Since initially writing about the subject of PC warranty repair and accidental damage coverage back in 2009, I have received numerous emails of reader horror stories when dealing with their PC vendor and trying to get their equipment repaired after an accidental damage incident.
Typically, the email goes like this: "My laptop LCD screen is cracked, and now my PC vendor tells me this is an out-of-warranty repair and it will cost $400 to fix it. Is there anything I can do?"
Sadly, the answer is no. If you haven't purchased additional warranty protection for your PC that covers broken screens, water damage, electrical surge, and accidental drops, you're out of luck.
Laptops used to be much more resilient pieces of equipment. But over the last five years, as PC OEMs have been competing to make them thinner and lighter, they've also becomenon field-repairable as well , and your only option is to send it back to the original manufacturer.
Basic PC warranties are just that: Basic. They cover faults in the electronics, typically over a one-year period. Anything outside the realm of a malfunction can be deemed as "accidental damage", which gives the OEM an escape route to charge you a lot of money on a repair.
What does a typical out-of-warranty repair cost? Well, according to Lenovo, a system board can be up to $500, a DVD drive is $200, a hard drive is $300, a "multiple part replacement at bench" can be upwards of $600, and an LCD display can be $450.
Based on informal research I have done on the internet and reading various end-user horror stories as it relates to repairs, these costs are accurate.
With the increasing trend toward ultrabooks, convertible tablet hybrids and similar form factors, the need to purchase PC accidental damage coverage (ADC) plans has become more and more important, particularly if you are a frequent business traveller and bring your laptop back and forth with you to work.
When looking to purchase a new laptop/convertible or ultrabook, you'll want to read the fine print about what is covered under the basic warranty and what is not, and you should base your PC vendor choice on how much the additional accidental damage coverage costs, and what else is included in the policy, such as turnaround time for the repair (usually three to five days) and whether shipping costs are included.