I'm looking to buy a Panasonic 42" plasma. I've never bought a plasma/LCD as I never had a need before. Do most people just settle for the stock 1-year manufacturer warranty? Would it be wise to purchase Best Buy's extended plans or are they a waste of money? Have plasmas evolved to become reasonably reliable these days?

Not gonna use a credit card so will not have those benefits, but will use store credit. Thanks.

 

If you find yourself a good brand (Sony, LG, .....), extended warranty is generally a waste of money IMO.....unless you throw Wii remotes at it. On the side note, if you're getting a new TV, unless you can find a really good "energy saving" Plasma/LCD, I would suggest forking a little bit more money and go with the LED TV. For one, it's a lot thinner and better looking, but most importantly, it saves so much on the energy usage. You would make the money back in the long run.

 

I think the BB service plan is $300/4 years with in-house service if anything goes wrong. If you're not buying with a CC to double the warranty, it is a somewhat valid option - it comes down to the price of the tv and how reliable you think it is.

Personally, I've yet to see any non-China knock off HDTV break early, but I think the BB plan will also give you points or something back if you never use it, so again, it depends on the price of what you're buying imo.

For a 42", the price is what, ~$800? In that case, I wouldn't bother.

 

Thanks guys. Yea I was looking at the Panny 42 inch plasma P42X1 I believe, and that goes for $600 at Best Buy right now. Costco charges $650.

 

I think I read an article an the top 5 ways to waste money, and warranties on consumer electronics was like #1. Of course it was an opinion based article, so I guess I would do whatever makes you happiest. Personally I would not waste my money.

 

Panasonic makes some of the most reliable electronics out there. Typically, if you are going to have a problem, it will show up as infant mortality or at least within the warranty period. Panasonic makes excellent displays and they are a steal for the money.

Yes, a plasma does draw more power than a fluorescent or LED LCD but you can't beat the picture for the money. An LED LCD display that approaches the black levels of the Panny is quite a bit more than a "little more money". It will be several times the price.

 

Those extended warranties are very profitable to the stores, much more profitable then the TV itself. The profit on those contracts is somewhere in the 50-60% range. I'm not just making that number up, it's true:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/conte...13110_mz020.htm

So if you avoid buying all the extended protection plans, even if something does break prematurely, you will come out farther ahead then if you would have bought an extended warranty on every item.

 

Thanks a lot guys.

I was looking at Best Buy's site again and came across an Insignia brand 37 inch LCD. Are these on the level of the no-names like Dynex? Are Insignias decently reliable?

 

Buy the 42" Panasonic plasma. You will NOT be disappointed with the picture.

 

BB has its house brand now - maybe its Insignia. Its basically the same as a non-branded Chinese made tv.

Fwiw, a large HDTV is about the only thing I'd want a service plan for, and I'm talking 50" or bigger. I don't want to deal with unhooking, moving and shipping something like that if something goes wrong, and they are typically much more expensive than anything under 50", so the % cost for a service plan is less.