New Survey Finds Tablets, E-readers are Gaining Popularity

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Aug. 4. 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Half of Americans now have a tablet computer or e-reader, with college students a significant part of this growing trend, according to a survey earlier this year by Pew Research Center. These students can't afford to be without their electronic devices, and through coverage provided by service contracts, they can protect their pricey electronics from the drops, spills and other mishaps that campus life routinely throws their way.

As another academic year approaches, more students are ditching notebooks and pens for portable electronic devices like tablets and laptops. Forty-eight percent of all people ages 18 to 29 own a tablet, and that doesn't even count their laptops.

"Many college students are already strapped for cash, so the loss of an expensive yet essential electronic device can be particularly upsetting for them," said Tim Meenan, executive director of the Service Contract Industry Council. "Service contracts can help them protect themselves financially – before a mishap blows a hole in their already tight budget."

With so many portable electronics in use throughout the day, accidents are bound to happen, whether it's a single drop to the ground or a drop of rain from above. Service contracts can give consumers peace of mind by providing cost-saving coverage that makes it easy to repair or replace damaged electronics. In addition to helping consumers save money, service contracts save time and eliminate the hassle of having to search for repair services. For a fraction of the cost of full replacement, service contracts for tablets may cover:

• Drops
• Spills
• Mechanical/electrical failures from normal use
• Screen or touchscreen failure
• Antenna, Wi-Fi or charging port failure
• Battery failure

Consumers who have questions about service contracts for electronics can visit http://go-scic.com/consumer.

The Service Contract Industry Council is a national trade association whose member companies collectively offer about 80 percent of the service contracts sold in the U.S. for home, auto and consumer goods. The SCIC educates consumers about service contracts, encourages its members to pursue high standards of customer satisfaction, and develops and promotes model legislation to regulate the industry with standards designed to protect the consumer and the industry.

SOURCE Service Contract Industry Council