Camera Consumer Alert

The holiday season is upon us, but a Bronx family is still dealing with a troublesome Christmas gift from last year.

Kenny Rivera bought a digital camera for his daughter, but when it began malfunctioning, he says Radio Shack began giving him the run-around.

Watch the Help Me Howard report.

There is no ONE rule when it comes to buying extended warranties. Some experts say they just make money for the retailer, while others say they're worth it for high-end items like computers and large appliances.

Here are some pros and cons of extended warranties:

1. Always, always save your paperwork and warranty information.

2. Use a credit card. it provides wider protection than any other form of payment. Some cards even extend the product warranty.

3. Read the fine print carefully to find out who exactly is responsible for the repairs?
Is it the manufacturer? The retailer? Or a third party, which can get expensive if you have to pay for the shipping.

4. Compare the cost of repair and the price of a new product, sometimes its more cost effective to replace the item.

5. According to Consumer Reports, most electronic products usually outlive an extended warranty, but if there is a glitch, the cost of repair or replacement isn't likely to be much more then the cost of the extended coverage.