Dell computers and laptops are a large investment. If you’ve spent the money on such an expensive product, you likely want to protect it from damage or breaking down from normal wear and tear.
All Dell products come with a basic warranty but it only covers manufacturer’s defects and issues resulting from normal use. It doesn’t cover accidental damage or other issues that result from the normal use of a computer and happen over time.
Because of this many people consider buying the Dell extended warranty. Is it worth it to add to the cost of an already expensive product?
We review the Dell extended warranty below to help you decide.
What is Dell’s Basic Warranty Service?
Most computers and electronics come with a basic warranty and Dell products are no exception. The Dell Limited Hardware Warranty covers manufacturer defects and issues occurring from normal use for a limited time.
If your Dell product has an issue, Dell first tries to fix the issue remotely. If they can’t, then they offer you a Mail-In Repair Service which Dell covers the cost of shipping to send your computer in to get fixed.
What are the Dell Extended Warranty Options?
If you want coverage beyond Dell’s basic warranty service, you can add any of the following:
Premium Support
Dealing with technical issues when you’re on a deadline or don’t have time to mess with the computer can be frustrating. Add to that the time you’ll spend waiting on the phone for a technician and then the time it takes to evaluate the issue. It’s frustrating and time-consuming.
Dell’s Premium support offers Support Assist technology that can predict hardware and software issues your computer has. The system alerts you by email when there is a problem and sometimes a technician will even call you to talk you through the issue. With Premium Support, you also get 24/7 access to professionals via phone or in-person if remote support doesn’t work.
Accidental Damage Service
Accidents happen and the Dell Accidental Damage Service can help you fix them. Whether you trip and fall or spill your drink on your laptop, the Accidental Service will cover the cost of repairs. Where the Basic Warranty doesn’t cover, the Accident Damage Service does. It also protects your device in the case of a power surge.
What Does the Dell Extended Warranty Cover?
The Dell Extended Warranty covers everything the basic warranty doesn’t. It protects you when the basic warranty expires and it picks up the voids the basic warranty leaves behind.
The type of coverage you purchase determines what it covers. For example, if you don’t buy the Accidental Damage Service then you won’t have coverage if you fall and crack your screen. But, if you have the Premium Support and your device starts acting weird, you’ll likely have an email or phone call from a Dell professional letting you know what’s wrong and how to fix it
If they can’t fix it, they’ll have you send it in on their dime.
What Doesn’t It Cover?
Like any extended warranty, the Dell Extended Warranty doesn’t cover certain things including:
- Vandalism
- Theft
- Improper use of the device
- Lack of proper maintenance
You must prove that you take care of the device and do what you can to keep it in good working condition for the extended warranty to take effect.
How Much do Dell Extended Warranties Cost?
The cost of Dell extended warranties varies greatly. The process itself is honestly overwhelming when you’re looking at your choices. You must choose between tech support and accidental coverage or buy both.
If you aren’t familiar with computers, don’t know how long you’ll keep the device, or how to file a claim, it can feel overwhelming and expensive to choose a Dell extended warranty.
How Long Does the Dell Extended Warranty Last?
If you decide to buy a Dell Extended Warranty, you can buy it for various terms. It depends on the product, its cost, and the terms Dell offers. On average, the extended warranty is good for 2 to 5 years.
Reasons to Consider a Dell Extended Warranty
An extended warranty isn’t always the right answer, but sometimes it makes sense. Here are the top reasons to consider one.
It Can be Cost-Effective
A Dell computer is quite an investment. If you want to ensure it works for the long haul, investing in an extended warranty may make sense. You’ll decrease the cost of your repairs and increase the life of your computer or electronic.
Provides Peace of Mind
With the amount of money you invest in a Dell computer, buying an extended warranty can give you peace of mind. Knowing you have access to professionals who can either remotely help you or who will pay you to ship your computer in to get fixed helps you know you’ll always have a working device.
You can Extend or Update your Coverage Whenever you Want
If you aren’t ready to buy the extended warranty when you buy your computer, you can add it later. Dell allows customers to extend or upgrade their warranties at any time. This is a great option in case you decide down the road that you want to keep your computer longer than you anticipated. Knowing you have coverage should it break down is great stress relief.
Know about a Problem before it Happens
With Dell Premium Support, you’ll be alerted early on if something is going wrong with your computer. This ensures you have more ‘up time’ with your computer versus time wondering what went wrong and waiting for it to get fixed. The proactive approach can save time, money, and a lot of headaches.
Reasons to Avoid Them
Like anything, there are reasons to avoid the Dell extended warranty too.
It’s Expensive
If you don’t plan to keep your device for a long time, it may not make sense to pay extra money for an extended warranty. Most devices come with a basic/standard warranty that gets you through the first couple of years. Since most devices work well for that time, wasting money on an extended warranty doesn’t make sense.
Your Credit Card May Offer Coverage
You may already have extended warranty options if you bought your Dell computer with a credit card. Many of the major credit cards offer extended warranties on large purchases. While they may not provide the tech support Dell offers, they will cover your purchase against major defects, damage, or issues that would otherwise cost you money.
You Don’t Know How to Use It
Extended warranties can be overwhelming. If you don’t know how to file a claim or use the Dell service, you could be wasting money. If you end up taking your computer to a local repair shop or buying a new one, you wasted money on the extended warranty by not using it to its fullest potential.
Dell warranty FAQs
How much is a Dell extended warranty?
Like Dell products, their warranties are expensive. The cost varies by product and coverage you want, but the average person spends $199 to $300 on an extended warranty.
How do you extend your Dell warranty?
If you didn’t buy the Dell extended warranty when you bought the device, you can call Dell at 1-800-425-8044 to see what extended warranty options you have before your manufacturer’s warranty expires. You can also extend your warranty online.
How long does a Dell warranty last?
Each product has different warranty expirations. They range from 90-days to as long as 5 years, depending on the product.
Does the Dell extended warranty cover accidental damage?
Dell does sell coverage that protects accidental damage, but don’t assume your extended warranty covers it. Because they offer tech support and accidental support, you should look at both options. You can talk to a Dell representative to tell him/her what your concerns are so they can help you choose the right policy.
Final Thoughts – Is a Dell Extended Warranty Worth It?
Unless you plan to keep your Dell computer for a very long time, a Dell extended warranty likely isn’t worth it. They can cost a lot of money – sometimes as much as $300 or more, which is a large percentage of what the device may have cost in the first place.
There’s no denying that the support you receive with the Dell extended warranty is far superior to any other extended warranty offered by any other company, but that doesn’t make it worth it.
Unless you know you’ll keep your device for a long time and you understand how the Dell warranty works, it may not be worth the cost.
Thanks for the review,my last Acer PC lasted me 12 years as of this week and I’m expecting the Dell I’m about to purchase at least last 7 years. I won’t be purchasing extended warranty
I agree on extended warranties but I’m so glad I decided (reluctantly) to buy premium support. The nightmare I’m going through with Dell would be so much worse with Basic Support.
My fairly new Aurora R12 died on May 4th and they couldn’t fix it. They took weeks to search all of Dell for a replacement. I finally got a new R13 for a replacement when they finally realized they couldn’t just not replace the R12 and I pointed out they were selling the R13s online while I had no computer.
So from May 4th until June 28th I had no computer – now I’m having trouble getting a refund for the support I was paying during that time. Probably because they are taking many days to confirm the return of the R12.
They screwed up on a previous instance when the hard drive went out by sending the wrong drive twice. Also they assigned two technicians.
In the past I’ve had to chat on the Dell Facebook page to get things moving when support was not replying.
I bought my laptop with 5 years premium support included back in March 2018 and today I am about 7 months from expiration and emailed them asking to purchase a year extension before I retire my device. They declined. All the sudden my support shows an end date of Jan 2023 rather than March 2023 and I raised this to their attention. They tried to tell me that my contract was originally 4 years and that I extended by 1 year but this is not the case, as I pulled out my invoice # and had them take a look to see back in 2018 this is in fact a 5 year contract that was available and was purchased. I am suddenly very concerned that this contract adjustment took place without warning, notification, or authority. I will not be buying a Dell again for this mischievous operation that became apparent. I am supposed to be getting a call back to discuss, but I feel like they are trying to screw me honestly and this could be because the component shortage but is highly unethical of a corporate entity such as Dell. Posting this comment to warn others. The support was handy when it came time to replace the motherboard due to heating problems from a dead fan they replaced very slowly, because I didn’t have to buy it myself. But the experience as FAR from premium. It felt like they wanted to do the LEAST amount of work or repair, and they constantly had me do the same troubleshooting steps despite already doing them, JUST to authorize a dispatch. Very annoying, unprofessional, and unreliable. Just going to switch to Mac and run virtual machine for windows games.
Feedback on Dell Warranty service is helpful. I have had three Dell laptops. Each lasted 5-6 years. I used extended warranty on one previous and decided there is limited value.
— incidents I have found– lost charger cord, battery replacement
Don’t know if warranty covers these issues.