Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsSham warranty - runs concurrently with manufacturer's warranty
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2019
This is not clear in the product description, but this ASURION 4-year 'protection' plan runs concurrently with the manufacturer's original warranty and any extended warranty you might get through your credit card.
In my case, this meant I was paying for nothing - my covered Cuisinart countertop oven, which this warranty was paired with (on the same product page), already came with a three-year warranty, and that with my Amazon Visa one-year extended warranty equals the four years this plan offers. I just paid $30+ for redundant coverage!
I did not figure this out until ASURION sent me email confirmation of my coverage, and I saw on there that the plan expires four years *from purchase*. In returning to the Amazon product page to see how I missed this, it was clear that this is something ASURION is not forthcoming about -- you need to view and magnify the small pictures on the left of the product description to see how the coverage works, and it requires some extrapolation.
Here is all that the product description states (as of the date of this review):
"No deductibles or added costs. Parts, labor and shipping included.
Drops, spills and cracked screens covered from day one for portable products only.
Other breakdowns covered after the manufacturer's warranty expires.
File a claim online or by phone 24/7. If we can't repair it, we'll replace it or reimburse the purchase price with an Amazon e-gift card.
Plans are only valid for new or certified refurbished products purchased in the last 30 days with no pre-existing damage. Protection plan documents will be delivered via email within 24 hours of purchase."
There is no explicit mention that the warranty expires four years after purchase, regardless of other existing coverage. You'd have to extrapolate it from the statement that "Drops, spills and cracked screens covered from day one for portable products only... Other breakdowns covered after the manufacturer's warranty expires" -- and even then, it's neither obvious nor clear.
I then realized that another customer actually asked for clarification on this under the 'Customer questions & answers' section; cut and pasted below along with ASURION's response:
"Question:Does the 4 year warranty begin after the 2 year manufacturer's warranty ends or does it run concurrently?
Answer:Hello,
Thank you for your question,
This protection plan begins upon your date of purchase and runs concurrent to the manufacturer's warranty period. During this time, we offer additional benefits including but not limited to power surge protection. Once the manufacturer's warranty is completed, we continue to offer these benefits as well as mirror what the manufacturer offered for the remainder of your time frame with us. If you have additional questions regarding the purchase of your Asurion protection plan, please contact us at 1-866-551-5924 or email us at ambassador@asurion.com and we'll be happy to help. see less
By Asurion Feedback Support Team on August 21, 2019"
It's unfortunate that ASURION is not more honest and clear about this in their product description. They are likely making a killing on these.
Of course, the policy might make sense for appliances that come with much shorter manufacturer warranties. But many kitchen appliances in this price range, including the Cuisinart oven that this warranty was paired with, already offer 2-3 years' manufacturer warranties, and many credit cards, including the Amazon Visa card, currently offer 1-2 extended warranty protection on top of that.
So buyer beware!