Is an extended product warranty necessary for the gift giving season?

Nov. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- With the holidays quickly approaching many of us have started making our lists. One question all of you will encounter when purchasing more expensive gifts such as TV’s, sound systems or computers, is if you would like to purchase an extended warranty to go along with the item. Now, there are many things to consider when deciding on whether or not to purchase an extended warranty. How much does the original item cost? Who are you giving the item to? Is the item something that will be used on a regular basis? All of these questions should be properly thought out before making a decision.

On average, a quality TV costs between 2 and 3 thousand dollars. While the manufacture warranty covers the first year, what about the time after that? It will cost you more to fix your TV than it would to purchase an extended product warranty to keep the item safe. While it makes sense to just go with the manufacture warranty on smaller items, big-ticket purchases should always be backed up with an extended product warranty.

Another question to keep in mind is how often will this item be used? A TV or computer for example will most likely get a lot of use, and because of that a lot of wear and tear. Having extended warranties will help keep those machines running for longer so you wont’ need to replace them in 3 years, just repair, if needed.

One last small item to consider; take a second and think about whom you are buying the gift for, and if it’s for yourself, be honest, how accident-prone are they/you? If they, or you, have a hard time keeping items in one piece, it would be an accident waiting to happen to not get an extended warranty with your purchase.

So, before you go out and buy your new TV or computer or even toaster, think about these three questions and have a solid answer for all in mind. That will greatly help when the sales person bombards you at the end of your experience asking if you want to purchase an extended product warranty. In short, it makes sense to back up larger more used items with a warranty to off put large repair expenses. The last thing you want is a gift to go to waste if it breaks!