Is Geek Squad Protection Worth It?

Yes, it is. Geek Quad protection plans guarantee both quality and service. If anything happens to your device, Best Buy managers will ensure that your needs are well catered for and have enough resources to back them up. Additionally, it depends on the worth of your electronics and is ideal for large electronics. Generally, this plan will cover you for approximately 2-5 years, with tiered pricing based on the price of your product.

Generally, Geek Squad was formed in 1994 and merged with the Best Buy Company. They are renowned for their customer service tech support, and they cover all types of appliances, TVs, cars, and mobile repair.

Are there any differences between the Geek Squad Protection Plans and Manufacturer Warranties?

Manufacturer warranties have been designed to cover defects in the materials used to make any device and workmanship integrated into the manufacture of the product for a limited period. Geek Squad Protection Plans, on the other hand, are an optional form of product coverage that provides additional value to you. Any Geek Squad Protection Plan that you purchase significantly protects your devices against any defects caused by power surges and normal wear and tear. To add to that, you can actively benefit from a variety of other coverage depending on the protection plan you opt for.

Which Geek Squad Protection Plan can I purchase for my products?

General Plan Coverage

The General Plan Coverage under Geek Squad applies to computers/portable computing devices, major appliances, electronics, and contract and non-contract based mobile devices. This plan covers both the labor costs and amount needed for the parts required to fix your device if it fails to properly operate as a result of;

Defects in materials or workmanship
Normal wear and tear
Image burn-in for all screen regardless of the product category
Power surges
Dust, internal humidity/condensation, internal overheating
Malfunctioning pixels for those devices with a pixel-based display. Pixel repair, in this case, is based upon 3 faulty pixels throughout the whole display area on your product.
Battery failure

Accidental Damage from Handling (ADH) Coverage

ADH coverage provides for overall labor costs and the parts needed to repair your product that may have been damaged as a result of an unintentional or unexpected external event. This could be either liquid drops or spills that may arise from normal daily usage of your product.

This type of coverage expires within 1-5 years from the original product purchase date as identified on your purchase receipt. If it is determined at their sole discretion that your product cannot be repaired, Geek Squad replaces it with a product of the same kind and quality, which is of comparable performance. If they are unable to find a similar product, they reimburse you for the replacement of your device with a voucher or gift card that is equal to the current market value of your product but not exceeding the original purchase price of the device.

Unfortunately, the ADH coverage does not cover any cosmetic damages to your product including broken plastic on parts, tears, dents, and scratches, that do not otherwise affect the functionality of your product nor do they impair your use of your covered device.

What is excluded in the ADH Coverage?

The ADH coverage under the Geek Squad Protection Plan does not cover any devices damaged in falls from elevated heights such as balconies, decks, and windows. Also, it does not cover products that have been run over or any that fall from moving vehicles and products that are damaged due to use in a manner contradictory to that expected by the manufacturer. Lastly, it doesn’t cover products damaged by liquid submersion or any other secondary damage.

Geek Squad Protection Replacement Plan

This Geek Squad Protection Plan offers the replacement of your covered devices found to be defective by the company. If they determine in their sole discretion that your device may need some kind of replacement, they will replace your product with either a new device or a refurbished product of the same type and quality that is of comparable performance. Alternatively, in the event that your device is defective and cannot be repaired, they would reimburse you for the replacement of the product with a gift card that is equal to the current market value of your product.

Your coverage under this plan is effective starting on the day you purchased your device as identified on your purchase receipt and it expires either one, three, or five years from the effective date depending on the length of the plan you choose to settle for.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Geek Squad Protection

The table below gives a summary of the perks and disadvantages of purchasing Geek Squad Protection Plans for your devices.

Geek Squad Protection Plans	Advantages	Disadvantages
In relation to repairing costs	It Protects your devices/ products from the high cost of repairs and replacement	Sometimes, Geek Squad Protection Plans may be a lot more expensive than the amount required to fix any of your devices
In relation to the usage pattern	Your electronic device is vulnerable to minor damages depending on your usage pattern, and Geek Squad Protection Plans can seamlessly cater for any accidents and hardware damages if need be	Sometimes Geek Squad Protection Plans may not cater for damages associated with carelessness or defective usage patterns

Conclusion

With the right extended warranty, you are assured of peace of mind at all times throughout the lifetime of your product.

FAQs

Is there a time limit on purchasing any Geek Squad Protection Plan?

Yes. You have a maximum of 30 days after the date of purchase to buy yourself a Geek Squad Protection Plan.

Can I cancel my subscription to any Geek Squad Protection Plan?

Yes. You can cancel your Geek Squad Protection Plan for any personal reasons within the first 30 days of purchase. If you do this in good time, you will receive a full refund from your local Best Buy Store. If you choose to cancel your plan after 30 days you may have to pay a service recovery fee.