Why The Difference In Stores

[modeller]

I'm in the process of buying a new TV and whilst I expect difference in prices it is the difference in service and guarantees that can be surprising.

I was looking at the identical models in Currys and John Lewis . They were exactlly the same price but JL gives a free 5 year comprehensive guarantee but the identical cover will cost £300 at Currys paid up front or £7 monthly (=£420 ) . The only difference seems to be Currys includes cover for accidental damage. My household insurance may cover that and even if it doesn't it would only be a small premium, Nothing like £84 a year at Currys.

Unless I've missed something why would anyone pay such premiums to Currys.

[craft1948]

That's one of the reasons I rate John Lewis.

[boxtops]

Because Curry's market their product insurance heavily - every time I've bought something there (lots of kitchen equipment), the pressure to take the insurance has been there.

[jno]

my guess, just a guess, is that most tellies will last 5 years, so JL aren't taking a big risk. But accidental damage can happen to anything any time, so Curry's are actually offering you something more valuable than JL. I'd still say it was a rip-off, but there is a reasonably significant difference.

[modeller]

I've had many TVs and when I was in the TV business I can not remember a singe case of accidental damage.

[chrissa1]

My brother-in-law put his Wii thingy through his screen and cracked it a couple of years ago.

[pixie373]

Surely all damage is accidental? Modeller, do you mean rejected by the insurance as "accidental damage"?

[BlueToffee]

Those extra insurance coon electrical items at Currys/PC World go to make their profits enormous, and I suspect the assistants are on a cut of the sale of the policy.

[giveup]

My daughter was moving her television and tripped over the dog. She claimed it on her household insurance. We try to buy from John Lewis because even if they are not offering a free guarantee they often do insurance at very competetive prices. I had a dishwasher from JL and replaced it after 3 years with an integrated one. I gave the dishwasher to my daughter who filled in a form to transfer the insurance to her name and it was done in no time.(the original insurance on said dishwasher was only £50)

[BlueToffee]

Don't know how or why my predictive text replaced 'on with 'coon'

I meant no offence to anybody with this slip of the finger, and I most sincerely apologise if anybody is offended by my error.

[modeller]

pixie I don't know how that is defined but I should think physical damage as opposed to fire , flood storm etc . whatever it is I shouldn't think it's much of a risk. Certainly not £420 , you can buy some new TVs for that .

[Mr-H]

I wonder if it is simply something like the people who buy from Currys are more likely to have 'accidents' with their televisions than those who shop at JL's, and that over the years Currys have grown wise to this. Is the cost of the total insurance package not almost half the cost of the original purchase?

[emmie]

not sure, but check your household cover thoroughly, just in case.

[emmie]

i have cover through PC world for my computer, the main reason being is the hassle i had with the previous one, it costs, but at least i know that anything at all goes wrong, i can give it to their tech people and its fixed.