In addition to standard warranties on new items, third-parties or manufacturers may sell extended warranties (also called service contracts).

If you have a standard warranty, even for a measly three years, do you need an extended warranty for, say, five more?

"It all goes back to the length of time you plan to own the car versus the time the standard warranty covers," Mr. Griffin said.

By extending the standard warranty, the company put their money where their collective mouths were.

After a month of continuous use, it's rock solid, but one can rest assured with the three-year standard warranty on the X41.

There's a standard three-year, 90,000-mile warranty.

In a measure of their post-gansta status, the wheels are offered with standard warranty and new-car financing.

A Digital spokesman said customers would be advised to purchase a "standard warranty," which adds about 6 percent to 9 percent to equipment costs.

Most obvious question: Is this an authorized retailer who offers a manufacturer's standard warranty?

(Doing so voids its warranty, but if your machine is more than a year old the standard warranty has expired anyway.)