Because the manufacturers have made refrigerators so complex, I'd by an extended warranty on that.

Yes! The first year is already covered, so you can wait until close to the end of the first year before buying another year or three. I usually get an extended warranty from sears no matter where I purchase the appliance. It's the best choice in my area, but I haven't investigated other options much.

I used to not buy them but after this last go around with appliances I would buy the longest one I could if there are any electronics or blue enamel involved. ;-) I would very carefully read the terms. Some have used Square Trade. I had a very good experience with one that was serviced through the dealer but this would depend on their reputation.

Is square trade an okay place for the extended warranty on a fridge?

I've never been more grateful we bought it on our Kenmore fridge a few years back. I was in our garage with my art students, and we smelled smoke. Called 911. Fire truck came and determined the fridge motor had burned out. Called on the warranty. All fixed for free! When did this happen? One day before that warranty expired!

Depends on your risk tolerance. On average they charge more, perhaps significantly more, in premiums than they pay out in claims, so, on average, it's a bad deal. OTOH, it lowers your risk of being the one stuck buying a new fridge, or whatever. I buy them on used BMWs and my daughter's cell phones because experience suggests it will pay off. I've never bought one on any appliance or electronic device and have never had reason to regret that choice.

When I updated my appliances several years ago, I got them all at lowes. When you buy multiple appliances they package the 4 year warranty. I purchased a Samsung Fridge, Samsung Microwave, Electrolux range, and Maytag dishwasher. I think I spent under $400 in warranties total. After 5 years of ownership, I have had the following repaired out of the manufacturers warranty but still within the lowes. Electrolux 2 times, Maytag 3 times, Samsung Microwave 2 times. The only thing that did not need service was the refrigerator. I am pretty sure I got the better end of the deal but it still bothers me the way appliances are made. In our new kitchen remodel I did alot more research on what to buy and what to avoid.

An extended warranty is nothing more than an insurance policy. You are buying an insurance policy from Sears / Lowes, etc. Sears and Lowes does not have anything to do with the warranty claims. If the warranty company should become insolvent (and this has happened) you're stuck. Be sure to check out the warranty company, and read the contract, how the item will get fixed, who will fix it, what's covered.

I truly think that manufacturers now are cutting costs to deliver a product at a respectable price, but with those cuts come cuts in quality. I do think the warranties these days are a must. One example. In 1970 we watched the Maytag commercials about the poor repairman who never got a call. We bought a Maytag washer and dryer. We had a baby in real cloth diapers, so we bought it.

In 1996, I had a problem and called the Maytag man. He looked at my old system and sternly looked at me. "Never get rid of this washer and dryer. 3 things can go wrong! That's it." So I took his advice. We have moved that set to two homes and it just keeps on trucking! But digital newer appliances WILL have issues, so the warranty is mandatory.

stuff sure doesn't last like it used to. In 1989 I bought a GE dryer I used in a rental apartment. When I moved I gave it to my parents. They just replaced it, last year. It was still running but having a few issues. I think I paid around $ 700, not bad $ 28 a year! I also had an RCA TV they gave me when I had my own place, around 1986. I moved it cross country. It had no remote control and finally the buttons wore out, you could only set it to "01" and then use a cable box (with remote) to watch tv. In fact, it would only show static, you would set the "01" and leave the room for about 10 minutes and then it would tune in. It drove my husband crazy as he wanted a new tv with bells and whistles, but I told him not until the RCA died. So finally about 2002 it gave up the ghost and he practically knocked me down carrying it out of the house before I could determine if it could be repaired.

I agree with geoffrey. As with all types of coverage, the buyer is betting they need it and the selling insurance company (who knows the odds and controls the price) bets they don't. There are high profit margins for add on coverage, which is why most stores offer them. In some cases (like car dealerships) very high commissions are paid to the employees, because the price charged for the coverage is excessive for the ultimate cost to provide the coverage.

I never buy them and have never regretted it.

Consumer's Report used to say it is a waste of $$ to buy extended warranties. But now it is a waste of $$ to NOT buy one!! The way things are made not to last and with so many electronics, it has really changed the reliability of appliances. We have started buying them on everything we replace now.

I never buy an extended warranty as research things to death before making a purchase. So far, so good. However, my husband was good with repairs as appliances got some age on them.

As someone who has sold plenty of contracts in my day, it really comes down to how things are made today. They generally last 8-10 years and repairs in the first 5 are more and more common. The other fact to mention is the cost of the repair...in NY it's $100 at least to just get someone in the door to tell you it's broken. In the case of what you are buying it may not be a bad idea because those units are specialized. If something occurs you are going to have a much higher cost of repair/replacement potential than a standard refrigerator/freezer

I've never bought them and I've never regretted it. Hopefully I have not jinxed myself!

That is not to say I haven't had appliances repaired, but it is rare. And with internet parts identification and ordering, youtube diagnostic and repair videos, I've not called in a repair person for about 15 years now.

Ymmv, of course!

I believe silken1 is mistaken in saying that consumer reports Now supports them. They still say that they are a bad call. However, this assumes that you have a little back up cash in the case a repair is needed. The point is that if you at least theoretically put the extended warranty charges in an emergency fund, you would come out ahead or way ahead. Even if something broke, the other items probably wouldn't, and of course, you are paying for all of them.

I did buy one from Sears once on a pop up vent and a double wall oven. I had heard that the vent sometimes had issues, and was concerned about the oven because it is essentially two units in one. The vent never had issues, but I usually don't use it. Since I had the warranty, I actually called people out twice. The first time was because I didn't trust the oven temps. They really didn't do anything and didn't find anything wrong (slightly good for piece of mind), but left me where I started. I also called them because the warning chime suddenly sounded like the device was jammed up or something and the tone was more like a wheese. It turned out that I had accidently set the tone to 'soft' while wiping the touch screen down and the 'soft' tone in my KA oven is pitiful. I had called KitchenAid, and they didn't know what the problem was. I suspect that if I hadn't had the warranty, I would have found the problem by calling KA again, or from the manual, or online.

However, what I learned from using the warranty was that I was captive to the Sears (can't think of the two letter name of the repair co.) repair group. They certainly weren't fast and I would have been in a fix had they really been needed. There have been many threads here about their poor service. I think the critical point is that by using your own 'saved' cash, you can call the best or fastest people for repair.

As I am about to buy some new appliances, I too have been thinking about whether or not to get extended warranties. 10 or 15 years ago, I don't think I would have thought twice about it. However, with:

1. Most everything being made to lower quality standards these days to save costs, and
   2) All the electronics in appliances these days,
   
   I probably will go with warranties. There just seem to be too many stories about dishwasher control panels that cost $300-400 that go out. A friend's mom had that happen twice on her Bosch dishwasher within a few years of purchase. (Having said that, I will probably still go with a Bosch).
   
   All these ovens and ranges that have fancy digital controls above the hot oven doors. One of those goes bad, and you're out how much?
   
   Microwaves? If it's a $200 countertop, forget it. If it's a $1500 speed-oven/micro, that's another story.
   
   Refrigerator wise, I have had good luck with Samsung so far, so we'll see on the new one.
   
   One question I do have for most of you though is do you have a preferred retailer, or 3rd party warranty company? Posts above have mentioned Sears, Lowes and SquareTrade.
   
   Any good or bad experiences with Best Buy's Geek Squad? I'd like one company to call, and no "service call fees". I do know some places charge you the service call no matter what while others everything is included, no deductibles, no service call fees, nothing.
   
   Any recommendations? Thanks.
   
   

I 'think' some credit card companies when used to purchase things also give you an extended warranty, though it's not for years... maybe just one extra???

We are looking at purchasing Miele appliances. Here in Canada, there is a promotion where you can get 10% off, or a 10 year warranty. I know that Miele has a great track record overall, but I'm still having trouble deciding which way to go.

I got 25+ years out of my original microwave. It still worked, but I got rid of it because it was permanently stained yellow. I have no intention of getting warantees for any future microwaves I purchase, but things with hard core electronic expensive coded in -- yeah, I will.

artemis - your microwave lasting 25+ years has little to do with today's appliance quality. Think of it this way…that microwave probably cost $100-200 25 years ago. Today it costs $70-150. Base model washers 20 years ago were $299 and $399. Today you can still get a washer for $350-400. The only way they accomplish that is by cutting corners. It's simple math. They are giving you inherently more complex products, while making them as cheaply as possible. Warranties today are more valuable than in previous years because of it.

Thanks. I'll take that into consideration on the upcoming major appliance purchases. I hope to incorporate as little electronics as possible into the fridge and DW, but we will see how this goes. And okay, I understand the cost and corner cutting isn't just the electronics. Thanks. I'm thinking fridge -- over 1K since I want a bottom freezer -- warrantee...