When something you bought stops working, the first question is usually the same: is this covered? The answer depends on which of two very different documents applies: the manufacturer warranty that came in the box, or a protection plan you added at checkout. They sound alike. They are not.
What a manufacturer warranty covers
A manufacturer warranty is the maker's promise that the product left the factory without defects. If the battery was faulty from day one, or a component fails under normal use, the manufacturer repairs or replaces it. Most limited warranties run about a year, and they are narrower than people expect.
What a typical manufacturer warranty does not cover:
- Drops, cracks, and impact damage
- Liquid spills and water exposure
- Power surge damage
- Wear from everyday use, like a battery that degrades over time
- Anything that happens after the warranty window closes
In other words: the manufacturer covers the product being built wrong. It does not cover life happening to the product.
What a protection plan covers
A protection plan is a service contract that picks up where the manufacturer stops. Depending on the plan, that means two things at once:
- Enhanced coverage from day one. Accidents like drops and spills are typically covered immediately, while the manufacturer warranty is still active. The two run side by side, handling different kinds of failures.
- Extended coverage after the warranty ends. When the manufacturer's window closes, the plan keeps covering mechanical and electrical failures for the rest of its term, often two or three years in total.
The same accident, two outcomes
Say your eight-month-old laptop slips off the couch and the screen cracks. The manufacturer warranty is still active, but a cracked screen from a drop is not a factory defect, so that claim gets denied. A protection plan treats the same event as exactly what it exists for: accidental damage. That gap, a product that is still "under warranty" but not covered for what actually happened, is the single most common surprise in this category.
How to tell what applies to you
- What failed? A defect points to the manufacturer. An accident points to your protection plan.
- When did you buy it? Inside the manufacturer window, defects go to the maker. After it, your plan carries mechanical and electrical failures too.
- Read the plan terms. Every plan spells out its covered failures, term length, and any limits. The terms and conditions are the source of truth.
Where FlexProtect fits
FlexProtect plans are service contracts backed by AIG, added in one click at checkout on participating stores. Coverage is managed entirely online: see what your plan covers, check your dates, and file a claim in minutes from the customer portal. No paperwork, no phone tree.
Questions about a specific situation? The FAQ covers the details, including claims, cancellations, and plan terms.