SquareTrade is an extended warranty

Extended warranty

An extended warranty, sometimes called a service agreement, a service contract, or a maintenance agreement, is a prolonged warranty offered to consumers. The extended warranty may be offered by the warranty administrator, the retailer or the manufacturer. Extended warranties cost extra and for a...

 service provider for consumer electronics and appliances headquartered in San Francisco’s financial district.

The company started off as an online dispute resolution service in 1999. In 2004, SquareTrade moved into the consumer electronic warranty segment.

The company’s underwriter is AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a multinational property and casualty insurance company. The company operates in three segments: Small Commercial Business Insurance, Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty, and Specialty Middle-Market Property and Casualty...

Origins and History

Founded in 1999 by Steve Abernethy, Ahmed Khaishgi, and Lalitha Vaidyanathan, SquareTrade began as the first online dispute resolution

Online Dispute Resolution

Online dispute resolution is a branch of dispute resolution which uses technology to facilitate the resolution of disputes between parties. It primarily involves negotiation, mediation or arbitration, or a combination of all three. In this respect it is often seen as being the online equivalent...

 service to resolve e-commerce disputes. In February 2000, SquareTrade launched its service in partnership with eBay

EBay

eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...

 and other online marketplaces providing a neutral dispute resolution service that was accessible for both buyers and sellers. It automated the dispute resolution process through an online direct negotiation tool.

In 2000, SquareTrade also launched a merchant verification service, the SquareTrade Seal, for online sellers to display their credibility to potential buyers.

In April 2000, SquareTrade received nine million dollars in second round venture funding led by Weston Presidio Capital and Chase Capital Partners  SquareTrade later discontinued its dispute resolution services in early 2008.

Products and Services

In 2004, SquareTrade began providing a direct to consumer warranty for electronics, appliances, computers, and other devices. The warranties are considered an alternative to instore retail warranties. The company does not include loss and theft as part of their coverage. SquareTrade is also the primary warranty provider for Amazon

Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...

, Crutchfield

Crutchfield

Crutchfield Corporation is a consumer electronics company specializing in many consumer electronics items, including mobile audio and video equipment for the automobile and televisions, speakers, and other electronics for the home....

, eCost, Buy.com

Buy.com

Buy.com, Incorporated is an online retailer based in Aliso Viejo, California.Buy.com began by selling computers and electronics in 1997 and has since expanded into many other categories...

, Woot

WOOT

Woot usually refers to the slang term, w00t. Woot may also refer to:* Woot, an e-commerce retailer that offers one deal a day to its consumers* WOOT-LP, a defunct television station in Chambersburg, Tennessee...

, Vanns, Abt

Abt

-Abt:*Abt, a German, Dutch and Estonian word for the regular clerical title of Abbot, as well as a common surname, derived from that title**Alexander Abt -Abt:*Abt, a German, Dutch and Estonian word for the regular clerical title of Abbot, as well as a common surname, derived from that...

Awards and Recognition

SquareTrade was named a Technology Pioneer in 2001 and 2002 by the World Economic Forum.

CPR Institute of Dispute Resolution’s 2002 Outstanding Practical Achievement Award

SquareTrade named one of the top 100 Web sites of 2010 by PCMAG

SquareTrade was a finalist in 2010 American Business Awards(SM)