I know the retail store ones are slightly expensive but at least, if something happens to the set towards the latter part of the warranty, they'll replace it with whatevers available at that time.

Perfect example, I had bought a AIO printer from BB a year ago with the extended warranty. Printer died a week ago so I called it in.....since BB was not carrying that model anymore, they authorized a replacement with the newer model FOR FREE! I simply went today to my local BB store and picked it up. Couldn't be any easier than that.

Now Im thinking of pulling the trigger on the Toshiba 65HM167 HDTV and BB charges $349 for the extended warranty but I've read most forum members are going with cheaper alternatives offered by third party vendors. Do any of the third party companies offer 'lemon' policies?

Other than cost, any other reasons why people go for third-party options?

Thanks
Frag

It was my understanding best buy didn't deal with extended warranties...they had a third party that dealt with everything...? Didn't know they would do that.. (replace an item in store that was purchased a year ago)

It was my understanding best buy didn't deal with extended warranties...they had a third party that dealt with everything...? Didn't know they would do that.. (replace an item in store that was purchased a year ago)
The Warranty companies work very closely with the stores have agreements to supply replacement sets at close to dealer cost. The store "sells" the set to the Warranty company at cost+? and delivers it to the customer.

Stores don't want customers to understand that they are dealing with third party insurance companies and like to pretend that they are handling everything.

Many, if not most, new sets are unrepairable once new replacement circuit boards run out (usually at 18 - 24 months) and the set will have to be replaced. That's why the warranties cost $300+ instead of $100 anymore.

If a store is truly self-insured, then your warranty ends if the store closes. If the store is a franchise operation, then the warranty ends if your local franchise closes or changes ownership. (It can't actually change ownership, one franchise ends and another begins without any liabilities from the previous franchise owner). Curtis-Mathis was mostly a franchise operation and their very generous warranty did not transfer to any other store, only the one you bought it from.

Sears does not do third-party warrantys as described above. They maintain their own service facilities, trucks, and technicians.

Some of the third party warranty companies actually will have Sears come out and fix your set, often because in the particular geographic area there are no reliable independent shops.

I was in the auto repair business as a tech for many years at a large Toyota dealership and have some experience with 3rd party warranty companies. In the automotive field they vary from very good to virtually worthless, and you get what you pay for in that the bargain ones would break a leg to find ways to deny claims and when they did "honor" them would not authorize oem parts or even decent aftermarket rebuilt parts, instead shipping us low quality used junkyard parts that if they worked at all would usually fail within a couple of weeks. Many of the bargain warranty companies would either go out of business completely or morph into new companies that would not honor the original companie's policys.

Our best experiences were with Toyota's own extended warrantys, GE backed ones were usually pretty good.

With electronics I would get either the mfg's extended warranty (Sony and some other mfgs. offer these) or a store marketed one if buying from a large chain, especially Sears.