Someone who claimed “the devil is in the details” undoubtedly had a car that was out of warranty. Reading reviews of extended auto warranties can be like going through boxes at a yard sale: some are great, some are terrible, and they’re all mixed together. The market is vast and loud, and every review says it will change the game. Let’s talk about what’s written between the lines. Explore this link.
The first thing you notice is that people LOVE to tell scary stories. Three miles after buying a plan, one guy’s transmission broke down. One person said that their “bumper-to-bumper” guarantee was as thin as their patience when they called customer support. It’s easy to get caught up in these stories, but keep in mind that angry customers are loud and pleased customers are quiet.
Don’t simply read the first few remarks; look deeper. Watch how things change over time. Has the corporation fixed problems, or do complaints keep coming up year after year? The patterns, not just the loudest cries, can tell you a lot.
Price comes mentioned in every topic about reviews. Some people say these plans are a rip-off. If you’re driving a car that’s one hiccup away from tragedy, some people say that the peace of mind is worth every penny. Do the math. Take a break. Look at the cost of repairs for your make and model and compare it to the cost of the warranty. You might find that you’re spending a lot for a soda fountain fix.
Customer service reviews are a lot of fun. People complain about phone trees and long wait times. Someone else remembers a salesperson who acted like their long-lost cousin, which is strange but makes you trust them more. When the car is stalled on the side of the road at midnight, no one wants to dispute over the fine print. Read reviews about claims. Are payments made on time? Or is every call a contest to see who can be more stubborn?
The fine print—oh, the tiny print—could bury a lot of dreams. People often forget about these haunting rules, yet they come back to haunt wallets. “Exclusions” and “maintenance requirements” can make something that was supposed to work stop working. Look for reviews from people who have used their warranty to address big problems. They can tell the difference between a decent promise and a handshake that means nothing.
Watch out for rewards. People who want a gift card sometimes write the finest evaluations. Not every favorable review is honest. If something sounds too wonderful to be true, it probably is. Unless you’ve entered a fairy tale.
There are, however, diamonds in the rough. Look for evaluations from people whose engines broke down and were fixed without any problems. That is worth its weight in engine oil. Humor helps keep things normal. “They paid for my radiator after I hit a turkey,” one customer wrote. Five stars solely for trusting what I said. Life is messier than the instructions say, and honest feedback shows that.
So the next time you’re up late reading a lot of reviews about extended car warranties, make yourself a stiff drink. Pay attention to what you read, laugh at the outrageous, and think about the genuine. You can see the truth coming out from between the angry rants and the dubious five-star odes, much like that bird on the highway.