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Extended Warranty

By Mike Speidel

    It's going to happen. Inevitably, while you're Christmas shopping a holiday store clerk will ask you if you want to buy the protection plan when you're buying a new camera, ipod, or mouse pad at the gadget store around the corner. "Would you like to purchase the 2-year protection plan for this item?" Upon hearing the question you'll begin to sweat and itch at the same time. Your stomach will feel like it's bound with ribbon. Your blood pressure will continually rise as if you just consumed an entire turducken in one sitting. It will take all the holiday spirit you can muster to only say "No, thank you." through clenched teeth.

    However, are you making an informed decision when refusing those plans, or are you refusing as quickly as you can out of principal? Every year you feel like you're rolling the dice on an imported gadget you know very little about manufactured by a 12-year-old without formal training. You might be lucky enough to know the manufacturer and their reputation. Better yet you may have had previous experience with another similar product. Either way, you hope to get your money's worth from the purchase. You want to realize a long life cycle so value is derived. I am the same way.

    Years ago I bought a Sony Playstation 2 when it first came out for about $300. That was a serious chunk of change for me to drop on one purchase, so when asked if I wanted a protection plan I said not "No" but "Hell No!" I assumed a Sony product would last for a long time without fail. When that same Playstation 2 died on me just months after the limited manufacturer warranty expired, I was angry. When the Playstation 3 came out I bought it as soon as I could get my hands on one. This time she was $600. No big deal, I had since found a better job, so the commitment wasn't as hard on my cash flow. When asked about the protection plan I said "Absolutely." I even bought the 3-year plan for $80 figuring that was the minimum life I wanted to get from my new toy.

    That was early 2007. the Playstation 3 died this summer. I had 6 months left on my extended warranty. So it's being replaced for essentially $80; the cost of the plan. The insurance policy saved me from throwing the broken Playstation through my sliding glass door, not to mention having to buy another Playstation (and another door). Because I had past experience to support a change in my perception of Sony and the extended warranty, I was able to avoid the same mistake I made before.

    Now, how many of you have had issues in the past with airfield markings? Probably anyone that has been involved in running an airport. Maybe it was paint peeling, marking discoloring, alignment, configuration, pavement damage, or poor reflectivity. Whatever the case, you have past experience to support a change in your perception. Markings, like everything else, have a life cycle associated with them - and it isn't 12 months! Next time the money is being spent to paint new markings or maintain the old, add a protection plan. Budget Sightline's quality assurance services into the project. You will realize a more efficient, cost-effective, safer project, and prevent the same mistakes from being made again. We bring you peace of mind, and this season we wish you peace and joy!

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