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$379 USD for Applecare+, worth it?

Eldiablojoe

Eldiablojoe

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 4, 2009
952
70
West Koast
Wow, $379 is a lot for Applecare+, is it worth it for a brand new (two week old) MBP 15-inch w Touch Bar?

It's a big chunk of change for an insurance policy. My MBP rarely leaves the house so accidental screen or clam shelling damage is unlikely.
 
I thought I read it's still possible to get just AC but you have to request it ?

I have never bought AC or AC+ but with newer build methods that can easily push repairs >$700 these days I'm not so sure
 
I think it's worth it since now it's a bit more then an extended warranty. I would hate for it to fail in 3 years and pay full price to fix it
 
I never bought Apple Care either, and I never had any repairs within three years that would have exceeded the cost of Apple Care. Having said that, if something fails, repairs could be incredibly expensive. A defective part on the mainboard might cost almost as much to repair as a new machine, since Apple might have to swap the full mainboard (including the CPU, RAM and SSD) in order to fix it.
 
I believe its worth it. Recently my 2015 15' 2.8 AMD crapped out on me after about two years. Gave no signs at all, ended up sending it to Apple and they had to replace the Logic Board, both fans, and the screen. I don't even want to know what they would have charged me for that repair.
 
Eldiablojoe said:
Wow, $379 is a lot for Applecare+, is it worth it for a brand new (two week old) MBP 15-inch w Touch Bar?

It's a big chunk of change for an insurance policy. My MBP rarely leaves the house so accidental screen or clam shelling damage is unlikely.
Click to expand...

I got it. One repair it will cover the cost of that. This laptop is expensive. If you are spending this much you can afford to spend a little more.
 
I call it a necessity, for me I pretty much have to send any machine back for repair in year 2 or 3 and most repairs are damn expensive on these units. as for cost I agree AC+ is a bit high but oh well.
 
SteveJUAE said:
I thought I read it's still possible to get just AC but you have to request it ?

I have never bought AC or AC+ but with newer build methods that can easily push repairs >$700 these days I'm not so sure
Click to expand...

New design of MBP makes AppleCare near mandatory due to the significant repair costs. Buy or don't buy AppleCare, in the event of premature failure outside the basic warranty, it's a winning situation for Apple and completely hostile towards the consumer...

Q-6
 
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Queen6 said:
New design of MBP makes AppleCare near mandatory due to the significant repair costs. Buy or don't buy AppleCare, in the event of premature failure outside the basic warranty, it's a winning situation for Apple and a completely hostile towards the consumer...

Q-6
Click to expand...

I agree. Kind of sucks that you plop down $2500+ for Apple's flagship laptop but have to pay an extra $379 for that warm and fuzzy feeling. I think in the last two years, Apple's gotten really good at laughing...all the way to the bank!
 
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lambertjohn said:
I agree. Kind of sucks that you plop down $2500+ for Apple's flagship laptop but have to pay an extra $379 for that warm and fuzzy feeling. I think in the last two years, Apple's gotten really good at laughing...all the way to the bank!
Click to expand...

Apple's really pushing it these days, even the packaging will be extra cost soon. Never seen Apple nickel & dime it's customers to such extents. When I see pictures of Tim & Co laughing, that's exactly what I think "all the way to the bank" and their just laughing their collective ass's off at us dummies who keep coming back for more of the same...

Apple has become so smart at designing & engineering products that work so very well for itself, yet to the detriment of it's customers. As always monopolies never serve the consumer, nor likely to.

Q-6
 
Given how the keyboard's failure rate is higher then prior models, yes, I'd say its worth it.
 
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If you're from Ireland (just going off your Profile pic :)) it's definitely not worth it. You have great consumer laws which entitle you to 6 (Yes, 6) years of replacement or repairs free of charge as long as the fault is not yours.

Under Irish consumer law, consumers are entitled to a free of charge repair or replacement, discount or refund by the seller, of defective goods or goods which do not conform with the contract of sale. These rights expire six years from delivery of the goods.
Click to expand...

Taken from here: https://www.apple.com/ie/legal/statutory-warranty/

Don't get scammed for no reason. If you're in the EU in general you probably have similar laws and should most likely not get AppleCare as it's pretty much pointless except in a few cases.
 
Unless you're super hard on your electronics, then no. The likelihood of a manufacturing problem or other general failure is very low. Would you honestly be likely to buy another "premium" laptop that failed within a few years through no fault in your own? No, and Apple doesn't want that either.

Insuring consumer electronics is very silly to me...especially a product that's supposed to be super well built.
 
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kevmodrome said:
If you're from Ireland (just going off your Profile pic :)) it's definitely not worth it. You have great consumer laws which entitle you to 6 (Yes, 6) years of replacement or repairs free of charge as long as the fault is not yours.



Taken from here: https://www.apple.com/ie/legal/statutory-warranty/

Don't get scammed for no reason. If you're in the EU in general you probably have similar laws and should most likely not get AppleCare as it's pretty much pointless except in a few cases.
Click to expand...

Have you ever tested this in practice though? I notice there that for the statutory warranties they are sending you thru the seller - so if you bought from Harvey Norman you would have to go back to Harvey Norman to get your cover? Sounds messy
 
Usually i wouldnt bother with applecare but that keyboard makes it a must buy for me. A replacement would cost $700 usd and up
 
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So far it is working very well without fault. The Applecare+ amounts to essentially a 20% add on! I don't care what dollar amount we are talking about, that is a heluva premium!
 
I've never before bought AppleCare for a Mac (desktop or laptop), but for the 2016/17 MacBook Pros, I'd have to consider it.

Why?
Because of the highly abnormal rate of keyboard failures that folks are experiencing with them, even on otherwise "new" machines.

Of course during the first year of warranty, these will be fixed by Apple.
But what happens after 367 days?
Is Apple still going to absorb a repair that costs around $700?

$379 is less than $700.
Something to think about.

Then again, you can hope your particular keyboard will never fail.
But it'll be like Clint Eastwood in the movie -- "do ya feel lucky, punk ???"
 
Friends often ask me this AppleCare+ question. I tell them that assembly problems usually reveal themselves quickly, during the initial warranty period. Then I ask them about who will be using the device and where? If it's a laptop going to a home with only adults and no pets, I say no need for it. If there are young children or pets likely to trip or spill on it 24/7, I say get it. College or high school students, yes as it's likely to be dropped. And I always recommend AppleCare+ for iPhones and iPad Pro's, but not for low-end iPad's. There's no single answer that covers everybody in all situations.
 
eRondeau said:
Friends often ask me this AppleCare+ question. I tell them that assembly problems usually reveal themselves quickly, during the initial warranty period. Then I ask them about who will be using the device and where? If it's a laptop going to a home with only adults and no pets, I say no need for it. If there are young children or pets likely to trip or spill on it 24/7, I say get it. College or high school students, yes as it's likely to be dropped. And I always recommend AppleCare+ for iPhones and iPad Pro's, but not for low-end iPad's. There's no single answer that covers everybody in all situations.
Click to expand...

That is true for normal laptops. But because this laptop has everything built on to the motherboard (ssd, memory, cpu, etc), it is wise to get it. Also with the keyboard failure rate so high, that usually won't show itself for a while either.
 
kevmodrome said:
If you're from Ireland (just going off your Profile pic :)) it's definitely not worth it. You have great consumer laws which entitle you to 6 (Yes, 6) years of replacement or repairs free of charge as long as the fault is not yours.



Taken from here: https://www.apple.com/ie/legal/statutory-warranty/

Don't get scammed for no reason. If you're in the EU in general you probably have similar laws and should most likely not get AppleCare as it's pretty much pointless except in a few cases.
Click to expand...
This is a wrong interpretation of your rights as its for defects etc present at time of purchase which after 6 months the burden of proof is on the owner

It does not cover faults that develops later due to age or use ( eg batteries) It will not cover failed SSD or logic boards or screens etc etc if the fault was not present at time of purchase

It may cover the KB if our worse fears are realised and many suffer with a possible manufacturing or design defect for example

The EU laws does not mean a mac has to last 6 years its there mainly to protect you from bad OEMs that use poor parts that fail on mass over a 6 year period
 
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I could’ve used the $99 screen replacement on my last MBP as I cracked it by accident. I got AC+ because I’m a klutz and would like some insurance to protect me from my own stupidity. I don’t buy car insurance thinking, OK I better get into an accident so I get my money’s worth! :)
 
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