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Extended Warranty & Screen Protection: What to Buy and What to Skip
Aug
1. What Are Extended Warranty & Screen Protection Plans?
- Extended Warranty extends your phone’s manufacturer warranty beyond its standard period, typically covering defects and breakdowns.
- Screen Protection and Damage Protection Plans cover physical damage like screen cracks, drops, and liquid spills.
In India, brands and third-party providers like OPPO Care+, Onsitego, WeConnect Care, and resQ offer such plans.
2. What’s Good: When These Plans Make Sense
Manufacturer or Trusted Third-Party Plans:
- OPPO Care+ includes both extended warranty and screen protection, with guaranteed genuine parts and easy claims at 500+ service centers.
- Onsitego offers extended warranty starting ~₹790, includes free pick & drop, cashless claims, and covers defects/malfunctions.
- WeConnect Care offers zero depreciation, unlimited repairs, full reimbursement if device unrepairable, and 100% cashless service
- resQ Double Guard (Reliance Digital) covers screen repairs plus full-device malfunction repair post-warranty, with free pickup and replacement if beyond repair.
Why these are worth it:
- Genuine parts, reliable service → peace of mind.
- Convenient claims processes (cashless, doorstep support).
- Higher-value protection for premium or delicate devices.
3. What to Skip: When Plans Aren’t Worth It
Poor customer support or complex claims process:
- Many users shared frustration with Jeeves / Flipkart Protect, citing “bot replies,” broken promises, delayed or partial refunds.
Misleading or overpriced manufacturer add-ons:
- Some users found Samsung Care+ (via Servify) misleading—selling screen-replacement credits but with high processing fees or unclear terms.
Low failure likelihood vs high cost:
- According to Investopedia, extended warranties often offer low value if your device is reliable, unless purchased at cost or manufacturer-backed.
In short: avoid vague third-party plans, ones with poor track records, and plans that overcharge while providing limited benefit.
4. Expert Tip: When to Buy & When to Skip
| Scenario | Recommended? |
|---|---|
| You own a high-end or fragile phone you want covered | Yes — choose well-rated official or third-party plans (like OPPO Care+, Onsitego, WeConnect, resQ) |
| You’re confident you’ll upgrade within a year or are very careful with your phone | Maybe — skip extended warranty, invest only in screen protection |
| The plan is expensive, unclear, or has poor reviews (e.g. Jeeves, poorly supported Samsung Care+) | Skip it |
| You have credit card protection or an emergency fund to cover repair costs | Consider skipping expensive plans — you can save instead |
5. Real User Thoughts
A Samsung user reflected:
“If you’re careful and use a good case—even on a ₹70K phone—I’d skip the extended warranty unless you fear internal failures.”
Others report poor experience with Jeeves extended warranties:
“Their email support is pure … so are their customer executives.”
And one user highlighted Samsung Care+ confusion:
“… paying ₹11K upfront, then ₹15K for a screen break — you may only save ₹4K. What’s the point?”
6. Final Verdict
- Go for it if you have a premium phone and choose a trusted, well-reviewed provider offering transparent coverage.
- Skip it if your phone is low-budget, you’re careful, you have alternate cover, or the plan is pricey or from a shady provider.
Want help comparing real-time plans for your phone model? I can help with that too!
