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From: early@tonto.DEC (the higher we climb, the better the view)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: re: Warning : store warranty trick
Message-ID: <629@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Date: Wed, 22-Jan-86 12:54:45 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.629
Posted: Wed Jan 22 12:54:45 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Jan-86 22:06:16 EST
Sender: daemon@decwrl.DEC.COM
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 54

Subject: Warning: store warranty trick
 
>I just purchased a generic electronic device (GED) at a local discount
>outlet (LDO) here in Fort Collins.  I encountered a sales ploy I thought I
>.....
>"Do you want the three year or the five year warranty?"

 I ran  into  this  with another *leading* US/Canadian chain/mail 
order store of  *high*  repute.    When  the  salesperson started 
asking  questions  about  which  warranty  I  wanted,  I  started 
questioning the integrity of the  product  (which  I  believe  is 
first choice quality), and my wisdom in purchasing something that 
*needs*  a  warranty at extra cost!   It  was  fun  watching  the 
salesMAN explain why a product of high quality needs a warranty!

>difference?".  She (and an accomplice) used that as the cue to launch into a
>canned pitch about the LDO's wonderful warranties, and how much better they

The bad thing about *secondary* warranties, is that  (I  think  I 
recall),  is  that  their  maximum  liability  is to refund  your 
warranty premium (or even a prorated portion thereof). 

>speeches, it turned out that BOTH of them COST EXTRA over the price of the
>GED.  The (no extra charge) MFR warranty in this case was, as I suspected,
>the 90-day/1-year type.
 
There are two LDO type stores I have shopped at:  One, whose name 
I also won't mention, sells the goods at a discount to  you,  but 
refuses to honor any portion of the Mfr. Warranty, and recommends 
bringing it to a FULL SERVICE dealer (who is, in some states, not 
required to provide  immediate  service  on products they did NOT 
sell !) Another option  is  to  Mail  it  to  one  of  the remote 
servicenters (right !  Mail in a microwave).

The second store I dealt  with, Marshalls, in Manchester, NH. The
lens in my minolta came loose  after  a  couple  of  years, and I 
brought it back to them because they  are as a dropship point for 
Minolta repairs.  The salesLADY there informed me that the camera 
was probably under warranty, and the repair would be  free.   Oh, 
yes, I could bring the receipt back when I picked  UP the camera, 
so as not to have any unnecessary delays, and they were  sorry it 
came loose !  (Guess where I do a lot of shopping !)

>  Much of what I've said here is pure speculation.  If I named names, it
>  would probably be considered libelous and actionable by a predatory
>  lawyer.

Shame on you.  I know several lawyers, and they cannot sue unless 
hired by someone to do so !  (But I know where you're coming from 
!) :^)

					bob early
(Dec E-Net)	TONTO::EARLY)
(UUCP)		decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!tonto!early