Whether to buy an extended warranty or service plan for a new gadget is a question a lot of us face. Now, with more players in the marketplace, where to buy one may be the more important question. In most cases, protection plans aren’t that great of deal. “You’re going to spend more buying the warranty than you’ll get back [in protection].” If you’re still sold on the idea…there are plenty of options. Manufacturers including Dell and Apple offer them, as do retailers such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart. There are also third-party sellers, notably SquareTrade.com .  Before paying for gadget protection, make sure you aren’t already covered for free. Many credit-card issuers automatically extend manufacturer warranties on purchases made with their card.