Extended Warranty

Best Buy has a big plan to cut its costs and regain its focus: closing stores, laying off employees, shifting its focus to smartphones and mobile gadgets, and slimming down margins. Only problem is, none of that is going to save it.

It's bad enough that we fork over gobs of money for all kinds of necessities, such as our mortgage payments, groceries, gas, and electricity. But it's a real shame when we fork over dollars needlessly, buying things we don't need -- like many kinds of insurance.

Back in the day when Circuit City ruled the electronics market, I always braced myself for the salesman's strong suggestion to buy an extended warranty on whatever gadget I was buying. Circuit City is long gone, but other retailers -- Best Buy, Staples, etc. -- also offer the sales pitch at the...

Extended warranties of all sorts have always been a dicey proposition, but when it comes to extended auto warranties many don't even appear to be warranties at all. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster took aim at the industry this week by suing six companies that market the so-called warranties...

It's still October and already schedules are filling up with things to do to prepare for Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas, Hanukkah and more. On top of the normal things that need done -- changing your oil, sending out cards, finding time to work out -- you still need to shop for gifts,...