Buy an extended warranty or not? That is the question!

Good morning all.
I wanted to get a consensus on whether or not you buy the extended 3yr warranty when you buy the US model of a Nikon camera body.
I am probably getting a Nikon D7000 body this weekend and am on the fence about also getting the additional warranty. What do you think?

I've never purchased an extended warranty on anything. You should be good with the base warranty on the D7000. I'll be making this same purchase in a few weeks. I'd use the extra money on an extra battery, card, filter etc... Hope this helps!

How many times in your life have you made use of an extended warranty on anything you've purchased?

Personally, I never have had the need, so I never buy them. The odds are that if something is going to go wrong, it'll happen during the original warranty period. Specifically relating to Nikon, with all of the stuff I've bought of theirs, quality has never been a concern, including with the D7000.

I never buy them. The way I look at it, if the odds are you would need it for that camera (or whatever it is,) the company would never be selling the warranty.


Kent in SD

I never buy them. The way I look at it, if the odds are you would need it for that camera (or whatever it is,) the company would never be selling the warranty

I feel the same. Kent, your logic is right on.

--P

If a item is defective, it will almost always show up in the first year anyway, the usual warranty period. No need for the extended warranty.
John

Even if you consider extended warrantees "comforting" you should consider other options. For instance, you can usually insure all your equipment against all hazzards (including theft and "oops - fell in the lake with my camera") for less than the cost of the extended warrantee on one peice of equipment. Most homeowners or renters insurance policies offer it as an add-on. All hazzards equipment insurance annual cost usually runs between 1% and 1.5% of the cost of the equipment. Compare that to the cost and what hazzards are covered by an extended warrantee. In most cases, the extended warrantees are revealed as rip-offs.

Hi Donald,

I've learned the hard way that the extended warranty doesn't even cover the cost of an annual cleaning and general adjustment.

Something does have to be wrong with the camera for Nikon to fix it. Sure ain't like the old days.

Now on the side of buying the extended warranty, if you go to a location such as B&H, it doesn't cost that much, and it will cover things such as noise problems which do go out of adjustment.

Choices. choices ....

Carol

From everything I have read, the extended warranty is a great proposition. That is, if you happen to be the retailer selling the extended warranty and their insurance company. As has been said above, the major problems are going to happen during the original warranty period. For electronics, which include a lot of photographic equipment these days, the rule of thumb that I have heard and have gone by is that the "infant mortality" will happen within the first 30 days. If you take the cost of the extended warranty and invest it until you replace the equipment, the money will still be there for you to use for the replacement's extended warranty.

Donald,

Another thought. Talk to the folks who own the Nikon D7000 and see what their experiences have been ...

Carol

Check your credit card contract, it may provide a free second year warranty on top of the manufacturer's year one warranty for virtually anything you purchase. Mine does and I always keep that in mind if something goes wrong during year two.

I agree with what most of the others said... the extended warranties are just ways for them to line their pockets.. if their products routinely broke down after year one then they wouldn't be successful businesses.

I've only had 1 problem w/Nikon equipment (a jammed spring on a 55-200mm cheapo zoom lens) that fell under warranty and was fixed promptly. No other problems.

Extended warranties are a big money maker for retailers. there are usally some many limitations they are not worth the paper they are printed on. many manufactures will honor repairs outside of the typical period. Also within 2 to 3 years things are obsole. save your money towards the next upgrade.

Mike

Well, I sprung for the D7000 sans extra warranty. B & H actually doesn't have any in stock but you go on a waiting list that they say will be filled in about a week.

I feel that this is just another way to get your money, which these days I don't have and excess of to be giving away.

I work in industry that sells these extended warrantees. Generally the margins on them are in the 70% range. I don't buy them EVER.

I just got my D7000 and absolutely love it. Hope your comes soon.