For those who love to dive down the rabbit hole of internet research, the proper response to a tech warranty offer is almost always a resounding “No, don’t do it.” An article from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University titled “No, Extended Warranties are Usually Not Worth It,” (which includes research from the University of Pennsylvania) explores the many reasons why these policies are often better skipped. Here’s the CliffsNotes version: Tech warranties often come with high prices that translate into serious profit margins for retailers—as high 60 percent. Moreover, “People believe that a product is far more likely to break than it actually is,” states the Kellogg article. “If consumers are told the failure rate of the product they’re buying, they’re willing to pay much less for a warranty.” Here’s at least one statistic to bear in mind with regard to failure rates, from a Consumer Reports study cited by the Kellogg article: Televisions failed about 5 to 8 percent of the time between 1998 and 2004. Based on that failure rate, they determined that profit margins for tech warranties were as high as 62 to 73 percent. The Kellogg article suggests policymakers should more aggressively regulate the extended warranty market, which includes tech warranties. Experts believe government intervention would have the effect of driving more competition, which would help bring prices down. In the best of worlds, this would mean the customer wouldn’t spend quite so much money on those warranties. The experts at Kellogg are not the only critics of tech warranties. Dozens of articles online—from CNet to NBC—have labeled extended warranties for electronics a waste of money.
There are many options, and none are great.
Tom Brant, deputy managing editor for PCMag, reinforces the point made by Kellogg and others: That such offers are rarely worth it, particularly when it comes to laptops. “Most laptop makers offer one-year warranties on parts and labor. These standard plans are limited, so they won’t cover accidents that stem from spilling a drink on the keyboard or dropping the system on the sidewalk,” explains Brant. “But if you’re buying a laptop that costs less than $1,000, the added expense of an extended warranty or one that covers additional damage usually isn’t worth it relative to the overall price.” If you decide you absolutely need an extended warranty, Brant suggests you check your credit card agreement first, as many card issuers extend the warranties on purchases for one year after the original one expires. If your credit card issuer doesn’t cover you, some laptop makers will happily sell you extended warranties. “Apple, Dell, HP, and Lenovo all offer wide ranges of extended warranties and coverage for accidental damage. Expect to spend $100 to $300 for these options,” says Brant. But here’s a good rule of thumb for laptop warranties, courtesy of Brant: If the warranty costs more than 15 percent of the purchase price, consider spending that money on a backup hard drive or online backup service instead. In other words, your money is better spent buying a less expensive hard drive or online backup than on a warranty or optional insurance that you will (hopefully) never, ever use. Across all electronics, an extended warranty generally averages 24 percent of the product’s price, according to the University of Pennsylvania study, and customers bought warranties between 20 and 40 percent of the time.
When might a tech warranty be worth it?
In most cases, extended warranties are only worth buying if your new device (laptop, television, phone, or anything else), is more expensive than what your credit or debit card insurance would cover for the item, says Brant. So call your credit card company first before buying any tech warranty. On the other hand, if you’re buying an expensive Apple laptop and your debit or credit card only covers devices up to $1000, Brant contends that AppleCare could make sense. But be prepared! It’s expensive, warns Brant—up to $299 per damage claim in addition to the cost of the coverage. Still, if you’re worried you might drop that shiny, new $2000 MacBook, a tech warranty may be your only option for peace of mind—a very expensive option, but an option nevertheless.
