>Why I said YES to Max Assurance from Office Max (Updated)
on January 19, 2009 at 2:30 am>
[December 5, 2009 Update: This post was published here almost a year ago, I can’t and won’t be responsible for any information that might have changed since then. Please DO NOT email me, I will not respond. I’m a happy Office Max shopper and NOT an agent or employee for the company. If you have any questions or problems with your warranty, speak to the weekday daytime store manager … and if they don’t help you, report them to: 1-800-283-7674.]
Someone told me that Consumer Reports shows that retail extended warranty plans are not necessary. I read over those reports and what the magazine actually says, “weigh the cost vs. benefits”.
Just bought a new High Def LCD Big Screen TV? Wasn’t it fun getting it from the store to your home or office? Wasn’t the installation easy and fast? Looking forward to going through THAT again if something breaks down? Able to spend that $2,500 or so to buy a new one? What will you do with the old one? Typical repair costs for in-home service: $400 – $800. What’s the extended warranty cost: $300. Benefits vs. cost… that’s the secret to a smart replacement or service plan purchase.
MaxAssurance (Max Assurance Replacement or Service Plans) available through Office Max… I buy ’em. Pay at the register, take it home AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. If you don’t understand what you’ve got yourself into… write down your questions and return to the store and ask the manager on duty about your concerns. If you decide it’s not going to cover the things you’re worried about (theft, war, etc) then CANCEL IT (see below). You CAN DO THAT, right in the store.
The Max Assurance coverage is provided by and administered by: N.E.W.
Sure, I am biased. I sell insurance so I know the need. I’ve seen the need. I buy credit life, I buy extended warranties (even on new cars). Insurance is comparatively cheap compared to the replacement or repair charges. With today’s economy, it’s hard to spend a few extra dollars when you already have a tight budget and you’re concerned about the next paycheck… thinking about a few extra dollars about something that may or not happen is harder today than it was six months ago. But do this math… it’s an “if”, but it’s still there:
“If I had to replace this item in the next 6-12 months, what would I rather pay, “$90.00? or $12.00?” If you feel lucky, good luck, move on. If the $12.00 sounds or feels better to you, then go ahead and pay now for the Max Assurance coverage. If you don’t want to mess with sending it off for repairs, waiting on a gift card to arrive by mail, or taking it back to the store, then “pass” on the MaxAssurance… it can’t pay until you do what’s necessary on your end. Like any other coverage, “it ain’t on the honor system, baby.”
My home owners insurance or auto insurance doesn’t cover any accidental damage to ANY electronic or furniture items in my car or home, just fire, theft, burglary… does yours?
One recent example in my life: I was backing away from my desk, the laptop power cord was wrapped around my chair caster (I didn’t see it) and the laptop came crashing down even though I caught the damn thing before it hit the floor… but the monitor screen cracked. I checked on Ebay and other repair sites to have it replaced. NOTE: A laptop monitor is the most expense item on the unit. I paid $2100 for it new (about 2 years ago), the monitor replacement was $1500!!!!! What the….???? In this case, I couldn’t just go buy a new laptop, this one had company approved and paid-for software on it. I had to buy it from our company. An accidental damage warranty was built into that $2100 I paid for it up front. I was in good shape, but without the laptop for about a week. No out-of-pocket costs.
Don’t feel pressure at the point of sale… if you WANT to afford it, buy the extended warranty… take the paper work home, staple receipts to the paperwork… and follow instructions (like registering online). IT’S WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT. Again, if you don’t like the coverage, you can cancel it at anytime (see next paragraph). I’ve been getting emails from customers assuming I’m a MaxAssurance agent, I am not, so the only response I can send back is to contact the store manager at the Office Max where you bought the service or replacement plan for any help you need. I had no problems registering online and I own several of them on various Office Max items purchased over the years.
I’m NOT an OFFICE MAX or MAX ASSURANCE EMPLOYEE or agent, just a happy shopper. If you don’t want to mess with the online registration process (it only takes about 5 minutes), then register by phone… you will reach a live person. BUT, if you register by phone, you lose the bonus “30 days extra protection”, but IT’S THE SIMPLEST, FASTEST WAY to register your phone number (which is how Max Assurance/N.E.W. sets up your account)… or just save your receipt with the MaxAssurance purchase and sku number — that works, too! Even though its not many clueless people that contact me, I will no longer acknowledge emails requesting activation… Truth is, I can’t do it for you—it must be registered from your home phone number, not mine. I love Office Max, but I have other obligations than playing third party agent for them. 🙂
MaxAssurance (Max Assurance):
Cancellation: You may cancel this Contract at any time by surrendering it or providing written notice to the retailer at the address where You purchased this Contract You may also cancel this Contract by surrendering it or providing written notice to N.E.W. at the address listed above. This Contract may be canceled by You for any reason. In the event You cancel this Contract within thirty (30) days of receipt of this Contract. You shall receive a full refund of any payments made by You under this Contract. In the event You cancel this Contract after thirty (30) days of receipt of this Contract, You shall receive a pro rata refund of any amount paid based upon elapsed time less an administrative fee not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the price of this Contract or twenty-five dollars ($25), whichever is less, and less any claims that have been paid or repairs that have been made. We or N.E.W. may not cancel this Contract except for fraud, material misrepresentation or non-payment by You; or if required to do so by any regulatory authority. If We or N.E.W. cancels this Contract, You shall receive a refund of one hundred percent (100%) of the pro rata unearned portion of the Contract price less any claims which have been paid. We or N.E.W. may not cancel this Contract without providing You with written notice at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of cancellation. Such notice shall include the effective date of cancellation and the reason for cancellation. In Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, South Carolina, Washington and Wyoming:
If You cancel Your Contract within thirty (30) days of receipt of Your Contract and do not receive a refund or credit within thirty (30) days of receipt of the returned service contract, a ten percent (10%) penalty per month shall be applied to the refund.
Insurance: This is not a contract of insurance. Obligations of the Obligor under this Contract are insured under a service contract reimbursement insurance policy issued by Virginia Surety Company, Inc. In AL, AR, AK, AZ, CT, GA, IL, KY, MO, MT, NH, NC, NY, OH, TX, UT, WA, WI, and WY only: If You have filed a claim in writing under this Contract and the Obligor fails to payor provide service within sixty (60) days of filing such a claim, or if You are otherwise dissatisfied, please submit Your claim in writing and a copy of this Contract and the sales receipt for the Product to:
Virginia Surety Company, Inc., 175 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois 60604, Attention: Service Contract Claims, 1-800-209-6206.
Follow me: Twitter – Facebook – YouTube – My Twitter management tool – Subscribe to Feeds
>Office Max tells you that the Max Assurance SKU is on the box as a series of Numbers but which one is it, there's a bunch of numbers all over the place but it doesn't specify what one's are the correct ones and when you call the phone number to try to register the purchased product it gets you know where…CONFUSED
>It would be a heck of a lot easyr if office max would put the Max Assurance SVU on the Receipt when you buy a particcular product from them, so you know what it is when you try to register it..
>David, you forgot to mention the $12,000 insurance if your identity is stolen after buying a new computer or shredder. If your ID is stolen at any point, and you lose a lot of money, you will be given your money back (if under $12,000). The essentials kit includes MaxAssurance, and very nice benefits as well. Such as an included printer cable for a new printer, or a mini tripod for a new digital camera.
The loaner program, accidental damage coverage and so on and so forth, make it a great investment for a large ticketed purchase. OfficeMax stores make money when customers buy MaxAssurance or Essentials Kits, and consumers are definitely insured and protected in return.
-Jeremy
>Hi Crash. My name is David and I am a tech specialist at an OfficeMax Store. Do you know that we now have Essential Kits for Printers, Shredders, Laptops, and Digital Cameras? And here is the cool part about the printer kits for printers 200 and up and the laptop kits. They include a loaner program! So you dont have to be without a printer or laptop while yours is being repaired! Isn't that cool? The kits include many other benifits too. Dont know how to set up that wireless printer? With the EK a remote technician will connect to your PC and install it for you! Lots of other benifits too. Check em out next time your in.
>Thanks “Pa” for your comment. Hey, nothing’s perfect when humans get involved. Patience in a down economy opens doors faster. Be calm when you talk to an agent, store manager, or store employee. They want to help, but no one likes to be yelled at.
>i actually liked it, i never had a problem with it other than they giving me the wrong amount for my gift card because they mixed up my 2 warranties because i had registered 2 products with the same brand name, so that was the only thing, because over the phone when u call abt a product being damaged they dont really specify it, they just read the names off as u entered them by the name brand, but i got a 200 dollar gift card for my camera and only paid 20 dollars for it, im a happy customer!
>Go figure, I just called 866 805-9095, 11:18am in Texas, and got a live rep right away. I wish the registration process took place at the cash register (like they did at Circuit City)… some customers no doubt say NO to the Office Max Max Assurance protection anyway… then they’re sorry later. I wonder how many Office Max sales people get yelled at “for not selling me Max Assurance when I bought the chair, laptop, thumb drive, digital camera, when they try to return it for a replacement without an extended warranty?! They can only offer it.. they can’t make shoppers buy it. THANKS for your comment and GOOD FOR YOU for getting Max Assurance protection.
>I’m in Minnesota. I went to the stupid Office Max warranty website and it’s just too hard to navigate. Isn’t there someone I can talk to? The Max Assurance 800 number is just a computer voice. And the sales guy at Office Max said it would be easy.
>To register online, click:
https://www.productassist.com/officemax/
– Right hand, upper corner, find "Create An Account
>I can’t speak for your lifestyle, so I don’t know if it your router will come into a power surge, humidity problems, or accidental breakage. That’s what the Max Assurance is designed to cover. I don’t know how much your Max Assurance cost you, but I am sure it is less that the cost to replace the router. If you feel you were pressured or ripped off, just take the receipt back to the store and tell them to cancel it. Read the brochure, please. There’s cancellation details in there as well. Hey, this post is just my opinion as an Offie Max SHOPPER that’s all. I don’t work for N.E.W… I can only offer my experiences. Oh, it’s good to listen to your friends, but IT IS YOUR PURCHASE, YOUR LIFESTYLE that you should be concened about, right? I’ve discovered that most insurance claim issues (in my daily work) are due to the policyowner not understanding what’s needed from THEM to get claims paid fast and efficiently. If N.E.W. was a scam, if Office Max was ripping people off, how long can they possible stay in business? Thank you very much for your comments! I’ll add this: It would certainly be easier for the customer if their Office Max Max Assurance could be instantly registered at the register with a phone number, credit card, or driver’s license number or something… but I’m sure there is privacy issues with that. Just another opinion. Registration online isn’t a fast process, but it IS required.
>I’ve been online researching the Office Max warranty insurance I bought the other day on a wireless router. All my friends told me I was ripped off, the router will most likely outlive the warranty. I feel stupid now because I let the sales lady talk me into it. I felt pressured (or dumb) if I didn’t buy it. And most everyone on the internet claims it’s a lot of hassle. What say you?