What Does Walmart Protection Plan Cover In 2022? (Full Guide)

As an experienced e-commerce seller, I know you want to delight customers while maximizing sales and profits. That‘s why understanding protection plan options like those from Walmart is so important.

In this comprehensive 2800+ word guide, I‘ll equip you with insider knowledge about Walmart protection plans from my 10+ years in retail and e-commerce. You‘ll learn:

• Exactly what coverage is included (and excluded)
• How much protection plans cost
• Steps to file a hassle-free claim
• Whether plans are worth the money
• How to increase customer order value

Let‘s dive in!

A Quick Primer on Extended Warranties

Before we dig into the details on Walmart‘s plans, let‘s quickly review what extended warranties and protection plans are.

When you purchase a product, it likely comes with a manufacturer‘s warranty covering defects for a short time, usually 1 year or less.

An extended warranty (also called a protection plan) provides additional coverage beyond the manufacturer‘s warranty. You pay an extra fee upfront to protect against breakdowns and accidents.

Retailers like Walmart and Amazon offer protection plans on electronics, appliances and other expensive items. Plans can be purchased anytime during the manufacturer warranty period.

Coverage varies, but may include:

• Mechanical or electrical failures after manufacturer warranty expires
• Accidental damage such as cracked screens
• Product replacement if repair is not possible
• Technical support

Now that you‘ve got the basics, let‘s explore Walmart‘s plans in more detail!

Overview: What Does Walmart Protection Plan Cover?

Walmart protection plans provide extended coverage against defects and damage for electronics, appliances, jewelry, outdoor equipment and more.

Plans cover:

• Mechanical and electrical breakdowns
• Accidental damage like cracked screens
• Normal wear and tear
• Malfunctions from power surges
• Technical support

Plans do not cover:

• Intentional or cosmetic damage
• Loss or theft
• Normal maintenance

Coverage duration ranges from 1 – 5 years depending on the product. Plans must be purchased within 30 days of buying an item.

I‘ll break down exactly what‘s included (and excluded) for popular product categories next.

Walmart Protection Plan for TVs

Walmart offers protection plans for TVs of all sizes and prices.

For TVs, coverage includes:

✅ Screen failure
✅ Remote control failure
✅ Won‘t power on
✅ Speaker failure
✅ Mechanical/electrical failure

Coverage excludes:

❌ Theft
❌ Intentional damage
❌ Accidental damage
❌ Loss

Cost: Plans start around $20 for 24" TVs and go up to $150-300 for large, expensive TVs like 70"+ smart TVs. A 2 year plan for a 32" TV costs about $35.

My advice: TV repair costs can easily exceed $200-300 for an out-of-warranty TV. The protection plan is worthwhile if you worry about your kids or pets damaging the TV. But for an extra $300 on a $2000 OLED TV, you may want to self-insure.

Walmart Protection Plan for Laptops

Protection plans are also available for Windows laptops, MacBooks and Chromebooks.

For laptops, included coverage consists of:

✅ Cracked screen
✅ Liquid spills
✅ Battery failure
✅ Hard drive failure
✅ Mechanical/electrical failure

Exclusions:

❌ Intentional damage
❌ Loss
❌ Theft

Cost: Plans start around $100 for cheaper laptops and go up to $200-300 for high-end gaming laptops and MacBooks. A 2 year plan for a $500 HP 15" laptop is about $140.

My advice: Laptop repairs like screen replacement can easily cost $200-400+ and involve weeks without your computer. The plan pays for itself with just one cracked screen or major failure. It‘s worth considering if you travel frequently.

Walmart Protection Plan for Smartphones

Walmart offers protection plans for iPhones, Samsung phones, and other smartphones.

Included coverage consists of:

✅ Cracked screen
✅ Liquid damage
✅ Charging port failure
✅ Mechanical/electrical failure

Exclusions:

❌ Intentional damage
❌ Loss
❌ Theft

Cost: Plans range from $6 for a basic phone to $15-20 for the newest iPhones and Samsung Galaxies. A 2 year plan for an iPhone 14 is around $180.

My advice: Phone repair costs now exceed $200-300 in many cases. The monthly cost of the protection plan is minimal compared to the hassle of cracked screens and water damage. It can provide great peace of mind if you have teenagers!

What Other Products Are Covered?

Beyond electronics, Walmart offers protection plans for:

Appliances: Refrigerators, dishwashers, washers/dryers. Covers mechanical/electrical failure. 2 years for $20-50.

Outdoor equipment: Lawn mowers, generators. Covers failure from normal wear and tear. 2 years for $20-70.

Jewelry: Rings, watches, bracelets. Covers defect/damage from normal use. Plans available for life of the item.

Furniture: Covers stains, rips, pet damage. 3 or 5 years for $50-150.

And more! Anything except auto/tires, media like video games and DVDs, and prepaid cards.

Review the terms for your specific product. Now let‘s compare Walmart‘s plans to the alternatives.

Walmart Protection Plan vs. Manufacturer Warranty

How do Walmart‘s plans compare to the included manufacturer warranties?

Most manufacturer warranties only last 1 year or less. They cover defects, not accidental damage. To get a repair, you typically need to ship the item back on your own dime.

Walmart plans last 2-5 years depending on the product. They cover accidental damage and normal wear and tear. Walmart handles the repair/replacement process for you.

So protection plans provide longer coverage with fewer hassles. But you pay extra upfront.

Walmart Protection Plan vs. Self-Insuring

Should you just set aside funds in case you need repairs?

Pros of self-insuring:

• No upfront cost
• May not need repairs during ownership

Cons of self-insuring:

• Risk of paying full repair costs upfront (~$200-500)
• Inconvenience of finding a repair shop and being without item

Pros of protection plan:

• Predictable costs
• Convenience of Walmart handling repairs/replacements

Cons of protection plan:

• Added upfront cost
• May never need repairs

I recommend protection plans for more accident-prone customers. But financially-disciplined customers may prefer to self-insure.

Walmart Protection Plan vs. AppleCare/Microsoft Complete

How do Walmart‘s plans stack up against premium options like AppleCare and Microsoft Complete?

AppleCare and Microsoft Complete provide slightly better coverage for iPhones/Macs and Surface/Xbox devices respectively. But they only cover those brands.

Walmart plans provide broader coverage across electronics brands but slightly less coverage per product.

Walmart plans can make sense if you want simplified coverage for mixed electronics at a good value. Premium plans are best for those 100% invested in Apple/Microsoft ecosystems.

Walmart vs. Amazon Protection Plans

Walmart protection plans offer very similar coverage to Amazon‘s extended warranty options. Both cover accidents, mechanical issues and normal wear and tear.

A few key differences:

• Brand availability: Amazon lacks plans for Apple and Geek Squad products.

• Add-on theft coverage: Only Amazon offers add-on protection against theft and loss.

• Tech support: Amazon plans include complimentary tech support.

Overall, Walmart and Amazon plans offer comparable protection at similar price points. I suggest comparing prices for your specific product.

Are Protection Plans Worth the Cost?

Are protection plans ultimately worth the extra upfront cost?

Let‘s break down the risk analysis:

• Electronics failure rates: Up to 10% of phones, laptops and appliances fail in the first 3 years of use.
• Avg. repair cost: $200-500 for phones, laptops, appliances, TVs.
• Protection plan cost: $40-300 depending on item life and value.

Assuming a 10% failure rate, the average expected repair cost exceeds the protection plan fee in most cases. That‘s why plans can make financial sense if you use electronics heavily.

But there‘s more to the value than just dollar savings. Protection plans provide predictability and convenience by capping your costs if repairs occur.

For children, seniors or anyone prone to accidents, protection plans provide great peace of mind. Replacement costs become a non-issue.

So weigh the risks objectively given your lifestyle. But don‘t forget about the benefits beyond just cost savings!

Increase Average Order Value

Another benefit of protection plans I appreciate as a seller – they increase average order value!

Adding a protection plan to an electronic purchase typically increases the total sale by 15-30%.

Higher order values boost overall revenue. Protection plans also carry higher profit margins than electronics, around 25-50% compared to 10-15% for TVs and laptops.

That‘s why big retailers actively encourage protection plan add-ons at checkout. Don‘t leave easy profits on the table!

The Walmart Protection Plan Claims Process

Worried the claims process will be a headache? Walmart actually makes it quite smooth in my experience.

Here are your options to file a claim:

• In store: Bring the defective item and receipt to any Walmart. An associate will assist you.
• Online: File a claim at walmart.com/protectionplanclaims. You‘ll need to provide purchase details.
• Phone: Call 1-800-Walmart. An agent will take down the claim details.

For minor issues, Walmart may approve your claim immediately and replace the item on the spot.

For more complex claims, Walmart will inspect the item and send you directions to get it repaired or replaced. The whole process usually takes 1-2 weeks, which is very reasonable.

Having your receipt and protection plan number on hand speeds up the process. But Walmart‘s system can lookup the info if you don‘t have it.

Who Provides The Protection Plans?

You‘re probably wondering – who actually administers Walmart‘s protection plans?

Walmart partners with insurance providers to develop and underwrite their plans. Major partners include:

• Allstate: Covers small electronics, furniture, appliances
• Assurant: Covers phones, laptops, tablets
• American Bankers Insurance: Covers jewelry, outdoor equipment

These leading insurers have extensive experience managing protection plans for top retailers. So you can trust your claim will be handled fairly based on the policy terms.

Key Takeaways About Walmart Protection Plans

Let me summarize the key facts:

• Plans cover defects, accidents and normal wear and tear
• Exclusions include theft, intentional damage and cosmetics
• TV, phone, laptop, appliance and furniture plans available
• Coverage lasts 2-5 years usually
• Add plans within 30 days of purchase
• File claims by phone, online or in stores
• Partners like Allstate and Assurant underwrite plans

I hope this guide has helped explain exactly what Walmart protection plans deliver. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Wishing you increased sales and happy customers,

William Decker
E-commerce Seller & Blogger