I have decided to get the 50" Kuro that just price dropped at best buy. Is the $400 black tie extended warranty worth getting? I like the idea of being covered for four years, but man, $400 is a lot to tack on. My out the door goes from $2500 to $2900.

I have decided to get the 50" Kuro that just price dropped at best buy. Is the $400 black tie extended warranty worth getting? I like the idea of being covered for four years, but man, $400 is a lot to tack on. My out the door goes from $2500 to $2900.

I would "strongly"" suggest you invest in an extended warranty. You don't have to buy one from BB, there are others. Just make sure it is transferable and covers "in home" service. There are some threads on here about the various companies that offer them. I have benefitted greatly from EW's on various electronics. Every day on here it seems I see a thread where someone has a major repair and has no EW. In addition to a normal purchase, you are buying a product from a company that's not going around anymore in the display market.

Think of it this way, you have already saved a lot of money by getting this display at a reduced price, don't get greedy. At BB you have 30 days to purchase the EW, so that might stretch the money a little easier. The other added benefit of an EW is that if you want to sell it in the next couple of years, its much easier to sell a display with a warranty(I know from experience)than one without it.

Value is based on what you get out of it. Most people will say no to Black Tie EW. Although there are alternatives to your situation.

Chris

Buy with an Amex or other credit card that automatically doubles the manufacturer's warranty. In this case, you would be covered for 2 years without paying a dime.

Buy with an Amex or other credit card that automatically doubles the manufacturer's warranty. In this case, you would be covered for 2 years without paying a dime.

I was going to put it on the Visa. Does that add anything?

I was going to put it on the Visa. Does that add anything?

If you only want a 2 year window of warranty coverage, you could go to Costco and get a better deal on the Pioneer and get 2 years coverage. Go to their website and check out the difference from BB.

I was going to put it on the Visa. Does that add anything?

You have to check your visa to see if they offer additional warranty coverage. I know some cards will, however it depends on what card you have.

I do know for a fact that any Amex will double the warranty as long as the item you are buying is new.

I was going to put it on the Visa. Does that add anything?

If its visa signature, then yes.

You can check here:

http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/benefits/bft_warranty_mgr_eclaims.html

When you attempt to register your card it should let you know if your card is eligible.

If you only want a 2 year window of warranty coverage, you could go to Costco and get a better deal on the Pioneer and get 2 years coverage. Go to their website and check out the difference from BB.

+1....

Then get an EW online for another 2+ years and you are set with 4 years. Chances are that your TV will break or die in the first year of its life and chances after that drop significantly every year there after.

If you do the costco thing, don't get an EW and your set dies on year 2 day one then you basically paid 2.70$ a day for your tv and probably got your moneys worth.

I have decided to get the 50" Kuro that just price dropped at best buy. Is the $400 black tie extended warranty worth getting? I like the idea of being covered for four years, but man, $400 is a lot to tack on. My out the door goes from $2500 to $2900.

Remember Best Buy is selling you a service contract not an extended warranty. That service is covered for 4 years. Your pioneer has a 1 year warranty.

Check out Mack - you can pm Roman or Chris for pricing - coverage for 4 years is almost 1/2 of what Best Buy wants. That is if you want additional piece of mind. Given that production is ceasing, you may like knowing that if a part isn't available that you need in 3 years to repair a problem with your 5020 you will be covered by the replacement rider that is part of the Mack warranty. Mack provides for in-home repairs and both Chris and Roman have stepped up and helped forum members if they have had an issue with Mack. Also, someone from Mack posts regularly on this forum in response to questions/issues.

Remember Best Buy is selling you a service contract not an extended warranty. That service is covered for 4 years. Your pioneer has a 1 year warranty.

What is the difference between a service plan and an extended warranty?

I found out that Visa offers an EW for five years for $267. I was thinking of going with that.

i got 4 years extended from ABT also. Its good to have piece of mind incase the thing dies. But problem is, if they cant fix it, we wont be getting a pioneer in return :(

I have decided to get the 50" Kuro that just price dropped at best buy. Is the $400 black tie extended warranty worth getting? I like the idea of being covered for four years, but man, $400 is a lot to tack on. My out the door goes from $2500 to $2900.You should have a 3rd option in your poll called "Aftermarket Extended Warranty". The Mack warranty is popular - it adds 3 years to the manufacturer warranty and you can buy one from Roman or Cleveland Plasma or Creemail for less than half of what BB want's for their Black Tie warranty. Also, i don't trust BB at all - they have royally screwed several AVS members who's TVs failed during the covered period and continually deceive and lie to their customers. Read the fine print on BB's warranty very very carefully if you insist on buying it from them, but know that BB has some very shady business practices and no integritity and i have zero faith in them.

Here's a link to Mack:

http://www.mackcam.com/servicecontracts/searchdeatail.php?id=41&c_id=17&w_id=56&row_id=101

best buy offers a lot more coverage than anyone else. They offer in home service, will replace the tv if they can't fix. cover deal pixels, surges, burn in, anything but accidental. Make sure you're getting something just as good.

best buy offers a lot more coverage than anyone else. They offer in home service, will replace the tv if they can't fix. cover deal pixels, surges, burn in, anything but accidental. Make sure you're getting something just as good.But what will they replace it with? Usually they reserve the right to replace it with whatever they want, even if it's a lesser brand or lesser model, and i think they pro-rate the value too (or at least they used to). Dead pixel coverage isn't necessary because if the TV has dead pixels it will be apparentout of the box and you can just return the TV for exchange under their regular 30 day return policy. I'm skeptical that they'll cover burn-in but that's not really necessary anyway with current plasma TVs since burn-in is no longer an issue.

Mack and other EWs have in-home service and basically mirror the terms of the actual manufacturer's warranty. Power surge protection can be useful in some areas but the vast majority of people don't have problems with their electricity, and if they do they often have their own surge suppressors.

If BB's new Black Tie coverage is better than that, do you have a link to the details and the fine print? Apparently it covers more than the warranty they offered previously.

Dead pixel coverage isn't necessary because if the TV has dead pixels it will be apparentout of the box and you can just return the TV for exchange under their regular 30 day return policy.

I'm scared to death of getting a dead pixel because it takes quite a few before the warranty covers repairs and I will be annoyed if there is even one. What are the chances of getting a dead pixel after the 150-200 hour break in or past the 30 days of initial use? If the tv is good out of the box, am I pretty safe?

Also, what about stuck pixels? My understanding is that they can be reset if they crop up. Is this true?

I'm scared to death of getting a dead pixel because it takes quite a few before the warranty covers repairs and I will be annoyed if there is even one. What are the chances of getting a dead pixel after the 150-200 hour break in or past the 30 days of initial use? If the tv is good out of the box, am I pretty safe?

Also, what about stuck pixels? My understanding is that they can be reset if they crop up. Is this true?

They are there out of the box, there is no cure, they cannot be reset. I tried everything when I had stuck pixels on three consecutive Panny th50pe700u's last year.
A stuck pixel is when one, or in my case many pixels flicker one color, like red, regardless of what is going on on the rest of the screen.
A dead pixel is just that, is does nothing(no output).
There was no way I could live with them even though I could not see them over about 4-5 feet.
If you get them return it. It is defective IMO.

But what will they replace it with? Usually they reserve the right to replace it with whatever they want, even if it's a lesser brand or lesser model, and i think they pro-rate the value too (or at least they used to). Dead pixel coverage isn't necessary because if the TV has dead pixels it will be apparentout of the box and you can just return the TV for exchange under their regular 30 day return policy. I'm skeptical that they'll cover burn-in but that's not really necessary anyway with current plasma TVs since burn-in is no longer an issue.

Mack and other EWs have in-home service and basically mirror the terms of the actual manufacturer's warranty. Power surge protection can be useful in some areas but the vast majority of people don't have problems with their electricity, and if they do they often have their own surge suppressors.

If BB's new Black Tie coverage is better than that, do you have a link to the details and the fine print? Apparently it covers more than the warranty they offered previously.

Well atleast at my store, the way it works is "you get a comparable model to what you previously had" SO say someone previously bought a 46" DLP.... they normally get a 55" out of it because that's the smallest we have. And Since there will be no more pioneer there will be no comparable models, so he would get his 2300 dollars back, and could put that towards what he'd like.

I can't speak for the company, but that's the way it's supposed to work, and yea they do cover a lot more with the new black tie, that's why we rolled it out. Unfortunately I don't have a link to any info on it.

Well they just sent me paperwork with a blacktie offer for $349 on a sammy 52B750.

I guess I'll pass, and maybe check out the Mack product. How many run naked with no warranty other than the one year that comes with the set?

I have decided to get the 50" Kuro that just price dropped at best buy. Is the $400 black tie extended warranty worth getting? I like the idea of being covered for four years, but man, $400 is a lot to tack on. My out the door goes from $2500 to $2900.

I believe? you can take on most aftermarket warranties up until the factory warranty expires. So I would do the CC extension thing for now, and decide which EW is best for you while you break in your new Pioneer.

I say no, save the cash for good Elite receiver.

a good read: Why you don't need an extended warranty (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/news/november-2006/why-you-dont-need-an-extended-warranty-11-06/overview/extended-warranty-11-06.htm?Extkey=SY95PI0&CMP=KNC-CROVMYSSP&HBX_OU=51&PK=yssp#1)

The repair rate on flat panels is not even 3%.

I say no, save the cash for good Elite receiver.

a good read: Why you don't need an extended warranty (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/news/november-2006/why-you-dont-need-an-extended-warranty-11-06/overview/extended-warranty-11-06.htm?Extkey=SY95PI0&CMP=KNC-CROVMYSSP&HBX_OU=51&PK=yssp#1)

The repair rate on flat panels is not even 3%.

And I'm sure the majority of Consumer Reports subscribers own a $5,000 Pioneer Elite... :)

CUT TO THE CHASE:

BOTTOM LINE: If your purchasing the TV with a credit card you have two years from the MFG. if its an elite plus one year from the credit card company extended warranty.
If anything is going to go wrong with your TV, it's usually at the beginning not years down the road. And for those of you that are talking about 'FALLING' etc. your warranty would NOT cover you anyway.

YOU DO NOT NEED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY!!

Just my two cents...

GSBTP differs from an extended warranty in many ways. Although credit cards extended the manufacturer's warranty an extra year. For example, here is Panasonic's warranty:

"If your product does not work properly because of a defect in materials or workmanship, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company or Panasonic Sales
Company (collectively referred to as “the warrantor”) will, for the length of the period indicated on the chart below, which starts with the date of original
purchase ("Limited Warranty period"), at its option either (a) repair your product with new or refurbished parts, or (b) replace it with a new or a refurbished product. The decision to repair or replace will be made by the warrantor."

Black Tie Covers:
Normal Wear and Tear
Power Surge Repair
In-Home for 30" and Above
Burn-In Coverage
Pixel Repair
Replacement if repair or part order is longer than 4 weeks.

All I'm saying is that Black Tie is just a better coverage than a manufacturer's warranty or an extended from costco or a cc company. You can choose to get it or you can choose not to. I'm a Magnolia employee and I offer it to every one of my customers. I don't force anyone to purchase it, but I feel it's a pretty good value. I deal with a tv replacement through our black tie program at least once a week with failed tvs. Most people end up with a better tv than what they started with. I probably deal with more angry customers because their products have failed and there isn't really anything I can do if a customer didn't purchase our black tie. Yes our company does make money when we sell them, but we lose money everytime a customer's product fails. Last year, our company spent $210 million dollars on products and parts for customer's who had purchased black tie and had something fail. If you don't use the plan, you do get some money back from us.

Just my opinion. You're entitled to yours. If there's anything I can do for you or anyone on this board, let me know. I'm more than happy to help someone out.

95% of people on this site hate best buy. Its a big retail chain, people just aren't going to like it. 1,000 great stories will get over-looked for one story. Best buy protection plans usually go above and beyond. replacements happen, and they are usually with a better set. 400 dollars is a lot. but would take a lot off your mind


I don't know much about mack warrenties, but people on this site have recommended some bad choices to buy tvs from just because it wasn't bestbuy. avoiding best buy everything at all costs seems like the trend.

Best Buy has to have the best warranty around, either them or Amazon. I would go for either of those, now only if they had a standard of excellence at other places that sell TV's. :D

95% of people on this site hate best buy. Its a big retail chain, people just aren't going to like it. 1,000 great stories will get over-looked for one story. Best buy protection plans usually go above and beyond. replacements happen, and they are usually with a better set. 400 dollars is a lot. but would take a lot off your mind


I don't know much about mack warrenties, but people on this site have recommended some bad choices to buy tvs from just because it wasn't bestbuy. avoiding best buy everything at all costs seems like the trend.

Yea it definitely is a lot. It's tough because technically it should be $649 because our BTP prices are based off of a percentage of the retail price which in this case is $4499.99. I recommend looking at the pros and cons between the 2 year Pioneer Elite warranty and the 4 year GSBTP and going with your instinct. Neither is right or wrong. Maybe you take the risk, maybe you go for protection. I have a Panasonic 50PZ800 and I did buy the GSBTP. I show customer's my sales history all the time. I'm not going to try and sell something I don't believe in.

I have decided to get the 50" Kuro that just price dropped at best buy. Is the $400 black tie extended warranty worth getting? I like the idea of being covered for four years, but man, $400 is a lot to tack on. My out the door goes from $2500 to $2900.

I voted to get the warranty. I just had my plasma replaced by the manufacturer and according the to technician that ordered the replacement:

both LCD and PLASMA can have a lot of problems, regardles of the brand.

He told me that if he bought a LCD/PLASMA TV himself he would not hesitate on getting the extended warranty.

BTW some credit cards would extend the manufacturers warranty.
Also, check if you're store would give you credit for unused extended warranty because my TV has that from my local store.

I can't speak for the company, but that's the way it's supposed to work, and yea they do cover a lot more with the new black tie, that's why we rolled it out. Unfortunately I don't have a link to any info on it.

Looks like the agreement on Best Buy's Web site agrees (can't link at the moment):

If we determine in our sole discretion that your product cannot be repaired, we will replace it with a product of like kind and quality that is of comparable performance or reimburse you for replacement of the product with a voucher or gift card, at our discretion, equal to the current market value of the product, as determined by us, not to exceed the original purchase price of your product, including taxes.

The main concerns are the "current market value" and "at our discretion" statements. Hopefully, your TV doesn't depreciate too much during the warranty period. ;) In any case, BB's warranty covers burn-in, so that's a plus.

Great if you have an issue within 4 years....worthless waste of money if you don't. I always roll the dice and skip over extended warranties and have never once had to regret my decision. Of course I know that odds are at some point I'll be burned...but if I go back and do a rough estimate of how much all of the extended warranties that I passed on would have cost me, I'm sure that will make me feel better.;)

I have decided to get the 50" Kuro that just price dropped at best buy. Is the $400 black tie extended warranty worth getting? I like the idea of being covered for four years, but man, $400 is a lot to tack on. My out the door goes from $2500 to $2900.

Before you make a decision, you should read Hdguru's report on the Best Buy Black Tie contract. There is a lot of loopholes in the fine print, that are not in the promotional print.

Buyer Beware: Here is the link to the article. A must read.

http://www.hdguru.com/

quick question about the black tie warranty, and included 30 day warranty.

Does anyone know if you buy a tv and warranty at one bestbuy store, do the warranties apply to other stores? Say if you wanted to return it within the 30 days, could you bring it back to another bestbuy?

Before you make a decision, you should read Hdguru's report on the Best Buy Black Tie contract. There is a lot of loopholes in the fine print, that are not in the promotional print.

Buyer Beware: Here is the link to the article. A must read.

http://www.hdguru.com/

Here's a few things about this article

No Lemon Policy - HD GURU says that product replacement may be replaced by a new or rebuilt one. This is true. Best Buy doesn't sell refurbished from the manufacturer (sometimes on our web site, but never in store that I know of), but some customers choose tv's that have come back from the service center with altered or replaced parts as a replacement tv to get a better deal. This is considered a rebuilt/refurb tv.

Loaner TV - In the service contract, it clearly states a 37" loaner tv on site, but only on the premium black tie

Fair Market Value - Tv's depreciate, just like cars and everything else you own. If you have a 32" tv that you paid $3k for in 2005, don't expect to get $3k back. I did an exchange just 2 weeks ago and a customer got a Sony 32" 1080P as a replacement. Yes the tv is 1/3 of the price, but the customer didn't have to pay any extra for it and got an upgrade. It is the discretion of an employee on determining the current value of the tv though.

"While we can’t cite an actual example of compensation received by a customer for an un-repairable TV covered by Best Buy’s Black Tie Protection Plan” - I just see this as someone not doing enough research for this article

quick question about the black tie warranty, and included 30 day warranty.

Does anyone know if you buy a tv and warranty at one bestbuy store, do the warranties apply to other stores? Say if you wanted to return it within the 30 days, could you bring it back to another bestbuy?

Black Tie Protection Plans are actually covered worldwide. The service differs by the product. Most times if you are farther than 50 miles from a bby store, we refer you to a local service center and cut you a check for the service.

You can return/exchange anything at a different bby then the one purchased at.