I'm looking at buying a riding mower at Lowes and their 3 yr. protection plan looks pretty appealing (cost approx. $375) as far as what it covers. Has anyone had any experience with using this service plan on a mower purchased from Lowes.
Lowes 3 yr. protection plan on riding mower
- Thread starter Electromotive
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1. I always take risk and don't do extended warranties.
2. Make sure you know who Lowes is going to do the work.
3. I have had some warranty issues in the first year of service and none after that, so I do self-insure. All other repairs were after year 4. First yr warranty comes with the tractor.
2. Make sure you know who Lowes is going to do the work.
3. I have had some warranty issues in the first year of service and none after that, so I do self-insure. All other repairs were after year 4. First yr warranty comes with the tractor.
When I remember looking into one for a log splitter it seemed to be okay. I think you might get 1 year manufacturers warranty but then extended through protection plan for 2 extra years. I could see if you put a decent amount of hours on a machine or bought something with questionable quality.
Generally speaking you are unlikely to encounter $375 in needed repairs for a riding mower in five to ten years. These warranties cover unexpected repairs and not routine maintanence or wear items. You may do better to invest that $375 into an ETF of or even a CD and pull it out if and when you need it. It is unlikely that you will need it.
In the interests of full disclosure I worked as a manger at Lowe's between retirement and full retirement if you know what I mean. The way these things work is that your machine will be sent out to a regional OPE repair specialist for service. This was a once a week thing in my area. If your timing was perfect you could have your machine back in six days. If you were unfortunate it would take thirteen days. I believe that contract comps you $50 if your machine is gone for more than a week.
I agree. Major problems will either show themselves under the manufacturer's warranty or wait for more than five years. You are better off establishing a realtionship with a local dealer who will take care of both you and your equipment and get it back to you in 2-3 days maximum. I have all of my OPE repaired by the local John Deere dealer when needed. Repaired - not serviced. Some examples include
- Replacement of the wiring harness on JD140 lawn tractor under warranty
- Replacement of carbureator and sealing gas tank leaks on 40 year old Troy-Bilt tiller
- Re allignment of drive pulleys on Billy Goat leaf vacuum
My wife was in the insurance biz a while back. Extended warranties are a money grab.
Save $375 put it in an account. Save it for when you need it. Extended warranties prey on a persons warm fuzzy protected feeling to getcha....... When you go to use them there are all kinds of conditions that make them unusable. Then you don't feel warm and fuzzy....... you feel bad about yourself. 
I wouldn't get the plan. What I have found out with these it extends the manfacturers one year warranty to three years. Basically extending it another two years. Not much is going to go wrong during that time. Use some of the money towards an extra set of blades and belts.
I purchased their three year warranty for my fridge. Now the first person didn't mention it but the second person told me if you don't use it or file a claim you get 50% of the warranty price back.
Ex
This is the key.
I purchased said warranty from Lowe’s. A major problem cropped up that I couldn’t solve on my own. I filed a warranty claim and it took quite a few emails and phone calls back-and-forth between store personnel and people at the corporate headquarters before they finally admitted they had no one remotely close to me who could do the repairs. This is after wasting about three weeks of my time and several hours on the phone. They gave me a full refund in the form of a gift card and I got to keep everything.
This is the key.
I purchased said warranty from Lowe’s. A major problem cropped up that I couldn’t solve on my own. I filed a warranty claim and it took quite a few emails and phone calls back-and-forth between store personnel and people at the corporate headquarters before they finally admitted they had no one remotely close to me who could do the repairs. This is after wasting about three weeks of my time and several hours on the phone. They gave me a full refund in the form of a gift card and I got to keep everything.
I went against proper logic and bought a few extended warranties for household appliances shortly after the pandemic fearing pandemic quality. Even none of those paid out. Lesson learned.
Insurance policies are unlikely to pay out over the long term - you might win one and lose on 3. Especially if you can do minor repairs yourself even less worth it - IMHO.
Insurance policies are unlikely to pay out over the long term - you might win one and lose on 3. Especially if you can do minor repairs yourself even less worth it - IMHO.
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As a person who once sold the most extended warranty of anyone out of 200+ stores ( Not Lowes ) I consider myself a once pro at all things warranty and have seen how the sausage is made. Personally, I have purchased some warranty on some things and some things not... As example I have purchased some car extended warranty but only factory backed warranty.
To the folks who suggest its a scam or a money maker etc, Well it is a money maker as I once joked its the one thing I have to sell thats always in stock and always pays me 10%.
That said, I always felt that my customers who purchased the warranty were a guaranteed happy customer as the other sales folks had to deal with many customers walking in upset because a product had stopped working just outside of warranty, I simply said please head to my service department and your needs will be addressed.
As far as Lowes, I would suggest read the fine print and ask questions such as,,,
1) If my mower dies do I take it in or do you come and get it? Any limits on that?
2) IF I must take it in, how far away is that service center?
3) Does the warranty cover any routine maintenance from oil changes, to belt replacement to once a year blade sharpening?
4) What is the service turn-around time?
Consumer Reports in the 90's issued a blanket statement that people should never buy extended warranty.
That can 100% be true for many but IMO also a disservice for others but it depends on the fine print, especially IF routine service is included you may very well be purchasing something of value and how one uses it or forgets to use it is key...
I sold them, I buy them but not all as all are not created equal...
To the folks who suggest its a scam or a money maker etc, Well it is a money maker as I once joked its the one thing I have to sell thats always in stock and always pays me 10%.
That said, I always felt that my customers who purchased the warranty were a guaranteed happy customer as the other sales folks had to deal with many customers walking in upset because a product had stopped working just outside of warranty, I simply said please head to my service department and your needs will be addressed.
As far as Lowes, I would suggest read the fine print and ask questions such as,,,
1) If my mower dies do I take it in or do you come and get it? Any limits on that?
2) IF I must take it in, how far away is that service center?
3) Does the warranty cover any routine maintenance from oil changes, to belt replacement to once a year blade sharpening?
4) What is the service turn-around time?
Consumer Reports in the 90's issued a blanket statement that people should never buy extended warranty.
That can 100% be true for many but IMO also a disservice for others but it depends on the fine print, especially IF routine service is included you may very well be purchasing something of value and how one uses it or forgets to use it is key...
I sold them, I buy them but not all as all are not created equal...
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