Is It Worth $188 for 3 Years Onsite Warranty for School Laptop?

surat on 05/09/2020 - 14:36
Last edited 05/09/2020 - 15:39 by 1 other user

Hi, could you please share your opinion whether or not is it worth to pay $188 for 3 yrs onsite warranty. Laptop is use for school.

Does the laptop easily to be broken?

If you need to know which brand and model is Lenovo Thinkpad e14 AMD gen 2.

Reason: cheaper by $100 even inc 3 yrs onsite warranty compare to school yoga laptop. I will get better performance laptop with 3 yrs onsite warranty without touch screen or pen. My son said he won't take art so pen or touch screen will not be used.

Without 3 yrs onsite even less further by $188 so cheaper $288 overall with better CPU, memory and hdd size but without touch screen and pen. Yoga lighter compare to think e14.

Note : software can be installed by IT team from school but less priority compare to students who bought from school laptops.

Hence I need to find out whether this current laptop easily to be broken hence pay 3 yrs onsite if necessary.
My son is look after the laptop well.

Thanks

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 05/09/2020 - 14:48

    I think it depends how handy you are with computers?

    For anything major, first couple of years it will be covered by ACL. However, something minor, e.g. faulty SSD, it's a relatively simple a cheap fix if you DIY.

    • surat on 05/09/2020 - 14:59

      Faulty ssd will be replaced by warranty if i have any, am i right?

      • o53djz7qTPY4der on 05/09/2020 - 15:02

        Yes - but likely WAY quicker to DIY. Especially given they are so cheap.

        • surat on 05/09/2020 - 15:03

          True.
          Thanks

    • Leo Getz on 05/09/2020 - 18:43
      -4

      Don't take this advice.
      You may void the warranty for the whole device in doing that.
      Warranty is for all issues as identified in the T&Cs.
      Never seen anything about 'minor' issues being ok to DIY.

  • RobBoss on 05/09/2020 - 14:49
    +3

    Unless you throw it around, I don’t think its worth it. In my opinion, a low to mid range laptop as mentioned isn’t worth the warranty, it will be due an replacement after 3 years anyways.

    • AdosHouse on 05/09/2020 - 14:56
      +2

      "Unless you throw it around"

      Well it is a laptop for a schoolkid. But I don't think any warranty will cover teenagers.

      • RobBoss on 05/09/2020 - 14:59

        haha yeah true

  • Hybroid on 05/09/2020 - 15:13

    My son said he won't take art so pen or touch screen will not be used.

    Would he not be taking notes in class? This could be well worthwhile feature.

    As for the extended warranty, it's basically a waste of money until you really really need it then glad you had it. Does it cover accidental damage? If yes, then I would get it, that's a small cost to pay for 3 years peace of mind. One screen smash and you're buying a whole new laptop otherwise.

    • surat on 05/09/2020 - 16:00

      He types usually.

      3 yrs onsite warranty won't cover accidental damage.

      But the school one does. Needs to pay $100 access though.

      • Hybroid on 05/09/2020 - 16:35
        +3

        I would get the school one then. It's more of an all-rounder and less headache overall.

        • surat on 05/09/2020 - 18:57

          I prefer too but in the end we've decided to get outside school.

          My wife told him to learn from his mistake if anything happen to the laptop.

  • thatonethere on 05/09/2020 - 15:59

    You would want to see the PDS. Eg if there is a major event such as a full replacement required the ones I have seen from our school cease the warranty (you can buy a new one)

  • scrimshaw on 05/09/2020 - 15:59
    +1

    completely up to you but remember Warranty does not cover accidental damage. Any accidents will insta-void the warranty.

    I used to fix laptops for a school and much of the time the damage to the laptop was done by the user (water damage, dropping the laptop off a table, closing the laptop lid and smashing the LCD panel because a earbud got in the way, laptop hinges failling because user hold laptops by the lid etc).

    Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) Insurance is worth taking out if it only adds roughly 10~15% to the total cost of your device but if it's any more than that you are better off without.

    • Leo Getz on 05/09/2020 - 18:47

      ADP sounds great but vendors try damn hard to reject claims.

  • WreckTangle on 05/09/2020 - 16:47
    +1

    If warranty includes damage protection then take it

  • datafellows on 05/09/2020 - 16:51

    I've been using multiple laptops for 20 years and have ran a IT service company for 10 odd years and we didn't encounter many or none hardware failures on laptops (Dell, IBM/Lenovo). All issues were always software related. If you get software related onsite support then this might be worth $188. But read the conditions of the service to see what's included.

    Based on my experience I would not pay for extended warranty or on-site warranty. You'd still have 2 year hardware warranty on laptops in Australia am I right?

    • surat on 05/09/2020 - 18:59

      No software related support cover under this 3 yrs onsite support.

      By default only 1 year since it is for personal and not business.

  • MagicMushroom on 05/09/2020 - 17:41

    How much is the laptop? Compare to this? https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/563075

    • surat on 05/09/2020 - 18:53

      I assume the ideapad is wifi ac.
      The one that I order is wifi ax.
      So if wifi ac then ideapad is cheaper $43. If wifi ax then cheaper $53.

      BUT the value thinkpad 14 is more, in term of the saving.
      If I buy think pad 14 AMD Gen 2, I save $910 (50% at least) according to the website (I bought from lenovo education store).
      (I am not sure whether or not it is true)

      Ideapad only save 20-25%.

      Personally thinkpad e14 more robust compare to ideapad.

      Add on:
      You better buy from ebay if you prefer ideapad. Roughly save 36%.
      Lenovo education store cost $1019 (it shows wifi ax).

  • AustriaBargain on 05/09/2020 - 18:01

    How much free time do you have. Would you rather someone else try and deal with something you'd usually spend hours figuring out yourself?

    • surat on 05/09/2020 - 18:39

      My son said he is willing to reinstall.

      Just go to the portal, download and install such as Ms office or Adobe.

      If other school software then get IT to install.

      I'm not sure for Windows.
      I need to check how to reinstall Windows

      • AustriaBargain on 05/09/2020 - 18:53
        -1

        Has he considered a MacBook? You save a lot of troubleshooting time just by using a Mac. Reinstalling windows as a troubleshooter makes it sound like he works for the machine instead of the machine working for him.

        • surat on 05/09/2020 - 18:54

          School is not using Mac and not supported so I prefer to use the same ie Windows to make it compatible for whatever the software require for the school.

  • surat on 05/09/2020 - 19:26
    +2

    After further discussion.
    We've decided to get extra for 3 yrs onsite warranty.

    Thank you all for your time and feedback.

    Take care and stay safe.

    • FoxJump on 05/09/2020 - 21:08

      I only get computers with onsite next business day warranty.

      The alternative typically is a mail in and wait two months.

      I've had wifi chip, batteries, opening swivelly thing, pen slot holder, screen (backlight dying) and finally motherboard (after he repair person fried it fixing the screen) and they always come to me as soon as they have the part.

      Being tech savvy me, means that I can notice that something isn't quite right and claim warranty immediately. If it malfunctions, take a pic and claim! Of course you must be confident it's not a software issue.

      I guess Toshiba computers are crap nowadays. But their warranty is excellent. In fact now they no longer exist. They rebranded as Dynabook and sold it to sharp.

  • Myone888 on 06/09/2020 - 08:18

    Not worth extended warranty.. don’t buy it.

  • carmarriner on 06/09/2020 - 09:05

    I just added my son’s laptop to our home and contents insurance as a portable valuable. Only added an extra $30 a year to the policy.

    • surat on 06/09/2020 - 19:56

      May I know how much the access and which insurance company? thanks

  • 2023 on 06/09/2020 - 12:15

    I wouldn't see it as being worth it, money poorly spent in my opinion.

    It's rare that components break on their own accord enough to warrant the price for that warranty as opposed to just buying a new laptop.
    Most issues they would be able to tie back to wear and tear or consumer led damage so would not be covered.

    For example, if it's a $600 laptop, and you finally need to make a claim on it 2yrs+ into its warranty period, you've paid an extra $188 (almost 1/3rd the cost) to fix a laptop that will be closing in on obsolete, would most likely have cosmetic damage and would be closing in on needing to be upgraded anyway.
    Better off keeping that money in the pocket for that future upgrade/replacement

  • OzHunterNSW on 06/09/2020 - 12:17

    That's nearing $100 a year for what…
    They would not be allowed to enter school grounds, and for what….
    If your child breaks the LT then it would simply be replaced.

    You can buy a replacement on eBay

  • backpaqer on 06/09/2020 - 16:01

    Laptops come with a concrete warranty… As soon as it hits the concrete, your warranty ends. Teach your kids to respect their property rather than relying on insurance to fix their negligence. (Which warranty doesn't cover).

    Just go with the school laptop to save any comparison issues. If they stuff that up have a spare laptop waiting for them… If you have boys, make it pink with lots of glitter on it. Like the top gear challenges where they have to get from a to b in a dubious vehicle and if that fails there's something ultimately embarrassing they must use to complete the challenge.

  • nebula98 on 06/09/2020 - 19:22

    I have repaired laptops for the last 3 years , if a motherboard fails and they can at anything for seemingly no reason then to get fixed is big $$ .
    Screens breaking are chicken feed to replace , same with hard drive, keyboard, etc.
    Would I let a kid take a la laptop to school ,no way without accidental damage insurance cover….
    It only takes a light tap to crack a screen, or worse flex a motherboard and again big $$ ,

    IF it was my kid I would buy a special bag that protects the laptop from knocks and it must survive a drop from 1 meter …………..or make one, or wrap laptop in 10 layers of bubble wrap

  • nebula98 on 06/09/2020 - 19:25

    school laptops where my bread and butter jobs, I remember one that I put 5 new screens into ,$$$$$$$$

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