Extended Warranty: To Buy Or Not To Buy?

Updated August 8/13/2024

Several important factors should be considered when buying a rugged computer, especially for use in challenging environments. It's crucial to ensure that the computer is durable enough to withstand tough conditions and not fail when you need it the most.

Based on our 28 years of experience in distributing rugged devices, there are three key questions to address before making a purchase:

1. Will it be compatible with my software?
2. Will it have a sufficient lifespan to justify the investment?
3. Is an extended warranty necessary?

Today, we will provide all the necessary information about our available options.

Bob Johnson's Warranty Packages

All refurbished rugged laptops and tablets come with a six-month enhanced service. After that, if you choose not to purchase the extension, the computer is always covered by our limited lifetime warranty, where our labor is covered.

You can extend this coverage to one, two, or three years from the date of purchase. You technically get a year and a half if you purchase the One-Year extended warranty because all of our packages include 6 months of enhanced coverage.

Are Extended Warranties Worth It?

You have to determine whether or not one of our warranties is worth it. We cannot answer this question for you. Consider the following:

• Will the computer be handled poorly?
• Have you needed repairs in the past?
• Do you value the security of knowing that your investment will be in service for the next three years?
• Would the $150 discount be helpful to you when it comes time to upgrade?

If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, you should seriously consider adding a warranty to your purchase.

I understand. Nobody likes a hard sell, especially on a warranty. That's different from what we're all about here (that's why this article is tucked away in the blog and not popping up at you at every turn). I want to point out some benefits because we owe it to you to give you as much information as we can.

Pricing Of Rugged Computer Parts

We understand how substantial it is to have reliable and efficient products that withstand the severity of everyday use. Imagine that you buy one of the newer rugged laptops on our website, like the Panasonic Toughbook FZ-55.

These rugged computers are built to survive, but that does not mean they are unsusceptible to damage. And if something goes wrong after your enhanced coverage ends, you could have to pay for a repair fee and the parts. Our available extended warranties will protect you from this.

That's why we offer various replacement parts for our products. Our replacement components range from the lower-end things like port covers and bezels, priced at $19.99, to parts priced on the higher end, like some of the system boards for Toughbooks, that can cost up to $399.99. You can trust that any of our parts will and all of our parts are pulled from functioning models. So you can trust that they are compatible.

Our Repair Services For Rugged Warrantied Computers

We also offer repair services for our products, performed by experienced and skilled technicians. If you send your device to us for repair, there is a $125 repair fee, including labor costs. Our expert repair technicians will determine the repair cost based on the part needing replacement. But, if you buy the extended coverage, you are excluded from the $125 repair fee.

Suppose you buy a refurbished Panasonic Toughbook CF-31 from us—a fully rugged, industrial-grade computer built to last. But accidents happen. Two years into your ownership, the system board fails. With one of our warranties, you won't have to pay a cent in labor, but this system board can cost between $249.99 and $349.99, depending on which CF-31 generation you have. And it also depends on whether or not we have them in stock. If we have to outsource them, the part will cost more. We can help you find that information with our Toughbook Model Numbers for Nerds blog. Once you know which CF-31 Toughbook generation you have, we can help you get the right part for your computer.

In this situation, if you purchased the 3-year extended warranty, pat yourself on the back because, after just one repair, you're already $99.99 ahead of the game. If you opted against it, you're in the hole for almost four hundred bucks (or without a working Toughbook).

What An Extended Warranty Does Not Cover

The warranty does not apply to system batteries, software not installed by our technicians, virus removal due to viruses, system reloads due to viruses, or alterations to the operating system. Additionally, the warranty does not cover any part replacement due to physical damage from drops, liquid spills, inadequate shipping packaging, or acts of negligence.

It's also worth noting that the cost of shipping isn't included. So, if you need to send your rugged laptop or tablet to us for our repair services, you'll have to pay the shipping charges both ways.

If you want to learn more about our warranties, check out the warranty page on our website.

Extra Perks of A Three-Year Extended Warranty

After three years—even though your extended warranty has helped you keep a solid working machine—you may decide you're ready to upgrade to a newer model. Trading in your old CF-19 automatically hacks $150 off the price. Add that to the cost of the LCD screen you got for free, and that $250 3-year warranty ends up being worth $549.99. Remember, that's if it only ended up needing one repair.

In the end, it's your call. One of our extended warranties is excellent, but you must decide what to do. We will never push you into buying something you don't want, but we want the best for our customers. Feel free to call us at 302-659-2727 or  email us here.