Comment Re:Warranty or insurance? (Score 2) 329
I don't think you're looking at the big picture or at least you don't realize how stupid/clumsy most people are. When I worked at Best Buy , we saw people come in all the time--by that, I mean repeat offenders--with water-damaged phones and cracked screens. $15 a month or whatever it is may seem steep, but these people definitely got more than their money's worth out of it. Besides, it's not just about the monetary value, it's also about the peace of mind knowing that you can do pretty much whatever the hell you want with your smartphone, case or no case, and there are no consequences to you.
The bottom line is I saw a lot of people get their money's worth. Other people I'm sure never used theirs. That's the nature of insurance, no? The answer to "Is buying an extended/accidental damage warranty a good idea?" is different for every person because the way each person uses their stuff is different, as is their ability to fix it themselves or get it repaired if something does go wrong. I repaired computers at Best Buy, but whenever I did find myself in a situation where I was selling a computer, I'd ask the customer how they were planning on using the computer, and if it was a situation like it was for their kid and they were hoping this one laptop would get them through the entirety of college, I'd offer the warranty and explain why it'd be a good idea. If they didn't want it, or if they were just a housewife who needed a computer that's going to sit on a desk for a few years, I'd drop it (I'm not a pushy salesman type). Sure, when you do the math, the insurance companies will always come out ahead, but as someone who fulfilled the repair work for warranties, that doesn't mean I didn't encounter customers day-in and day-out who would say "Wow, I'm really glad I bought that warranty."