Do I need an extended warranty on my camcorder?

Do I need an extended warranty on my camcorder?

Tim Smith (Camcorder Training Specialist) gives expert video advice on: How do I decide which camcorder to buy?; What factors should I consider when comparing one camcorder to another?; What camcorder features are unnecessary? and more...

Pretty much all retailers are going to offer you an extended warranty on your camera. Look for the manufacturer's warranty. Is it 90 days? Is it one year? Does it cover all parts? Does it cover all labor? Then make an informed decision. What are they charging for the extended warranty? Would it be worth it? The less expensive cameras these days are almost not worth fixing anymore. By the time that they are fixed, if you're looking at a camera in a 200 to 250 dollar price range, most repairs are going to come close to that. So, in that case, an extended warranty may well be worth it, because who wants to spend 300 dollars to fix a 250-dollar camera? But, it's really a matter of: How much is the camera worth? How much is the warranty worth? The thing is, you're buying insurance, so it's up to you, it's up to the manufacturer, it's up to the retailer that's selling you to give you a great value. An extended warranty might be worth it, but it might not.