Extended warranty offer at checkout? Check it against the warranty you already get

Paste the product's warranty and the extended plan's terms; get a side-by-side of what's covered twice, the real yearly cost, and the questions to ask before you pay extra.

What it does

No bot required. Before you pay for an extended warranty or service contract, the FTC suggests comparing it with the warranty that already comes with the product. The FTC says that whenever there's a warranty, the law requires it to be available for you to read before you buy, in a store or online. An extended warranty or service contract costs extra, is sold separately, and might cover the same repairs for the same time as the warranty you already have. The FTC says it's not a good value if it doesn't offer more coverage than the included warranty, and it might not be worth the cost if the product isn't likely to need repairs. Its checklist: the total cost, plus hidden costs like deductibles or fees each time it's serviced, shipping to a repair center, transfer fees and limits on reimbursement; who actually stands behind it (often not the manufacturer), how long they've been in business, and what you find when you search the company name with "review" or "complaint"; the length, so you can work out the cost per year or month; and the coverage, including whether accidental damage is covered, whether a claim can be denied if you skip routine maintenance, and the FTC's rule of thumb that anything not listed should be assumed not covered. Also check the claims process: who does repairs, and whether you have to take the item back to the store. The FTC adds that setting money aside in savings can be a better way to plan for repairs. After you buy, save a copy of the warranty with your receipt, and get any spoken promise in writing. Calls or mail years later saying "your warranty is about to expire" usually come from marketers unrelated to the company you bought from, and the FTC says those telemarketing calls are probably illegal if you have no connection to the caller. Paste both sets of terms into any chat AI and it lines them up, does the math and writes your questions. The buying decision stays yours.

Copy-paste prompt

No bot needed: paste this into Grok, ChatGPT, or Claude.

Help me decide whether an extended warranty or service contract is worth it. Use the FTC's "Warranties" and "Extended Warranties and Service Contracts" consumer advice as background. Explain; don't give legal advice.

The product: [e.g. 65-inch TV / washer / laptop / riding mower / used car], price $[ ]. How long I expect to keep it: [years]. How heavily I'll use it: [light / normal / heavy, like daily work use].
The warranty that comes with it (paste the terms, or what the box or listing says): [paste]
The extended warranty or service contract being offered: price $[ ], length [ ], who provides it [company name], and the terms if I have them: [paste]

1. Make a side-by-side table: what each one covers, for how long, who does the repair, and what I'd pay per claim (deductible, service fee, shipping).
2. Point out any months or years where the extended plan overlaps the included warranty, and work out what I'm really paying per year for coverage I don't already have.
3. List what the extended plan doesn't clearly cover. Treat anything not listed as not covered. Call out accidental damage, maintenance requirements that could get a claim denied, transfer fees and reimbursement limits.
4. Write 5-7 short questions to ask the seller before I decide, like: Who handles claims? Do I have to ship it or bring it back to the store? Is there a fee per repair? Can I cancel for a refund?
5. Remind me to look up the company behind the plan with "review" or "complaint," and to compare the yearly cost with just putting that money in savings for repairs.
6. If I mention a call or letter saying my warranty is about to expire, tell me it's likely a marketer unrelated to the seller and not to give any personal or payment information.

End with a plain one-paragraph summary I can use to decide. Don't tell me what to buy.

What you need

• Any chat AI (Grok, ChatGPT, Claude)
• The product's included warranty terms (box, manual or listing)
• The extended warranty or service contract terms

Sources

• FTC Consumer Advice: Warranties (written, spoken and implied warranties; service contracts aren't warranties)
• FTC Consumer Advice: Extended Warranties and Service Contracts
• Related: Is this gadget worth it?
• Related: Snap a model plate, get the right manual
• Related: Write a calm complaint letter that gets an answer

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