Extended warranties...worth it?

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Bill Kexel

Well-Known DJ
Dec 5, 2006
2,097
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Phoenix, AZ
What are your thoughts on extended warranties on DJ gear?

I am looking at the Pioneer DJM-5000 mixer.
The dealer recommends the Platinum Coverage (ADH) which extends the manufacturer's warranty for 2 years. The extra cost is $99.00.

Your thoughts?

Details
• Covers much more than the original manufacturer's warranty:
1. Damage due to Normal Wear & Tear.
2. Damage due to unexpected and unintentional drops/impacts and spills.(Accidental damage due to handling)
3. Damage due to Dust, Internal Heat, Humidity, Heavy Usage.
4. Damage caused by Lightning/ Power Surge. (from date of purchase!)
5. No Lemon Policy on merchandise over $200- if it fails for the same reason 3 times, it is replaced on the 4th breakdown.
• Complete Peace of Mind.
• Avoids costly repairs.
• The "Manufacturer Specs Enhancement" keeps products performing in Brand New condition. In other words, your gear doesn't have to FAIL to be covered!
• Free Shipping to and from Repair Facility.
• Plans are transferable in the event merchandise is sold.
• 100% Insured protection - Platinum Coverage With ADH is underwritten by an A+ Certified Insurance Company
 
Bill Kexel said:
What are your thoughts on extended warranties on DJ gear?

I am looking at the Pioneer DJM-5000 mixer.
The dealer recommends the Platinum Coverage (ADH) which extends the manufacturer's warranty for 2 years. The extra cost is $99.00.

Your thoughts?

Details
• Covers much more than the original manufacturer's warranty:
1. Damage due to Normal Wear & Tear.
2. Damage due to unexpected and unintentional drops/impacts and spills.(Accidental damage due to handling)
3. Damage due to Dust, Internal Heat, Humidity, Heavy Usage.
4. Damage caused by Lightning/ Power Surge. (from date of purchase!)
5. No Lemon Policy on merchandise over $200- if it fails for the same reason 3 times, it is replaced on the 4th breakdown.
• Complete Peace of Mind.
• Avoids costly repairs.
• The "Manufacturer Specs Enhancement" keeps products performing in Brand New condition. In other words, your gear doesn't have to FAIL to be covered!
• Free Shipping to and from Repair Facility.
• Plans are transferable in the event merchandise is sold.
• 100% Insured protection - Platinum Coverage With ADH is underwritten by an A+ Certified Insurance Company
Click to expand...

Not a bad price for an extra 2 years of coverage, i think it sounds worth it
 
I really dont like the fact they wont replace until you have returned it four times. If its a lemon once okay but more than twice FAGGEDABOUTIT!
 
The value of extended warranties depends a lot on the item being covered, and what you're going to do while the item is being repaired.


You gotta ask yourself: What are the chances that the mixer will fail? What will you do while it is being repaired? Is the extended warranty worth $99 to you?



I always get the warranty on my computers. The one time I needed to use it, the store 'sold' me a used computer to use while mine was being fixed. When mine was returned, I got FULL credit when I returned the 'loaner'.

My referigerator sometimes doesn't close all the way. Two years after purchasing it, the motor burned out, due to the open door. Two days later, it was fixed for free - a repair that would have cost almost as much as the referigerator cost!
 
I would say it all depends on if you're comfortable doing repairs yourself if the device fails. (This applies to non-DJ stuff as well).
 
I never do anymore. In the past everytime I needed to use the extended warranty the cost of shipping + paying for things that were NOT covered under the extended + the somtimes weeks without the item = more than the cost to just buy another one.
IMHO
 
why extend the warranty?
if it breaks AFTER the manufacturer's warranty is up....
you'll probably be looking to upgrade anyway.

with the extended warranty, you don't have any good excuse to buy new gear!
 
Ausumm said:
why extend the warranty?
if it breaks AFTER the manufacturer's warranty is up....
you'll probably be looking to upgrade anyway.

with the extended warranty, you don't have any good excuse to buy new gear!
Click to expand...

My present mixer is 11 yrs old & one channel is starting to give me problems, otherwise I'd keep using it. It has been a great mixer.

I like the features of the DJM-5000. I especially like the built in Sound maximizer & no need for a laptop sound card.

I think mixers tend to be more reliable than most other DJ equipment. (maybe I've been lucky?)
 
Bill you bought proper gear and it returned the favor. 11 yrs is and has returned you tenfold. Buy another topline piece to honor its retirement.
 
I look at extended warranties from a different perspective. A company is in business to make money, not try to insure your product gets covered an extra period of time. Extended warranties are calculated to insure the company will replace the product multiple times less than what they're charging.

It's NEVER a good deal for the consumer IMHO.
 
I never get extended warranty on anything I buy.......I figure if it doesnt last the original warranty, its junk, and if it dies after the warranty, typically quite a long time afterwards, either I screwed it up, its worn out, or it plain did its job.

I like some of the others insight on this, in terms of upgrading after so long anyway. One friend of mine had a counterpoint though on this, as a lot of times the "upgraded" piece is not as well made as an older unit....which I believe in some instances. There are quite of few items in my world I wish they still made, but do not......some silly examples, in car audio, I wish Alpine still made good head units (in Japan), and you could buy a somewhat reasonably priced amplifier that was made in USA (ie old Rockford Fosgate, PPi, Orion, Xtant, etc). I wish Nissan would make a z that was as solid and good looking as my 1991 twin turbo, too....lol.

Another friend of mine says, if I buy the extended warranty, I am covered.....if I never have to use it, and the piece works flawlessly, its a great thing too....win win. This is a friend who plays the lottery regularly, so I question his math skillsthough.....!


Bottom line, I wouldnt do it.
 
Ausumm said:
why extend the warranty?
if it breaks AFTER the manufacturer's warranty is up....
you'll probably be looking to upgrade anyway.

with the extended warranty, you don't have any good excuse to buy new gear!
Click to expand...
Interesting point.

And I now remember what I used to tell customers. In the 1980's, I worked at a Radio Shack Computer Center. Whenever a customer asked about the extended warranty, I'd say that typically, it either fails inside a week or two, or lasts many years. So, usually, the 90 day warranty is good enough.

Stress 'usually'.
 
Nope, I will not fall into that scam.

I had warrenty on a ton of things purchased for GC.

Well I had a crossover in a speaker go bad, it didn't blow a cap. They did nothing I purchased one from the manufacture.

I had a mixer go bad, the contact said they would give me a new one, nope didn't happen the way I was explained. I had to send it back and wait like 2 months.

Microphone was supposed to be anything that happened they would replce it or give me the cost of the unit. Nope had to send it back to Audio Technica and wait.


I have many other great consumer audio stories from Best Buy.


My vote is they are a scam!
 
I honestly believe that anyone whose livelihood depends on electronic equipment should, at the very LEAST, take some sort of short course in electronics. Most repairs end up being very simple. A few minutes and a $1 component, or a solder repair, or re-wiring, or even just some internal cleaning.

It would also extend the life of your equipment dramatically. Not just through repairs, but because one actually understands how and why it works, one will use it in a better and less damaging manner.

Even a mail order course would be a huge help.

You KNOW your equipment is kept up properly

You SAVE a LOT of money, not only on repairs but on replacement.

You DON'T lose time and money while your equipment is sent to who knows where for repairs.

You have no NEED for warrantees and accompanying fees.

Even if you don't feel like doing the repair, at least you can diagnose the problem, and avoid getting ripped off for non-warrantee work, or keep folks from telling you that it's something not covered.
 
In Bill's case as mentioned above, he's looking to invest in a Pioneer mixer. Most folks in this biz who work with Pio equipment will tell you that it's quite reliable.

Having said that, I would purchase a warranty extension. Remember, this is your business equipment. Every dime spent on business equipment is a tax writeoff. :)
 
It really depends on what your personal preference is. How do you treat your gear? How much do you clean and maintain it? The only piece of gear I've bought an extended warranty on was my vocopro uhf5800 from Guitar Center. If I have any issues with only one out of its 4 mics I get a full refund and stil have 3 working mics....not a bad deal. And it cost me $20.
 
I agree with the majority around here that extended warranties are a ripoff, But, I think there are some exceptions to the rule. I always buy the extra protection on headphones. For 10 bucks they extend the coverage to 3 years which means I'll be getting a new set before it runs out. I guess I'm just rough on headphones.

Another thing, Not all extended warranties are created equal, be sure to read the fine print.
 
I just bought a kindle for $200. They wanted to sell me the extended warranty for $50.

I figured the odds of something going wrong that's covered is pretty slim. I'll take my chances. The price will probably continue to go down as well.

I don't know if it's true or not, but someone said that Best Buy makes more profit off of their extended warranties than they do off of the computer itself.
 
About 10 yrs ago when I bought my new van, I had bought the extended warranty. Low & behold a few years later, the rear air cond. went out. The extended warranty covered it. Otherwise, it would've cost me about $1,700.00 So, in this case it paid for itself.

Things like a clothes washer & dryer, Etc. they are built to last for years. I'm still using the same ones that I bought new in '94...never had a problem with them.

Mixers are usually pretty solid, right? (unless they are a cheap brand)
 
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