Buying a new iPod - where to buy? Extended warranty?

[Shadow]

I'm going to be buying a new 40GB iPod within a week or so. I'm just not sure where the best place for me to buy one is. I can get the best price online. Amazon sells it for $474.84 and I wouldn't have to pay shipping or tax. But, I'd only be able to get the manufacturer's warranty. I could also buy it at Apple's online store for $499 with a $25 online coupon I found so that'd be about the same price as from Amazon.

But, then I thought it may be better to buy it from Best Buy, Circuit City or CompUSA. They all have retail stores near me. But, I'd be paying the full $499 price plus tax. But, I could then get their extended warranties.

There are also Apple retail stores in my area. Would it be worth it to buy right from them? Perhaps better service?

The main question I have is are any of the extended warranties offered by these three (Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA) worth it? None of them seem to cover accidental damage. I guess I was hoping if I dropped it and the harddrive crashed I could get it replace but I guess that'd be considered an accident and not be covered.

I've been reading on some online forums about CompUSA's TAP (Technology Assurance Plan?) and it seems like I may be able to buy this from them even if I get my iPod somewhere else (Amazon for example). Is this true?

What are the real life chances that my iPod would fail under "normal wear and tear" within the 2 or 4 years these plans cover?

[dmt1]

Personally I think the Best Buy plan is worth it. I'm on ipod number three now, and when my 20gigger blew up the second time, they upgraded me to the 30gigger--brand new one...

I usually don't go with extended warranties, but a portable HD is a relatively delicate device, and I am guaranteed a functional ipod for $40.00--to me, that's worth it. You can get an ipod cheaper elsewhere, but once the one year warranty is up, that's it.

The nice thing about the Best Buy warranty is that it is a full four year warranty, no matter how many times you need to exchange your ipod, whereas the CompUSA doesn't transfer--use it once, and you have to start all over again and buy a new one. The compUSA warranty is only a two year, vs. 4 year warranty from Best Buy. The advantage of the compUSA warranty is that you can upgrade with it when a newer version comes out--but with a 40gigger, you won't be needing to upgrade anytime soon...

So I would strongly recommend spending the extra dough for the peace of mind you'll get with the 4 year PSP--I have serious doubts about how many ipods will be functional at 4 years--not an issue with Apple's quality, but an issue with the miniHD itself---again, it's a fairly sophisticated, delicate device to be using portably...

[Shadow]

Thanks for the advice Chris. Maybe I'll wait until I get my next 10% off coupon from Best Buy. That'd be $50 off on a 40GB iPod. Then get the $40 PSP.

[Shadow]

Hmm...does anyone know for sure if I can even get a Best Buy PSP for a 40GB iPod? I just went to their website and on there they are only offering the PSP with the 10GB model. Not the 20 or 40.

[ipod05]

the website and retail stores are different entities
if you purchase from the actual store you should be able to get a psp.

[Shadow]

Ok, I'll give it a try. Thanks.

[dmt1]

Yep--you'll be able to get the 4 yr PSP at the store for the 40 gigger--the smaller models only offer the 2 yr psp. The 10% off coupon at Best Buy, and then getting the 4 yr PSP, is a fantastic idea--I'd strongly recommend going that route.

[Shadow]

I just found out my wife had received one of those 10% coupons and she just threw it away yesterday (trash pickup day). Doh! I hope I get another one soon.

[Lara]

What if you can get the educational warranty from Apple? Would the CompUSA TAP be the best deal then for an extended warranty?

[dmt1]

Well, it certainly would be an option, but I'd still go with the 4year Best Buy PSP over the 2 year, nonrenewable CompUSA TAP--but that's just my opinion, I could understand why someone would go that route, I just like the 4 year PSP better...

[yrstruly]

i'm not sure if you guys are talking about something different. but we occasionally get 10% off coupons (one for dvds, one for cds, one for electronics) and it says on the back of the coupon that it can't be used on the ipod. so i wouldn't get my hopes up too high. there are certain brands that never go on sale - and apple (ipod) seems to be one of them - unless they're clearing out old inventory, of course.

yrstruly.

[Shadow]

Doh! Yeah, sounds like the same coupons I'm talking about. I didn't read the one completely but I saw it mentioned that it was good for MP3 players so I figured I could use it on an iPod. Perhaps I didn't read far enough.

[Shadow]

Ok, I just ran some numbers. If I can't use the coupon at BB, I'd basically be paying an extra $100 or so just to get the PSP. Do you guys still think it's worth it?

Amazon:
$475 - iPod (free shipping, no tax)

Best Buy:
$500 - iPod
$33 - tax
$40 - PSP
------
$573 - total

[breakaway1029]

My friend actually used one of those 10% off cupons, that said "10% off excluding iPod", at Best Buy, and it worked. I would just try to use the cupon. Go to the counter with the ipod you would like to buy, and hand them the cupon and credit card, and if they tell you that the cupon wont work, tell them that you dont want to buy the ipod and just leave.

[dmt1]

Yeah--you walk away, I'll bet they'll give you the ten percent anyway (I had that happen in a similar situation at Best Buy). I was buying a camera, the coupon was one day past expiration (and I didn't have the coupon with me either--I forgot to bring it with me, I told them I had it and what it was for, as I live 20 miles away from our nearest BB, I wasn't about to go back and get it that day), I said forget it then, I'll wait for another coupon, or get it somewhere else--they said "Well, I think we can still do it...". But we have an awesome Best Buy where I live...