Extendend Service

Amidst all the craziness and money worries that we've been having, it's nice to get some good news now and then.

I worked very hard about a month ago to get Joanna set up with a desk and computer that she could move (easily) throughout the apartment and do whatever she needs to do on. Sorry. "On which she can do whatever it is she needs to do." About a week after I got it all set up, the monitor died. So today I took it into my store, and slapped it up on the counter (the monitor, that is) and said "shit's broke". They punched in some info, looked at some screens, and replaced it for me right there on the spot. This is why I ALWAYS buy those extended service agreements. I just saved myself $200 b y paying an extra $25 when I bought the monitor.

Now, this is not the only time I have ever had to use the service plan. Joanna's first laptop we bought from Best Buy, went off to service 3 times, and then when it went off the 4th time, they replaced it. So I bought a new service plan on the laptop with which they replaced it. THAT laptop went off to service 3 times, and again, they ended up replacing it with a shiny new one. That's the one we currently have. It needs service, but guess what?!?! I bought one for that one too!

Then there's the TV. When we bought it, that was the first thing I ever bought a service plan on, and boy-howdy am I glad I did. Another product, another 3 times off to service, another new product.

Now, I know what some of you (Doug) are thinking: "These companies should just make reliable products and we shouldn't have to buy service contracts." Well, the realities of supply-and-demand in today's world make that a virtual impossibility. Back in the days when the world wasn't DEMANDING lower prices and 4 times the amount of product to be available to them at all times, these manufacturers could afford to take their sweet time making things as well as extensively quality testing their product. They can't do that anymore. People like their shiny laptops and they loooove to go into a store like mine and have an almost endless array of ones to choose from. Bye-Bye quality control when you have to produce on such a scale as to appease the rabid masses. "WHAT?!?! this 50" TV costs more than $1000? That's insane!" Lady, less than 5 years ago a TV like that would have cost you 10 times that. How do ya reckon that they trimmed enough fat to be able to sell it for what it goes for today? Sigh.