Sprint to Launch Total Equipment Protection Plan for iPhone on January 25

[MacRumors]

Engadget reports that Sprint will finally begin offering its Total Equipment Protection (TEP) plan for the iPhone beginning January 25. The TEP plan offers coverage not only for device failures that occur outside of Apple's standard warranty but also loss, theft, and damage.

The TEP plan consists of two parts, an $11 monthly fee for the service and then a significant $150-$200 deductible for cases where the phone requires replacement due to loss, theft, or physical damage. Consumers have 30 days from the date of purchase of their device in which to enroll in the program.

AT&T offers a similar program, although it costs $6.99 per month with a $199 deductible for all iPhone, iPad, and iPad mini models. Verizon's Total Equipment Coverage carries a special higher rate for iPhone compared to other devices, with the monthly fee set at $9.99 and deductibles ranging from $169-$199 depending on model.

Article Link: Sprint to Launch Total Equipment Protection Plan for iPhone on January 25

[kwags]

Ok, I don't get it... AppleCare+ is $99 plus $49 for each of up to 2 replacement iPhones.
Why are people using these outrageous carrier plans?

[AppleGuesser]

Originally Posted by kwags

Ok, I don't get it... AppleCare+ is $99 plus $49 for each of up to 2 replacement iPhones.
Why are people using these outrageous carrier plans?

Exactly! AT&T has their own "protection plan," but I would rather have AppleCare+ myself After all, Apple is the company that makes and fixes my phone. Why would I expect a carrier to do the same? Thats like asking Comcast to fix my TV if it breaks. That doesnt make any sense?

If someone can explain this to me, by all means, I'd love to know

[Carmenia83]

Any of the carriers insurance plans are a rip off. If you don't want to get AppleCare fine, but even without it apple will replace a broken out of warranty iphone for a flat fee. $149 for iPhone 4 and older, $199 for a 4s and $229 for a 5. Why would you pay $11 a month to pay the same deductible as the apple store charges for a new phone? The only benefit the carriers offer is if the phone is lost or stolen, but if you haven't enabled Find My iPhone by now you're an idiot and aren't responsible enough to have a $600+ phone.

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?pa...product=iphone

[AppleGuesser]

Originally Posted by Carmenia83

Any of the carriers insurance plans are a rip off. If you don't want to get AppleCare fine, but even without it apple will replace a broken out of warranty iphone for a flat fee. $149 for iPhone 4 and older, $199 for a 4s and $229 for a 5. Why would you pay $11 a month to pay the same deductible as the apple store charges for a new phone? The only benefit the carriers offer is if the phone is lost or stolen, but if you haven't enabled Find My iPhone by now you're an idiot and aren't responsible enough to have a $600+ phone.

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?pa...product=iphone

Pretty much!

[powrman811]

Originally Posted by Carmenia83

Any of the carriers insurance plans are a rip off. If you don't want to get AppleCare fine, but even without it apple will replace a broken out of warranty iphone for a flat fee. $149 for iPhone 4 and older, $199 for a 4s and $229 for a 5. Why would you pay $11 a month to pay the same deductible as the apple store charges for a new phone? The only benefit the carriers offer is if the phone is lost or stolen, but if you haven't enabled Find My iPhone by now you're an idiot and aren't responsible enough to have a $600+ phone.

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?pa...product=iphone

Yeah, because Find My iPhone is foolproof lol

With TEP, even after the Apple Warranty is out, Sprint will replace the phone for free if the problem is a manufacturer defect.

[avanpelt]

Originally Posted by powrman811

With TEP, even after the Apple Warranty is out, Sprint will replace the phone for free if the problem is a manufacturer defect.

Ok, but doesn't AppleCare+ cover the phone for two years from the date of purchase against the same defects?

If anything happens to my phone after my two year contract is up, I'm either using it as an excuse to get a new subsidized handset or I'm switching carriers. These carrier warranties don't make any sense when it comes to Apple products. The carriers are just trying to take advantage of uninformed consumers who blindly walk into a carrier store and say they want an iPhone and who haven't done any research about what Apple provides in terms of extended warranty.

I'm sure the carriers manage to sucker quite a few people in with these warranty gimmicks. Sprint didn't add the option because it "knows accidents happen" and wants to look out for their customers. Sprint added the option because they ran the numbers and it was apparent that warranty sales would be a good source of revenue from uninformed iPhone buyers.

Even in loss and theft cases, total up what you've paid for the insurance for, say, a year and a half. If the phone gets stolen 19 months after you bought it, you likely would've been better off saving the money you gave to Sprint every month especially when you couple that with the $150-$200 deductible, it really doesn't make sense. Save that money and use it to pay the ETF to get away from Sprint!

[spb3]

sprint sucks.

[BillyBobBongo]

Originally Posted by powrman811

Sprint will replace the phone for free if the problem is a manufacturer defect.

$132 a year...doesn't exactly sound free to me.

[TheMacBookPro]

Originally Posted by kwags

Ok, I don't get it... AppleCare+ is $99 plus $49 for each of up to 2 replacement iPhones.
Why are people using these outrageous carrier plans?

AppleCare+ won't give you a replacement iPhone for $49 if you lose it.

Originally Posted by AppleGuesser

Exactly! AT&T has their own "protection plan," but I would rather have AppleCare+ myself After all, Apple is the company that makes and fixes my phone. Why would I expect a carrier to do the same? Thats like asking Comcast to fix my TV if it breaks. That doesnt make any sense?

If someone can explain this to me, by all means, I'd love to know

No, a better analogy would be 'why do I need homeowners' insurance if I have an accidental damage warranty on my TV?'.

The insurance/the carrier's protection plan provides protection against theft or loss. The accidental damage warranty/AppleCare+ provides protection against manufacturer's defects and any damage you cause on the product.

Originally Posted by Carmenia83

Any of the carriers insurance plans are a rip off. If you don't want to get AppleCare fine, but even without it apple will replace a broken out of warranty iphone for a flat fee. $149 for iPhone 4 and older, $199 for a 4s and $229 for a 5. Why would you pay $11 a month to pay the same deductible as the apple store charges for a new phone? The only benefit the carriers offer is if the phone is lost or stolen, but if you haven't enabled Find My iPhone by now you're an idiot and aren't responsible enough to have a $600+ phone.

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?pa...product=iphone

Right, because Find My iPhone will be so useful if the thief turns off the phone, pulls out the SIM card, turns on airplane mode or restores the phone.

And even if you track it down, what will you do if FMI shows the phone as being in an apartment building? Are you going to knock on every single door and ask everyone, hoping for an honest answer? (hint: thieves usually aren't going to tell you what they stole)

Originally Posted by AlphaVictor87

The only upside i see to any of these carrier plans is that it covers theft and loss.

If you damage your iPhone out of warranty you go to the apple store and pay out of warranty replacement cost which last time i checked was the same as buying the phone with a new contract. So to replace an iPhone 5 if you broke it out of warranty would be $199.

Scams for money, thats it.

That's a whole lot more useful than an accidental damage warranty when it comes to iPhones. $700 for a new iPhone if you lose it, only $200 for an OOW replacement.

[Tiger8]

Originally Posted by Carmenia83

Any of the carriers insurance plans are a rip off. If you don't want to get AppleCare fine, but even without it apple will replace a broken out of warranty iphone for a flat fee. $149 for iPhone 4 and older, $199 for a 4s and $229 for a 5. Why would you pay $11 a month to pay the same deductible as the apple store charges for a new phone? The only benefit the carriers offer is if the phone is lost or stolen, but if you haven't enabled Find My iPhone by now you're an idiot and aren't responsible enough to have a $600+ phone.

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?pa...product=iphone

Thank you! You are so right! I keep telling family and friends NOT to buy any of the extended warranty crap (Apple or otherwise and definitely not carrier ones), and with Apple's half price replacement you describe, I think it's worth the risk.

[kingtj]

But I *think* these things are often purchased by businesses, simply because it's easier to place the cost under the "telecommunications" part of their budget than to have it eat away at part of their equipment budget.

Economically, they don't really make the most sense, in and of themselves.

Originally Posted by kwags

Ok, I don't get it... AppleCare+ is $99 plus $49 for each of up to 2 replacement iPhones.
Why are people using these outrageous carrier plans?

[goodcow]

Originally Posted by kwags

Ok, I don't get it... AppleCare+ is $99 plus $49 for each of up to 2 replacement iPhones.
Why are people using these outrageous carrier plans?

Theft.

[foodog]

Originally Posted by kwags

Ok, I don't get it... AppleCare+ is $99 plus $49 for each of up to 2 replacement iPhones.
Why are people using these outrageous carrier plans?

Go tell Apple you lost your iPhone and want a replacement.

[bassfingers]

Originally Posted by foodog

Go tell Apple you lost your iPhone and want a replacement.

Or, for the $430 that plan would cost me with one replacement, I'll just go buy a new phone. Unless I plan on loosing a phone EVERY YEAR, it is a significant loss of money. BAD INVESTMENT.

Anyone here with any sort of decent financial background (or has any reference for what is or isn't financially viable) will tell you up and down that carrier plans are a *waste of money*

[spb3]

Originally Posted by bassfingers

Anyone here with any sort of decent financial background (or has any reference for what is or isn't financially viable) will tell you up and down that carrier plans are a *waste of money*

yep. house always wins.

[foodog]

Originally Posted by bassfingers

Or, for the $430 that plan would cost me with one replacement, I'll just go buy a new phone. Unless I plan on loosing a phone EVERY YEAR, it is a significant loss of money. BAD INVESTMENT.

Anyone here with any sort of decent financial background (or has any reference for what is or isn't financially viable) will tell you up and down that carrier plans are a *waste of money*

Never made any claim to its financial sense, just answer the question.

[ghostface147]

Originally Posted by kwags

Ok, I don't get it... AppleCare+ is $99 plus $49 for each of up to 2 replacement iPhones.
Why are people using these outrageous carrier plans?

Let me know what AppleCare or AppleCare + does for you when you've lost or had your phone stolen.

[homeward]

I got the AT&T plan because it offers to replace iPhones dropped in the bathtub, which happened to my daughter's iPhone 4s last week, but now I found out that Apple will do the same at the same replacement price of $199.

[somethingelsefl]

Originally Posted by kwags

Ok, I don't get it... AppleCare+ is $99 plus $49 for each of up to 2 replacement iPhones.
Why are people using these outrageous carrier plans?

Because AppleCare+ doesn't cover theft or loss, only damage and defect. It's a significant difference. (I personally prefer SquareTrade...which also covers theft/loss)

[ritmomundo]

Say you lose your phone, get a replacement, and then a few weeks later, find your old phone. Would it still be functional, or would it be blacklisted by the carrier?

[SporkLover]

Originally Posted by ritmomundo

Say you lose your phone, get a replacement, and then a few weeks later, find your old phone. Would it still be functional, or would it be blacklisted by the carrier?

On a CDMA carrier, yes. You're also required to send the phone to the company if you find it, or is recovered after theft.

I used to be a consistent phone insurance buyer..... Then I just started setting that money aside to pay for repairs or replacement in case I needed it.... Amazing how much money you can save.