Costco 2 year warranty on laptops - what about CC's which extend warranties

[cannon_fodder]

You can use a Mastercard when purchasing from Costco.ca. If I purchase a laptop from Costco.ca using a credit card which doubles the warranty, will I actually get 1 year manufacturer warranty + 1 year warranty from the CC + 1 year warranty from Costco OR do the last two items cancel each other out and I'm no better off?

[deal_with_singh]

I've always wandered the same, but I believe the credit card warranty only doubles when you do not have extended warranty. Because the bonus 1 year warranty is not from the manufacturer, it will count as extended warranty, and thus not entitle you for the credit card warranty.

That's just what I assume, and its not guaranteed to be correct.

[TrevorK]

Typically the credit card warranty will double the manufacturer's warranty so you will still end up with a 2 year warranty. In the CC's I have and looked at the fine print it clearly states manufacturers warranty period.

[GYR8]

As far as the HP laptops go, you can see that the specifications of even the lowest-cost model (http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/en/ho/WF06b/321957-321957-3329744-3848802-3848802-5259212-5275363.html?dnr=1&jumpid=oc_r1002_caen_c-001_r0001&lang=en&cc=ca) on the HP.ca website list it with a 2-year warranty. So it's not the traditional 1-year HP / 1-year Costco split. This means there is a chance your credit card coverage *might* add a third year to the warranty.

GYR8

[bylo]

Typically the credit card warranty will double the manufacturer's warranty so you will still end up with a 2 year warranty.
Typically they double the manufacturer's warranty by up to one year. For most notebooks with a standard 1-year warranty that's effectively a doubling. But for those products that come with a longer warranty the maximum extension by CC is 1 year.


In the CC's I have and looked at the fine print it clearly states manufacturers warranty period.
A big difference between Costco and CC is the hassle factor. CC warranty fulfilment typically requires you to get a couple or more repair estimates. I don't think that's the case with Costco.

[george__]

So if my laptop has 2 years warranty, I have 3 years because I bought using my Credit Card?

[bylo]

So if my laptop has 2 years warranty, I have 3 years because I bought using my Credit Card?
Yes, if your credit card includes warranty extension (not all do) and you're willing to go through the hassle of getting them to honour it.

As a practical matter it depends on what breaks, especially after 2 years. If it's a HD or RAM then it's probably not worth the hassle because (a) at best they'll replace with a like part and (b) you can probably get a better spec replacement for $50 or less. If it's the LCD panel or mobo then it's probably worth the hassle.

[george__]

Yes, if your credit card includes warranty extension (not all do) and you're willing to go through the hassle of getting them to honour it.

As a practical matter it depends on what breaks, especially after 2 years. If it's a HD or RAM then it's probably not worth the hassle because (a) at best they'll replace with a like part and (b) you can probably get a better spec replacement for $50 or less. If it's the LCD panel or mobo then it's probably worth the hassle.

How do they know it wasn't accidental?

[brunes]

To answer the original question - no. The Costco warranty is a store warranty. Credit card warranties always specifically say they are extending the manufacturer warranty only. So if you have a CC with +1 year and a costco-purchased laptop fails during year two, you basically can choose which to go through, either Costco or the CC... but you would always choose Costco since it is so much less hassle.

FWIW, I had a laptop and one of the cells in the battery died 1.5 years in. I filed a warranty claim with my CC and got a quote for an OEM replacement battery from a local shop, and got the claim honoured no problem. I then bought a replacement from eBay for 1/2 the price :)

[bylo]

How do they know it wasn't accidental?
How does anyone know? They try to use some common sense. For example if after 6 months you send a notebook with a cracked screen back to the manufacturer for warranty repair, they'll claim it was accidental damage no matter what your story. Most of the time that's valid. In a few rare cases, for instance if the bezel was installed so tight that it cracked the panel, it isn't.

My point is that after 2 years, even if the notebook might be covered by someone's warranty, it's probably not worth the trouble of making a claim, especially if they make it a real hassle, e.g. make you get several repair quotes. In addition, after 2 or 3 years you should be able to find replacement parts on eBay for a fraction of what an official repair facility will charge.

[cannon_fodder]

As far as the HP laptops go, you can see that the specifications of even the lowest-cost model (http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/en/ho/WF06b/321957-321957-3329744-3848802-3848802-5259212-5275363.html?dnr=1&jumpid=oc_r1002_caen_c-001_r0001&lang=en&cc=ca) on the HP.ca website list it with a 2-year warranty. So it's not the traditional 1-year HP / 1-year Costco split. This means there is a chance your credit card coverage *might* add a third year to the warranty.

GYR8

at that same site the brand new HP envy ultrabook is listed with a 1 year warranty. I don't remember seeing any retailer mention a 2 year warranty on an HP laptop except for what you've posted - which is obviously model specific.

[cannon_fodder]

To answer the original question - no. The Costco warranty is a store warranty.

Costco says that it extends the manufacturers warranty in their section under concierge services. So how did you conclude its a store warranty - because you can take it to them instead of dealing with HP? But then wouldn't the same logic hold true for the first year? You don't deal with HP during the first year either. Thus it isn't a manufacturer's warranty at all.

either your conclusion is faulty or Costco has misrepresented the actual warranty extension.

[TrevorK]

Yes, if your credit card includes warranty extension (not all do) and you're willing to go through the hassle of getting them to honour it.

As a practical matter it depends on what breaks, especially after 2 years. If it's a HD or RAM then it's probably not worth the hassle because (a) at best they'll replace with a like part and (b) you can probably get a better spec replacement for $50 or less. If it's the LCD panel or mobo then it's probably worth the hassle.

The Costco Concierge service works like a great program and is very little hassle to make a claim so it's worthwhile to do so with any sort of failure. This is why people buy their electronics from Costco.

[gman]

You can use a Mastercard when purchasing from Costco.ca. If I purchase a laptop from Costco.ca using a credit card which doubles the warranty, will I actually get 1 year manufacturer warranty + 1 year warranty from the CC + 1 year warranty from Costco OR do the last two items cancel each other out and I'm no better off?


So if my laptop has 2 years warranty, I have 3 years because I bought using my Credit Card?

First, the CC "double" the manufacturer warranty up to one year.

So, in the above case, the manufacturer warranty is one year, hence, you have the 2nd year covered by both Costco and CC.
So, in a nutshell, in the 1st year, you are covered by the manufacturer (the manufacturer can be HP USA instead of HP Canada for argument sake) and Costco.
In the 2nd year, you are covered by Costco and CC.

CC covers whatever the manufacturer warranty says. i.e. in the product you bought, there is a page describing what the manufacturer warranty covers. When you submit the claim, the CC will ask you to fax/email that to them so that they can tell you if you are covered.

e.g. a laptop is in general has 1 year manufacturer warranty but the power supply may be 3 months (as stated in the manufacturer warranty). If you happen to have problem with the power supply, you can't claim anything from CC.

[bylo]

The Costco Concierge service works like a great program and is very little hassle to make a claim so it's worthwhile to do so with any sort of failure. This is why people buy their electronics from Costco.
This is why I said upthread, "A big difference between Costco and CC is the hassle factor. CC warranty fulfilment typically requires you to get a couple or more repair estimates. I don't think that's the case with Costco." ;)

[GYR8]

at that same site the brand new HP envy ultrabook is listed with a 1 year warranty. I don't remember seeing any retailer mention a 2 year warranty on an HP laptop except for what you've posted - which is obviously model specific.

Yes, good point. I didn't check other models.

So, summarized, one should check with the manufacturer on the specific model they are looking for. If they state 2-year warranty (like my example), then the CC might cover a third. If it's a 1-year warranty, then the CC would apply in tandem with the Costco-extended 2nd year.

GYR8

[mofesto]

The credit card "extended warranty" will double the manufacturer warranty. So if the laptop has standard 2-year manufacturer warranty, you will now be covered for 4 years (up to a combined maximum of 5 years).

Battery life is not covered by manufacturer warranty, so credit card "extended warranty" will also not cover replacement of a battery that lasts only 15 minutes after a year. Battery losing charge with use is a standard behavior and not a defect. You have to buy a new battery on your own dime.

Tip: to make laptop battery last longer, use your laptop with power cord connected when possible. The battery loses life each time you recharge it, so don't use on battery-only when possible. Additionally, your laptop will work without the battery plugged in. What I do is take the battery out and just use it on power cord. Only plug battery in when you're taking it mobile.

Making claim with credit card insurance

This year, my Acer died after 1.5 years from purchase. Manufacturer warranty was expired, but I was lucky that my Visa had extended warranty. I called to make a claim and it was pretty easy. You just need:

* receipt from purchase
* credit card statement to show your purchase
* estimate from company to repair it (in my case, Acer costs $240 for repair and shipping... same price for all issues I think)
* copy of manufacturer warranty to show what it covers

Took me a few minutes to find all the documents. The credit card statement I printed from my online banking.

For the estimate, I contacted Acer using online help ticket and they sent me a PDF which outlined the cost to repair and ship back my laptop.

In the end, my laptop started working magically... was a static discharge issue that prevented the computer from booting, so I got to cancel the credit card claim. But it's really not difficult, definitely worth buying your electronics on credit card.

[Sprite_TM]

i called the extended warranty department for my credit card before. theres actually many restrictions on the extended warranty. refurbished products are not included (ie. 90 days does not double it to 180 days). only applies to new products. the warranty only extends up to the second year of owning the product. so if a laptop has a manufacturer warranty of 1 year, the credit card will extend it another year to 2 years. but if the manufacturer provides a warranty of 2 years, the extended warranty does not apply. it doesn't "double" or "add" an additional year.

[george__]

What if the 2nd year was BOUGHT?

[bylo]

The credit card "extended warranty" will double the manufacturer warranty. So if the laptop has standard 2-year manufacturer warranty, you will now be covered for 4 years (up to a combined maximum of 5 years).
Please cite one credit card where this is true. Here's what the Ts & Cs for my CC (https://www.tdcanadatrust.com/document/PDF/tdvisa/tdct-tdvisa-goldelite-586004.pdf) say[my bold]:
The Extended Warranty Protection Plan automatically provides extended warranty coverage for Insured Items such coverage to commence immediately following the expiry of the applicable Manufacturer’s Warranty for a period equal to the period of the Manufacturer’s Warranty coverage or one year, whichever is the lesser on most items purchased with the TD Canada Trust Credit Card as long as there is a Manufacturer’s Warranty valid in Canada (automatic coverage is limited to warranties five years or less.) Manufacturer’s Warranties greater than five years are covered if registered with Insurer within the first year after purchase of the item.

This is also untrue:

Battery life is not covered by manufacturer warranty, so credit card "extended warranty" will also not cover replacement of a battery that lasts only 15 minutes after a year. The batteries on Lenovo notebooks carry a 1-year manufacturer's warranty. With CC extension, that's 2 years. It may be true with Acer. If so that's yet another reason for holding your nose while giving them a wide berth.


Tip: to make laptop battery last longer, use your laptop with power cord connected when possible. The battery loses life each time you recharge it, so don't use on battery-only when possible. Additionally, your laptop will work without the battery plugged in. What I do is take the battery out and just use it on power cord. Only plug battery in when you're taking it mobile.Also false but this thread isn't the place to have that discussion. Go to http://batteryuniversity.com/ and start reading.

[george__]

So my Lenovo Thinkpad T510 which I bought a extra year of warranty means I'm screwed after 1st year regardless but my battery is okay for 2 years?

:P Get new battery in 2nd year would be nice

[bylo]

theres actually many restrictions on the extended warranty
Correct. That's why it's important to obtain, read and understand the Ts & Cs that apply for your CC.


but if the manufacturer provides a warranty of 2 years, the extended warranty does not apply. it doesn't "double" or "add" an additional year.
Maybe your CC has this restriction. Mine doesn't. In fact my CC offers warranty extension even when the base warranty is 5 years or longer, "Manufacturer’s Warranties greater than five years are covered if registered with Administrator within the first year after purchase of the item." Registration means I have to send them a copy of the receipt, CC slip and warranty. (I wonder how they handle "lifetime warranty." Does that continue for 1 year after the owner's death? ;))

[bylo]

So my Lenovo Thinkpad T510 which I bought a extra year of warranty means I'm screwed after 1st year regardless but my battery is okay for 2 years?
I don't understand why "[you're] screwed after 1st year regardless but [your] battery is okay for 2 years?"

The normal Lenovo warranty is 1 year. That includes the battery. Extended warranties from Lenovo generally exclude the battery. (IIRC they used to offer a separate battery warranty extension but you'll have to verify that.) So if the battery dies in year two you can try to get the CC extended warranty (or Costco's if that's where you bought the unit) to cover it. Based on the wording of TD's CC warranty they might pay for a replacement battery. OTOH they might argue that it's excluded under something like "items consumed in use." YMMV.

[gnuman]

Not all the HP's are covered by 2 yrs though. Some models do have 2 years and some do not. Concierge will cover the second year if it only has 1 year but there won't be a third year of MFG+Costco+CC. Mofesto is completely off the ball when it comes to the warranty of 5 years.

CC's are different. When I had to go through my CC coverage for my Asus (the product came with 2 years and made sure to print it out) and I got an estimate all they did was reimburse the amount with little questions asked. You do get 1 battery replacement through Costco's warranty but as far as CC it would be hit or miss.

Concierge's warranty coverage is simple - It copies what the mfg would cover. That's it.

[smartcdn]

Great tip about removing battery and using AC power. I do that with my laptop. What about those folk using an Apple notebook that has the battery soldered in there????


The credit card "extended warranty" will double the manufacturer warranty. So if the laptop has standard 2-year manufacturer warranty, you will now be covered for 4 years (up to a combined maximum of 5 years).

Battery life is not covered by manufacturer warranty, so credit card "extended warranty" will also not cover replacement of a battery that lasts only 15 minutes after a year. Battery losing charge with use is a standard behavior and not a defect. You have to buy a new battery on your own dime.

Tip: to make laptop battery last longer, use your laptop with power cord connected when possible. The battery loses life each time you recharge it, so don't use on battery-only when possible. Additionally, your laptop will work without the battery plugged in. What I do is take the battery out and just use it on power cord. Only plug battery in when you're taking it mobile.

Making claim with credit card insurance

This year, my Acer died after 1.5 years from purchase. Manufacturer warranty was expired, but I was lucky that my Visa had extended warranty. I called to make a claim and it was pretty easy. You just need:

* receipt from purchase
* credit card statement to show your purchase
* estimate from company to repair it (in my case, Acer costs $240 for repair and shipping... same price for all issues I think)
* copy of manufacturer warranty to show what it covers

Took me a few minutes to find all the documents. The credit card statement I printed from my online banking.

For the estimate, I contacted Acer using online help ticket and they sent me a PDF which outlined the cost to repair and ship back my laptop.

In the end, my laptop started working magically... was a static discharge issue that prevented the computer from booting, so I got to cancel the credit card claim. But it's really not difficult, definitely worth buying your electronics on credit card.

[bylo]

Great tip about removing battery and using AC power. I do that with my laptop. What about those folk using an Apple notebook that has the battery soldered in there????
It's not such a great tip if you take the trouble to read Battery University as I linked upthread. There are two main enemies of battery life, (a) heat and (b) storage at full or zero charge. Unless your notebook runs at more than 50°C it probably doesn't matter if you remove the battery. If you do remove the battery you have to remember to keep the battery at ~40% to ~80% charge to maintain optimal life. Few people have the time or patience to do this. However if your notebook comes with power management software check to see if it has a feature that limits recharging to when the charge level drops below a certain threshold and stops recharging when it hits a higher threshold. Use this to keep the battery at optimal (i.e. not full) charge when you're on AC power.

FWIW all Lenovo notebooks have this feature and Lenovo recommends using it instead of pulling the battery.

[packardbell]

all CC extends the manufacturers warranty up to a maximum of 5 years.
so in your case the cc covers the 2nd year even though costco covers the 2nd year too.

[mofesto]

so in your case the cc covers the 2nd year even though costco covers the 2nd year too.

Credit card "extended warranty" would be void in that case. Because the terms say - it will double the manufacturer warranty, but only if no other insurance policy is in place on the product, in which case you have to use that other insurance policy first. So in the second year, you would have to use Costco for returns/fixes. And in the third year, you wouldn't have any additional coverage.


It's not such a great tip if you take the trouble to read Battery University as I linked upthread. There are two main enemies of battery life, (a) heat and (b) storage at
full or zero charge. Unless your notebook runs at more than 50°C it probably doesn't matter if you remove the battery. If you do remove the battery you have to remember to keep the battery at ~40% to ~80% charge to maintain optimal life.

Na, it can also be stored at 100%. Because my Acer laptop battery was 2.5-3.5 hours in the beginning. Two years later, I barely used it on battery power, and it stills lasts 2.5-3.5 hours. And that whole time the battery was sitting in my computer, while my computer was connected to power source, at 100% charge.

Whereas the first time I bought laptop I used it for school. I was using it on battery, and by the end of the day it was depleted and needed charging. Within 7 to 9 months, that battery wouldn last 10-15 minutes.

Definitely won't hurt to keep it at 100% - but it will hurt to be discharging and charging it. Each discharge cycle kills the battery life.

[mofesto]

the warranty only extends up to the second year of owning the product. so if a laptop has a manufacturer warranty of 1 year, the credit card will extend it another year to 2 years. but if the manufacturer provides a warranty of 2 years, the extended warranty does not apply. it doesn't "double" or "add" an additional year.

OK I'm re-reading "The Benefits" book that comes with CapitalOne MasterCard Gold. This time I see it says "automatically doubles the original manufacturer's warranty for up to two additional years". So yeah, looks like I might have misread the bit about max of 5 years; but if it has two year manufacturer warranty, should extend for a total of 4 years.

Realistically I don't care after two years. Two years would be time to get a new laptop or cellphone anyway. I would want 4 years for a tv though.

[brunes]

To answer the original question - no. The Costco warranty is a store warranty.

Costco says that it extends the manufacturers warranty in their section under concierge services.

It has nothing to do with Costco or what they say at all. The credit card warranty is SPECIFICALLY extending the manufacturer warranty. In fact, if you want o get into the nitty-gritty, the credit card warranty agreement has specific wording in it that states that if the item is covered under ANY other warranty, then the credit card one is not valid - IE, if Costco is covering it, you technically do not even have the option to file it with the credit card company. However, odds of them verifying this are next to zero. But again - you would never do this since the Costco one is superior. But no matter what way you slice this, the credit card warranty is never going to stack ON TOP OF the Costco one.

[brunes]

Battery life is not covered by manufacturer warranty, so credit card "extended warranty" will also not cover replacement of a battery that lasts only 15 minutes after a year. Battery losing charge with use is a standard behavior and not a defect. You have to buy a new battery on your own dime.


This is not true and most companies I know of warranty their batteries to not have any bad cells for 1 year. As I said on the previous page, I have successfully claimed for a battery before, for a Compaq using my Mastercard warranty after 1.5 years.


Tip: to make laptop battery last longer, use your laptop with power cord connected when possible. The battery loses life each time you recharge it, so don't use on battery-only when possible. Additionally, your laptop will work without the battery plugged in. What I do is take the battery out and just use it on power cord. Only plug battery in when you're taking it mobile.


This is not a good tip and is based on outdated knowledge, as people have already pointed out. Read up on how LiON batteries work and their optimal storage. They last the longest when they are kept at a near-full (but not totally full) charge, using intelligent charge controllers found in all modern laptops. If you try to manage the charge on your own you will just end up killing the cells prematurely. The real reason most people kill their laptop batteries early is because they DON'T leave them plugged in enough and they run them down to near zero all the time before charging. You should always charge at 30%-40% minimum to keep optimal life.

[bylo]

Na, it can also be stored at 100%.
Did you read the Battery University link I provided? If not, I'm not going to waste my time responding to you.

P.S. A sample of one is nothing more than an anecdote, i.e. totally meaningless in a serious discussion.