Do you take extended warranties?

Does anyone routinely take the extended warranties sold with many cameras? Why would you do it?

No... the are really more of "service plans" than warranties. You are paying up front that your camera is going to need repair. Put the money away and save it. If you need it, it's there. It's the same with automobile "extended warranties." Just a way for the company to get more of your money.

To quote a certain Homer Simpson after he's had a crayon jammed up his nose and into his brain:

NO NO NO!!!!!
Extended warranties or service contracts are one of the biggest money makers for companies. I read once where only 17 cents out of every dollar taken in on warranties is ever paid out. Pretty good return for the business isn't it.

No,
I hear from Consumer Reports that these are generally not worth the money. Most electronics I hear will break very early if there is a problem with it, in which case the factory warranty of 1 year will cover it.

Nope! It's not worth it.

Never. I have insurance!

foxbat wrote in post #7735743
To quote a certain Homer Simpson after he's had a crayon jammed up his nose and into his brain: Extended warranties! How can I lose?!

Brilliant.

I just have a Homeowner's and Personal Article Policy through State Farm. It covers my laptops, camera gear, and iPhone. I think I pay about $40 a year for the whole thing, and it covers all damage and theft (except rodent damage ). Totally worth it, and zero deductible. Dropped, drowned, stolen, even if it's my fault, it's all covered.

Never, ever. They make more money from you buying the extended warranty than you buying the gear.

I don't know, $200 for a 4-year full product replacement warranty on a 40D kit? And if the product you bought is NLA, they will replace it w/ the current model. The sales person explained that I can call up once a year, and they'll send me a new Canon battery w/ no questions asked. That's pretty much the $200 right there.

Everything is covered, including accidental damage. Drop it in a bucket of water after 42 months? Brand new, current model body (which in the case of the 40D will probably be the 60D (80D) by then.

That being said, this was one of the first extended warranties / service plans I've ever bought.

Mk1Racer wrote in post #7738013
I don't know, $200 for a 4-year full product replacement warranty on a 40D kit? And if the product you bought is NLA, they will replace it w/ the current model. The sales person explained that I can call up once a year, and they'll send me a new Canon battery w/ no questions asked. That's pretty much the $200 right there.

Everything is covered, including accidental damage. Drop it in a bucket of water after 42 months? Brand new, current model body (which in the case of the 40D will probably be the 60D (80D) by then.

That being said, this was one of the first extended warranties / service plans I've ever bought.

What company writes that warranty?

tvphotog wrote in post #7738133
What company writes that warranty?

Best Buy.

YES.

I've seen more destroyed or malfunctioning(user error or manufacturer error) cameras come to me than any of you could imagine in a lifetime. Sure, it probably won't happen with mine, but I'm not taking the risk. (My dad already accidentally dropped my moms when moving it between rooms when she wasn't around)

For electronics, I usually just buy with a credit card that doubles the warranty up to an additional year. On a different note, for our minivan, we opted for an extended warranty that cost $900 for 7 yrs/100K miles. At the time, it seemed like a lot, but when our transmission failed it was well worth it. Paid $900 for the extended warranty, transmission would have cost $2200 if we didn't have the extended warranty.