Category Archives: Appliance & Electronics

Panasonic recalls for overheating laptop and tablet batteries grows

Panasonic has expanded its recall of laptops and tablets with lithium-ion batteries at risk of overheating to over 300,000 units.

Full Article:  http://www.pcworld.com/article/2847612/panasonic-recall-for-overheating-batteries-tops-300000.html

SquareTrade Enters Relationship with China’s DHgate

SquareTrade to offer service contracts for many electronic items purchased through the e-commerce platform.

Full Article at TWICE:  http://www.twice.com/news/warranties/squaretrade-extends-coverage-china-s-dhgate/54578#sthash.IgLi110w.dpuf

Zurich expands its Brazilian extended warranty insurance business

In the Brazilian market, where large upfront payments are the norm, Zurich Insurance Group announced that its Brazilian subsidiary Zurich Minas Brasil Seguros S.A. has expanded its client base.

Zurich Minas Brasil Seguros S.A. now has an exclusive 8 year distribution agreement with Via Varejo S.A. for the sale of extended warranty insurance products through almost 1,000 stores in the Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio branded store networks of Via Varejo.

Zurich reported that is has agreed to pay BRL 850 million (approximately USD $350 million) under the distribution agreement to Via Varejo for channel exclusivity and commission advancement and expects to generate a premium volume in excess of BRL 1.3 billion (approximately USD $530 million) in the first year.

Full Release from Zurich:  http://www.zurich.com/en/media/news-releases/2014/2014-1001-01

Co-op to offer extended warranties at cost price

Retailer promises to make ‘no profit’ on the warranties it offers on appliances such as washing machines and fridge freezers…

Full Article from The Guardian:  http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/oct/14/co-op-extended-warranties-cost-price

Mid-Year Service Contract Report from Warranty Week

Consumers will pay nearly $40 billion this year for product protection plans…

Full Article:  http://www.warrantyweek.com/archive/ww20141009.html

Apple and Samsung have fewest tablet repairs according to survey

Just 2 percent of Apple iPads and 3 percent of Samsung tablets that people reported on had serious problems or needed repair. That’s what we found in our 2014 Annual Product Reliability Survey…

Full Article:  http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/09/30/apple-and-samsung-neck-and-neck-for-fewest-tablet-repairs/

Apple Raises Repair Costs for iPhone 6

While Apple phones come with a one year warranty in the US it doesn’t cover accidental damage.  The costs can be high and might make you consider Apple Care.