kfc

Okay...
one and a half years ago I bought a mp3 player from best buys + a extended 2 year warranty.

Now lets say in one year right before the warranty expires the mp3 player breaks and they no longer carry the model that I have.

Can I then exchange the mp3 player for anything in the store "hard drive, games, speakers, dvd player" since the mp3 player that I originally bought is no longer in stock?

Now if not what would I have to get? Anything in the portable music department? or could I get a dvd player "play mp3 files" or a hard drive "to store mp3 files on a portable HD device"?

Please let me know so that I know what to do when the time comes.

Thanks

caribiner23

I believe the policy is to "replace the item with a comparable item" which means if you bought an MP3 player from them they will substitute another MP3 player of their choosing.

There is a cash component here, and typically the manager will give you some kind of credit based on the original price and how long you had it before it broke. For example, say you buy a $100 MP3 player in January of 2000; if it breaks in January of 2002 you will get either a replacement MP3 player of their choosing (probably in the $50-60 range, if there is one) or an in-store credit for probably $20-30 towards something else, if you're lucky.

In other words, don't expect them to replace your broken Rio 600 32 MB unit with an iPod.

It's always cheaper for them to substitute a product-- especially a product that advances so quickly technologically-- than to offer cash or credit.

[soapbox]

The thing to remember here is that the stores who sell extended warranties are not doing you any favors: they are betting against the fact that you will either damage the product or it will fail, making these "warranties" in actuality insurance policies. The stores know what the odds are of loss or failure, so they base their "warranty" prices and coverage on that rate.

A successful businessperson (or company) will not participate in a losing proposition, hence the pressure from the salespeople to buy these warranties, because they are so profitable.

For what it's worth, Consumer Reports has always stated that extended warranties are not worth the expense, and are nothing but clear profit for the retailer. I prefer to line my own pockets rather than someone else's.

[/soapbox]

g222leav

very true, i used to work for bestbuy

the thing is, check to see if it says PRP (product replacement plan) or PSP (product service plan)...

cause with a prp they don't actually do anything in the store, you have to call this BS number and they send you a store voucher for what you paid (if they determine it needs to be replaced of course)

if it's a psp, you can go to the store and *try* to get something else like a hard drive. if they try to stick you with an mp3 player you don't want, just take it, come back later and try to do a no-reciept exchange...and get store credit for the product and use that to get what you want.

i know it sounds like a lot of work, but hey, they're screwing you, whey don't you screw them.

oh yea, i only brought up the prp/psp thing cause prp's are usually 2 yrs, while psp are 3+

if you have any questions, especially on plan loopholes, let me know

__________________


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kfc

Thanks for the replies guys.

What I bought was a Rio Volt on sale for $140 since it was open box. The warranty that I got was a 2 year warranty, and it says "2 year replacment plan" on the cover. Not service plan. So it looks like I got the good warranty? If not I'll try to exchange when I get for somthing else.

caribiner23

An overview of Best Buy's Product Replacement Plan can be found here:

http://www.bestbuy.com/InfoCenter/Se...ePlans/PRP.asp

And here's some interesting language from that page:


I assume "normal usage" would not include dropping it off the table. I suppose it depends on how they handle this in the store.

And here's the bit about the in-store credit:


I am certain the value of that voucher is time-based.

kfc

What if it no longer reads my cds? but if they try it out and it does read their cds?

main thing that im going for is that i want a new mp3 player

thats the WHOLE reason i got the 2 year warranty.

g222leav

well, just don't ever ever mention any physical damage that you've done...just tell them that it stopped working and you don't know why. once you say anything about physical damage, it's like hands off from bestbuy's point of view. anywyas, if i remember correcty, cd-players are notorious for going out and they know this. i switch my philips expanium for the rio volt when it first came out. so no biggie. just tell them it's not reading the cd's, they're not going to try to fix it, they should just replace it. make sure you have the original reciepts, cause that shows how much you paid. otherwise they'll look the in the computer for it's value (and of course it's probably depreciated by now) and that is all the credit you would get

kfc

Okay cool thanks.

I have the player, recipt and the original box with ALL manuals in it.

caribiner23

Just out of curiosity, how much did you pay for the Replacement Plan?