Game extended console warranties

[PhilG]

Having picked up a new 360 to replace my dead one, Game offered me an extended guarantee against breakdown and accidental damage for about ?25-35 (depending on whether I want one or two years cover). As MS only cover the RROD for 3 years I'm considering it.

Has anyone got anything good/bad to say about this extended cover?
Is it worth it?
Has anyone got it/used it?

Cheers
Phil

[tom-nook]

I'd say it's not worth it.

The 1st year is manufacturer's warranty and GAME will generally replace a faulty console in-store without any hassle.

Year 2 (& poss year 3) the GAME warranty is actually done by Allianz which means you can't just take it back to your nearest store. You need to deal with one of their approved repairers - and according to the t&c's may need to send it off if they don't have one local / can't fix on site. Considering that MS will collect & return a 3 rrod'd console free of charge whereas Allianz expect you to incur this cost seems a bit off (esp. when you've paid them £30 odd quid for piece of mind).

The cover does also include accidental damage but that's something that may already be covered by your home insurance.

Considering the odds of a non-3 rrod breakdown, the cost of cover, poss p&p incurred & the (relatively) low cost of a new 360 I'd say it's prob not worth it.

I had the cover on one of my 360's but never needed to make a claim so can't say how good or bad the repair side of things is. tbh I think I bought it in a moment of weakness (or 360 failure paranoia) as I would only normally consider extended warranty on a major purchase such as an hdtv.

[PhilG]

Cheers Tom.

That's pretty much what I was thinking. They offered it to me last time I bought a console and I didn't take it, but after that machine failed 14 days past it's warranty expired the old 360 failure paranoia set in!

Thanks
Phil

[tom-nook]

but after that machine failed 14 days past it's warranty expired the old 360 failure paranoia set in!

Know what you mean.

My 360 died 3-4 days before the 12 month warranty expired. GAME replaced with a new one but I was feeling like I'd just dodged a bullet. At the time an extended warranty on the new one seemed to make good sense!!

[abigsmurf]

Extended warranties are a con. Just put the money you'd spend on a warranty into a savings account. If something goes wrong, use that money to replace or repair it. If you break something valuable accidentally, claim off your contents insurance (that's what it's there for)

Remember they're making lots of money out of these, even after admin costs. Not to mention that over the course of a warrenty the value of a replacement tends to plummet.