Purchase Protection Plans

Nowadays a purchase protection plan or an extended warranty is something that is offered by all manufacturers and stores. It appears the new strategy is not to build quality products but to build crap and then make the customer pay for the poor quality.

But how far are retailers willing to push this? Pretty far, let me tell you. The other day I purchased a telephone from Circuit City online but arranged for a store pickup. Since the phone was already paid for I go to the store, show my ID and pickup the phone.

Just as I was picking up the phone I could hear the loud sound coming from the home theater section of the store. Before I knew it my son abandoned me and was watching some movie demo. I pick up the telephone and head towards my son. Thats when I notice they were selling those padded envelopes. I picked up one as I have been wanting to mail this CD of family pictures to my folks.

I find myself back at the counter now having to pay for the envelope. A dollar something and then the guy asks me "would you like to purchase a protection plan?" In my shock I asked what kind of plans do you have? And then for 15 minutes he rattled of the details for 2 protection plans for products under $100. At the end I asked him, if I really needed one for an envelope and laughed.

Here is the worst part. As I laughed I could see by the look on his face, he had no clue as to why I was laughing. Sigh! Circuit City Sigh!