EXTENDED WARRANTY

[Guest]

What is the overall opinion on Melco's extended warranty plan? Is it worth it? What is everyone doing that doesn't have this plan? Just wondering.

[levelbest]

Planning for breakdowns are a good thing. I think the warranty is about $150 a month (or is it a hundred)? Personally, I'd set aside the money as a cost of doing business into a seperate account and collect the interest. If nothing goes wrong, you still have the money but if something does, it's set aside in your "emergency fund".

The big thing is if the main board goes in your machine - that could be big bucks. Anyone know he current cost?

It's a gamble. Self insure or pay to insure. Remember, the insurance companies always win out over time - otherwise they wouldn't be in business.

[signman]

It was just revised for price-came down a little.
BUT what you DO get is a yearly 'checkup' with a real tech-in person, and a full set of maintenance supplies, oil, new bobbin, etc.-so it's well worth it.
Do a 'search' here in the archives and you will find all kinds of reports on it-this comes up about twice a year.

[Rod or Sharon]

Not all the warranties include the annual checkup. If you are considering an extended warranty, you are better off to check with Melco. Last we knew, there were different prices for different coverages. Go to Melco to be sure.
Sharon

[signman]

When our extended warranty came up for renewal a couple months ago, Melco called/faxed us the 'new' warranty-which included the yearly checkup (never got it in the warranty before) and they dropped the price. There are different warranties but they go by the model machine-for the Amaya the options were Premium Care Plan ($200 deductible) or Premium Plus ($100 deductible) we signed up for the Premium Plus for 36 months and it's only $91 a month. We did the math and figuring the cost to get a tech here, we saved money with the PP plan.

[Rod or Sharon]

Roland, I think the 36-month warranties will allow a tech to come initially for the renewal---but not annually. Could be wrong, but one of our clients also did the same and she got the one "check-up" by us before they would activate her warranty. There is not an annual tech visit included.
Sharon

[signman]

You are right...only 1 'free' visit (to activate the warranty) after that-you (we) pay to have him come up unless something is broken and covered by the warranty.
Our tech is only an hour away so he's told us it won't break the bank to have him come up once a year anyways. The 'old' warranty he came up each year as the warranty extended.
It's a good idea to pamper your tech...buy them a meal, wash their car, rotate the tires,....LOL...to get a discount on the visits you have to pay for.

[GameDayDesigns]

I am curious about something. When I bought my machine in January of 2008 I was told that I would get a free tech visit after a year to check things out. I have never seen a tech and have no idea how close one is to Oklahoma. Any info you techs could provide on how this usually works is greatly appreciated.

[Rod or Sharon]

April,
Techs are kept in the dark about such things. These are agreements made between Melco or Melco Sales Reps and the customer. Techs will one day get an email and text message from Melco telling us we have been dispatched to a certain location for a particular problem. That is the first we know about a dispatch.
Sharon

[KGM]

I was just checking on the 'new warranty' - the price is down BUT you no longer get the PMI but rather a PCI which I was told basically a tech comes and rather than maintenancing your whole machine does a test sew out to make certain that it is in good condition with no problems. If it passes the sew out then I guess you are good to go.

I recently had a problem and had to have tech come and total cost was $200/travel time which of course will vary depending on how far you are away.

I am very disappointed in this 'new' warranty and will have to read it carefully before I decide what to do. I think having the tech come and maintenance your machine and give it a really good check up on settings and so forth, worn parts and so on was worth the $1200/yr I paid but now I'm not sure even at a lesser price if it wouldn't be wiser to set money back and draw interest as someone else said they do.

Also I asked then if I did WANT the whole maintenance thing could I just pay the tech that extra to have him do it. They said no - not an amaya contracted tech.

I haven't seen the written contract so I am not positive about all of this but that is what wty dept girl told me at Melco office (hopefully I did understand her correctly).

[Rod or Sharon]

Jill,

Third Party Techs are not Melco employees. We are trained by Melco, have to sign contracts with them, carry additional insurances they require, have to purchase and annually have our equipment, gauges, etc. checked by Melco and be tested by them. We have our own customers aside from dispatches. Ones we have trained or have done tech work for in the past continue to use us after their warranties are out and they don't renew.

If a customer wants to pay for additional work to be done on their machine, I know of no reason they cannot bill you separately. It is no money out of Melco's pocket. It is between you and the tech.

Sharon

[signman]

Our tech says the same thing as Sharon-Melco only pays him for warranty service work-we can pay him to come and RUN the machine if we could afford his hourly rate...LOL...but there is nothing that says we can't pay him to come up and do a total checkup on our own dime.

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

You said it Roland,
We techs are for hire. It is how we feed our families. No work is beneath doing for an honest days pay. However I am a little concerned about the "feeding your tech". I was being polite to this one customer and I wound up eating a rather nasty tasting sandwich. The rest of the family was also at the table and they seemed to be enjoying their's. Go figure?

Also remember that the amount we technicians/trainers charge are not only for the time servicing the machine but also for the travel spent driving to and from the customer's location. I have left many a customer's homes late at night where the customer went straight to bed but I had to drive several hours to get home myself (without falling asleep I might add).
I'm not complaining, just reminding what the final bill covers.
And might I also add,...
A sincere "Thank You" to all of my customers who have allowed me the opportunity to be a part of their business.
I can't speak on behalf of all the other techs but what I offer my customers after their first private service call is phone tech support - even at night and on the weekends (when available). ...As some of you here on the Amaya list can attest to.
In short, get to know your nearest tech as they want to get to know you too.

Ed Orantes
Melco Tech & Trainer

[Steve]

April,
Email [email protected] and they can tell you who the nearest tech is. Make sure you include your customer number in the email as well as your machine serial number.

[Impressions Embroidered Apparel]

Wow is everyone spending over $1,200 a year on repairs per machine? Oh and there is a $100 deduductable on the plan also, so $1,300 a year I guess. If I had to spend $1,300 a year per machine to keep them running I think I might buy something else.