topic Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade? in Electronics

QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

Topaz Gem — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 21:13:00 GMT

I'm thinking of buying the next smart phone TSV and was wondering if the Square Trade was worth it. I don't normally buy things like this, but I've never had a smart phone and was wondering if it's something I should consider.

I'm normally not very hard on my cell phones, as I'm not the type of person that has one glued to my ear constantly, so I'm not really worried about dropping it, etc. If there's other reasons why I should purchase the Square Trade agreement, please let me know.

Thanks!

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

chickenbutt — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 21:20:45 GMT

I don't have a smart phone, but I HIGHLY recommend Square Trade. I've been purchasing extended warranties there for some ten years.

They have different ones and some, on this sort of thing, will cover things such as droppage, spillage, etc, in addition to just mechanical problems.

Their prices can't be beat and their service is just as good. I did a lot of research before I started using them.

I've had to call out the warranty on one thing - one of my laptops. That warranty was $60 VERY well spent. They sent me a packing box, packing materials, a shipping box, AND a paid FedEx label. They sent this by overnight. It didn't cost me a dime to send the laptop to them.

I followed the instructions and shipped it out. Within a week I had it back and it had gone from totally dead to working perfectly. It STILL works perfectly and this was almost 5 years ago!

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

jaxs mom — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 21:25:35 GMT

I've never needed an extended warranty on my smart phones. I just upgraded after having my last phone for 4 1/2 years and it still works fine.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

hckynut — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 22:07:12 GMT

On 3/19/2015 Topaz Gem said:
I'm thinking of buying the next smart phone TSV and was wondering if the Square Trade was worth it. I don't normally buy things like this, but I've never had a smart phone and was wondering if it's something I should consider.

I'm normally not very hard on my cell phones, as I'm not the type of person that has one glued to my ear constantly, so I'm not really worried about dropping it, etc. If there's other reasons why I should purchase the Square Trade agreement, please let me know.

Thanks!

Topaz Gem

I've had at least 8 different cell phones and haven't dropped one yet. Any type of insurance for me is a waste of money, especially when it comes to "almost throw-away" items. Haven't a clue what Square Trade is or does, just venturing a guess from what you've said in your post.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

jackthebear — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 23:32:45 GMT

I have had at least 15 years of cell phones and never needed any insurance on them. To me save your money that you would spend on a ""maybe""

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

Lynnj — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:52:32 GMT

I've never used them. But I am not sure it would be needed for a cell phone. Of course, accidents happen, and it could drop and break or something. I suggest rather than investing in this for the phone, invest in a good well made cell phone case. Outterbox is a good name of cell phone cases. They say a car can drive over the phone in one of their cases and the phone it fine. Maybe something like this would cover you for any accidental drops or whatever. I also don't see a need for tech support with a cell phone. By the time anything might start going wrong with the inside stuff, you would have had more than enough use to justify the original cost. At that point, it's probably time for an upgrade because of new technology available, and I'd just buy the latest for a new one. Maybe if I were buying a computer I would think about an extended warrantee, not necessarily for a cell phone.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

Topaz Gem — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 21:49:15 GMT

Thanks, everyone. You've given me some valuable feedback. The TSV isn't until next Tuesday, so I have plenty of time to make my decision.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

Sunshine Kate — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 21:59:18 GMT

I'm really easy on my cell phones, but I have had one slip out of my hands once or twice while hurrying around.

I bought an OtterBox cell phone case to fit my iphone, so my one or two drops have been protected. I wouldn't own a cell phone without a top grade cell phone case.

I wouldn't buy insurance. I read the teeny tiny fine print and realized the hidden charges -- no thanks.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

Another new name Sue — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 22:27:34 GMT

Square Trade has a good reputation. I've never bought insurance and am careful with my phone, as you are. Could you afford to replace your phone if something happened? Think about that.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

chickenbutt — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 00:14:38 GMT

OtterBox makes awesome cases! I also highly recommend them.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

Nuttmeg — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 00:52:41 GMT

On 3/20/2015 chickenbutt said:
OtterBox makes awesome cases! I also highly recommend them.

Otterbox makes great cases, but not for the average Tracfone sold on home shopping channels. Your can find cases for most phones on Amazon. I usually look for tech items on YouTube.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

JGalt — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 20:49:37 GMT

People drop phones in toilets all the time (when they are in a pocket). I once was on the phone while driving, finished the call and set the phone down to my right, right into my glass of water. My eyes were on the road and I was aiming for a slot in the console, but missed. When I'm driving, my concentration is on the driving, so was absent minded about what I was doing with the phone.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

GCR18 — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 21:12:58 GMT

I haven't used square trade, but have only read good things about them. The warranty comes to $7 a year, so if I was on the fence I'd do it.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

ValL — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 02:37:25 GMT

I've had my phone for over a year and a half. Lately the text messages have been erratic. I never know if I've missed one and have had to call people to see if they have gotten mine. I figured this was normal wear and tear and sent in a request to Square Trade. After giving them all the information, they decided that this was probably a software issue and they don't cover software. So, I would definitely say, save your 30 bucks and forget the Square trade coverage. Either that, or accidently drop the phone in a pond or run over with with a bicycle before you request them to repair it.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

Ainhisg — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 12:39:36 GMT

Mid- to low-end TF's are considered to be disposable phones. That's why you don't find high-end cases like Otterbox or Speck for them. The phones like today's TSV may last a year and a half or they could last 5 years. I rarely use my phone, and it is treated gently...I'm very easy on one. That being said, the keyboard went out on my year and a half old Ultimate 2. I knew I could download the Google keyboard to replace it, so that's what I did, but I felt like the phone was going to probably start having problems. My husband's U2 lasted about the same amount of time.

To solve the problem, we both just bought new, updated phones. Since TF's don't upgrade their OS...what you get is what you get...this is just smart to do anyway for security reasons. For example, the TSV will always be Lollipop 5.0. It cannot upgrade to Marshmallow, because it is a TF branded product. A person doesn't lose any minutes or service time, it is just rolled over, so it's not like a person is wasting money. I get a new phone every year to a year and a half just for the new OS and because I need to renew my service time.

Right now, my service doesn't expire until 2019, and I have 3000+ minutes, texts, and data. lol New phones have come along that I just "have" to have. lol

I personally wouldn't buy the warranty. If you start having problems with your phone or something happens to it, just buy a new bundle. A year's worth of service and minutes, texts, and data is $100, so buying a new bundled phone is the way to go as no money is wasted.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

JavaQueen — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 15:19:03 GMT

Waste of money--unless the phone is expensive.

Within two years, the technology is old and service/performance begins to lag. I wouldn't spend money on insurance. Buy as memory and chip that you can afford and then it might last two years or more. It's the updates that render a device obsolete.

If you just use a phone for talk/text, then you can stretch out the life of your phone. 8GB of internal memory isn't much. You might want to consider the purchase of an SD card.

I bought an older, cheaper model and it was good for about 18 months. My carrier kept trying to download the softare the phone couldn't handle, it couldn't pick up the 4g LTE speed and that resulted in feedback, dropped calls and being forced to use wifi. I upgraded the phone to 2 Gig RAM and 16 gig of internal memory and will probably add to extend the life of the phone.

This looks like a good deal for someone needing an inexpensive "disposable" phone. If that is the case, don't spend on "insurance." If it's a lemon, you will know in days and return with no need for Square Trade.

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

hckynut — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 15:37:48 GMT

The only thing I have ever or will ever buy and extended warranty? Brand new vehicles that I plan to sell myself, and still have a remaining warranty on them. People like buying vehicles still under warranty.

I have bought tens of thousands of $$$$ over many decades, since 1955, of all types of electronics during those times. I have never had even 1 of them fail.

I personally use Tracfone and buy a new smart phone, with minutes/texts and data, every year. Buying a new package every year is cheaper than buying minutes etc.

I DO NOT believe in buying an extended warranty on ANY electronic, I see it as wasted money.

hckynut(john)

Re: QVC Smart Phone Customers - Would you Recommend Square Trade?

chickenbutt — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 16:20:18 GMT

I'm not that customer, but I highly recommend Square Trade. The warranties are very inexpensive for what you get and the company is top notch.

I've been buying Square Trade warranties on everything from TVs to computers, kitchen small appliances, and small items since 2004. The money I've spent didn't even add up yet to the value of the laptop they fixed for me several years ago which, BTW, still works perfectly.