Adding AppleCare after 60 days

[ihakim]

Has anyone added AppleCare after 60 days but before the 1 year warranty is up in USA? I have a maxed out M1 MBP 14" and the warranty expires in April. I'm debating adding Apple Care but haven't decided.

I was curious what the device inspection is like in-store? Is it software diagnostics and a physical inspection of the outside or do they actually unscrew and remove the backplate? To be clear, I have no damage or liquid exposure but I just don't want them messing around with the computer in the back room if not necessary. In the past, I have had a MacBook returned from the Genius Bar with scratches on the chassis from a screwdriver because they often just aren't as careful as I would be...

 

[Lifeisabeach]

I started to do this once with Apple by phone. All they needed to do was run remote diagnostics. If all looked good, I could have proceeded with getting AppleCare. I wound up not getting it... the call dropped while they were running the diagnostics; I forgot my iPhone was in DND mode and I missed them calling back; and wound up just blowing it off.

 

[ihakim]

I think this is the policy before 60 days but does it apply after 60 days too? I thought you had to physically bring it to an Apple Store?

 

[Malus120]

So just FYI, Apple is really weird and inconsistent about this.

I did the exact same thing: bought an M1 Max 14" MBP, figured my CC gave me accidental damage so I wouldn't need AC+, but decided I wanted it anyway about a month-ish before the one year warranty would be up.

TLDR I did not end up being able to get AppleCare. If you really want it, go to an Apple Store ASAP and plead your case.

There was a brief period of time where Apple and the Apple adjacent press made a big deal out of Apple allowing you to purchase AppleCare up through the end of your one year warranty as long as you can prove the device is in working condition but i'm pretty sure they're phasing this out and trying to pretend like it was never a thing.

Here's how my experience went:
1. Looking at Apple's website in multiple regions, mention of this has been mostly scrubbed from the Apple Support pages, although you can still find references if you look hard enough.
2. Apple Support by phone is completely useless. They won't run any diagnostics or even let you make an appointment to have it physically examined to assess eligibility. Each rep will tell you something different ("That was never a thing," "I don't see that anywhere," "That was/is only for some regions but I can't tell you which ones," "This doesn't apply to your product." "I'm sorry your misinformed, and if it was on the website it was a mistake/not for your region." )
3. You need to have purchased in and be be in a region that was eligible for the program to begin with. I bought in the US but was in Japan. I was visiting the US soon so set up an appointment but ended up not being able to go to the appointment due to life getting in the way.
4. You can try either walking into an Apple Store and waiting or opening a support ticket for something else to make a reservation, but you can't just make a reservation for AppleCare+ examination. Although as I said, I didn't end up going for this, I've been there enough recently to know, expect to waste a good chunk of your day, be ready to politely argue your case/escalate.

Overall a really ****** experience that convinced me Apple really just didn't want my money (and reminded me that my accidental insurance coverage is good enough I can just "accidentally" drop it in the bath if I ever have a problem and get reimbursed.)

My advice if you really want to do this is: Be prepared. Print out proof that this was Apple's stated policy when you bought your Mac (news articles, screenshots or prints of Apple Support Pages, etc.) Don't waste your time on the phone, go into a physical Apple Store on a day you have a lot of free time. You need to have bought your Mac in an eligible region (I believe the US was one,) and be in/able to visit an eligible reason to start this process. Be patient. Please report back if you are successful!

 

[1BadManVan]

Ive done it over the phone and it went pretty smoothly. So I would try that route first and see if you have success

 

[ihakim]

So just FYI, Apple is really weird and inconsistent about this.

I did the exact same thing: bought an M1 Max 14" MBP, figured my CC gave me accidental damage so I wouldn't need AC+, but decided I wanted it anyway about a month-ish before the one year warranty would be up.

TLDR I did not end up being able to get AppleCare. If you really want it, go to an Apple Store ASAP and plead your case.

There was a brief period of time where Apple and the Apple adjacent press made a big deal out of Apple allowing you to purchase AppleCare up through the end of your one year warranty as long as you can prove the device is in working condition but i'm pretty sure they're phasing this out and trying to pretend like it was never a thing.

Here's how my experience went:
1. Looking at Apple's website in multiple regions, mention of this has been mostly scrubbed from the Apple Support pages, although you can still find references if you look hard enough.
2. Apple Support by phone is completely useless. They won't run any diagnostics or even let you make an appointment to have it physically examined to assess eligibility. Each rep will tell you something different ("That was never a thing," "I don't see that anywhere," "That was/is only for some regions but I can't tell you which ones," "This doesn't apply to your product." "I'm sorry your misinformed, and if it was on the website it was a mistake/not for your region." )
3. You need to have purchased in and be be in a region that was eligible for the program to begin with. I bought in the US but was in Japan. I was visiting the US soon so set up an appointment but ended up not being able to go to the appointment due to life getting in the way.
4. You can try either walking into an Apple Store and waiting or opening a support ticket for something else to make a reservation, but you can't just make a reservation for AppleCare+ examination. Although as I said, I didn't end up going for this, I've been there enough recently to know, expect to waste a good chunk of your day, be ready to politely argue your case/escalate.

Overall a really ****** experience that convinced me Apple really just didn't want my money (and reminded me that my accidental insurance coverage is good enough I can just "accidentally" drop it in the bath if I ever have a problem and get reimbursed.)

My advice if you really want to do this is: Be prepared. Print out proof that this was Apple's stated policy when you bought your Mac (news articles, screenshots or prints of Apple Support Pages, etc.) Don't waste your time on the phone, go into a physical Apple Store on a day you have a lot of free time. You need to have bought your Mac in an eligible region (I believe the US was one,) and be in/able to visit an eligible reason to start this process. Be patient. Please report back if you are successful!

Thank you so much for such a detailed reply on your experience. It does seem like they are scrubbing this from their online communication compared to 1-2 years ago. I didn't feel strongly about adding it to my device but figured this was the time to consider before the warranty ran out in mid-April. If I decide to go through with it and visit an Apple store I will let you know how it goes! I've owned lots of Apple devices and never buy Apple Care which is why I was meh about this one. I'm careful with my tech and have never had accidental damage so long-term the statistics favor my current strategy.

 

[ECJ]

I just did it twice in the past month. Both products were purchased in the US and taken to a US Apple Store. I bought an M1 16" MBP from eBay with an original purchase date of 10/23/22. I called Apple Support to tell them what I wanted. They stated it had to buy AppleCare in-store after the software diagnostic and an inspection. They set up the appointment for the same day, and it went as smoothly as expected. The MBP stayed with me the entire time while they ran the software. The MBP has a case on it, and they did not ask to have it removed for the inspection. The process took about 15 minutes, and I purchased the yearly option for $149, and I can continue buying that option for six more years. A week later, I added AppleCare to my M2 12.9 IPP in-store, which only had a few months left in the one-year warranty. I went with the monthly option on this device. No one asked me for a reason why I was purchasing the AppleCare after the 60 days or asked for proof of original purchase. Hope this helps.

If you have any issues, mention this support document.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

I think this is the policy before 60 days but does it apply after 60 days too? I thought you had to physically bring it to an Apple Store?

That could be. I don't recall when exactly I looked into getting it.

Thank you so much for such a detailed reply on your experience. It does seem like they are scrubbing this from their online communication compared to 1-2 years ago. I didn't feel strongly about adding it to my device but figured this was the time to consider before the warranty ran out in mid-April. If I decide to go through with it and visit an Apple store I will let you know how it goes! I've owned lots of Apple devices and never buy Apple Care which is why I was meh about this one. I'm careful with my tech and have never had accidental damage so long-term the statistics favor my current strategy.

I've never bought AppleCare myself and same thing.. "meh" about doing it on my MBA also. Well actually I did for my 2019 iMac, but just because they are overly difficult to do any repairs if it came to it. In retrospect, I'd rather not have. Extended warranties, by and large, are just a waste of money. They are popular to offer because they pad the bottom line of these companies by quite a bit. If I had bought extended warranties on everything I've ever purchased, well it would have been a colossal waste of money with zero return. Don't buy the warranty... pretend you are self-insuring... and you will stay ahead of the game.

 

[ihakim]

That could be. I don't recall when exactly I looked into getting it.


I've never bought AppleCare myself and same thing.. "meh" about doing it on my MBA also. Well actually I did for my 2019 iMac, but just because they are overly difficult to do any repairs if it came to it. In retrospect, I'd rather not have. Extended warranties, by and large, are just a waste of money. They are popular to offer because they pad the bottom line of these companies by quite a bit. If I had bought extended warranties on everything I've ever purchased, well it would have been a colossal waste of money with zero return. Don't buy the warranty... pretend you are self-insuring... and you will stay ahead of the game.

That’s typically my rule. If I can toss it in a river and buy a new one in cash then I don’t insure so I would be breaking my rule if I bought AppleCare. I’ll simmer on it over the next few weeks!

 

[Malus120]

That’s typically my rule. If I can toss it in a river and buy a new one in cash then I don’t insure so I would be breaking my rule if I bought AppleCare. I’ll simmer on it over the next few weeks!

Something to consider.
Given that the MBP is a mobile device with a battery that will inevitably degrade one way to think of it is as prepaying for a battery replacement sometime between year 1.5 and year 3 when the capacity drops below 80% (the threshold) and getting accidental damage coverage and an extended hardware warranty for a small fee on top.

Of course, as I said, getting them to actually do it can be a hassle (at best) so if it's something you're even remotely interested in, I'd recommend at least visiting your local Apple Store and discussing it with them ASAP. You're not obligated to buy on the spot, but if you're going to have to argue it's easier to do so while you still have some time left on the warranty (I waited until the last minute unfortunately.)

That said, make sure you actually need AppleCare (check your homeowners insurance if you have it, any supplemental insurance your credit cards might have, etc)

 

[reserves]

I've been wondering this too.

I've got a brand new sealed in box MacBook Pro M2 14", the registration date of the MBP is 70 days ago.

Any updates on if I should be able to take out AppleCare on this machine?

 

[reserves]

I've been wondering this too.

I've got a brand new sealed in box MacBook Pro M2 14", the registration date of the MBP is 70 days ago.

Any updates on if I should be able to take out AppleCare on this machine?

I got AppleCare added by calling Apple direct and asking politely