You're about to purchase your favorite cell phone but realize there is another piece to purchase puzzle. Do you purchase the warranty or not? To complicate matters, warranties usually vary and depend on who you purchase the phone from. Be it direct from the service providers, independent third party, buggy on the side street, everyone has a different offer which can contribute to a wide selection of deals, but also contribute make choosing the correct plan more confusing.

Top Do's and Dont's of Cell Phone Warranties

• Don't opt for the three year replacement deals. Want to cover your cell phone from damage and replacement for three years? That's a long time, and will probably cost more than the phone over the timeframe. Why? Quite simply, in three years your battery and phone won't exist and the company that you purchased the warranty from will a) won't have a spare battery of your old phone, b) won't want to ask around for a battery of an old phone, c) can't even buy your battery from another dealer. The majority of shops order batteries from their supplier, if the supplier doesn't carry the battery then it could be a SLOW process finding another source. Furthermore, cell phones are obsolete in three years. Finding replacement handsets that are new and parts to repair your phone will be harder.
• The majority of cell phones can be purchased without a plan for between $100-$200. Most popular cell phones that are mainstream with service providers fall within this range. That means replacing them will cost in between this margin. There is no point purchasing warranty coverage in excess of the value of the phone even if it is spread out over a period of say two years (24 months).
• Expensive PDA handhelds or cell phones that are in excess of $400 may be worth purchasing insurance for. Here's where it gets tricky. If you purchase designer cell phones or expensive PDAs typically the store you've purchased warranty from will be more inclined to fix rather than replace your phone. That means lengthy waiting times while your phone is out for repairs.
• Do you need the water coverage? Some warranties actually cover full submersion of your phone. You drop it in a lake, keep it in your pants during the wash, or leave it out in the rain, all these aspects are covered. However, very few warranty's offer this feature and when they do it costs more. Make sure you know what you're buying.
• Read the fine print of your cell phone warranty
  Not only read the fine print of your 3-4 page document, have the salesperson explain it, and also obtain a copy for yourself . Companies who do not have the capability of printing off your copy of the warranty are inept and you should never purchase anything from them. Although many cell phone stores never print warranties, and merely say, 'it's on the computer', when push comes to shove you do not have a copy to show what your plan covers and what it does not.




• Be wary of stores going out of business. Although occasionally the warranty will push over to the new ownership, chances are when the store changes hands (not management but ownership) your warranty disappears too.
• Items to protect include battery life and hardware failure. If the salesperson is trying to sell a cell phone warranty based on, "this phone's software tends to shut down after a couple of years," move on. Any phone that cannot withstand constant 2-3 years of constant use has no business being sold. Either there is a very poor cell phone in your hand or a salesperson trying to rip you off.
• Battery life may be something to cover over a long period of time especially if you are a heavy user or you routinely run demanding phone features (like video). But then again, you could just buy a battery yourself. Compare standalone battery prices for your phone before buying the warranty. Check eBay and other online venues for the battery prices, don't just compare to the in-store price. Many service providers do not sell standalone batteries for phones so chances are you'll be stuck with a third party regardless.
• Be careful of 'limited' warranties and changes over time periods. . Most warranties actually change half-way through the contract. Many manufacturers offer 6-12 months against any defect to the actual phone, the place your purchased warranty from will offer additional coverage. Again, the type of coverage for your all phones and all stores varies widely. Not only should you compare prices, plans, but also warranties. Sometimes you purchase coverage that offers full replacement protection the first year, but only repair in the last two.
• Finally, remember, for most cell phone stores the place where they make the most money (the widest profit margins) are the warranties. It is in the store's best interest to sell you insurance you probably don't need. Keep that in mind when the slick cell phone salesperson tries to give you 'two months extra text messaging with the purchase of a 2 year warranty'. Not worth the extra coin.

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