SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SquareTrade, the #1 rated warranty provider by consumers, today announced its selection as a Finalist in the e-Commerce Customer Service category in the 2010 Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service.

The awards are presented by the Stevie® Awards, which organizes several of the world's leading business award shows including the prestigious American Business Awards.

"We are honored that this esteemed organization has chosen to recognize our dedication to creating a consumer-friendly extended warranty service," said Steve Abernethy, President and CEO of SquareTrade. "I want to congratulate our amazing customer service team for expertly delivering a level of service that has made us the only warranty company to receive overwhelmingly positive ratings from customers."

More than 800 entries from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted to this year's Stevie Awards. There are 25 customer service categories, including Contact Center of the Year, Award for Innovation in Customer Service, and Customer Service Department of the Year. SquareTrade is a Finalist in the e-Commerce Customer Service Category, competing against ChannelAdvisor, CustomInk.com, Fat Brain Toys, SurePayroll and Volusion, Inc.

Stevie Award Finalists were chosen by business professionals worldwide. Winners will be announced on Monday, February 21 during a banquet to be held at the Eden Roc Renaissance Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.

"SquareTrade's warranty service was designed to delight customers, from our low prices and pressure-free online buying, to our online claims management and 5-day service guarantee," Abernethy continues. "Being nominated for customer service excellence affirms that we are indeed changing the way consumers think about warranties."

Details about the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service and the complete list of Finalists are available at www.stevieawards.com/sales.

About SquareTrade

Founded in 1999, SquareTrade makes warranties that make sense, offering fair prices, no-pressure sales, and no-hassle 5-day service. It offers consumers an alternative to overpriced and under-serviced warranties sold elsewhere. Thousands of 5-star consumer reviews reflect SquareTrade's superior warranty experience. SquareTrade is the largest independent warranty provider in the world for consumer electronics and appliances and maintains a price point that is up to 70% less than other warranties. Privately held, SquareTrade is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, go to www.squaretrade.com.

About The Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.  Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.

Sponsors of the 5th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service include American Support, Infogroup, the Sales Management Association, and ValueSelling Associates.

SOURCE SquareTrade