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Problem w/ Guitar Center Extended Guitar warranty

M

maryjop

Apr 22, 2011
3
0
#1
I bought my son a guitar approx 3 months ago and paid for an extended warranty. The guitar already had a 1 year warranty from Miitchell. Mitchell replaced the guitar last month before the extended warranty went into effect. Guitar Center now tells me that I no longer have extended coverage on my guitar. That I need to buy another extended warranty.

Does this seem right to you? I did not use the extended warranty and it would not go into effect for another 6 months.
 
#2
I have a few thing with them that have the extended warranty. I have not had to use it or have anything break either.

If I remember right when are telling you about it that they cover all warranty work for the product even the manufacturers warranty.

The reason they are telling you what they did I think is now the serial number on file for the ext warranty does not match as you had the guitar replaced with another one. If they had done it then they would have updated the contract with the new serial number.
 
#3
They told me at the time I received the new one that even though the warranty had not gone into effect that the warranty would not transfer over and I would need to buy a new one. Plus I was also told the warranty is now twice as expensive as before.
 
#4
In an odd way - that kinda makes sense.

The extended warranty was for an entirely different instrument so I can understand GC's reluctance here.

Mitchel screwed the pooch here by replacing the guitar with a different one and that throws things into a mobius.

I think your real issue is with the Mitchell for them to get an exception to the GC rule by paying for it themselves.

@ maryjop - where do you reside? - this might be fixable.

Why don't people post where they are so help is easier to give?
 
#13
I'm not a huge fan of aftermarket warranties in any products. I suppose that there are situations where they pay off, but I know that rather than being the peace of mind being so kindly offered as a service to the valued customer, they are actually designed soley to increase the retailers margins, often well beyond the markup of the product itself.

Factory warranties are different; manufacturers have to give some sort of warranty to be competitive, they are not "optional" and they are factored into the overall cost of production, whereas an aftermarket "service agreement" is generally laden with loopholes, and in any case is calculated to minimize retailer exposure while maximizing retailer margins.

Kind of like a casino; you might hit it big, but the odds are greatly stacked in favor of the house, and at the end of the day they are the true "winner".

To the OP, since the extended service agreement was technically never in effect, nor was it exercised, shouldn't you be entitled to a refund?
 
#14
I don't buy extended warranties. In my experence, if you're going to have problems, it's going to happen within the original MF warranty.

Extended warranties are a bet with the dealer that you are going to have problems within X amount of time. Odds are this isn't going to happen. I've sold enough extended warranties to know. It's free money for the dealer.
 
#15
The only reason companies offer extended warranties is because they are a huge money maker. Sometimes they work out well for the consumer, but more often than not it's just profit for the company offering the warranty.

Personally I'd make a stink about it with GC. The warranty wasn't in effect and you had a legit manufacturing issue. GC should transfer the warranty to the replacement product IMO.
 
#16
I never fall for the "extended warranty" scam....it's a money grab.

If the instrument has a major issue, it should become noticeable within a year...anything after that can usually be fixed by a guitar tech...

Plus, it stops 'loop holes' like this happening...

IMO, when the guitar was replaced, either the purchaser should get the extended warranty back, or have it applied to the new guitar...after all, it was never used on the original guitar...

This is the kind of scenario GC hopes will happen.

Like mail-in rebates.....close to 80% of people never bother mailing them in...so it's a better score than giving the discount at time of purchase, which essentially is the same.
 
#17
Floyd Eye said:
No sir, just stating my considered opinion.

They will not be able to "Fix this". It's like the lifetime warranteed brake pads at Autozone. The original set is guaranteed for life, the replacement set is 90 days.
Click to expand...

It is often the greater of 90 days or the remainder of the original warranty, so again, we need to know what the warranty in this case actually says.
 
#18
As a sidebar:

On major - over $300.00 purchases I always buy the extended warranty. It goes to the salesman's commission and I like to feed the guys who take time to talk to me an show me the deals that work best for me.

Sometimes I get a great discount or deal for whatever he can get me and he get an extended warranty bump in his paycheck.

Ya gotta feed the people who take care of you since you can only take advantage of intelligent people once; but good service goes both ways.
 
#19
maryjop said:
They told me at the time I received the new one that even though the warranty had not gone into effect that the warranty would not transfer over and I would need to buy a new one. Plus I was also told the warranty is now twice as expensive as before.
Click to expand...

Contact their customer service department at their headquarters.

7 days a week from 5am to 11pm Pacific Time.
Toll Free: (866) 498-7882

If you have already done this or if they will not help you, threaten to contact your state's attorney general and the consumer reporter at your local television station.

Good Luck
 
#20
The more I read about GC here at TB, the more I'm glad we don't have one here.

I love that we have 3 main music stores, all independently owned/operated.

All the major brands are available between the 3.

Never would they insult me by asking for an extended warranty, in fact I can bring a bass I bought from them 10 years ago...they'll fix it up, because the know me as a constant customer who recommends other musicians to their store.

The discounts are always there....and I even get hand signed Xmas cards from them, which is just "nice".
 

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