ATLANTA, Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Before the
left-over turkey gets put away and the hot apple cider turns cold,
holiday bargain-hunters will grab their lists and begin circling
all the door-buster deals, early-bird specials and super-saver
steals for holiday gift buying. The shopping frenzy known as Black
Friday will lure an estimated 152 million people to retail stores
and online merchants, according to the National Retail Federation
(NRF).
This year's list of must-have items includes tablets, laptop
computers, mobile devices, game systems and flat screen
televisions, with consumers projected to spend an average of
$515 on these and other gifts for
family and friends, according to the NRF. But the joy of
giving these trendy gizmos can soon be dampened by the
disappointment of something going wrong – a missing part here, a
broken screen there, a malfunctioning function.
That may be why Consumer Reports recently suggested that there
are times when extended service plans really make sense. In its
August 2011 issue, the consumer
product rating guide highlighted several reasons why consumers
should protect their electronics and appliances beyond the
manufacturer's warranty. Based on a survey of more than 27,000
subscribers, the magazine found that product warranties tend to
cover less and less; in fact, most warranties only cover parts for
one year and labor for just 90 days. Consumer Reports also found
that appliances most often break within two to three years after
purchase, well after the manufacturer's warranty has expired.
Just ask Yolanda Crenshaw. The
Carson, Calif., resident was "left
in the dark" when her flat screen television went out shortly after
the manufacturer's warranty expired, leaving her with no choice but
to buy a new TV. She purchased her second flat screen TV along with
an extended service plan in case it would need repair.
When her TV stopped working in June
2011, Crenshaw called the toll-free number for her Assurant
Solutions service contract. The next afternoon, a service
technician came to her home, replaced the main board and repaired
the malfunction.
"It was like 'No problem, we can help you' and bam!" Crenshaw
said of the prompt resolution. "They serviced my TV and got me on
my way."
Assurant Solutions, a global provider of extended service
contracts, issues customized policies for consumer electronics,
appliances, jewelry and other products well beyond the
manufacturer's warranty. The policies provide millions of customers
such as Crenshaw with the assurance of knowing their products can
be repaired or replaced.
"When people invest their hard-earned money in a nice gift for
themselves or someone else, they really can't afford to take a
chance on whether it will last," said Joe
Erdeman, president of extended protection solutions at
Assurant Solutions. "The peace of mind of knowing that you're
protected is priceless."
This holiday season, Crenshaw plans to purchase another flat
screen TV as a gift for a family member but says the service plan
will be her gift to herself.
"I'm hooked on buying the service plan, because it's worth it,"
she said. "It's a load off your mind not to worry."
To learn about extended service contracts, visit
http://www.assurantsolutions.com/extendedprotection.
About Assurant Solutions
Assurant Solutions businesses develop, underwrite, market and
administer specialty insurance, extended service contracts and
other risk management solutions through collaborative relationships
with leading financial institutions, retailers, automobile dealers,
funeral homes, manufacturers, wireless carriers and other entities.
With operations in 25 locations, including executive offices in
Atlanta, Assurant Solutions serves
clients and their customers in 12 countries throughout North America, the Caribbean, Latin
America, Europe and
Asia.
www.assurantsolutions.com.
Assurant Solutions is also part of Assurant, a premier provider
of specialized insurance products and related services in
North America and worldwide
markets. Assurant, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the
S&P 500, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol AIZ. Assurant has approximately $27
billion in assets and $8
billion in annual revenue. Assurant has approximately 14,000
employees worldwide and is headquartered in New York's financial district.
www.assurant.com.
SOURCE Assurant Solutions