STERLING, Va. - (Business Wire) This holiday season consumers will be looking for more green — ways to make their dollars go further while also reducing their impact on the environment. According to the product service experts at N.E.W. Customer Service Companies Inc. (NEW), a little planning ahead this holiday season can help shoppers accomplish both. Saving on repairs
Today, many consumers are thinking about keeping their electronic items longer. And over time, it’s possible that one of these products will fail. Extended service contracts can be a key part of a holiday “savings” plan, allowing consumers to save on future unexpected repair costs. Beyond simply extending the original warranty, good service contracts offer free troubleshooting and interactive consumer portals. They also offer protection against normal wear and tear; environmental factors such as heat, dust and humidity; and in some cases, accidental damage.
“It is important, now more than ever, to invest a few dollars in service contracts for major or frequently used purchases such as toys, consumer electronics, appliances, jewelry and fitness equipment to avoid unexpected repair or replacement costs,” said Rob DiRocco, NEW vice president of sales and marketing. “Many consumers find great value in these plans and view them as a great way to enjoy products longer.”
Consumers who invest in service contracts for their electronics will also benefit from having access to parts and repair services that are not readily available to the general public. By increasing the chances of successful repairs, service contracts can help prolong the lives of the products, which mean fewer e-items going into landfills.
Saving on replacements
Consumers should also consider recycling and trade-in programs that offer rewards.
NEW offers ecoNEW, a convenient online electronics recycling program at www.econewdirect.com, which helps consumers dispose of their old or unwanted electronics in an eco-friendly manner. In addition to being a way to reduce the amount of e-waste in landfills, ecoNEW also rewards consumers with cash back for their items in the form of rewards gift cards. Consumers can earn from $5 to more than $100 depending on the make and condition of the product being traded in, and they can put that money toward a new purchase.
“We see how consumer shopping trends are changing and we want to provide extended support to improve the consumer ownership experience,” said DiRocco. “And through ecoNEW we are offering them a solution that is good for holiday wallets and the earth.”
Products traded in under ecoNEW are often refurbished and sold as such, or functioning parts are extracted and put back into the parts channel. If the item or part cannot be salvaged, it is dismantled, broken down into raw elements and disposed of in an environmentally safe manner. EcoNEW partners with certified vendors to manage recycling and disposal operations around the country and has a no-landfill, no-export guarantee.
About N.E.W. Customer Service Companies Inc. (NEW)
NEW is the leading provider of extended service contracts, buyer protection services and product support, providing coverage to more than 150 million consumers. Founded in 1983, NEW offers retailers and manufacturers innovative, customizable solutions for the delivery of customer service and support throughout the product-ownership experience. NEW's services provide revenue opportunities while building customer loyalty at every touch point - from purchase through trade-in to next purchase. Based in Sterling, Va., NEW operates 10 U.S.-based call centers and 12 work-at-home locations supported by a team of more than 5,800 employees. For more information, please visit NEW at www.newcorp.com.
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