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COLUMBUS, Ohio—The following is an exact transcript of the story that aired on NBC 4 at 6 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2010.
Anchor: When you buy a new laptop, often the last thing you want to pay extra for is a warranty or installation service plan.
But they cover repairs if your laptop gets broken. So does the extra cost really pay for itself?
Our Steve Wainfor looks into several options that may be right for you.
Wainfor: Buying a computer means looking for the best deal. You compare prices, brands and functions, but what about the warranty or installation service plan?
Most computer stores can sell you a plan that will cover everything from normal wear and tear to 24/7 tech support.
So is it worth your money?
We took an undercover camera to find out what’s offered when you buy a new laptop.
Clerk 1: “It’s called our advanced security performance setup. That’s probably the recommended one.“
Clerk 2: “The platinum is an all-inclusive. It covers everything—you spill a drink on it.“
Wainfor: Warranties and installation service plans can be confusing. Prices are based on what you want covered or by the cost of the computer. Bottom line: do you really need them?
Jeff Carpenter, DOS Boot Computer Services: “I like the warranty with accidental damage. We are very close to OSU and we see a lot of liquid spills on laptops, which a manufacturer will not cover.“
Wainfor: Carpenter says if you have a laptop, you should have some kind of accidental damage coverage on it.
Another installation service plan that was offered by Best Buy was an optimization plan and according to the clerk, it’s a must-have.
Clerk 1: “Optimization doesn’t add software, depending on the machine. It gets the machine up and running. I would highly suggest it.“
Wainfor: Carpenter says, while not knowing the exact details of the plan, it may not be worth it.
Carpenter: “The only thing that they optimize, that I know of, is they are just removing trial ware. There is nothing you can do to a new computer that’s going to make it faster.“
Wainfor: The optimization service does: a system functionality check, install windows updates, create a user account and firewall and removes trial software.
But is it really something you need? Competitors say no.
Clerk 2: “There is nothing that needs done to make the machine fast. It doesn’t free up resources. I don’t get the option. It’s pure profit.“
Wainfor: Carpenter recommends the tier system. Your warranty or installation service plan is based on what your computer cost. That why, when parts are needed for the computer, they are pretty closely tied to the total cost of the computer.
So before you buy that extra warranty or installation service plan, make sure you are not paying for something you can do yourself. Steve Wainfor, NBC 4.
Anchor: Here’s a statement we received from Best Buy: “Not everyone wants or needs a service plan to protect their computer purchase. But people who choose to purchase a service plan will have the peace of mind that their product is covered above and beyond the manufacturer warranty with greater control over their service. They only have to deal with one provider - Geek Squad - not a bunch of different manufacturers or contractors.“
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