Do NOT Purchase Walmart's Product Replacement Plan
6/22/2009 11:12:00 PM
I am beyond frustrated right now. Back in March, I purchased a Digital Camera from Walmart. After talking to the cashier, we decided it would be best to purchase the Product Replacement Plan. After all, I have 5 kids. Something is bound to happen.Wouldn't you know it? I dropped my camera today on the kitchen floor. Now the battery door won't close. I remembered that I had purchased the Product Replacement Plan and immediately got on the phone with the Claims Department.
After going through the process... Name, date of purchase, store number, transaction, blah, blah, blah, they asked me what the problem was. I told them that I dropped the phone on the floor and now the battery door won't latch closed. The response, "Oh. Because you dropped it, we can't do anything about it. That's accidental damage. We don't offer replacements for something that's your fault." Are you kidding me? Then why on earth did I spend all that extra money to cover something that isn't even going to be covered?
I'm kicking myself for a. dropping the camera, but also for b. not reading the fine print *before* being talked into purchasing the product replacement plan.
I can't say that I'll never shop at Walmart again. That's not possible. After all, Walmart is the closest place to shop. I really don't want to "run" an hour and a half every time I need something and go to Target instead. Besides, one little person boycotting Walmart isn't going to hurt them. I know that, and I'm not saying that. BUT, I have learned my lesson from this. Next time I'll go somewhere that offers a true warranty when it comes to electronics. Even if I have to drive an hour and a half to find them.
I'm angry at you Walmart, but even more angry at myself for being duped by the salesperson.
Sorry - rant over. I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to buy a new camera now. Anyone need some design work done? ;)
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June 23, 2009 9:36 AM
Most protection plans are a lousy, not worth the money. Sorry.
July 31, 2009 2:59 AM
I also purchase a digital camera for my daughter on her birthday. The camera ended up getting wet. I called Walmart and registered on the product replacement website so when I called them, they already had my information. Since it happened before the manufature's warrenty expired they said I had to send it back to the manufaturer for repair or replacement. I knew the manufature would not fix or replace it for free so I waited a few weeks to make sure it was past the first 90 days and then filed the claim. I told them that it got wet and no longer worked and they said to send the camera with the UPS lable that they would send to me via email. This week I logged into the product replacement site and saw the customer rep's notes, stating that it got wet. The package has been received by Walmart but I still haven't heard back from them about activating the product replacement "gift card" so I can only hope they will honor the product replacement and activate the card so we can get a new camera. I guess we will see. The customer support person didn't seem to have a good understanding of the process. She was kind of vague about it and I am wondering if it's because she really didn't know or just a CYA. According to the card, the sales people and the hold message you can get a repalcement in as little as 24 hours but I don't see that happening. Hopefully it will end well.
December 26, 2009 12:40 PM
A few months back I purchased a MP3 player for my 14 year old daughter...so of course the so called "product replacement plan" sounded like a great idea. After all she is 14.
And then when she came to me saying that it wouldn't hold a charge I was irritated but not upset..after all we could get it taken care of quickly enough. So I gathered my receipt and the Product Replacement Plan packet, and headed to Walmart. I thought maybe they would just let me exchange it. It had only been a couple of months. They told me to call the number on the packet. Guess I should have read better.
So I called the number this morning only to be given the same answer as the above person. The MP3 player is still under Sony's warranty and I need to call them. WOW...is this a gimic or what? So I called the Sony number that the lady gave me only to find out that it is a WRONG number. The number is to a ski area??? What the heck?
March 18, 2010 3:29 PM
I'm 14 years old from Wisconsin and I purchased a bike on 5-18-09 and on 3-15-10 the back wheel fell apart...NOT MY FAULT. I had the replacment plan but they woun't replace my bike or activate the gift card for me.... It was only $90 bike, but for a 14 year old, thats ALOT of money....
March 30, 2010 9:16 PM
FYI, the walmart product replacement plan also only kicks in after the manufacturer's warranty expires...My printer stopped working so I called the P.R.P. people and they said they would only refer my to HP. Then they said hey, just wait until the HP warranty is over and then call back and make a claim. So I waited 7 months and did just that. When I called they then told me they dont cover "pre-existing conditions".....I was furious. I simply asked to speak their manager and after a few strong words they decided to give me my money back :)
May 4, 2010 10:04 PM
It pains me to see so many frustrated customers. I work for the company that provides the Replacement Plans for Walmart. We pride ourselves on providing excellent service, so although I don't think I can minimalize your frustration, I would like to explain. The plans you all have purchased provide protection against many failures, with the exception of Accidental Damage. This coverage includes damage from Normal Wear and Tear, Power Surge, Environmental factors (Dust heat humidity) and more. None of this protection is provided by the manufacturer, and typically occurs AFTER the manufacturer warranty expires, which is why your plan starts AFTER the manufacturer. Walmart doesnt feel comfortable calling a plan a THREE year plan if One full year is covered by the manufacturer, instead, they are trying to be honest with the customer and call it two years (or one year). Also, the plans do NOT cover accidental damage, to keep the fraud down, and the price low. VERY few plans anywhere cover accidental damage, and those that do cost 3 ot 4 times as much as Walmart, because of the fraud potential. MANY people, when they wanted a new Camera, would simply drop their camera in the pool, or drop it on the ground, to make a claim and get their product replaced. Make sense? Our company does sell accidental damage plans (ADH Coverage), however they are much more expensive and frequently require a deductible to help rduce fraud. I hope this eases your frustration somewhat.
May 5, 2010 9:37 PM
Fraud! I just read the Wal-Mart replacement plan rep. The warranty is a Fraud! Fraud Fruad Fraud. I will NEVER EVER buy the replacement plan again, In fact, I am going to start a Boycott Walmart Replacemnt Plan on Facebook. More people have to know who the real frauds are. Wal-mart. At the register they sell the warranty as it starts now, and covers any damage. That is FRAUD! My sons Christmas present broke, his CS lite, Nitendo doesn't cover it, walmart said they cant because its still under Nintendos warranty. FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD...is there Ocean front property in PA you would like to sell me too?
May 9, 2010 12:23 AM
yeah i got one of those replacement plans to..have not even tried to use it cause my warrany is not up..but i know the warranty wont cover my problem an neither will the replacement plan...my lcd screen on my nikon coolpixL20 broke..looks more cracked but still cant see anything out of it, still takes pictures just have no idea of what.....im very angry cause I have no idea of how it happened..I take very good care of my things and keep them put up so they dont end up getting messed up..3-4 years ago I got a camera for my 15th birthday an I used it till last year cause it went out on me so I went an bought this one back in november and now im pretty much out $100+ ...my last one was a sanyo...guess I should have stuck with that brand...I have not tired to see if nikon will fix it cause it says they dont fix if it "...has been subjected to misuse, abuse, negligence, alteration or accident..." so i dont get why in the hell do they even provide a warranty if they do not fix the item in hand..I mean im not gonna destroy my things on purpose so its not abuse, so what that makes it an accident even though I didnt have any clue it happened so that leads to negligence, but I again put my things up and keep them in good shape...(sry im really mad, and still have no clue of how it came to be broken an its been like this for 2 weeks now I believe..) ahh theses dang stupid people and their companies can take a hot straightening iron and shove it where the sun dont shine...I am very tempted to just buy a new screen a replace it myself but I know the warranty an the so called "replacement plan" will be void then, but its not like they are going to fix it anyway...
June 30, 2010 1:04 PM
Do NOT purchase the PRP at OfficeMax. Put it on a Kodak camera, less than 2 months old has failed (not even 25 pictures and no battery recharge). PRP was for 2 years. Best they could do was give me a pink camera for my silver one. All stores have is pink. Price on the counter for the pink one is $150. Price on the exchange receipt is $76. How is that? So now if I try to return it I will get $76 (if they will even return it). If I went to buy it outright, I'd pay $150, this doesn't seem legal.
I paid $90 for the original one (on sell).
On top of that the PRP expires with the failure of the first camera, but of course they were more than happy to offer another PRP for the replacement camera.
If I wanted to wait a week I could get a gift card for the original value. That week wait wasn't mentioned when I bought the PRP. What good is that if they no longer have the product?
FUCK OfficeMax.
September 15, 2010 9:38 AM
The best place to purchase any product is Brandsmart. No recipt is needed for exchanges returns or to find your warranty they keep it on file in their comupter system under your name and address. Additionally when you make a purchase they email you a copy of your recipt. Item breaks just take it back in to get a new one. Great prices and great customer service!
September 17, 2010 10:56 PM
had truck trouble today... and had to buy a new battery so i took my old one off because it had a 3year replacement on it.... i bought it in sept of last year... just took the thing off now... and get this when i take it in to replace it they tell me that i cant do that because my old one had been exchanged in 2009... now can someone explain to me how it was exchanged when the battery was on my truck up until today
September 23, 2010 10:26 PM
My experience is exactly like #7. Purchased Nintendo DS Lite for my two kids and thought the PRP would be great. At time of purchase we were asked, do you want the purchase product replacement plan? We replied "what does it cover and how much does it cost" It covers everything and $5.88 for each. Not a whole lot of money. One of the two DS's broke at the hinge and the screen and game system no-longer functioned. OK, we have a PRP. I called the and they told me since the problem is within a year they said I needed to contact nintendo. Let the runaround begin. I called nintendo they said the warranty was no longer value because they did not consider it defective, but would be willing to take $50 + shipping to refurbish it. I said no thanks, I HAVE A PRODUCT REPLACMENT plan from walmart, why would I spend $50 to fix a $100 item. I call back the Walmart warranty folks (AIG not a good sign), and told them I would like to proceed with the replacment since the warranty is not valid. They said why to you think is it no longer valid. I said nintendo told me. THey replied (sucker)... we don't have to do anything, if nintendo won't. Oh, by the the product "REPLACEMENT" plan covers only manufacturers defects. If I knew that I would have never bother to by this useless warranty. By the way, this is clearly DECEPTIVE sales practices, if not fraudulent. I consider a relatively cheap lesson. How can Merchants get away with this behavior (not limited to Walmart, but also includes Best Buy, Circuit City (google stories still out there, Radio Shack, etc.)? How can a buyer be sufficiently informed beyond the string of lies most merchants are pushing to improve their botttom line. If a vendor mispresents a product verbally, isn't this still considered fraud? --- Central Virginia
October 23, 2010 4:38 PM
how do you even get to the site to file a claim? all i see is ads and bs. I bought a stereo 1 yr. ago w. the prp for 2 years. how do i collect on a stereo that will not play any of the 5 cds just spins and makes noise. I am old,(60) do not think wild parties were involved. p.s. I am P.O.'d !
November 28, 2010 2:23 PM
I bought the replacement plan for a microwave now having problems took it to Walmart thinging with the card I would just get a new one, but NO you have to jump thru hoops to land on your A-- and no help or how to get to the claim area. Burned on this one.