Just spent USD 106 for an extended 4-yr warranty... worth it?

[cmhsieh54]

Hi all,

So, after about a month of research on e-readers and flipping through this forum (Thanks guys!), I have finally plunked down the cash for the DR1000S.

I bought it on EBay from ereaderoutfitters, and the iRex manufacturer 1-yr warranty is included.

A couple hours after my purchase, I received a warranty offer from SquareTrade, one of EBay's trusted warranty sellers. I have googled SquareTrade online, and according to a variety of legitimate sources it appears to be a highly reputable service.

SquareTrade offered a 3-year warranty for $79, and a 4-year warranty for $106. I purchased the 4-year warranty for $106. My *first impression* is that it's a reasonable price for the warranty (described below; esp see the section in Red), especially if it can give me added 'peace of mind.' For those who have had first-hand experience or heard second-hand stories about the iRex and its reliability, do you think I'm wasting my $106? I have a couple weeks to 'return' the warranty protection for a full refund.

Thanks in advance,
-cmhsieh54

------------------------------------
What is a SquareTrade Warranty
A SquareTrade warranty covers mechanical and electrical failures that occur during normal use of the item over the course of its life. It assumes that you receive a fully functional item from your seller.

It does NOT cover issues where the item does not arrive fully functional or issues that occur during the first 60 days after item purchase.

You deserve to have an item that works properly upon purchase. If it doesn't, you have coverage from the seller, eBay or PayPal. Please read below.

Make sure your item works
When you receive it, make sure to test everything it does... every switch, every button, every function. If something doesn't work (and 5-10% of items have some issue), contact your seller immediately because some sellers have shorter deadlines for returns than others.

In the rare case that your seller doesn't respond to you or take back a defective item, eBay and PayPal offer a comprehensive set of protection to ensure that you receive the item you paid for.

eBay and PayPal require you to initiate a process within 30-60 days of item purchase date, so make sure you understand their requirements.

You can learn more about these protection mechanisms here:
- eBay's Buyer Protection
- Paypal's Buyer Protection

SquareTrade has no control over your eBay transactions. If your item does have issues in this near-term period, we will gladly give you a full refund on your warranty if you have to return your item.

What we cover and don't cover
Broadly speaking, we cover mechanical or electrical issue that occurs through normal use.

The warranty coverage excludes accidental damage (unless our Accidental Damage Protection coverage was offered and purchased for your item), willful damage, software issues, peripherals and other add-ons, and consumables like replaceable batteries. Non-replaceable batteries, such as those contained in iPods, are covered.

There are a few types of items we are unable to warranty. The most important to be aware of are commercial-use items and items sold in non-working condition. See your contract for more details.

If your item is one of these - please contact us immediately and we'll be glad to give you a full refund of your warranty. Back to Top


At SquareTrade, we make our Service Agreements easy to understand. The following summary should help you to quickly find what you need to know about your coverage. It is followed by the actual Service Agreement itself.

SQUARETRADE SERVICE AGREEMENT SUMMARY
HOW LONG IT LASTS:

If your item is new and has a US manufacturer's warranty of at least 90 days ("MSP"), this Service Agreement begins the day you purchased the item and lasts for the number of years of coverage you specify at purchase time.
If your item is refurbished and has a US manufacturer's warranty of at least 90 days ("MSP"), this Service Agreement begins upon expiration of manufacturer warranty and lasts for the number of years of coverage you specify at purchase time.

If your item is used, or doesn't have a US manufacturer's warranty of at least 90 days ("Other"), then the Service Agreement begins on the 61st day after item purchase and lasts for the number of years of coverage you specify at purchase time.

WHAT IS COVERED:
Mechanical and electrical failures that occur during normal use of your item. Your item is covered for up to the full purchase price of your item (tax and shipping are excluded).
Some examples of covered issues include computer hard drive failures, iPod batteries that stop charging, cell phone keypads that get stuck, and digital camera sensor failures.
If Accidental Damage from Handling (ADH) Protection was purchased, the Service Agreement expands to include damage from liquid spills, item drops, or any other accidental damage. ADH coverage begins 30 days after purchase, and does not cover willful damage, negligent use, theft or loss. A $50 deductible applies on ADH-related claims. ADH is not offered on all items.
ADH coverage begins 30 days after purchase, and does not cover willful damage, negligent use, theft or loss. A $50 deductible applies on ADH-related claims. ADH is not offered on all items

HOW THE COVERAGE WORKS:
Reimbursements: Often times, reimbursing you the full cost of the item is faster and more cost-effective. If your item's shippable, we will provide you with a pre-paid shipping label. We generally pay claims (minus the minimum postage fee for the label) within 3-5 business days of item receipt.
For items still covered by a manufacturer warranty at the time of claim: First, we will help you file a claim with your manufacturer.


If the manufacturer replaces or repairs your item , your SquareTrade Care Plan will cover your manufacturer repaired or replaced item.
If the manufacturer refuses to honor their warranty because they consider your item grey market or not purchased from an authorized retailer, we will still cover you.
If we decide to repair, here's how the coverage works:


For Shippable Items: We will give you a pre-paid shipping label (for laptops and TVs, we will mail you a shipping kit to ensure item safety). Once you've shipped your item to our service depot, we will repair it within 3-5 days and then ship it back to you at no cost to you. Laptops get express shipment both to and from our depot.
For Desktop Computers, Televisions over 37 inches and Large Appliances: We will help you schedule an appointment with a local repair facility for in-home service and we will pay the repair facility directly.
Back to Contract Top WHAT IS NOT COVERED: Refer to the details of the contract for the full list, but there are 5 notable exclusions to your coverage.


Product failures within the first 60 days: We don't cover items that are dead on arrival or that fail within the first 60 days.
Accidental damage: Unless Accidental Damage from Handling Protection is purchased, we don't cover items that are accidentally damaged - such as water damage, dropped iPods, and cracked laptop screens.
Accessories and Consumer replaceable parts: We don't cover accessories and parts that are meant to be replaced by the consumer, such as batteries and ink cartridges.
Software: We don't cover software issues, including software for computers, cell phones and PDAs.
Certain Types of Items. Items used in a commercial setting (e.g., an office printer) or fraudulently misrepresented are not covered.
Back to Contract Top VALUE OF YOUR COVERAGE: The total value of your warranty is in most cases equal to the purchase price of your item. For every valid claim filed against your item for which we provide repair services, the total value of your coverage is reduced by the cost of the repair services rendered. In the event a valid claim is filed with us and repair costs are estimated to exceed the current value of your warranty - the balance of your warranty value will be offered instead. Back to Contract Top HOW TO GET SERVICE: Simply log into www.squaretrade.com/claims, go to My Warranties and select the Claims tab. Select the correct item, the reason for the claim, and its specific issue from the drop-down menus. Also briefly describe the problem in the next box below. You'll also be asked a few questions that will help us isolate the likely problems. You will be contacted shortly after you submit your claim with instructions on how to proceed next.

You can also call us at 1-877-900-7283, weekdays from 6am-5pm PST. Typically, we process your claim the same day and repair or reimburse you within 3-5 business days of receiving your item.
For items bought outside of eBay: you need to have a copy of the item's receipt (with the purchase date and price) on file with SquareTrade before a claim can be processed. You can email or FAX a copy of your receipt at any time.
For items bought on eBay: SquareTrade keeps a copy of the eBay auction information in our records, so you do not need to submit a receipt at any time.
DEDUCTIBLES: There are no deductibles for standard contract issues. Claims made under Accidental Damage from Handling coverage will incur a $50 deductible

REFUND POLICY: We will provide you with a full refund if you cancel your Service Agreement 60 days from purchase of the Care Plan. If you choose to cancel your Service Agreement after this period, we will pro-rate your refund based on how much time has passed. You can also transfer your Service Agreement at any time at no cost.

MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS: We may periodically send you marketing offers via e-mail. If you do not wish to receive these offers, simply click the opt-out link provided at the bottom of any e-mail.


Congratulations on purchasing this Service Agreement through SquareTrade. Please read these terms and conditions carefully so that you fully understand your coverage under this Agreement.

DEFINITIONS:
"We", "Us" and "Our" shall mean AMT Warranty Corp. (59 Maiden Lane; 6th Floor, New York, NY 10038). "You" or "Your" shall mean the purchaser of the product(s) covered by this Service Agreement.

Manufacturer Supported Products ("MSP") are defined as new, non-refurbished products that come with a minimum ninety (90) day US manufacturer's warranty from the date of Product purchase.

Other Products ("OP") are products purchased for $1,000 or less that are used, refurbished, or have less than ninety (90) days of original US manufacturer's warranty at the time of purchase, or those for which the original manufacturer's warranty is not valid in the US

WHAT IS COVERED MSP & OP:
The Service Agreement will cover a mechanical or electrical failure of the covered product(s) ("Product") during normal usage for the term of this Service Agreement if the Product is not covered under any other warranty, insurance policy, or service contract. We will issue a voucher or check for the original purchase price up to the Limit of Liability or Products may be repaired or replaced with a like-featured product at our discretion. Replacement parts will be new, rebuilt or non-original manufacturer's parts that perform to the factory specifications of the Product at our sole option.
This Service Agreement does not cover repair or replacement of the Product for any of the causes or provide coverage for any losses set forth in the section entitled WHAT IS NOT COVERED below.

WHAT IS COVERED JEWELRY & WATCHES:

JEWELRY:Parts and labor costs to repair the Jewelry where the problem is a result of a failure caused by defects in workmanship and/or materials, including those resulting from normal wear and tear such as: cracks, chips, scratches, dents, kinks, breaks, and thinning. You will be reimbursed for Square Trade-authorized repairs to, or replacement of the Jewelry, at our discretion, when required due to a problem which is not covered under any other warranty, service plan or insurance.

WATCHES:
Parts and labor costs to repair the Watch where the problem is the result of a failure caused by defects in workmanship and/or materials, including those resulting from normal wear and tear such as: watch band, case, clasp, crown, cracked crystal, inner movement and stem. For watch band failure, we may elect to replace either segments of the band, the complete band, or the watch, at our discretion. You will be reimbursed for Square Trade-authorized repairs to or replacement of the Watch, at our discretion, when required due to a problem which is not covered under any other warranty, service plan or insurance.


PLACE OF SERVICE:
At our discretion, large items will receive On-Site Service and we will arrange to repair or replace the Product at Your location during normal business hours.
For shippable items You will be responsible for safe packaging and delivery or shipment, prepaid and insured, of the Product to Our authorized service facility for repair or replacement. If the authorized service facility determines the item is in working condition or is not covered by Your Service Agreement, You will be responsible for paying return shipping charges plus a service fee for the return of Your Product.

LIMIT OF LIABILITY:
The total amount that We will pay for repairs or replacement made in connection with all claims that You make pursuant to this Service Agreement shall not exceed the purchase price of the Product, less taxes. In the event that We make payments for repairs, which in the aggregate, are equal to the purchase price or replace the Product with a new, rebuilt or refurbished product of equal or similar features and functionality, We will have no further obligations under this Service Agreement.

WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROPERTY DAMAGE, LOST TIME, OR LOST DATA RESULTING FROM THE FAILURE OF ANY PRODUCT OR EQUIPMENT OR FROM DELAYS IN SERVICE OR THE INABILITY TO RENDER SERVICE.

TERM:
The term of the Service Agreement for MSP products shall be listed on your purchase receipt ("Receipt") commencing on the date of purchase of the eligible Product(s) and inclusive of the US manufacturer's warranty. This Service Agreement does not replace the manufacturer's warranty, but provides certain additional benefits during the term of the manufacturer's warranty.
The term of the Service Agreement for OP products shall be as listed on your Receipt, commencing on the sixty-first (61) day after the date of purchase of the Product. We shall not be responsible for product failure within the first sixty (60) days after the date of purchase of the eligible Product(s). The No Lemon Coverage is not applicable to OP products.
If a Product is represented to be an MSP product and determined to be otherwise, we reserve the right to either change the term of the Service Agreement to that of OP products or cancel this Service Agreement and refund Your premium.
DEDUCTIBLE:
There is no deductible for this Service Agreement except for claims as a result of accidental damage from handling (ADH) coverage. The applicable deductible for ADH coverage claims is defined in the section entitled "Optional Accidental Damage from Handling" below, and will be listed on Your Receipt.

OPTIONAL ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE FROM HANDLING (ADH):
Only MSP products are eligible for ADH coverage. If You elect to include accidental damage from handling (ADH) as an integral part of Your coverage program, it augments Your Product warranty by providing additional protection to Your MSP product after an initial 30 day waiting period from the date of purchase. The term of the ADH coverage will be listed on Your Receipt. There is a $50 deductible for claims made under the ADH provision.
If You purchased ADH coverage on a Product that turns out not to be an MSP product, ADH coverage will be declined and You will receive a refund for this coverage.
ADH does not provide protection against normal wear and tear, theft, mysterious disappearance, misplacement, viruses, reckless, abusive, willful or intentional conduct associated with handling and use of the product, cosmetic damage and/or other damage that does not affect unit functionality, or damage caused during shipment between You and Our service providers. If protective items such as covers, carrying cases or pouches, etc., were provided or made available for use with Your product, it is expected that You will continually use these product accessories for protection against damage to the product. Abuse is defined as Your intentional non-utilization of protective items during product use, or Your treatment of the product(s) that You have purchased for Your use in a harmful, injurious or offensive manner that may result in its damage. Any resultant damage from this type of treatment is NOT covered by this ADH program

WHAT TO DO IF A COVERED PRODUCT REQUIRES SERVICE:
Go to www.squaretrade.com/claims or call us at 1.877.WARRANTY toll free and explain the problem. We will attempt to resolve the problem You are experiencing over the telephone. If We can not resolve the problem, You will be directed to another service center authorized by the Us. Service will be provided during normal business hours and in the US only. You may contact the Us, if you need additional assistance or have further questions regarding this Service Agreement.

WHAT IS NOT COVERED:

ANY EQUIPMENT LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;
ANY PRODUCT FRAUDULENTLY DESCRIBED OR MIS REPRESENTED BY THE ITEM SELLER;

MAINTENANCE, REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT NECESSITATED BY LOSS OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM ANY CAUSE OTHER THAN NORMAL USE AND OPERATION OF THE PRODUCT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND OWNER'S MANUAL, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THEFT, EXPOSURE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS, OPERATOR NEGLIGENCE, MISUSE, ABUSE, IMPROPER ELECTRICAL/POWER SUPPLY, UNAUTHORIZED REPAIRS, IMPROPER EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS, ATTACHMENTS OR INSTALLATION, VANDALISM, ANIMAL OR INSECT INFESTATION, RUST, DUST, CORROSION, DEFECTIVE BATTERIES, BATTERY LEAKAGE, LACK OF MANUFACTURER-SPECIFIED MAINTENANCE, OR ACTS OF NATURE OR ANY OTHER PERIL ORIGINATING FROM OUTSIDE THE PRODUCT;

COSMETIC DAMAGE TO CASE OR CABINETRY OR OTHER NON-OPERATING PARTS OR COMPONENTS WHICH DOES NOT AFFECT UNIT FUNCTIONALITY;

TELEVISION OR PERSONAL COMPUTER MONITOR SCREEN IMPERFECTIONS, INCUDING "BURN-IN" OR BURNED CRT PHOSPHOR;

PROJECTOR OR REAR PROJECTION TV BULBS UNLESS THAT SPECIFIC COVERAGE HAS BEEN PURCHASED WITH YOUR SERVICE AGREEMENT;

DAMAGED OR DEFECTIVE LCD SCREENS WHEN THE FAILURE IS CAUSED BY ABUSE OR IS OTHERWISE EXCLUDED HEREIN;

EQUIPMENT USED FOR RENTAL OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES OR IN INDUSTRIAL SETTINGS;

ACCIDENTAL OR INTENTIONAL DAMAGE, CRACKED OR DAMAGED MONITOR, LAPTOP OR DISPLAY SCREENS, LIQUID DAMAGE, ETC., UNLESS OPTIONAL ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE FROM HANDLING (ADH) COVERAGE WAS PURCHASED WITH YOUR SERVICE AGREEMENT;

ANY AND ALL PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS THAT OCCUR PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS CONTRACT;

CASES WHEREIN THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES THE EXISTENCE OF A VALID US MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY AND DENIES A CLAIM AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY;

CONSUMER REPLACEABLE AND/OR LOST OR CONSUMABLE ITEMS SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO BATTERIES, BULBS, TONER, RIBBONS, INK CARTRIDGES, DRUMS, BELTS, PRINTER HEADS, ETC.;

PRODUCT(S) WITH REMOVED OR ALTERED SERIAL NUMBERS;

DAMAGE OR EQUIPMENT FAILURE WHICH IS COVERED BY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, OR FACTORY BULLETINS (REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE MANUFACTURER IS DOING BUSINESS AS AN ONGOING ENTERPRISE);

DAMAGE TO COMPUTER HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND DATA CAUSED BY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, VIRUSES, APPLICATION PROGRAMS, NETWORK PROGRAMS, UPGRADES, FORMATTING OF ANY KIND, DATABASES, FILES, DRIVERS, SOURCE CODE, OBJECT CODE OR PROPRIETARY DATA, OR ANY SUPPORT, CONFIGURATION, INSTALLATION OR REINSTALLATION OF ANY SOFTWARE OR DATA;

CHARGES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION DAMAGE, CUSTOMER EDUCATION, CLEANING, PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, "NO PROBLEM FOUND" DIAGNOSIS, NON FAILURE PROBLEMS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ITEMS NOT COVERED SUCH AS NOISES, SQUEAKS, ETC; INTERMITTENT ISSUES ARE NOT CONSIDERED PRODUCT FAILURES.

JEWELRY OR WATCHES THAT THAT ARE USED OR REFURBISHED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE.

NOTE: THIS SERVICE AGREEMENT MAY BECOME VOID IF YOU MAKE UNAUTHORIZED REPAIRS. We reserve the right to inspect the Product from time to time.

RENEWAL:
This Service Agreement may, at Our discretion, be renewed at the expiration of its term. When we offer to renew the Service Agreement, the renewal price quoted will reflect the age of the Product and the prevailing service cost at the time of the renewal.

TRANSFER OF SERVICE AGREEMENT:
This Service Agreement may be transferred to any person in the United States. Log in to www.squaretrade.com or contact Us toll-free at 1.877.WARRANTY 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

PURCHASER RECORDS:
Although We maintain a record of Your Service Agreement purchase, You must have in Your possession a copy or Your original purchase receipt in order to present a claim.

NO LEMON POLICY:
If Your Covered Product is an MSP product and has three service repairs completed for the same problem, which repairs are covered by this Service Agreement, and a fourth such repair for the same problem occurs, as determined by Us, within any twelve (12) month period, the Covered Product will be replaced with a comparable product. The cost of the replacement will not exceed the original Product's purchase price and may be less due to technological advances. The original Product and purchase receipts must be returned to Us along with authorized service receipts from the three prior repair incidents to qualify. Preventive maintenance , checks, cleanings, Product diagnosis, customer education, accessory repairs/replacements, computer software related problems and repairs done outside of the continental USA are not considered repairs for the purposes of the No Lemon Policy. Upon replacement of a Product, We will have no further obligation to repair or replace the Product and You will not be entitled to make any further claims for its repair or replacement.

POWER SURGE PROTECTION:
This Service Agreement protects against the operational failure of a covered Product resulting from a power surge while properly connected to an Underwriter Laboratories-approved surge protector. You may be asked to provide Your surge protector for examination.

GUARANTEE:
This is not an insurance policy. We have obtained various insurance policies to insure Our performance under this Service Agreement. Should We fail to pay any claim or fail to replace the Product covered under this Service Agreement within sixty (60) days after Product has been returned or, in the event that You cancel this Service Agreement, and We, fail to refund the unearned portion of the Service Agreement price, You are entitled to make a direct claim against the insurance company. The insurer is Wesco Insurance Company, 59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10038 and you may contact them toll-free at 866-505-4048.
NOTE: THE ABOVE GUARANTEE DOES NOT APPLY TO SERVICE AGREEMENTS SOLD IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

CANCELLATION:
You may cancel this Service Agreement for any reason at any time. To cancel it, log in to www.squaretrade.com or contact Us at 1.877.WARRANTY 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If You cancel this Service Agreement within the first sixty (60) days after receipt of this Service Agreement You will receive a full refund, less any claims paid, where allowed by law. If You cancel after the first thirty (30) days from receipt of this Service Agreement, You will receive a pro rata refund based on the time remaining on Your Service Agreement, less an administrative fee, not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the price of the Service Agreement or ten dollars ($10.00), whichever is less, and less any claims paid, where allowed by law. If We cancel Your Service Agreement, You will be refunded the unearned pro rata purchase price of the Service Agreement, less any claims paid, where allowed by law.

[yingwu]

I just wonder whether there is a service like this in EU???

[cmhsieh54]

I just called SquareTrade to inquire about Accidental Damage from Handling (ADH) coverage for my DR1000S, and they said such additional coverage was not available in my case (e.g. e-Book purchased off EBay).

[kleykenb]

It's definately worth it with the DR. The build quality of the thing makes that you're always going to have to send it back within the first 4 years.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by kleykenb

It's definately worth it with the DR. The build quality of the thing makes that you're always going to have to send it back within the first 4 years.

I'm not sure I believe that. Most reports are that the DR is built better than the iLiad. I know the DR hasn't been around for a long time, but there have been few reports of any real problems with it. Much less than we've seen in the past with similarly aged iLiads.

[ajaynaidu]

Originally Posted by kleykenb

It's definately worth it with the DR. The build quality of the thing makes that you're always going to have to send it back within the first 4 years.

But by the end of the four years this device will have been superseded!!!!

[bokjeid]

Is DR1000S still being sold? Where can we find it on ebay? I've never been able to..

[TeknoKid]

<edit> wow.. the OP is from a year ago??.. oops.. </edit>

What are you expecting from the warranty? Because it's not like they can replace the device if it breaks.. were you just hoping for your money back if you have problems? With all those exemptions listed it sounds like you will have a hard time getting them to do anything..

This one worries me:
DAMAGE OR EQUIPMENT FAILURE WHICH IS COVERED BY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, OR FACTORY BULLETINS (REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE MANUFACTURER IS DOING BUSINESS AS AN ONGOING ENTERPRISE);

So anything which would have been covered by the normal warranty even though the company is not in business will not be covered by this warranty..

And this also not covered: ACCIDENTAL OR INTENTIONAL DAMAGE....

So basically it has to break because of a defect outside of whatever the manufacturer’s warranty would have been but before the end of your 4 years and then they may refund up to the purchase price..

There are really too many loopholes here for them.. If it brakes they can decide that it is either your fault somehow for mishandling it or that it would have been covered by the original warranty even though IREX is not "DOING BUSINESS AS AN ONGOING ENTERPRISE" and you could end up with nothing..

[timezone]

If you buy something like a new Plasma 60 inch TV then purchasing a warranty is probably a good idea. Having said that most of them are a waste of money. In the US, places like Bestbuy make a ton of money selling these things. With a reader will you even have it for four years? You probably are getting a years warranty from the manufacture when most things break down. Most products if they make it through the first 6 months are probably going to survive for many years. BestBuy will sell the convenience of a quick exchange rather than having to do all the work of getting an RMA, boxing it up and driving to the shipper. Of course in the end insurance is insurance. If the protection is worth the peace of mind then it is worth it.

[Fat Abe]

All the fancy legal language in the world means nothing. What will each warranty policy do if your Irex reader craps out due to a manufacturer defect, as opposed to user abuse or negligence? Here is what my credit card company says:

"Extended Warranty coverage (duplicates the manufacturer or store warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase and is limited to repair or replacement of the lesser of the amount charged to your card or $10,000) is underwritten by Virginia Surety Company, Inc. Certain conditions, restrictions and exclusions apply. Details of coverage will be provided upon cardmembership."

As usual, the clowns who offer this protection do not list the restrictions and exclusions in an easily accessible place. Thus, we need a test case. Could someone who owns an Irex reader that failed during the manufacturer's warranty period or after this warranty period, but before the end of the extended warranty period, please post their experience. And, if you had your device fail in the first period, but had extended protection, did your plan allow you to file for protection immediately rather than waiting for the second period to begin?

If I knew Irex was going down, I might have purchased a Best Buy extended warranty policy. But, ultimately, a $400 refund or replacement with an "equivalent" reader would not satisfy me. There is no substitute for my Irex. I'd rather get it repaired if it broke.