p.1 #1 · Sony Protection Plus or Allstate Drops and Spills Plan?
Buying an A74!
B and H offer Allstate ($156) or Sony ($280) for a 3 year drops and spills plan.
Any idea which is best?
I'm from the UK, spend time in the US, but I travel a lot - and I currently live in Mexico. I know there's an authorized Sony repair centre in Mexico City that is reliable (I've used it before), and I bet there are a few in the UK. The B and H guy on the phone said there's no advantage to either, and both are international. But he also didn't sound especially excited about the conversation!
p.1 #3 · Sony Protection Plus or Allstate Drops and Spills Plan?
Does the B&H Allstate plan cover manufacturer defects too? Your homeowner/renter policy would not cover that. And in fact, if you ever use your gear for business, a typical homeowner/renter policy would not provide any coverage. I have a separate business insurance policy for all my gear, but even that would not cover any manufacturer defects.
I think Sony offers both "protect" and "protect plus" plans, with the former only covering manufacturer defects, and the latter also covering accidental damage protection. For my Sony lenses, I do sometimes buy the "protect" plan, as I have accidental damage already covered by my business insurance, and I am used to Nikon's 5-yr warranty on lenses. I don't think Nikon offers that anymore, but I have used it a couple of times in the past.
It is true that manufacturer defects are rare with these cameras and lenses, and if there is any issue, it would usually show up within the first year and that would already be covered by the original Sony warranty. So many would consider these extended manufacturer warranties as waste of money, but I do still like the additional peace of mind knowing that I have extended coverage by the manufacturer.
