You walked into the store, checked the price and maybe got a few dollars off. That was it. Whatever you bought came with a warranty. No big deal. You just hoped the thing would last longer than the warranty, and it usually did.
Times are different now.
That TV and appliance store down the street is up against a tough economy. Profit margins on TVs and VCRs and all the other items are getting slimmer. And so to keep the money rolling in, many electronics stores have turned to a trick of the automobile trade. They're hawking extra-cost warranties with every sale. Never mind those most electronic items come with adequate warranties these days.