NEW Online Resources for Shoppers

N.E.W. Customer Service Companies Inc. ( NEW) has launched a series of new online information resources for consumers seeking shopping tips and troubleshooting advice on popular consumer electronics and other items.

This week, the company launched Savvy Shopper ( http://www.thesavvyshopperblog.com), a consumer-focused advice blog, and a new corporate website ( http://www.newcorp.com) that features a consumer section loaded with helpful information about service contracts, manufacturer warranties, shopping advice and more.

“We understand that consumers want to save money, need information fast, and don’t want their daily routines interrupted,” said Jamie Breneman, NEW marketing director and Savvy Shopper blog contributor. “And after 26 years of working with the world’s leading retailers to help millions of their customers with product repair, replacement, and product support, we have some valuable insight to share with consumers, and these tools will help us directly educate them in new ways.”

Through the Savvy Shopper blog, Breneman, joined by Bill Maddox, NEW’s vice president of service management, and other subject-matter experts at NEW, will share information and advice for readers on many topics. Subjects will include holiday shopping tips, retail and industry trends, and product care and troubleshooting for items about which NEW’s customer-care team receives the most calls.

“Our goal,” said Maddox, “is to help blog readers gain knowledge about ways to prolong the life, use and enjoyment of their favorite and most relied-upon products, while also getting some tips that will help them ask the right questions when buying items in the future.”

The consumer section of NEW’s website includes tips and useful information about service contracts, addresses frequently asked questions and provides links to consumer news. Visitors will learn the differences between manufacturer warranties and extended service contracts, as well as learn the truth about common extended service contract myths.

Earlier this fall, the company established several Facebook fan pages to enhance communications with consumers, employees, the industry and the general public, along with corresponding Twitter accounts. In addition to providing educational information about the evolution of extended service contracts, the tools will provide online readers and buyers with helpful shopping tips and troubleshooting advice for the most popular consumer products, including electronics, appliances and sporting goods.

NEW’s corporate Facebook page offers updates about the company’s innovations, achievements and partnerships with retailers and manufacturers. An NEW careers Facebook page was created to support recruiting efforts and inform the public about job fairs, call center openings and NEW’s Work-at-Home program, as well as its community involvement and corporate culture. The Facebook fan page dedicated to Eco NEW , NEW’s online electronics recycling and trade-in program, offers information about green trends affecting consumer electronics and updates about the program’s growth. Each of these groups has a Twitter account that can be followed @ NEWCorpTweets , @ NEWCorpCareers and @eco NEW .

About N.E.W. Customer Service Companies Inc. ( NEW)

NEW is the leading provider of extended service contracts, buyer protection services and product support, providing coverage to more than 150 million consumers. Founded in 1983, NEW offers retailers and manufacturers innovative, customizable solutions for the delivery of customer service and support throughout the consumer ownership experience. NEW’s services provide revenue opportunities while building customer loyalty at every touch point — from purchase through trade-in to next purchase. Based in Sterling, Va., NEW operates 10 U.S.-based call centers and 11 work-at-home locations supported by a team of more than 5,800 employees. For more information, please visit NEW at www.newcorp.com or call 1-800 WHAT’S NEW (1-800-942-8763).