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Applecare for MBP is $349. Is it really worth it?

jamesryanbell

jamesryanbell

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Mar 17, 2009
2,171
93
How has it been worth it for those that bought it? I only know three people that have bought it, and the none of them ever really used it to get their money's worth. The computers just held up great.

Just looking for the other side of the coin.
 
IMO, it's definitely worth it. It's peace of mind for 3 years. You always hope that you will never have to use it, though, but if your logic board fails, your Mac is useless. Not even worth the repair.
 
I am usually not a fan of extended warranties, but I recommend Apple Care

You can find better prices, like eBay, but "caveat emptor"... buyer beware

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
the odds are you wont ever use it......but it's really about your own financial situation and whether you need to hedge your bets when it comes to the possibility of repairs.
 
I have Applecare and strongly recommend it. Having bought a computer, my15" MBP, for nearly €2,000 (including Office for Mac) over a year ago, it seemed senseless simply to have the one year warranty. Apple honours their warranties (which is one of the reasons I switched).

So, in essence, I bought it for peace of mind, and to rest secure in the knowledge that if anything does go wrong after the expiry of the first year's warranty, it would have cost me a lot more to pay for repairs than Applecare cost me when I bought it.

Cheers
 
Macky-Mac said:
the odds are you wont ever use it......but it's really about your own financial situation and whether you need to hedge your bets when it comes to the possibility of repairs.
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Disagree with it. Apple replaced so many little things like three power chargers for me. Remember that two or three repairs will usually recover the cost of AppleCare, that's one a year. And that doesn't include something like a logic board and assumes that you are paying full price for it.
 
thegoldenmackid said:
Disagree with it. Apple replaced so many little things like three power chargers for me. Remember that two or three repairs will usually recover the cost of AppleCare, that's one a year. And that doesn't include something like a logic board and assumes that you are paying full price for it.
Click to expand...

If you had to have 3 chargers replaced during years 2 & 3, well what a pain that must have been! My experience owning 6 macs is that I've never needed a repair that wasn't covered by apples basic warranty during the first year. If I had the kind of trouble you've had, I would probably be looking to switch to something other than Apple :eek:
 
Buy apple care...they replaced my computer in the second year for free. It is a really good idea to have it and it saved me about $1800!
 
Macky-Mac said:
If you had to have 3 chargers replaced during years 2 & 3, well what a pain that must have been! My experience owning 6 macs is that I've never needed a repair that wasn't covered by apples basic warranty during the first year. If I had the kind of trouble you've had, I would probably be looking to switch to something other than Apple :eek:
Click to expand...
No, I have seen the Dell power charger funness

jamesryanbell said:
Is there any downside to buying it from a third party like LA Computer?
Click to expand...
Umm...there is the massive eBay thread, but, I don't think that it extends to L.A. Computer.
 
You can buy it for cheaper at Amazon - reliable.

And it has always been worth for me - I have been given brand new machines, had logic boards changed, had the MBP top and bottom case changed etc. after the 1st year.
 
You do not have to buy it when you purchase the computer
You have one year from the date of purchase to buy and activate it
If you are uncertain, wait the year... but don't miss the deadline

For me, I factor it in to the cost of the Mac
You will hopefully never need it, but if you do and don't have it... you will wish you did

The choice is yours

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
Apple Care is always worth it. Not only do you get coverage for hardware problems (which are expensive) but also telephone support for any problem you have. Not to mention, it covers you world wide.

TEG
 
If you do buy applecare, just make sure that you don't drop your machine or spill anything on it. Accidental damage will void your entire warranty. Apple can be very strict about this.
 
TEG said:
Apple Care is always worth it. Not only do you get coverage for hardware problems (which are expensive) but also telephone support for any problem you have. Not to mention, it covers you world wide.

TEG
Click to expand...

+ A lot better resale value if you sell it and it has warranty left
 
Erendiox said:
If you do buy applecare, just make sure that you don't drop your machine or spill anything on it. Accidental damage will void your entire warranty. Apple can be very strict about this.
Click to expand...

I would say be careful about drops and spills whether you buy Apple Care or not ;)

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
Erendiox said:
Ha, very true. There are just so many people out there who have no idea what their warranty actually covers and how little it takes to void it.
Click to expand...

In a nutshell, if something breaks and you have done it (spilled coffee, dropped to floor) warranty won't cover it. If it's a defective component like failed HD, Apple will fix it didn't broke because of you, it broke because of manufacturer.
 
Particial Scam

I've used my Apple Care warrenty twice.

I got a new battery and a new laptop screen.

Most laptops will break before 3 years are up in some way or another.
 
I just used AppleCare for my Macbook for the first time in 2 years, and this is the result.

I had a small crack on the bottom and needed 1 key replaced.
 

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You can get the full retail (boxed) AppleCare for the MBP from L.A. Computer for $250. Like others who've already replied, I highly recommend it. I bought the AppleCare for my iMac from L.A. Computer and have already used it a few times.

If you happen to sell the machine during the coverage period it also raises the resale value (as also previously mentioned).
 
Depends on how long you plan on keeping it. If you buy your MBP with a major credit card, most will double your manufacturer's warranty (up to 4 years).

I buy with my AmEx (paying off immediately as I don't believe in financing personal computers)...and that effectively gives me two years of warranty coverage.
 
I'll probably be buying it again for my next Mac after my iMac has been showing symptoms of death.

Chances are the next iMac machine will probably be perfect, hahaha
 
Applecare for laptops is a must IMHO - they're too expensive to repair...

iMav said:
I buy with my AmEx (paying off immediately as I don't believe in financing personal computers)...and that effectively gives me two years of warranty coverage.
Click to expand...

I did the same thing with my PowerBook G4 from 2004...which worked great until just after the two year point one of the RAM slots failed, limiting me to 1GB of RAM (luckily I hadn't upgraded to 2 1GB slots...just 1 1GB.) Anyway, to replace the logic board would've been about $1000 US, so I didn't bother. In hindsight, not paying for the AppleCare was stupid, and I will definitely be doing that for laptops in the future.

Lots of people work for the Government / Armed Forces, so check those stores...I think it's about a $50 discount...not quite as good as education, but not bad.

On another note, that laptop is still running fine....albeit slower due to more demanding software/higher video demands. So, I can definitely see the new MBPs lasting 5 years as long as people take care of them.
 
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