So many everyday purchases now come with a maintenance agreement option. Long available on motor vehicles and major appliances like clothes washers and refrigerators, they are now offered on computers, phones and many other electronic devices. Hearing the familiar refrain “would you like a maintenance agreement or extended warranty?” at the check-out counter has become too familiar and not always welcome. Sometimes, the item might be so unlikely to fail, or the extra protection might cost so much, that it just seems like one more scam.
