the high profit margins connected with store-warranties. In this case, the warranty isn't transferable, but the service is supposedly provided by their in-house staff.

Who is the company? all depends on who is servicing the equipment and the turn-around time. Hey if you can get your monies worth out of the cleanings etc. make em do it.
-
Shoot well, Joe

 

[danbob6144 170]

I bought the camera from Best Buy and they use an 'outside' company (salesman didn't have the name) to do the cleaning.

So you think there's something valuable to be gained from an annual cleaning?

 

[tirediron]

I ... What are your thoughts about getting this warranty?

Be quicker and easier just to slip the $100 or however much they're trying to gouge you in the salesman's pocket on the way out. The only cleaning they're likely to do is to take the lens off and blow out the mirror chamber and sensor; something you can do yourself with a minimal equipment investment. My recommendation would be to buy your camera gear from a REAL camera store even if it means paying slightly more.

 

[kundalini]

Buying extended warranties is a suckers game. No offence.

 

[Gaerek]

I bought the camera from Best Buy and they use an 'outside' company (salesman didn't have the name) to do the cleaning.

So you think there's something valuable to be gained from an annual cleaning?

I guess I would want to know what they mean by cleaning? The most cleaning most cameras might need is a sensor cleaning, and that can be done by you (don't try it, untlil you've looked up how to do it first). My thought is this. They're pressuring the warranty for a reason. Do you know what it covers? Is it only an extension of the manufacturers warranty (usually defects and non-wear and tear issues)? Does it cover more (theft, loss, accidental damage)? If I remember right, Best Buy's warranties are ok, but they're going to try to weasle out of it any way they can.

To answer your question, cleaning is good. Check out what sensor cleaning kits cost. Check out what it costs to have someone do it. Compare to what you're paying for the warranty. Now decide for yourself if it's worth it. I personally don't purchase them. I've done so in the past and never needed them. I stopped several years ago, and haven't had any issues with anything I've bought (and I've bought a lot) that would have been covered. However, since you do have it, milk it for all it's worth.

 

[danbob6144 170]

Thanks for the input. Turns out I can 'return' the warranty for a full refund, which I plan to do. I'll take the $100 and put it towards a better lens (at a real camera store)!

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Thanks for the input. Turns out I can 'return' the warranty for a full refund, which I plan to do. I'll take the $100 and put it towards a better lens (at a real camera store)!

Good Thinking, extended warranties are for suckers. There has been tons of news coverage on this in the past few years. Usually if a "sales person" ( especially at a big box type store ) is pressuring you to buy anything, you can bet that the only reason is to make a commission and you probably don't need the item. Buy online with that $100 and you won't pay sales tax and may be able to get free shipping. $100 can buy you a Canon 50mm 1.8 which is probably the best buy you will get for $100 in terms of lenses.

 

[eUgalde13]

The only extended warranty I always get from Best Buy, depending on the item, is the one that also covers Accidental Damage for up to 3 years after the manufacturer warranty ends so basically 4 years after the original purchase.
My first Xbox died 3 1/2 years after I bought it and they give me the option of giving me a new one or store credit for what I originally paid for. My PS camera felt to the asphalt from the roof of my car and the lens broke and this time I choose for a new one. So this type of warranty has always worked for me

Sent from my iPhone using PhotoForum app

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

The only extended warranty I always get from Best Buy, depending on the item, is the one that also covers Accidental Damage for up to 3 years after the manufacturer warranty ends so basically 4 years after the original purchase.
My first Xbox died 3 1/2 years after I bought it and they give me the option of giving me a new one or store credit for what I originally paid for. My PS camera felt to the asphalt from the roof of my car and the lens broke and this time I choose for a new one. So this type of warranty has always worked for me

Sent from my iPhone using PhotoForum app

But in the world of electronics, 4 years is a longgggggg time.

 

[BlackSheep]

In my experience, the extra warranties don't cover the kind of damage I could potentially do to my equipment, such as dropping my camera into a lake or something like that. So what I do instead of buying the warranties is to put that $$ into an extra insurance policy with my homeowner's insurance. (keep in mind I am just a hobby photographer, not a professional...I expect most professionals already have insurance regardless of warranties).

The extra warranties seem to cover "manufacturer's defaults" after 3-4 years, but IMO if the item I buy is going to have a default, that sort of thing will show up pretty quick, and should be covered by the store I bought it from.

 

[kundalini]

Get a separate policy to cover all (well, most of) your gear. I have a policy for my gear that covers replacement value... in the house, in the car or while traveling.... fire, theft and loss. The cost is pennies on the dollar, but I don't nickle and dime it either. If the replacement cost is less than a couple of hundred bucks, it's not listed.