I'm wondering whether it's worth it to buy the Accidental Damage Plan. I read that they needed to reinforce the back, and I'd like to know whether it seems pretty sturdy to those who have handled it.

Just curious...did you? Will you?

I don't belive in accidental damage plans. They seem to be pretty slanted in favor of the vender. Besides, by the time I break it I figure a newer better one will be out and if it gets fixed for free I'll have no justification for upgrading! :happy2:

Hi Michele,

I purchased the 2-year one when I bought it at the Sony Store. I figured it was worth it since it covered accidental drops as well. Being a portable device that will see alot of use and travel, there is a chance a drop could happen. If it didn't cover accidental drops wouldn't have bought it. The way I see it, the plan costs $44, if you do happen to drop your Reader and get it replaced, the plan just paid for itself more than 7 times over.

Hi Michele,

I purchased the 2-year one when I bought it at the Sony Store. I figured it was worth it since it covered accidental drops as well. Being a portable device that will see alot of use and travel, there is a chance a drop could happen. If it didn't cover accidental drops wouldn't have bought it. The way I see it, the plan costs $44, if you do happen to drop your Reader and get it replaced, the plan just paid for itself more than 7 times over.

I got the same 2-year ADH for essentially the same reason. As I will most likely be carrying it on hand or in a backpack, the chances for serious accidental damage are high IMO (especially since the Reader doesn't come with a hard or metal flip case). The unit does feel fairly solid though and the sides have a 'leading edge' of metal which makes it easier to grip.

Was wondering about this too myself. The in-store sales monkeys said that they'd already dropped one and broken it, so that was giving me pause for thought. But then again they offered other choice comments like "The 20 gig hard-drive in this unit is great!" and "You can't rotate the screen on this model." So who knows . . .

"The 20 gig hard-drive in this unit is great!"
Indeed, a 20 gig hdd would be great :D

E Ink displays seem to be sensitive and also have a high fall-out rate. A poor iLiad fellow had his screen suddenly turn permanently black after only two weeks of usage. According to him, iRex does not replace or repair bad screens under any sort of warranty, and they ask now for 260 Euro to replace his.

So I think this Plan could make sense only if the screen is covered as well.

E Ink displays seem to be sensitive and also have a high fall-out rate. A poor iLiad fellow had his screen suddenly turn permanently black after only two weeks of usage. According to him, iRex does not replace or repair bad screens under any sort of warranty, and they ask now for 260 Euro to replace his.

So I think this Plan could make sense only if the screen is covered as well.


Looking at the Limited Warranty that comes with the Reader, I would presume (since it does not spell it out) that the 1-Yr. parts warranty covers the screen, as the screen is one (and I would say the main) component of the Reader. If the iLiad screen you mentioned was due to a defect, I think that is total BS on iRex's part.

Under the terms where it spells out the terms of Accidental Damage due to Handling (there is a whole bunch of other stuff in the document along with the ADH terms), it says that it "only covers operational or mechnical failure from handling". No coverage for "normal wear and tear", among other things, though. Those two quotes sort of confuse me unfortunately. Guess we really won't know unless someone has bad luck or contacts a Sony rep?

Looking at the Limited Warranty that comes with the Reader, I would presume (since it does not spell it out) that the 1-Yr. parts warranty covers the screen, as the screen is one (and I would say the main) component of the Reader. If the iLiad screen you mentioned was due to a defect, I think that is total BS on iRex's part.

Under the terms where it spells out the terms of Accidental Damage due to Handling (there is a whole bunch of other stuff in the document along with the ADH terms), it says that it "only covers operational or mechnical failure from handling". No coverage for "normal wear and tear", among other things, though. Those two quotes sort of confuse me unfortunately. Guess we really won't know unless someone has bad luck or contacts a Sony rep?

Yes, as much as people like to make fun of Sony, their warranties cover all parts and labor for whatever the period of time stated.

A little story - My mainboard on my VAIO Pocket fritzed while still in warranty. Sony Electronics, San Diego shipped me a postage-paid box, I mailed my unit to them, they replaced, upgraded the firmware so I wouldn't have to again, and tested the mainboard in San Diego, and shipped it back to me in three days. I was very impressed. Quick and easy.

I don't remember seeing the option to buy such a plan online, was it there and I missed it? Any way to get one after the order has already been placed?

I don't remember seeing the option to buy such a plan online, was it there and I missed it? Any way to get one after the order has already been placed?

I was looking for this when I placed my online order but did not see it either. I would call customer service and inquire.

I would also like to know if someone discovers how the on-line purchasers can get that warranty!

I called the guy back at the b&m Sony store and asked if I could still get the warranty. He said he could do it for me via fax again, but when I asked if I could get it online, he said you can't. My impression is that the warranty pays the salesman for his customer service somehow.

Maybe if you called a store they could arrange it for you.

I read that they needed to reinforce the back, and I'd like to know whether it seems pretty sturdy to those who have handled it.I remember the guy making that comment too. My impression was that they were re-inforcing the display backplane ... but I didn't write it down. :shrug:

I would also like to know if someone discovers how the on-line purchasers can get that warranty!

According to Sony's site : "If you purchased your new portable electronics product within the last 60 days and did not purchase a Service Plan, call us today at 877-865-SONY to learn about your options."

HTH

Excellent. Thanks Otter! :)

Don't know if I got bad info, but I just purchased the last in store reader here in the Chicago area. They told me that I couldn't get the extended plan for online orders, but they probably wanted to sell it to me on a new device. I got sick of waiting and have a trip soon. Now I have one in hand. I have another on the way that should arrive in a few days.

G

P.S. If anyone wants to buy it from me let me know, I don't want to make money on it, just enough to cover the device plus the tax I paid locally, shipping, and any paypal fees (maybe something like $450 plus whatever shipping options you want). PM if interested or I will just return it back to Sony once I receive it. I can also bring it on my trip to Fremont, CA (will be there starting next Saturday) if someone wants to pick it up locally.

I don't normally go for the extended warranties either, but, as others have stated, it seems like a decent deal in this case. The sales guy assured me that everything was covered, except in case of loss/theft. Time will tell!

I just ordered mine by phone ~ 2 years. Another *ka-ching*.

Hmmm... I called the 877-865-SONY number just now and was told nothing came up on their screen so couldn't sell me an extended warranty. But gave me this number... 1-866-766-9259 for their ESP department. They are closed now, so may be on central or eastern time.

In the meantime, has anyone gotten the extended warranty who ordered online originally? Were there multiple choices of what to get?

I'll give it another try tomorrow or next time I remember.

I ordered the warranty by phone. I told them what I wanted and they looked it up for me. There were options depending on the length of the warranty. They told me it takes 3 weeks before it will be shipped. (?!)

The warranty is administered by a third party insurance company (like most extended service plans), you're probably just getting the "policy" in the mail stating what is covered, who to contact, etc...

Okay, here's some live updates on my warranty search.

I called the ESP number that I was given by Sony Style (because Sony Style said they couldn't help me). After a "fun" wait in the queue, they told me that they couldn't help me without an invitation number. I explained the history, and they put me on hold while I assumed they were checking on it. After another long wait, I found I was transferred into yet another queue. Still waiting...

Awesome Bob, now you have more time to read on your reader!

After a wait, I'm now I'm at Sony Customer Assistance and they tell me that they can't help me, so will transfer me to Sony Sales! I asked them to walk me through the handoff so I don't end up in a queue maze again.

Don't know if that happened, but I did end up with someone that seems to be able to help me. He put me on hold again, but very friendly and said good things about the Reader. In fact, it sounds like he may buy one himself, so he's on my good side! ;) Of course, I told him that he really should get one, and recommended MobileRead to him.

Yeah, success!
And here's a few lessons for those that come after me...

* The number to call is 1-877-518-7669 (Sony Style Sales)
* You should have handy your order number, serial number from the device, and a credit card.
* You have an option between an extended warranty (2yrs=$24.99, 3yrs=$39.99, 4yrs=59.99) and an Accidental Damage warranty (2yrs=$44.99, 3yrs=$69.99, 4yrs=99.99).

I chose 2yrs accidental damage because I wanted protection against a broken screen if I drop it or sit on it or something. And by two years from now I'll "have to have" the next great reading device, so no sense in more than 2yrs for me!

The process may be slightly different if you didn't order online, but this should be close. There also might be a warranty offer that comes later to me in the mail, but I haven't received anything so far.

BTW, A special thanks to Devin, who is the one at the Sony Style Sales group that finally was able to help me and who seemed enthusiastic about the Reader. If anyone has an especially tough time with this process for any reason, feel free to PM me for his direct extension. But I think once you get to the right group it shouldn't be a problem.

This little adventure just goes to prove what Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda TV series says... "It's never easy!"

I'm wary of this kind of accidental plan, what if they say according to their policy that it's not an accident and it's actually your fault and deny free replacement. Isn't it easy for someone just to break the device and tell the SONY rep that it's an accident so they'll get a replacement? I was told by a Best Buy rep that it's just another way of making an extra buck off the customers. BTW, SONY won't replace products over $250, so what happens if the Reader is beyond repair? Will they refuse to do anything or sell a replacement/refurbished unit at a lower cost?

It may be easier to investigate getting it covered on your house contents insurance. I don't know if it's different in the US, but most home insurance policies here in the UK can be extended to cover accidental damage, and damage away from the home.

Hi Michele,

I purchased the 2-year one when I bought it at the Sony Store. I figured it was worth it since it covered accidental drops as well. Being a portable device that will see alot of use and travel, there is a chance a drop could happen. If it didn't cover accidental drops wouldn't have bought it. The way I see it, the plan costs $44, if you do happen to drop your Reader and get it replaced, the plan just paid for itself more than 7 times over.

Or if it gets wet and ruined.