As you get ready to send your child off to college, you might be wondering whether or not that extended warranty was the right way to go.
College students aren’t always the most reliable group. Is it possible that your child may leave her laptop in the library or drop it on the way to class? Even if your child is responsible, what about his peers? What happens if his laptop gets stolen or damaged?
Extended warranties can be worth it. Laptops are particularly prone to damage because they are mobile and tossed around quite a bit. Also, student laptops tend to get more abuse than the average laptops because they are used for almost everything: research, reading, writing, socializing, gaming and more.
Here’s what you need to know.
What’s Covered in the Basic Warranty?
First, find out what the basic warranty covers. You might learn that it’s enough to get your child through a couple years of college before they want something else. Laptops do become outdated fairly quickly, and it’s common for college students to want the latest technology. Plus, most electronics are built reliable enough that they won’t fail in the time that you need them.
Velocity Micro, for instance, offers a standard warranty that includes lifetime business-hour phone support and depot repair. This means that you will never be charged for questions or troubleshooting. If something needs to be repaired out of warranty, we will just charge for the part and base labor fee. This is enough for many customers.
When Extended Warranties Make Sense
There are instances where having an extended warranty is beneficial, particularly for accident-prone colleges students. If you like having the peace of mind that you won’t have to shell out another $1,000 for a laptop or repairs in a few months, an extended warranty can be worth it.
Again, make sure you know what you’re getting in your warranty. Not all extended warranties include accidental damage, for example, and the cost to fix this type of damage often exceeds what a new laptop would cost. You don’t want to find yourself in a position where you’ve paid for an extended warranty and it doesn’t help you.
Other Options that Can be Helpful
Velocity Micro does offer an extended warranty option. Warranties can be extended at the time of purchase or within 30-days of receiving your PC. We also have an upgrade program that is included with all PCs and the Velocity Care package.
Our upgrade program gives you the option to send in your PC for basic cleaning and other maintenance, while our Velocity Care package provides emergency support and on-site tech repair. You may find these to be a better option than an extended warranty. And if you’re not sure, give us a call. We’re happy to help!
VMPete
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