If you are currently weighing the pros and cons of purchasing an extended warranty, this article will certainly help you with your decision.
When you visit a retail store to purchase a laptop, you often find sales representatives trying to sell you add-ons, which includes an extended warranty. While on the surface, you would think that a laptop extended warranty isn’t as important, there are compelling reasons that might force you to think otherwise.
That said, not everyone’s requirements or usage patterns are the same. For instance, if you are purchasing a premium laptop and travel quite frequently for work, you might want to invest a bit more and purchase the laptop extended warranty.
This is due to the fact that it is more likely that you misplace the laptop during your frequent travels, or that the laptop might fall and get damaged. However, if you are a student, and you recently purchased a new laptop at a pocket-friendly price, you wouldn’t be as inclined to buy an extended warranty.
There isn’t one concrete answer when it comes to the question of purchasing an extended warranty. Here are a few pros and cons of buying an extended warranty along with your new laptop.
Pros:
Purchasing an extended warranty for your laptop can be extremely beneficial. A few of the benefits include:
Protection Against Expensive Repairs
Repairing a laptop can be an expensive affair, especially if we are talking about a high-end, premium laptop. For instance, if you’ve purchased the HP Spectre model, or the Dell XPS or Alienware laptops, you will have to spend a significant amount to get the laptop repaired if it is not covered under any warranty.
To see if your laptop is still covered under brand warranty, you first have to perform the HP laptop warranty check or the Dell laptop warranty check.
If the standard warranty has expired, and you did not previously opt for an extended warranty, you might have to shell out anywhere between Rs. 5,000 – Rs. 10,000 just to repair a damaged screen. Purchasing the laptop extended warranty can help you during such situations, as you can purchase the additional warranty for a period between 1 – 3 years.
Additional Coverage
When we talk about the standard brand warranty, it usually covers damages due to manufacturing defects. However, extended warranties can offer additional options and benefits that are not included in the brand warranties.
Free warranties that the brands offer while purchasing the laptop require users to not store the device in “harsh” or “damaging” conditions (as per the Service Contract Industry Council (SCIC)).
Thus, brand warranties only cover damages from normal wear and tear, but they are limited warranties that often do not cover accidental damages. Extended warranties usually offer additional benefits, such as covering the laptop screen problems. Furthermore, laptop extended warranties also offer technical support and assistance to the user when needed.
Cons:
While extended warranties provide additional benefits as mentioned above, they also have certain downsides.
Value for Money
An extended warranty is more of a precautionary measure undertaken by the consumer. Just because you’ve purchased an extended warranty, does not mean that your laptop will get damaged. Furthermore, one should also ensure that the benefits always outweigh the cost.
For instance, if you are a student, and recently purchased a budget-friendly device, it might not make sense for you to spend Rs. 3,000 – Rs. 5,000 on an extended warranty. Any damage to the laptop after the expiration of the brand warranty can be repaired at a cheaper rate.
Laptop Build and Status
Most of the laptops from top brands like HP, Dell, and Apple are sturdy and can withstand harsh conditions and rough usage. For instance, if you’ve purchased Apple’s MacBook Pro, you can rest assured that the laptop will work without any problems for at least 3-4 years. That is, of course, not factoring in any accidental damages during this period.
Furthermore, it is also important to consider the laptop’s status; that is if you’ve purchased a new laptop, or a refurbished one. If you have purchased a refurbished laptop, purchasing an extended warranty might not be practical, as the laptop has a limited lifespan regardless of when you purchase the device.
Thus, you have to consider several factors to determine whether buying an extended warranty makes sense, and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
