Dear Lifehacker,
It seems like every time I go and buy something these days, the salesman asks me three times whether I’d like to buy an extended warranty. I always thought they were a ripoff, but I’ve had a few friends that say they were a godsend when their particular gadget broke down. Which is it? Should I be buying these warranties?

Sincerely,
Worrying About Warranties

Dear Worrying,

This is a pretty hotly contested topic, and while you’ll hear different things from different people, most of us here at Lifehacker aren’t big on extended warranties. There are, however, a few exceptions, so it’s worth doing a bit of research beforehand to know what you’re up against. [read]

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