Dealing with Extended Warranty Vendors?

edg176 asks: "I am wondering about other people's experiences with getting Extended Warranty service. I bought a laptop at Microcenter. Got the top of the line extended warranty. Laptop died. I sent it in for service, and the outside repair place, MicroMedic, claims they can't fix it, and the actual warranty administrator is separate from the repair place -- way out in Florida! My warranty says I can get a full refund of my purchase price if the warranty people can't find me an equivalent laptop. They can't, because Microcenter no longer carries the sharp ultralight laptops. Dealing with warranty administrator people, Warrantech has been a nightmare. They won't let me speak to a manager and they keep jerking me around. So far, I've gotten them to agree to give me 1200 bucks store credit, which is still 500 bucks shy of the purchase price. Is it worth fighting them for the last 500 bucks? Does anyone have success stories or tips for this situation? Should I just take the 1200 and be happy I got that much?"

"They claim that a 1200 dollar, 4.5 lb laptop is the same as my old 2.5 lb model. The dude on the phone actually claimed that low weight was not a significant feature in a laptop. Right now I have to say I would never do business with these guys again, as they have been relentlessly condescending and obstructionist."

Re:Better Business Bureau

[His name cannot be s]

I'd threaten submitting a claim to the Better Business Bureau http://www.bbb.org/


Tee Hee.

The BBB isn't going to be at all useful, especially if they aren't a member.

The BBB is just a boys club to make people beleive that they can get fair redress from the big bad companies.

The best you can do is to probably ask for the operator's name, and ask them to spell that please, and ask to speak to their legal department.

You may also want to ask them if it is better for the subpoena to be sent to their home or their work. You would be suprised how much more flexible phone drones will be if you make them think that their name will end up on a lawsuit. :P

Re:Better Business Bureau

[Anonymous Coward]

Another good tactic is to look up the person who is specified in their Secretary of State filings as the one who receives Service (as in notice of suits, etc) and send them a letter. Sometimes when that particular person receives a nice, polite, detailed letter explaining everything the organization suddenly gets reasonable. You might also write to MicroCenter themselves, and their CEO and Recipient of Service, because they may make the situation good with you if the other company doesn't.

If that doesn't work, remember the last step before a suit is to carefully document that you asked for the money and were refused. So when you write them, include a request for a specific amount of money ( or store credit if you are willing to give them that alternative ) and ask to receive it within 90 days.

Ultimately, in the larger sense, the buyer is at fault, however. You should know not to buy great, high-quality speakers that were misdelivered from some cheeky kids in a parking lot, not to tell the Nigerian heir your bank account number, and don't FUCKING PAY FOR A WARRANTY. There's even an episode of the Simpsons where Moe is giving Homer a lobotomy with a crayon and he keeps shoving until Homer says "I'd love the extended warranty!"