A recent poll by the Consumer Electronics Association found people plan to spend an average of about $222 each on gadgets this holiday, an 8% increase over last year.  It seems computers and video games are the most desired gifts this year, after clothing and designer apparel that appears equally coveted by both teens and adults.

Consumers buying electronics are sometimes taken by surprise at the cash register when the attendant asks if they would like to purchase an  extended warranty?  Some will always answer “No” out of principle, while others are torn by the sudden need to make a snap decision.  Memories of electronic junk flood to mind – I personally have seen what appear to be brand new TVs and stereos and DVD players lying in snow banks;  for many folks, when electronic junk breaks after the warranty expires, there is no other option but to throw the crap out on the street.

So is it a good idea to buy an extended warranty?

Here are some things to consider this season when it comes to extended warranties on consumer electronics like laptops, TVs, cameras, MP3 players, and more.

It depends on what you buy, what the standard warranty covers, and the cost of the service. But for most people, and most brands, it’s actually not a good idea to buy an extended warranty.

There are several things to consider: The standard warranty that comes with electronics covers parts for one year and labor for 90 days.  The extended warranties offered by retailers can cover parts and service for up to two years after the standard warranty expires – but this is basically pure profit for the retailers.  The extended warranty usually makes no sense for most customers, for several reasons.

First, the majority of gadgets won’t ever need to be repaired, knock on wood. But we can never know for certain, as device makers are not required to share statistics about how often their gadgets break.   Consumer Reports has done studies and found that 3- to 4-year-old gadgets don’t need repair all that often. Laptops need service about 43 percent of the time after 3 or 4 years, desktops 31 percent, while camcorders and digital cameras very rarely, about 13 percent and 10 percent of the time, respectively. Three to four years is also a really long time when it comes to technology now. And as the cost of laptops and desktops, for example, continue to decline, sometimes the cost of replacing the device isn’t that much more than getting it repaired.

Second, the price of the warranty may be as high or higher than the device itself. Obvious example: If you’re asked to buy a $30 warranty on a $50 calculator–you should probably just take your chances.

Sometimes the repair costs equal the cost of the extended warranty. If you need to repair the hard drive on your $1,000 laptop, for instance, paying $150 or $200 out of pocket one time makes more sense than paying the $280 Best Buy is currently asking for its Geek Squad Black Tie Service.

Last, if you buy an item on a credit card, find out if the credit card company offers any additional warranty protection, which is fairly common. In some cases they’ll double the standard warranty period at no extra cost to you.