Try to Avoid Wireless Wave Extended Warrenty's, its a scam to help pad sales commisio
Newbie
Posts: 2 
January 12th, 2008, 11:50 PM
DO NOT BUY WIRELESS WAVES EXTENDED WARRANTY! IT IS BOGUS! I bought extended warranty at the Abbotsford BC Wireless Etc inside the Costco store. When I got my phone I was told everything about how beautiful the extended warranty is and how they will fix your phone if it breaks down, give you a lender phone or replace the phone if it comes back after that.
All Lies!
My phone broke down in July of 2007 and they were not able to take my phone in until August as they didn't have loaner phones at the time, according to the manager(Mike)
Then they gave me a Nokia loaner phone from around year 2000 that had 3 minutes of battery life. After I complained about the lack of being able to use this loaner phone, it took a week for them to track down an Audiovox which was also really old but gave about 30 minutes of talk time.
I got my phone back and it had the same problems and I sent it back in within a week or two. Then I got another brick of a loaner phone and it took until CHRISTMAS!!!! to get my phone back.
Once Again within one week my phone was back since the problem was not fixed! So I took it in for a third time.
This time I got a nice Razr phone as a loaner since I complained about my past loaner phone experience. Sure Enough the Razr was dead and unable to charge. I called the store back to tell them how I need my phone for work reasons as it is my only number for contact. I was told they had no loaner phones and forced to wait until this Saturday (Jan 12th) to get a very old Samsung phone as my loaner phone.
Now my phone will probably not be back again till about March 2008 as it has taken them an average of 2-3 months at a time to get my phone back. This is silly as I have not had my phone for more then one week since August 2007 and they are still trying to fix it. I asked the store manager Mike to replace the phone under warranty as promised and he told me it wasn't possible.
I asked the female employee there and was told nothing they could do about phone replacement. What about all the promises? She admitted they were lies and all they can do is repair the phones. Remeber they have the 39% qouta to meet on how many extended warrenty's they sell, so they lie to you to sell them.
I have asked them to get me in touch with the district manager since all i wanted was my phone being replaced under warranty so I could finally have a proper working phone, and they told me they can't do that. I ask them to tell the DM to call me, and they shrugged it off and said no can't do that either, they're busy and have things to do.
This is bogus, so buyer beware! Wireless Wave and Wireless Etc's extended warranty pitches are all lies! They are just a gimic to help pad sales and profit margins. All you get in return is a out-dated loaner phone while they flash your phones firmware and send it back to you. Anything more then this would be considered neglect based damage and that is not covered under this warranty.
I hope this helps you all not get scammed, put that extended warranty money towards a new phone you will need to buy when the current one dies.
Take Care everyone,
DO NOT BUY WIRELESS WAVES EXTENDED WARRANTY! IT IS BOGUS! I bought extended warranty at the Abbotsford BC Wireless Etc inside the Costco store. When I got my phone I was told everything about how beautiful the extended warranty is and how they will fix your phone if it breaks down, give you a lender phone or replace the phone if it comes back after that.
All Lies!
My phone broke down in July of 2007 and they were not able to take my phone in until August as they didn't have loaner phones at the time, according to the manager(Mike)
Then they gave me a Nokia loaner phone from around year 2000 that had 3 minutes of battery life. After I complained about the lack of being able to use this loaner phone, it took a week for them to track down an Audiovox which was also really old but gave about 30 minutes of talk time.
I got my phone back and it had the same problems and I sent it back in within a week or two. Then I got another brick of a loaner phone and it took until CHRISTMAS!!!! to get my phone back.
Once Again within one week my phone was back since the problem was not fixed! So I took it in for a third time.
This time I got a nice Razr phone as a loaner since I complained about my past loaner phone experience. Sure Enough the Razr was dead and unable to charge. I called the store back to tell them how I need my phone for work reasons as it is my only number for contact. I was told they had no loaner phones and forced to wait until this Saturday (Jan 12th) to get a very old Samsung phone as my loaner phone.
Now my phone will probably not be back again till about March 2008 as it has taken them an average of 2-3 months at a time to get my phone back. This is silly as I have not had my phone for more then one week since August 2007 and they are still trying to fix it. I asked the store manager Mike to replace the phone under warranty as promised and he told me it wasn't possible.
I asked the female employee there and was told nothing they could do about phone replacement. What about all the promises? She admitted they were lies and all they can do is repair the phones. Remeber they have the 39% qouta to meet on how many extended warrenty's they sell, so they lie to you to sell them.
I have asked them to get me in touch with the district manager since all i wanted was my phone being replaced under warranty so I could finally have a proper working phone, and they told me they can't do that. I ask them to tell the DM to call me, and they shrugged it off and said no can't do that either, they're busy and have things to do.
This is bogus, so buyer beware! Wireless Wave and Wireless Etc's extended warranty pitches are all lies! They are just a gimic to help pad sales and profit margins. All you get in return is a out-dated loaner phone while they flash your phones firmware and send it back to you. Anything more then this would be considered neglect based damage and that is not covered under this warranty.
I hope this helps you all not get scammed, put that extended warranty money towards a new phone you will need to buy when the current one dies.
Take Care everyone,
Knows No Bounds
Posts: 3,311 
Videos: 2
Location: 50° 30' N, 104° 38' W
Videos: 2
Location: 50° 30' N, 104° 38' W
January 13th, 2008, 01:22 AM
I'm sure you're right. Extended warranties are generally pretty useless on most things, they're just extra income for the sales people and vendors and so forth, and you're generally better off not giving it to them. Besides, those big box stores like Costco are usually pretty useless about warranties anyway. They don't really warranty anything as the vendor, the warranty is from the manufacturer and you have to deal with them on warranty issues, not the vendor. There's no point in taking failed items back to Costco, and if you read the fine print in the paper you get with most things from places like that it'll tell you not to take a failed item back to the retailer, but to contact the manufacturer, at your own expense. So there are certain things I won't buy at a place like that: televisions, cameras, computers, power tools, any electronic equipment... Food items, clothing, and books, that's about it. Case in point: three years ago I bought a little digital camera from my favourite local photo shop, and it failed within the warranty period. I took it back to the retailer, who verified the failure, sent it back to the manufacturer, I got it back in three weeks, repaired, no questions, no cost. Costco would not have done that for me. I'd have had to ship it back to the manufacturer at my own expense, in its original packaging, which I didn't have, and paid for having it shipped back to me...
Those big box stores might have lower prices on a lot of things, but there's another price to be paid if something goes wrong. I think it's usually a false economy on items over about $100.
I'm sure you're right. Extended warranties are generally pretty useless on most things, they're just extra income for the sales people and vendors and so forth, and you're generally better off not giving it to them. Besides, those big box stores like Costco are usually pretty useless about warranties anyway. They don't really warranty anything as the vendor, the warranty is from the manufacturer and you have to deal with them on warranty issues, not the vendor. There's no point in taking failed items back to Costco, and if you read the fine print in the paper you get with most things from places like that it'll tell you not to take a failed item back to the retailer, but to contact the manufacturer, at your own expense. So there are certain things I won't buy at a place like that: televisions, cameras, computers, power tools, any electronic equipment... Food items, clothing, and books, that's about it. Case in point: three years ago I bought a little digital camera from my favourite local photo shop, and it failed within the warranty period. I took it back to the retailer, who verified the failure, sent it back to the manufacturer, I got it back in three weeks, repaired, no questions, no cost. Costco would not have done that for me. I'd have had to ship it back to the manufacturer at my own expense, in its original packaging, which I didn't have, and paid for having it shipped back to me...
Those big box stores might have lower prices on a lot of things, but there's another price to be paid if something goes wrong. I think it's usually a false economy on items over about $100.
January 13th, 2008, 08:53 AM
25-50% of the warranty cost is paid to the salesman. It's an opportunity for employees to make additional income. If you add up everything people want you to buy extended warrantees for, then look at how often you need them, you're better off taking the risk on all of those products and dealing with something exceptional at your own cost, if it happens. Electronic items are probably the worst to buy insurance for. For example, when you buy a computer they try to sell you a couple of years extended warranty. Picture yourself returning with a broken computer in 2.5 years. You'll be sold something else in lieu of warranty work because your product is obsolete, and as Dexter mentioned they'll point out some additional disadvantages/costs when doing so.
Some credit cards automatically extend warranties for a year. Buy it on credit and pay the credit card off immediately. That's the cheapest way to add protection.
I'm of the opinion that insurance is for situations where it's impossible to diversify away the risk and you need to protect your overall financial health. Extended warranties aren't usually on my list of necessary expenses.
25-50% of the warranty cost is paid to the salesman. It's an opportunity for employees to make additional income. If you add up everything people want you to buy extended warrantees for, then look at how often you need them, you're better off taking the risk on all of those products and dealing with something exceptional at your own cost, if it happens. Electronic items are probably the worst to buy insurance for. For example, when you buy a computer they try to sell you a couple of years extended warranty. Picture yourself returning with a broken computer in 2.5 years. You'll be sold something else in lieu of warranty work because your product is obsolete, and as Dexter mentioned they'll point out some additional disadvantages/costs when doing so.
Some credit cards automatically extend warranties for a year. Buy it on credit and pay the credit card off immediately. That's the cheapest way to add protection.
I'm of the opinion that insurance is for situations where it's impossible to diversify away the risk and you need to protect your overall financial health. Extended warranties aren't usually on my list of necessary expenses.
Clever Clogs
Posts: 573
January 13th, 2008, 09:08 AM
I remember in school when some mechanic came over to our office, fixing a Dell laptop.
I approached and asked him, "Nice laptop eh? What's the issue?"
He said, "well...the owner is seeing pixels on the screen [those pink dots] so she wants it repaired." I thought it was ridiculous because just one simple pixel doesn't mean it ruins the entire screen, it can be ignored quiet easily. I said to him, "Well, that sounds like waste of money!"
He responded, "Its free, covered by warranty."
Because of a stupid pixel, this owner is making this mechanic to change LCD screen from scratch. (@)$*_@$
Anyhow, I like Dell's warranty seeing how they take pixel so seriously
I remember in school when some mechanic came over to our office, fixing a Dell laptop.
I approached and asked him, "Nice laptop eh? What's the issue?"
He said, "well...the owner is seeing pixels on the screen [those pink dots] so she wants it repaired." I thought it was ridiculous because just one simple pixel doesn't mean it ruins the entire screen, it can be ignored quiet easily. I said to him, "Well, that sounds like waste of money!"
He responded, "Its free, covered by warranty."
Because of a stupid pixel, this owner is making this mechanic to change LCD screen from scratch. (@)$*_@$
Anyhow, I like Dell's warranty seeing how they take pixel so seriously
Chief Mogrifier
Posts: 8,473
January 13th, 2008, 09:20 AM
About three years ago we bought a large screen tv from Future Shop just after they were taken over by BestBuy. We fell for the extra "in home" warranty. As it turned out the tv stopped working in the second month. Over the next couple months we learned that they not only didn't have any service people in Nanaimo, they didn't have any in Victoria..........or in B.C. for that matter. I went down to that store and yelled till they took the tv back and refunded my money.
Over the years I've bought a lot of things from Sears and they do have service people. Sears price on the tv was only a little higher than Future Shop but they have a service department.
I heard later that Best Buy was hit with a class action suit because of this BS warranty thing. I don't know how it turned out
About three years ago we bought a large screen tv from Future Shop just after they were taken over by BestBuy. We fell for the extra "in home" warranty. As it turned out the tv stopped working in the second month. Over the next couple months we learned that they not only didn't have any service people in Nanaimo, they didn't have any in Victoria..........or in B.C. for that matter. I went down to that store and yelled till they took the tv back and refunded my money.
Over the years I've bought a lot of things from Sears and they do have service people. Sears price on the tv was only a little higher than Future Shop but they have a service department.
I heard later that Best Buy was hit with a class action suit because of this BS warranty thing. I don't know how it turned out
January 13th, 2008, 10:09 AM
Ya Wayne, Future Shop is the king of extended warranty product push.
I won't buy them on vehicles either. The gal at Toyota is trying to put the screws on one. Sorry, no thanks. These companies don't sell these out of the goodness of their hearts. If there weren't money to be made from warranties they wouldn't sell them. If by exceptional catasrophic circumstances I had a $2000 work bill on my car that could've been covered by warranty then I'll live with it. If I bought all of these warrantys I'd pay more by default.
BTW, my Yaris (still covered bumper to bumper) was in an accident last summer. One thing I noticed recently was the windsheild washer not working. I called the guy in the Toyota service department and he said take it back to the body shop or I'll have to charge you. I said I don't know if it was the result of the accident or not. He still insisted that if he fixes it it would likely be out of my pocket. So there you go, even a bumper to bumper warranty is only as good as the circumstances surrounding the problem. I'm sure they'll find all sorts of excuses with an extended warranty plan as well.
Ya Wayne, Future Shop is the king of extended warranty product push.
I won't buy them on vehicles either. The gal at Toyota is trying to put the screws on one. Sorry, no thanks. These companies don't sell these out of the goodness of their hearts. If there weren't money to be made from warranties they wouldn't sell them. If by exceptional catasrophic circumstances I had a $2000 work bill on my car that could've been covered by warranty then I'll live with it. If I bought all of these warrantys I'd pay more by default.
BTW, my Yaris (still covered bumper to bumper) was in an accident last summer. One thing I noticed recently was the windsheild washer not working. I called the guy in the Toyota service department and he said take it back to the body shop or I'll have to charge you. I said I don't know if it was the result of the accident or not. He still insisted that if he fixes it it would likely be out of my pocket. So there you go, even a bumper to bumper warranty is only as good as the circumstances surrounding the problem. I'm sure they'll find all sorts of excuses with an extended warranty plan as well.
Mighty Intellect
Posts: 1,961
January 13th, 2008, 10:53 AM
I was shopping for a flatbed scanner many years ago, and the salesguy pushed the extended warranty...I replied that, if he thought I 'needed' the extended warranty as badly as he was claiming, then obviously the scanner was a piece of crap, and I shouldn't buy it. He wasn't sure how to reply to that one...'oh, it's for your own protection...la la la'
Well, here are two choices: either it's good quality, and you stand behind it, or it's crap, and I'll go buy something elsewhere. Which is it?
I was shopping for a flatbed scanner many years ago, and the salesguy pushed the extended warranty...I replied that, if he thought I 'needed' the extended warranty as badly as he was claiming, then obviously the scanner was a piece of crap, and I shouldn't buy it. He wasn't sure how to reply to that one...'oh, it's for your own protection...la la la'
Well, here are two choices: either it's good quality, and you stand behind it, or it's crap, and I'll go buy something elsewhere. Which is it?
Bright Spark
Posts: 313
Location: Atikokan, Ontario
Location: Atikokan, Ontario
February 5th, 2008, 10:24 PM
Another annoying thing (and I can tell you from years of experience) is that offering extra 'spiffs' on extended warranties allow the companies to pay their employees minimum wage for specialized services that should be paying more (ie. knowing technical details on a wide range of electronics) (ie Radioshack pays minimum wage plus commission and spiffs, whereas Staples pays about $10/hour, no commission).
Personally, I only ever pushed warranties when I thought it was in the best interest of the user (ie. through conversation they said they were rough on stuff, heavy usage, poor quality product on a discount), but there are way too many stories of people getting hosed; however, they are, along with the accessories (and everyone just has to have the $3.99 cord to go with the $2,500 TV), the only way the company can make a profit, since the margin is almost always 5% or less on electronics. Strangely enough, I've seen warranties used upwards of 20 times in a 3-year period, because they have been so rough on them, and frankly, it made me feel good that they were getting their money's worth.
Sadly, the only ones who really win are the companies - the employees, the indy chains and most importantly the consumer get stuck holding the bag.
Another annoying thing (and I can tell you from years of experience) is that offering extra 'spiffs' on extended warranties allow the companies to pay their employees minimum wage for specialized services that should be paying more (ie. knowing technical details on a wide range of electronics) (ie Radioshack pays minimum wage plus commission and spiffs, whereas Staples pays about $10/hour, no commission).
Personally, I only ever pushed warranties when I thought it was in the best interest of the user (ie. through conversation they said they were rough on stuff, heavy usage, poor quality product on a discount), but there are way too many stories of people getting hosed; however, they are, along with the accessories (and everyone just has to have the $3.99 cord to go with the $2,500 TV), the only way the company can make a profit, since the margin is almost always 5% or less on electronics. Strangely enough, I've seen warranties used upwards of 20 times in a 3-year period, because they have been so rough on them, and frankly, it made me feel good that they were getting their money's worth.
Sadly, the only ones who really win are the companies - the employees, the indy chains and most importantly the consumer get stuck holding the bag.
Newbie
Posts: 1
February 26th, 2008, 02:26 PM
I know what you mean. I am currently dealing with Wireless Etc in the Abbotsford Costco. I was told by Mike, the manager, that the extended warranty will cover my phone for 3 years. The first year I will receive a new phone right away (same model) and the 2 years after I would receive a 300 dollar credit towards a new phone of my choice. So this is what happened.
My phone broke down so I brought it in. They sent it away and gave me one of their aged loaner phones that has 30 minutes of battery time. After waiting 3 months I finally got it back but had to send it away that same day because they forgot to fix one of the problems. I just got it back yesterday, after waiting another 4 months and guess what?....half the buttons on the phone don't work. So I am royally pissed. No new phone, same old piece of junk. I even bought I new cheap phone to use while I was waiting for mine to get repaired because their loaner phone was so crappy. And believe me, I argued with them everytime about the warranty and all they said was that they can't do anything because they aren't in charge.
Today I am calling the headquarters and if they don't honor what they told me on my warranty I will be contacting the Better Business Bureau and Costco to make a formal complaint and then I'm taking them to court.
Also, this afternoon I am taking my phone back and going to give that @ss mike a piece of my mind.
I know what you mean. I am currently dealing with Wireless Etc in the Abbotsford Costco. I was told by Mike, the manager, that the extended warranty will cover my phone for 3 years. The first year I will receive a new phone right away (same model) and the 2 years after I would receive a 300 dollar credit towards a new phone of my choice. So this is what happened.
My phone broke down so I brought it in. They sent it away and gave me one of their aged loaner phones that has 30 minutes of battery time. After waiting 3 months I finally got it back but had to send it away that same day because they forgot to fix one of the problems. I just got it back yesterday, after waiting another 4 months and guess what?....half the buttons on the phone don't work. So I am royally pissed. No new phone, same old piece of junk. I even bought I new cheap phone to use while I was waiting for mine to get repaired because their loaner phone was so crappy. And believe me, I argued with them everytime about the warranty and all they said was that they can't do anything because they aren't in charge.
Today I am calling the headquarters and if they don't honor what they told me on my warranty I will be contacting the Better Business Bureau and Costco to make a formal complaint and then I'm taking them to court.
Also, this afternoon I am taking my phone back and going to give that @ss mike a piece of my mind.
