Our standard warranty covers mechanical and electrical failures that occur during normal use. You get 100% Parts & Labor coverage with zero deductibles. Drops and spills are covered if you purchase Accidental Damage from Handling (only available on some new, store-bought items - deductible applies).
We do not cover pre-existing conditions or issues that occur in the first 60 days from item purchase. You should be covered for these issues by the seller, the marketplace (e.g., eBay), and/or the payment provider (e.g., PayPal or a credit card).
At SquareTrade, we make our Service Agreements easy to understand. The following summary should help you to quickly find what you need to know about your coverage. It is followed by the actual Service Agreement itself.
SQUARETRADE SERVICE AGREEMENT SUMMARY
HOW LONG IT LASTS:
If your item is new and has a US manufacturer's warranty of at least 90 days ("MSP"), this Service Agreement begins the day you purchased the item and lasts for the number of years of coverage you specify at purchase time.
If your item is refurbished and has a US manufacturer's warranty of at least 90 days ("MSP"), this Service Agreement begins upon expiration of manufacturer warranty and lasts for the number of years of coverage you specify at purchase time.
If your item is used, or doesn't have a US manufacturer's warranty of at least 90 days ("Other"), then the Service Agreement begins on the 61st day after item purchase and lasts for the number of years of coverage you specify at purchase time.
WHAT IS COVERED:
Mechanical and electrical failures that occur during normal use of your item. Your item is covered for up to the full purchase price of your item (tax and shipping are excluded).
Some examples of covered issues include computer hard drive failures, iPod batteries that stop charging, cell phone keypads that get stuck, and digital camera sensor failures.
If Accidental Damage from Handling (ADH) Protection was purchased, the Service Agreement expands to include damage from liquid spills, item drops, or any other accidental damage. ADH coverage begins 30 days after purchase, and does not cover willful damage, negligent use, theft or loss. A $50 deductible applies on ADH-related claims. ADH is not offered on all items.
ADH coverage begins 30 days after purchase, and does not cover willful damage, negligent use, theft or loss. A $50 deductible applies on ADH-related claims. ADH is not offered on all items
HOW THE COVERAGE WORKS:
Reimbursements: Often times, reimbursing you the full cost of the item is faster and more cost-effective. If your item's shippable, we will provide you with a pre-paid shipping label. We generally pay claims (minus the minimum postage fee for the label) within 3-5 business days of item receipt.
For items still covered by a manufacturer warranty at the time of claim: First, we will help you file a claim with your manufacturer.
If the manufacturer replaces or repairs your item , your SquareTrade Care Plan will cover your manufacturer repaired or replaced item.
If the manufacturer refuses to honor their warranty because they consider your item grey market or not purchased from an authorized retailer, we will still cover you.
If we decide to repair, here's how the coverage works:
For Shippable Items: We will give you a pre-paid shipping label (for laptops and TVs, we will mail you a shipping kit to ensure item safety). Once you've shipped your item to our service depot, we will repair it within 3-5 days and then ship it back to you at no cost to you. Laptops get express shipment both to and from our depot.
For Desktop Computers, Televisions over 37 inches and Large Appliances: We will help you schedule an appointment with a local repair facility for in-home service and we will pay the repair facility directly.
WHAT IS NOT COVERED: Refer to the details of the contract for the full list, but there are 5 notable exclusions to your coverage.
Product failures within the first 60 days: We don't cover items that are dead on arrival or that fail within the first 60 days.
Accidental damage: Unless Accidental Damage from Handling Protection is purchased, we don't cover items that are accidentally damaged - such as water damage, dropped iPods, and cracked laptop screens.
Accessories and Consumer replaceable parts: We don't cover accessories and parts that are meant to be replaced by the consumer, such as batteries and ink cartridges.
Software: We don't cover software issues, including software for computers, cell phones and PDAs.
Certain Types of Items. Items used in a commercial setting (e.g., an office printer) or fraudulently misrepresented are not covered.
VALUE OF YOUR COVERAGE
The total value of your warranty is in most cases equal to the purchase price of your item. For every valid claim filed against your item for which we provide repair services, the total value of your coverage is reduced by the cost of the repair services rendered. In the event a valid claim is filed with us and repair costs are estimated to exceed the current value of your warranty - the balance of your warranty value will be offered instead.
HOW TO GET SERVICE: Simply log into
www.squaretrade.com/claims, go to My Warranties and select the Claims tab. Select the correct item, the reason for the claim, and its specific issue from the drop-down menus. Also briefly describe the problem in the next box below. You'll also be asked a few questions that will help us isolate the likely problems. You will be contacted shortly after you submit your claim with instructions on how to proceed next.
You can also call us at 1.877.WARRANTY, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Typically, we process your claim the same day and repair or reimburse you within 3-5 business days of receiving your item.
For items bought outside of eBay: you need to have a copy of the item's receipt (with the purchase date and price) on file with SquareTrade before a claim can be processed. You can email or FAX a copy of your receipt at any time.
For items bought on eBay: SquareTrade keeps a copy of the eBay auction information in our records, so you do not need to submit a receipt at any time.
DEDUCTIBLES: There are no deductibles for standard contract issues. Claims made under Accidental Damage from Handling coverage will incur a $50 deductible
REFUND POLICY: We will provide you with a full refund if you cancel your Service Agreement 60 days from purchase of the Care Plan. If you choose to cancel your Service Agreement after this period, we will pro-rate your refund based on how much time has passed. You can also transfer your Service Agreement at any time at no cost.
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS: We may periodically send you marketing offers via e-mail. If you do not wish to receive these offers, simply click the opt-out link provided at the bottom of any e-mail.
Yeah, it sucks that it costs money to send it in, but it definitely won't cost $30-50 as you were saying.