Bentonville, Ark. — Sam’s Club is offering extended-service coverage for a wide array of CE products under a newly expanded pact with SquareTrade.
The program, available in Sam’s Club locations and online, now provides protection and service plans for TVs, smartphones, tablets, media players, computers, printers, cameras, gaming consoles and headphones.
For TVs, the plan offers four years of coverage for $99 on models priced at $500 or more. Coverage includes delivery and setup, haul-away and recycling, and a guaranteed buyback feature that allows customers to trade in their sets within six months to receive up to half the purchase price on a Sam’s Club gift card.
Designed to encourage upgrades, the buyback offer is good for up to 24 months albeit at a decreasing reimbursement rate, and is also available on smartphones, tablets and computers.
Product coverage also includes accidental damage from spills, drops and other mishaps, and 24/7 tech support through third-party call center Alorica.
“We designed this program to make it easy and cost effective for members to buy their phones and electronics at Sam’s Club,” said Dawn von Bechmann, technology senior VP of the Wal-Mart wholesale club chain. “Electronics are an investment, and with our competitive new protection plans our members will save money because they won’t have to make a new purchase if an accident happens.”
“The demands upon the consumer to research, understand and operate technology on a daily basis are greater than ever before,” she continued. “People need an expert in their court, a resource they can turn to help them not only simplify but maximize the potential of technology.”
SquareTrade launched in 1999 as a direct-to-consumer seller of post-purchase CE protection plans, and became a disruptive force within the extended service industry with its low-cost coverage and high customer service ratings. The company, led by president/CEO Steve Abernethy, has since forged direct retail partnerships with Abt Electronics, Amazon.com, B&H Photo, eBay, QVC, Staples and warehouse club competitor Costco.
