This sort of precaution makes sense for something very expensive, like a house, but not as much for a TV.
The problem is that customers are paying more than the real cost of insuring the TV, and odds are that, if the TV doesn’t break inside the manufacturer’s guarantee, the TV will last a while.
So if the cost of replacing the projected damaged TVs is indeed $50,000, they will want to earn more money from warranty sales. If the company is insuring 1,000 of them, they expect 50 to break, costing them $50,000.Ĭompanies want to charge more than the cost of replacing the TVs because they want a profit.
Let’s say that Model X costs $1,000, has a projected failure rate of 5% (meaning 5% of those TVs will fail), and will cost the company the full $1,000 to repair. The longer explanation: Companies charge for TV insurance based on the total projected failure rate of the TV model. However, those who definitely cannot afford to replace a TV in the unlikely event that it does fail soon after the end of the manufacturer warranty should get extended coverage, if only for the extra peace of mind. For most people, spending extra money on a warranty won't be worth it because the odds are in your favor that your TV won't break until after the warranty period has passed. Overall, they’re mostly not worth getting, for the following reasons. Some may only offer similar guarantees to those included with the manufacturer warranty, but others might add extra protection. Are Extended Warranties Worth Getting?Įxtended warranties prolong the length of time that your TV is covered in case of damage or failure. You won't need to go through the manufacturer in this case. If you notice some dead pixels out-of-the-box, you may be able to get it exchanged at the retailer you purchased it from, depending on their policy. Now, most televisions won't have any defective pixels, but it can still be a possibility. However, this policy only applies to pixels that are on, and not any dead pixels that remain off.ĭead pixels were a big problem in the early days of LCD televisions. Vizio will replace the TV if there's one bright pixel on a covered TV, and they'll replace it if there are four bright pixels on a non-covered TV. Vizio's dead pixel policy is called 'Zero Bright Pixel Policy', and it's different from other companies. Samsung is the only major manufacturer that doesn't have any protection against dead pixels. This is especially noticeable when there's a large area of uniform color, but if there are many dead pixels, it can be noticeable in any type of content.Ĭoverage from some manufacturers like Sony and LG is dependent on the number of defective pixels on the panel. A dead pixel is when one or more pixels do not work and are stuck on one color or don't turn on at all. Not all manufacturers' warranties include protection against dead pixels. In summary, the warranty doesn't cover anything that's not the fault of the manufacturer.
Damages that occurred during shipment (this is handled by the store).Below is an example of things not usually covered by warranty. If the TV is damaged in transport, then you should contact the retailer and see if they can provide a new TV for you. Things that occur under normal usage – basically, anything that can’t be blamed on the manufacturer – aren't covered by the warranty. Most companies have a one-year warranty, and some offer a shorter time period if it's used commercially.
You also need to keep the original receipt and make the warranty claim within the time frame stated in the warranty. You have to read the details of your warranty, but most companies will replace it either with a new or refurbished product or try to repair it. Most manufacturers list that the warranty covers a defect in 'materials or workmanship.' What this means is that the warranty covers things that the manufacturer controls, and that's very limited. If you notice anything missing, let us know. This table compares the warranty of televisions for different manufacturers and brands. While the main characteristics of manufacturers’ warranties are the same, details like the dead pixel policy or the transferability of the warranty may change.