Flip wouldn’t fix my pocket camcorder, so AmEx reimbursed me
When my colleague, Matt, found a crack in the screen of his two-week-old Flip HD pocket camcorder, he was frustrated. When Flip told him the damage wasn't covered under warranty and that the camcorder couldn't be fixed, he was plain angry.
"I can understand that it's not covered in the warranty," Matt wrote to customer service, "but to make a product that costs $199 that can't even be repaired by a skilled Flip technician for a cost, after two weeks of operation, is at best irresponsible to your customers…especially in this economy."
Out $200, Matt called American Express, the card he had used to make the purchase. To his surprise and his wallet's delight, AmEx's Purchase Protection program covered the Flip's damage and reimbursed him the cost.
As we've reported, using your credit card (responsibly) can afford you perks like warranty extensions and purchase protections. Some cards will also reimburse the difference if a product's price drops and may even give you a refund for a product you can't return to the retailer. Be sure to check the details of your own card for any post-purchase time limits.
To learn more about the benefits of using a credit card, see "Perks that come with credit cards."
—Nick K. Mandle