Halloween may be the spookiest time of year for little ghosts and goblins, but the holidays are a truly terrifying time for consumer electronics and appliances according to Asurion, which today launched its’ inaugural “Protection Month” to help consumers avoid frightful holiday budget surprises.
“While we’re checking Black Friday ads and building gift lists, many devices that keep our modern lifestyles up and running could be on the verge of giving up the ghost. Customers report more issues with laptops, cameras, video game systems and televisions in November than any other month,” said Bettie Colombo, spokesperson for Asurion. “Entertaining extra guests from Thanksgiving through New Year’s also seem to take their toll. Dishwasher, range, washer and dryer claims climb in January. Repairing or replacing these big-ticket items can be real budget busters.”
According to Asurion data, more laptops, digital cameras, video game systems and TV’s experience issues in November than any other month.*
- Cameras: 48% increase
- Notebook PC’s: 35% increase
- TV’s: 25% increase
- Video Gaming Systems: 51% increase
Consumer electronics are not the only holiday season casualties. Asurion data shows that appliance issues spike in January:*
- Ranges: 26% increase
- Dishwashers: 20% increase
- Dryers: 16% increase
- Washing Machines: 18% increase
During “Protection Month,” consumers will learn ways to prevent these unexpected expenses. Over the coming weeks, Asurion will launch free resources to help shoppers make informed decisions about purchasing product coverage. Each week, Asurion will blog about hints and tips on how to keep products in working order, like this week’s post on protecting your favorite kitchen gadgets. The company will also roll out tools that dispel myths about modern product protection, calculate potential long-term savings and even predict how treasured gadgets will meet their untimely demise.
Find out more on the Asurion blog, Facebook and Twitter.
*Asurion 2013 Claim Data