Estimating the cost of risk
The question is simple. Should I play “cheap and dangerous” or “expensive and cautious”? I’m talking about computers, of course. Far too many of them in my day-to-day to not know the risks and costs of keeping our favourite machines in functional disorder. Just this week, three laptops have ended up on my desk because of various failed components. Some of them under warranty, others not. You do the math.
Last year when I ordered the current laptop from Dell, I had a budget that I really wanted to respect. One way with that firm is to limit the insurance policy, otherwise known as extended repair warranty. My gut feeling was that if anything went wrong, I could probably use a divining rod and find the source. One year and we’re on our own. Well, the months have been passing, and with only a few weeks to go my mitigated risk now looked like a much bigger gamble.
The online site couldn’t give me an estimate on what additional coverage would cost, so today I called in to the phone support system. Even without my laptop, or machine tag, or a credit card, the man at the other end was able to figure out who I was, where I lived and how to send me a quote. Complete with a telephone number that I couldn’t dial back to (go figure). My pondering went on, and after a few searches on what an “out of warranty” repair might cost, the math was clear. Buy. Buy now.
At home, my second request for an analysis showed that I can afford another twelve months of coverage without having to cut off the proverbial pound of flesh. My machine is now under the umbrella until after vacation one year from now. That’s enough time to see if my karma is good.
