$99 AppleCare+ for iPad Coming Alongside iPad 3?

[ShiftClick]

AppleCare is a bonafide rip-off. If you use your American Express to purchase it, you automatically get an additional 1-year warranty on top of the manufacturer's. You also get 90 days of protection from theft, etc. If you don't have AmEx, you can apply for one free with your Costco membership. If you don't have a Costco membership, then what the heck are you doing?

Now rate my post Up because I just saved you $99.

Cause everyone lives just like you!

 

[appleguy123]

Depending on the risk factor, don't you think?
If I'm spending $800 on something I'm going to take everywhere I go, with a high risk of accidental damage, I'm definitely getting it.
I would rather pay an $150 than loosing $800.

The math is simple.

Apple will out of warranty repair the iPad for a fee. I think it's $269, so it isn't really as good of an investment it you want to use it for insurance.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Yeah, I'm pretty weary of credit cards in general. I much prefer just using cash/paypal. I won't get that AMEX card because I wouldn't use it enough to justify $100 a year or more in fees.

Well, sometimes you could use the credit card to make a purchase if it provides you additional benefits such as free Double-Warranty Coverage. I have a VISA Card that offers that, and I'm planning to use it to buy my new iPad.

IMO, AMEX is the worse card someone could have: Annual fee, high interest and the fact that merchants don't like to take it, as AMEX charges them a higher percentage fee per transaction when compared to VISA and MasterCard.

A good low interest VISA Card may make sense for you IF AND ONLY IF you manage it correctly and pay it at the end of the month. Plus, you can earn points you can later trade for Airline Tickets or other goodies.

----------

Apple will out of warranty repair the iPad for a fee. I think it's $269, so it isn't really as good of an investment it you want to use it for insurance.

$100 initial expense plus $50 when something happens vs $269 when something happens?
It's like risking $100 to avoid loosing $269.

I wonder if it will also cover Theft besides Accidental Damage.

 

[JGowan]

What I hate happening (and it does inevitably), I screw something up just enough that it still works, but it looks like crap and is really too expensive to replace for a long time so I have to look at the crap every damn day. Knowing that you could've NOT been a tightwad and plunked down $99 and been "back in business" would be the worst.

 

[appleguy123]

[/COLOR]

$100 initial expense plus $50 when something happens vs $269 when something happens?
It's like risking $100 to avoid loosing $269.

I wonder if it will also cover Theft besides Accidental Damage.

You'd have to access how likely you are to damage it. I'd say that mine is almost nil. I've never significantly damaged any Apple product.

As far as theft, AC+ for iPhone doesn't include theft protection, and so the iPad one likely won't either.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

You'd have to access how likely you are to damage it. I'd say that mine is almost nil. I've never significantly damaged any Apple product.

As far as theft, AC+ for iPhone doesn't include theft protection, and so the iPad one likely won't either.

Then I may have to get insurance from Safeware.
I take my iPad everywhere, and when I take to a job site, it's prompt to be damaged or stolen by 'external forces'.
In my case it does make sense.

With my MBP, AppleCare was a savior when the display got damaged (and not by accident).

 

[GREEN4U]

IMO, AMEX is the worse card someone could have: Annual fee, high interest and the fact that merchants don't like to take it, as AMEX charges them a higher percentage fee per transaction when compared to VISA and MasterCard.

That and they are generally hard to qualify for.

But not the Costco American Express card. No annual fee w/ a paid Costco membership (which is $55/year and all the hot dogs and sodas you want for $1.50). You should really check it out.

http://www304.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/Costco-TrueEarnings

 

[KPOM]

By definition, extended warranties are profit centers for companies who sell them (otherwise, they wouldn't sell them), but $99 isn't too bad for the peace of mind, particularly those with small children who are more likely to cause damage.

----------

IMO, AMEX is the worse card someone could have: Annual fee, high interest and the fact that merchants don't like to take it, as AMEX charges them a higher percentage fee per transaction when compared to VISA and MasterCard.

You can get AMEX cards without an annual fee now. I have one from B of A that has no annual fee and a normal grace period.

Also, a small business person I know says that Visa and MasterCard have used Dodd-Frank as an excuse to jack up merchant fees, meaning that it is no more expensive for them to accept AMEX now than Visa or MC.

 

[Cingular]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

IMO, AMEX is the worse card someone could have: Annual fee, high interest and the fact that merchants don't like to take it, as AMEX charges them a higher percentage fee per transaction when compared to VISA and MasterCard.

That and they are generally hard to qualify for.

But not the Costco American Express card. No annual fee w/ a paid Costco membership (which is $55/year and all the hot dogs and sodas you want for $1.50). You should really check it out.

http://www304.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/Costco-TrueEarnings

You don't need Costco membership to buy $1.50 hot dogs + soda

 

[AppleScruff1]

nope definitely lazy. It's great for those providing the service. Especially warranties. Apple and others bank on people never utilizing it and recycles the old malfunctioning product and sells as refurbed.

Most repairs like the back panel replacement for an iPhone 4/4s take 30 seconds and are a quick google search would show that.

How are you at repairing jet engines? F-22's? Some people aren't mechanically inclined. Laziness has nothing to do with it.

 

[nd3eb]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

I've owned about 6 iPod's, 4 MacBook's, 2 iphones, and 1 ipad in my lifetimeand never bought apple care.

But I think I might for the new iPad. I'm so overly protective and nervous with my gadgets for fear of breaking them that I don't bring them certain places or even let my young nephews touch them haha... But with this plan I will feel more comfortable using them.

I own a restaurant so I like to keep my iPad handy since I can bring it with me around as needed an it will be nice not to have to use a bulky case and worry about dropping it in my fast paced job.

 

[akadmon]

The Accidental damage coverage sounds like a good deal for the consumer for only $20 more. It covers the device for a full 2 years. So I think for many people it is a pretty good deal.

It is also a good move for Apple. They were selling a $79 plan that I could wait a year to get. Now with the damage coverage it makes sense to buy it up front and not wait 12 months to get it. That pulls $99 in now instead of $79, some now and some in 12 months.

Um, I disagree. Apple is not making the change out of the goodness of their heart, but to make money. Obviously Apple has determined that the cost of replacing broken iPads is statistacally less than the extra revenue from the higher price of Applecare. Geeze people, how naive you are!!! But whatever, go ahead, give Apple the extra $99. It can only help the stock price, which is good for me

 

[nd3eb]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

The included one year warranty doesn't cover accidental damage, correct?

 

[appleguy123]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

The included one year warranty doesn't cover accidental damage, correct?

Right, though Apple has been known to make occasional exceptions.

 

[esanker]

Speaking of AMEX, I just got approved for an AMEX Blue Cash Everyday credit card.

• No annual fee.
• I get $100 cashback on $1000 worth of purchases for the first 3 months.
• 90 day theft and accidental damage protection on purchases.
• Extends original manufacturer's warranty by 1 year.

 

[charlituna]

I think it's a No ***** Sherlock that they will offer this. The only question is how much will the plan and the service fee be.

it might be $99 and $49 but I could also see something more like $129 and $69

----------

Right, though Apple has been known to make occasional exceptions.

Not on iPhones after AC+ came out. and if they do it for iPads there won't be any for that either.

----------

AppleCare is a bonafide rip-off. If you use your American Express to purchase it, you automatically get an additional 1-year warranty on top of the manufacturer's. You also get 90 days of protection from theft, etc. If you don't have AmEx, you can apply for one free with your Costco membership. If you don't have a Costco membership, then what the heck are you doing?

Now rate my post Up because I just saved you $99.

but when it is stolen 100 days after you bought it, you are screwed.

 

[Roodycar]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

AppleCare+ is a rip off, I bought it for my fiancé's iPhone 4S. Bought it in case my fiancé just in case she accidentally damaged it. She left it on her friends car with her wallet. I found it 3 miles away in the middle of an intersection with her wallet. Was run over by a car in the middle of an intersection. Grabbed the phone, and brought the broken phone into the genius bar, that flatly denied to honor the accidental damage warranty. Because the phone was quote "beyond economical recovery" when I pressed this again why they wouldn't honor an accidental damage warranty, I was ready to pay the $50 to replace it, they said he would go check in the back. He came out and said because it was missing the top metal bracket and head phone jack it was technically in multiple pieces and couldn't honor it. He even said if it was in the same condition and the antenna was hanging by a thread, they would consider accepting it. I told the genius bar guy I would go back out in the middle of the intersection and find it for him.
Like previous posters have said rely on credit card warranty coverage or make sure your warranty service covers catastrophic damage.
AppleCare+ is not a total accidental damage protection, it does not cover theft, lost or damage beyond apple being able to make money on the fact you accidentally damaged the phone.

Not worth it.

 

[MacOG728893]

I know that. I'm already losing the same amount on AppleCare because I get it anyway, as I said. If it's $100 more to get AppleCare+ and one new replacement, then it is worth the money. If the iPad has a completely new outside and everything internally is working, then by my definition it is "like new." Just go to one of those recycling sites for electronics. The price margin between a "perfect" device and a slightly scratched one is $200+. Additionally, the general population does not know when the new iPad is about to come out. Only we do, so if we sell our iPads right before the invitations for the press conference are sent out, we get the most money possible.

Well those are sites like gazelle. My iPhone 4S 32GB has some really light and I mean really light surface scratches and anyone here on Los Angeles craigslist would pay a really good amount for it regardless of that.

On a side note, when I bought my iPhone (day it came out) they said I had to buy applecare+ right then and there. I didn't feel like spending the extra $100 on top of my $300 phone and $30 dock. Instead I bought a screen protector and case. Guess what? I hated both and took them off. Has the phone suffered a little from it, yes, but it just feels better without all the "garbage" on it.

Lastly, before I sell it I am going to take it to Apple and try to replace it because my home button has been sticking for months. So we'll see!

 

[acidfast7]

LOL is all I can say.

really pushes the iPad price very close to 11in MBA + LTE surfstick price

 

[AlPlPlLE]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

AppleCare+ is a rip off, I bought it for my fiancé's iPhone 4S. Bought it in case my fiancé just in case she accidentally damaged it. She left it on her friends car with her wallet. I found it 3 miles away in the middle of an intersection with her wallet. Was run over by a car in the middle of an intersection. Grabbed the phone, and brought the broken phone into the genius bar, that flatly denied to honor the accidental damage warranty. Because the phone was quote "beyond economical recovery" when I pressed this again why they wouldn't honor an accidental damage warranty, I was ready to pay the $50 to replace it, they said he would go check in the back. He came out and said because it was missing the top metal bracket and head phone jack it was technically in multiple pieces and couldn't honor it. He even said if it was in the same condition and the antenna was hanging by a thread, they would consider accepting it. I told the genius bar guy I would go back out in the middle of the intersection and find it for him.
Like previous posters have said rely on credit card warranty coverage or make sure your warranty service covers catastrophic damage.
AppleCare+ is not a total accidental damage protection, it does not cover theft, lost or damage beyond apple being able to make money on the fact you accidentally damaged the phone.

Not worth it.

Try going to a different apple store if you can. I've seen people take iPhones in pieces in plastic bags and they swapped them out under AppleCare + on their phones.

To me, Apple Care isn't a rip-off to those prone to accidental damage. Think about it. If you pay $99 for an extra year so two years with two accidental damages that's only $200 in phone replacement ($49+$49+$99) IF used whereas let's say you DONT have AC+ on ur 4S and you crack it or drop it in water you are going to pay $200 a pop instead of $49 a pop. Therefore spending $200 more on 4S replacements if you don't have AC+.

And I know iPad replacements for cracks are even more than the phones so AC+ on the iPad who think they are prone to breaking it in any situation they put it in then I saw get it. Just my .02

 

[Tech198]

Ap+

At first i thought AppleCare+ doesn't extend, only gives you an additional accidental coverage. But if this also includes extended (as per any other AppleCare package), then its good.

This actually may not that THAT great when you think about.. If apple has leeway previously for stuff like their tighting it up thanks to Apple Care +, then u may as well say "apple support will go downhill"

The "leeway" was one good thing about Apple, no one else would even do... Yes, Apple has a margin they have to standby, but they are less forgiving if your nice to them..

If all this goes just because of AP+, then, there may be some angry customers.

In addition, price looks higher too.....

Still may be good, but i preferred he way it was... AP+ just gives Apple an excuse for *more* reasons not to replace. Now they can say "well, you should have purchased Applecare+" Not even knowing to What extent exactly Apple can change this anytime. Its no longer fixed.

With AppleCare (normal), you KNEW it was extended for a certain time against all stuff ups, excludes accidents, But now with +, what you may deem it as an accident, but they may have a different view, and decide, not to fix it free or charge you "per incident"

The whole thing freaks me out.

 

[CplBadboy]

So you pay 100 bucks for AC+ yet they charge you 49 bucks per repair anyways. Waste of time and money. And more to the point its mis selling IMO.

 

[deftdrummer]

Wouldn't that be better than having a broken unit that doesn't work, and wasting hundreds of dollars because it broke?
I would rather pay $50.00, instead of loosing all my investment.
And who cares if it's refurbished; your own broken unit would need to be refurbished anyways, so unless you are willing to wait weeks to get it repaired, it's always better to get a working unit as a replacement right on the spot.

Unless you're willing to wait weeks for the iPad 3 to surface on apples site as a refurb you mean.

I still don't know why Square Trade has not been mentioned in this thread yet. By far the best deal for either device and they offer discounts every time a new apple product is launched to cash in on the hype.

For example, the 4S has been available for months and still, for little more than a decent accessory ($59.99) you can get one year accidental with square trade.

SCENARIO 1
$200 iPhone @ contract price
$100 SQ warranty 2 years. $300 total

Week before contract & warranty expire, iPhone has accident. Free shipping both ways to square trade after filing claim with cost of $50. Maximum 4 claims total. Guaranteed 5 days process time or refund of warranty cost & device still fixed/replaced.

Paid out by ST at purchase price of $200 cash by check or card, purchase new model iPhone at launch. Net loss/gain: -$50 -3 karma points. +1 brand new current gen model.

SCENARIO 2
$200 contact price for phone
$100 AppleCare+

Week before contract & warranty expire, iPhone has accident. Free shipping both ways to Apple after filing claim online with cost of $50. No Guaranteed processing time, max of 2 claims. New or refurbished same gen model.

Option 2: go to Apple retail store, pay $50 deductible, bear in-person scrutiny and get iPhone as replacement or device repair if possible. New or refurbished same gen model. Read: you will likely not have the option to upgrade to the new model, especially at launch.

Net loss/ gain: -$350. -1 karma points, same old iPhone for 4 years

To be clear, I'm talking about warranties because that's what the thread is about. Never mind selling a one year old phone sans warranty, sans engraving, in white with a simple case and gentle use. Sold on eBay you have potential to break even if not make money due to being only a year old oh, and you're not commiting fraud.

Of course there are final value fees, gas to the post office, shipping fees and seller feedback to worry about there so that is a breakdown for a whole nother day.

To me the choice is clear.

 

[Shrink]

For newbies, the extended availability of Apple Phone Tach Support is very important.

Without the plan, after the three month free tech support, each call costs a fortune.

I know this is not an issue for most folks here, but for us noobs it's really essential.

 

[scoobydoo99]

Depending on the risk factor, don't you think?
If I'm spending $800 on something I'm going to take everywhere I go, with a high risk of accidental damage, I'm definitely getting it.
I would rather pay an $150 than loosing $800.

The math is simple.

Of course, your personal usage and handling patterns will affect the chances of sustaining damage. If you're running around downtown Beirut, your iPad is probably more at risk than sitting in your living room. However, there is a limit of 2 replacements under Applecare+, so if you are really such a high-risk iPad user, you will end up buying replacements at full price after your first 2 $49 replacements anyway. People like you who are positive ("high risk of accidental damage") that they will be breaking an $800 piece of portable electronics might think about sticking paper and pencil.

And yes, the math is simple. Insurance premiums > paid claims. Thus the insurance never "pays off" for consumers overall.