Extended warranty? - Do Not Trust The Brick!

You can be sure to be met with smiles and helpful salespeople when you walk into The Brick.  Eager to make a sale, the people there will no doubt approach you with all the professionalism and knowledge you would expect from Leon's parent company.  And, once they have convinced you to buy their products, they will offer you an opportunity to purchase an extended warranty.

You may hesitate at the expense, until they tell you that, "If you do not use the extended warranty, you may return to our store and put that money towards another product."  Ergo, it ultimately costs you nothing to have an extended warranty.  It sounds like a win-win situation.  Pay for something, then get it back later and put it towards something else.  Like many others have done, we thought it was a good deal, and we fell for it.

What they don't tell you is that the day the extended warranty ends, you have 90 days to take them up on their offer.  However, they are not likely to tell you that up front, and they certainly won't let you know when the big opportunity arrives.  The expectation is that you will be organized enough to come in.  The truth is, I believe that they hope you forget.

We bought our 4K TV from The Brick a few years ago.  I remembered that we got the extended warranty on it with the promise of being able to come back later and apply the $299 to another product.  It just so happened that our fridge went on the blink and I was shopping for a new one.  I asked the salesman who approached me what the status was on that, and it just so happened to be available.  I could spend the $299.  When I told him I was looking for a refrigerator, he said that it doesn't apply to appliances.

WHAT?  I can buy something from the store with this promised money, as long as it isn't for an appliance?  I can tell you, I was angry.  I talked to the manager, who verified the outrage.  It was at that point that I left the store.  I was not angry with him or the salesman, but felt betrayed by the policy and the previous salesman who touted the value of this additional purchase.

To make matters worse, I looked up the track record of The Brick's extended warranty.  In a nutshell, it is terrible.  I did a search in AI and I got this response:

"Customers report experiencing poor service and frustration with The Brick's extended warranty, citing issues like denied claims for repairs and difficulty getting service. Some customers feel their warranty was not honored, while others report problems with the quality of service and unreturned calls ....

Common complaints about The Brick's extended warranty

• Denial of claims: Customers report claims being denied for issues they believed were covered under the warranty, with the company often deferring to the manufacturer.
• Poor communication: After a service call, customers report being promised follow-up calls that never happen, or being left in the dark about the status of a repair.
• Unsatisfactory service: In some cases, the quality of the in-home service has been criticized, with technicians causing damage or the repair not being completed correctly.
• Difficulty accessing service: Customers describe the process of trying to get service as frustrating, with long waits and unhelpful responses from staff. 

What to consider before purchasing an extended warranty

• Read the fine print: Carefully review the terms and conditions, paying attention to what is and isn't covered. Some warranties have specific exclusions that may lead to denial of a claim.
• Understand the claim process: Be aware of the steps involved in making a claim and the expected timeline for a resolution.
• Consider alternatives: Before buying, look into whether the manufacturer's warranty provides sufficient coverage for your needs or if third-party extended warranties may be a better option.
• Contact consumer protection: If you feel your warranty claim has been unfairly denied, consider contacting your local consumer protection agency for assistance. "

Area in bold and in quotation marks is from an AI search in Google.

On top of all that, the salespeople at The Brick get a commission on selling an extended warranty.

The warranty, if you use it, is not that great - there have been lots of problems with it.

If you don't use it, you may be able to use the money to buy something afterwards, as long as

  - it occurs within 90 days of the warranty's end

  - doesn't involve buying an appliance.

And don't expect them to let you know when the warranty ends - they would rather you forget.

Please note - many of my thoughts are my own opinion, except the AI material I indicated.

Thanks for reading.

Don't buy an extended warranty from The Brick!

Eric Svendsen