Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Just thought I would share some info with you all. I got my visor at Comp USA and for only $20 I got a one year no problem replacement warrenty. Hell I know I will drop it at least once and a new screen is much more than that.

Alex



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Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 638

Sounds good, I'm surprised that I havn't dropped mine yet, but I've only had it for 8 months.
BEN

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Richmond, VA, USA
Posts: 64

They sold you a one-year warranty for $20? All Visor's come with a one year (12 mo.) parts and labor manufacturer's warranty! And as long as you register it, you just call handspring's tech support department (or e-mail them), and depending on the problem, they'll ship you a replacement. Worked fine for my cracked screen cover (not the actual screen, just the cover). They replaced it free of charge, no questions asked.

Sounds like somebody at CompUSA just made off like a bandit with your $20!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 81

I'd say that if you're pretty attached to your Visor (like I am!) then the ability to walk into CompUSA and get a replacement on the spot, no questions asked, is probably worth it. Going through Handspring, while it's a pretty good process, still takes 3-5 days for you to receive your new Visor and then you have to go to the trouble of shipping the broken one back. I'm not usually a proponent of extended warranties, but in this case, I'd say it is worth it!

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 341

Broken screens from user mishaps are not covered by standard HS warranty. They have been liberal though up till now in their replacement policies thoug I suspect that will change.

Mike

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

I asked them about that and I quote "no matter what happens to the unit you can bring it back for a new one"

that is why I got it.

Alex

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 341

I understand. I'm speaking of the HS warranty.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: NH, USA
Posts: 13

Think it was $20 well spent!

Think the $20 you paid was well worth the ease of just cruising over to any CompUSA and having it replaced. As other people mentioned, Handspring warranty does not intend to replace for items due to "user neglect" - such as droppage. Thanks for the tip!

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djpritchard

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 42

Sounds to me like whoever sold you that had incorrect information.

I work for CompUSA, having recently escaped the Customer Service desk in favor for a position in the Technical Services dept. If you only paid $20 for the replacement warranty, your salesman sold you the wrong one. Sounds like for whatever reason, he was misinformed on the correct one to offer. I'd get some clarification on precisly what the plan he sold you is supposed to cover just to be on the safe side. I'm pretty sure that it wont cover screen damage to your PDA.

As always, your milage may vary.

--HP

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That which does not kill me had BETTER do enough damage to keep me from firing back!

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Hacienda Heights, Ca
Posts: 302

Re: Sounds to me like whoever sold you that had incorrect information.

quote:

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Originally posted by Hellion_Prime

If you only paid $20 for the replacement warranty, your salesman sold you the wrong one. Sounds like for whatever reason, he was misinformed on the correct one to offer.

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Bret Snyder<BR>If you don't know where you're going,<BR>You'll probably end up somewhere else.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 42

Re: Re: Sounds to me like whoever sold you that had incorrect information.

quote:

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Originally posted by Bret Snyder

Are you saying he was charged incorrect, or does the warranty not cover this?

In any case, he will only get what is in the contract, not a promise from a salesman. [/B]

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That which does not kill me had BETTER do enough damage to keep me from firing back!

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 1

the truth

I worked for Handspring... the warranty covers EVERYTHING except the LCD screen. So basically, if you break the screen, you have to pay $85.00 if you like it or not. I don't agree with that, I always argued that... they don't care. Even if it just breaks.. you gotta pay.
And they say they can't do it... then can, you just have to fight for it, don't hang up until you get it for free.

Anyways... either than that, the PDA is good... just they system of CSR is screwed up.

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SilkS

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 49

*Never* buy a warranty based on what a salesman says it covers. Read it.

Back when I bought my first Palm III, the salesman tried to sell me a warranty, saying that it covered everything including damage from the unit being dropped. I said, "Really? Please let me see the warranty."

Sure enough, damage from dropping was *specifically* listed among the things NOT covered by the warranty.

I spoke to the store manager about his salesman. The manager's lame excuse: "He's new."

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

Buy from CompUSA

David Harville is right! I bought my Visor from Staples, and I bought the extended warranty specifically because the salesperson said it covered everything -- even if you drop it. Well, less than a month later, a coworker asked to look at my Visor, and I handed it to him. He dropped it onto the floor!! Well, I called the warranty folks that night, and sure enough -- I hadn't read the warranty -- the salesperson was wrong, it did not cover damage if the unit was dropped. Handspring doesn't cover it either.

As it happened, my Visor works just fine. But I have learned two things -- I never let my Visor out of my hand. And read any warranty before you pay for it.

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L. Tyler

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 81

Now that's weird, because I have purchased a bunch of Visors from the local CompUSA and have had to return 2 of them because the owners dropped them and broke the screens. I had purchased the extended warranties on them and was able to immediately exchange them for new ones, no questions asked. I guess I just got lucky and someone didn't ask me the right questions.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 36

I got my Visor at Best Buy, they sold me a three year warranty for $60. I have gotten warrantys from them before on stuff like my CD player. Theres lots of legal junk in the warranty, they probably could say it doesnt cover dropping it, but every time ive taken something broken in before they havent asked any questions and gave me a credit for the price of it.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 1

If it sounds too good...

Never buy the in-store warranty. This is the only thing that earns commission for employees at Best Buy - They will and do say anything to get you to buy it. Think about it - if it is so profitable for the store and the employee - how valuable is it for you? The STANDARD approach at all the stores is for the salesman to say that the warranty covers dropping a portable electronic device, and the warranty department to say it is never covered when you call in for service. Lucky customers that actually benefit from these warranties are the exception NOT the rule.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Mesa, AZ USA
Posts: 50

Re: If it sounds too good...

quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Reed
Never buy the in-store warranty. This is the only thing that earns commission for employees at Best Buy - They will and do say anything to get you to buy it. Think about it - if it is so profitable for the store and the employee - how valuable is it for you? The STANDARD approach at all the stores is for the salesman to say that the warranty covers dropping a portable electronic device, and the warranty department to say it is never covered when you call in for service. Lucky customers that actually benefit from these warranties are the exception NOT the rule.

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Kevin Reed
TNET Services
<IMG src=http://www.tnet.com/images/flag_az.gif>

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

Truth..HA!

It seems logical that if YOU break the screen charges will apply. Besides, it's only glass anyways. It is always best to read all the fine print and warranty information before placing an order-so you know what you're getting into.
So it's either $85 vs. $100 (palm's charge).
You make the calculations.
The real TRUTH has spoken.

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"EVERYBODY'S GUILY"

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

Alright, I'll just come out and say it.

I work at a CompUSA.

I am a Hardware Sales Lead, a sub-management position, and am a PDA sales expert. So, naturally, I work the PDA area 25% of my day, every day. The other 75% is in the Apple Store (also a Mac expert). I sell quite a few replacement guarantees for the PDAs, and here's the deal, albeit somewhat confusing.

The replacement plan gets you a year of coverage, from date-of-purchase. It guarantees an INSTANT, OVER-THE-COUNTER replacement for the defective item. It, of course, covers internal defects like bad RAM, bad circuitry, screen issues like lines or poor contrast, and the cradle (whatever THAT's worth). Because it has an LCD screen, the replacement plan uses the same warranty documentation (terms & conditions) as notebook computers. In English, it means we will cover any problems RELATED to physical damage or drops, but not the physical damage itself. On a notebook, that means we'll replace whatever components are necessary, but not the case. But on a PDA, the WHOLE THING is replaced, so it doesn't matter. Okay, I'll simplify it even more. These are from actual experiences.

Customer A comes in with a Visor Deluxe which was dropped. The screen is not cracked, but has an inconsistent image and poor contrast. There is damage on the case, and two of the faceplate buttons no longer click the button below. Unit is replaced with like item (Visor Deluxe).

Customer B comes in with a Visor Deluxe which was dropped. There is case damage, but all the buttons function, and the screen is working properly. The entire unit works perfectly. Unit is not replaced.

Hopefully, this clears up a lot of confusion and misconceptions about the in-store warranties we sell. Feel free to reply with comments!

- Macinjohn