Don't buy an extended warranty

A total waste of time paying through the nose for an 'extended warranty' on computers. Just a means for retailers to line their pockets with this ruling.

Dell should have picked up the bill for repairs to a computer that broke down after five years

So implies the Disputes Tribunal under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

five years was a reasonable time to expect a computer to last.

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act, consumer goods are required to last for a "reasonable period", regardless of warranties.

Most computers are sold with a 1 year back to base warranty. The tribunal suggests a fair use period for a machine such as a computer is 5 years.

Consumer NZ adviser Paul Doocey agrees the ruling does not set a legal precedent but says suppliers need to do better at carrying out their obligations under the act.

Others suggest it is not a legal ruling. I would think now the precedent has been set, it will become so. 5 years seems reasonable for such electronic devices.

Hence my recommendation is two fingers to extended warranties.