Well there's your problem right there. You worked at Currys. I wouldn't trust anyone at that shop as far as I could throw them. And yes, the extended warranties they push are cons, so your experience working for an ugly company has tarnished your opinion.
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Advice From A Genius: Should You Buy AppleCare?
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Very interesting article.
A few weeks ago a relative accidentally broke their iPod. I'm not sure what happened but the screen was shattered. He took it to an Apple Store, be totally honest about it and prepared to fork over £80-120 for a replacement.
They said "oh it happens, just don't do it again" and gave him a free replacement one there and then (32gb iPod touch 4G). No Applecare, no manufacturer defect.
Then again this is the same Apple Store that gave me a free Magic Trackpad because I asked if I could have one instead of the mouse (like on the Apple site) when buying my new iMac. I did buy AppleCare with that because yeah... when it comes to a £1,700 computer I'm taking no risks even with EU warranty rules!
A few weeks ago a relative accidentally broke their iPod. I'm not sure what happened but the screen was shattered. He took it to an Apple Store, be totally honest about it and prepared to fork over £80-120 for a replacement.
They said "oh it happens, just don't do it again" and gave him a free replacement one there and then (32gb iPod touch 4G). No Applecare, no manufacturer defect.
Then again this is the same Apple Store that gave me a free Magic Trackpad because I asked if I could have one instead of the mouse (like on the Apple site) when buying my new iMac. I did buy AppleCare with that because yeah... when it comes to a £1,700 computer I'm taking no risks even with EU warranty rules!
The Sale of Goods Act gives you 6 years in England & Wales and 5 years in Scotland from purchase to seek redress. The EU directive seeks to give EU member states a minimum of two years. In other words UK>EU and has been since 1979.
A bit of a misunderstanding as to what the law provides for. The EU directive does not confer a guarantee, just a statute of limitations to lodge a complaint against faulty goods.
Specifically in the UK the Sale of Goods Act gives you about 6 months where the retailer has to prove that you were at fault (negligence, reasonable wear and tear or incorrect use) or must repair, replace or refund. After that, it is up to you to prove that any fault was due to manufacturing defects at the time of purchase. Most manufacturers give a one year guarantee which does not override your statutory rights, but is usually more generous than the law requires.
After your manufacturer's guarantee is expired, you will have to sue the retailer if he is not willing to accept fault. The Small Claims Court is a cheap way to do this and many retailers don't even bother to contest. Enforcing the court's decision is another matter, though.
As a long-time Apple user, and Apple Certified Macintosh Technician, I ALWAYS recommend AppleCare for any Apple Device. I have it on my iPhone, and it easily pays for itself simply by getting the earbuds replaced, or to get the phone replaced because the screen goes crazy, or the SIM slot stops working.
TEG
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My exception: Hard disk TV recorders. They last for me about two to 2 1/2 years. I bought a three year warranty. So every 2 1/2 years I get a brand new one for the cost of the extended warranty.
It all depends on the model. There are three iPod Touch models at different prices. AppleCare costs the same for each. There is also a repair price list: Apple will "repair" any iPod Touch for a fixed price ("repair" actually means they will give you a refurbished/new one), but the price depends on the model. So 8GB Touch: Not worth it. 32GB Touch: Very much worth it.
I linked an EU document earlier in this thread which suggested that ALL goods have guarantee of two years in ALL EU countries. The seller/OEM doesn't have to state that the warranty is two years (all warranties are mainly 1 year here in Finland as well) but what it suggests is that the seller/OEM is responsible for the product for two years.
It's not my money so you can buy AppleCare if you want to. However, I'm recommending that you find out your legal rights before you do so, because you may be paying for nothing.
Nothing new to me. I purchased it along with my new 2011 iMac. My personal philosophy about AppleCare, if it has a built-in display and costs over $1,000, AppleCare may be a wise investment.
I myself strongly recommend Apple Care. This is simply the best support I have ever encountered and that's from personal experience: I bought the first generation 11" MBA within days of its release, with Apple Care on top. Three months later I slipped on ice on a walkway and pretty much crushed the device - screen ruined, trackpad shattered, serious dents all around the case. This is not covered by Apple's warranty, but upon asking at the genious bar how much repair would cost me (without even asking if it was covered by Apple Care) I was told that considering that I have owned several Apple Products before and that I had purchased Apple Care for this device, they would make a one time exception and fix it "on the house". Now I have heard stories similar to this before, but a $900 repair (they have exchanged: Bottom case, keyboard, screen, trackpad, top case, flash storage), within a week and with no charge at all: I know it's "just" a computer / a computer manufacturer we're talking about, but still tear up today thinking about this incident. So yeah - this one definitely paid for itself. Multiple times. Try that with pretty much any other company..
But as you pointed out yourself you are an exception to the rule but does not change the fact that if electronics do not fail in the first 90 days chances are they are not going to fail.
Hard disk for example either fail early (first 90day) or they are going to fails way down the road. You had an odd fail date.
I'd also recommend Applecare, if you don't buy something Apple with a long warranty (as some university contracts give you).
I bought Applecare in 2007 for a Mac G5 and 2 x G4 Mac Laptops. The G5 blew a processor when it was about 2.5 years old and the repair would have cost £1500.
More remarkable was when the laptops failed via various interventions by cats. I was amazed that on both times when I went back the repairs were covered.
Of these failures, 1 was in the USA and 2 in the UK. Pretty good I'd say. Mind you, it's worth saying that in the previous 23 years of owning Apple kit I'd never had a product go wrong, so in the case of the G5 it could be argued that things were less reliable than before!!!
I bought Applecare in 2007 for a Mac G5 and 2 x G4 Mac Laptops. The G5 blew a processor when it was about 2.5 years old and the repair would have cost £1500.
More remarkable was when the laptops failed via various interventions by cats. I was amazed that on both times when I went back the repairs were covered.
Of these failures, 1 was in the USA and 2 in the UK. Pretty good I'd say. Mind you, it's worth saying that in the previous 23 years of owning Apple kit I'd never had a product go wrong, so in the case of the G5 it could be argued that things were less reliable than before!!!
So what you're telling me is that the government in Quebec basically makes everyone buy AppleCare then, because that money comes from somewhere. I don't know how the Apple Store Canada's prices are, but now I know what's going on when Brits complain about higher prices over there: it's to cover the replacement costs under the law! Somehow, I like having the option to buy it, instead of being forced to pay more.
Recommendations
I know several Apple techs and used Mac dealers. Their recommendation is to buy AppleCare for all-in-one models: notebooks and iMacs.
Apple desktops/towers generally run forever (except G5s) as do Mac minis.
I've been told not to buy AppleCare for iDevices, but I've heard of people with AppleCare getting a brand new iPhone or iPad to repair accidental damage.
I know several Apple techs and used Mac dealers. Their recommendation is to buy AppleCare for all-in-one models: notebooks and iMacs.
Apple desktops/towers generally run forever (except G5s) as do Mac minis.
I've been told not to buy AppleCare for iDevices, but I've heard of people with AppleCare getting a brand new iPhone or iPad to repair accidental damage.
This was a very timely post. The warranty on my 2010 iMac was just about to run out, and I wasn't going to buy Applecare. But based on this thread, I got in just under the wire. Here's hoping I don't need it, but I feel better knowing it's there.
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Screw AppleCare if you do your own repairs. The chances that something like a logic board or screen going out is slim. With the exception of the NVIDIA GPU issues in the pre-unibody MBP, Apple's stuff is pretty solid.
I just wish Apple would allow the purchase of service parts. I hate having to keep getting non-user replaceable parts from parted-out Apple devices. The OEM lookalike stuff is getting bad because of it too.
Screw AppleCare if you do your own repairs. The chances that something like a logic board or screen going out is slim. With the exception of the NVIDIA GPU issues in the pre-unibody MBP, Apple's stuff is pretty solid.
I just wish Apple would allow the purchase of service parts. I hate having to keep getting non-user replaceable parts from parted-out Apple devices. The OEM lookalike stuff is getting bad because of it too.
Applecare is one of the better extended warranties around, but take it from someone who was in retail management for MANY years:
Extended warranties are pure profit for the seller. The seller ALWAYS ends up well ahead (in many instances, the store can end up making more profit on extended warranties than it does on the goods sold). The buyer only benefits occasionally as statistically, most faults occur during the first year.
I've been using Macs since '87 and I NEVER buy extended warranties for anything. The only time a Mac of mine has failed outside the normal warranty but inside the three year period that would have been covered by Applecare if I'd had it, Apple replaced the computer anyhow.
Given the amount of Apple hardware I've owned, if I'd bought Applecare every time I'd be out of pocket to the tune of several thousand pounds - certainly enough to buy a couple of Mac Pros.
Now I'm NOT saying that people shouldn't buy Applecare - as I said, it's one of the better extended warranties around and sometimes its worth it just for piece of mind, but just bear in mind that in the long term the house always wins this particular bet
Extended warranties are pure profit for the seller. The seller ALWAYS ends up well ahead (in many instances, the store can end up making more profit on extended warranties than it does on the goods sold). The buyer only benefits occasionally as statistically, most faults occur during the first year.
I've been using Macs since '87 and I NEVER buy extended warranties for anything. The only time a Mac of mine has failed outside the normal warranty but inside the three year period that would have been covered by Applecare if I'd had it, Apple replaced the computer anyhow.
Given the amount of Apple hardware I've owned, if I'd bought Applecare every time I'd be out of pocket to the tune of several thousand pounds - certainly enough to buy a couple of Mac Pros.
Now I'm NOT saying that people shouldn't buy Applecare - as I said, it's one of the better extended warranties around and sometimes its worth it just for piece of mind, but just bear in mind that in the long term the house always wins this particular bet
I've had AppleCare pay off for me so many times that it's a complete no-brainer to buy it with most anything. I've had batteries replaced in MacBooks, a logic board replaced in an iMac and an entire iMac replaced with a newer model, all which were out of their original warranty period. and I agree with not buying it for an AppleTV, because it only costs $99.
As for the iPhone, since they're refreshed yearly, if you're going to buy each new one, then why bother? If not, though, it's worthwhile to buy AppleCare because Apple sometimes replaces or fixes them for user-caused damages. My brother spilled a milkshake on his and it ruined the earpiece and receiver module. A friend dropped his and cracked the glass; Apple replaced it. Both were out of their original warranties. Plus, it might help to resell your phone.
As for the iPhone, since they're refreshed yearly, if you're going to buy each new one, then why bother? If not, though, it's worthwhile to buy AppleCare because Apple sometimes replaces or fixes them for user-caused damages. My brother spilled a milkshake on his and it ruined the earpiece and receiver module. A friend dropped his and cracked the glass; Apple replaced it. Both were out of their original warranties. Plus, it might help to resell your phone.
Funny thing, I just purchased a MacBook Air and got an electronic receipt. I also purchased AppleCare, but got the AppleCare Protection Plan booklet (in English and French) in the mail. What an unnecessary expense and waste of paper. I'm surprised Apple hasn't figured out yet that they should send a PDF of the Plan.
Another nice thing about AC is that it gets you phone support for anything regarding your device after the initial warranty period. Sometimes the solution to a non-obvious problem can be fixed over the phone.
The canadian prices are very close or on parity with US prices (example, the base 11" MBA is 999$ in Canada and in the US). Apple prices their Canadian offering based on the currency exchange rates, mostly. Sometimes they are slower to adjust when our currency is worth more, but it's never close to the price of AppleCare.
So no, not everyone "buys" AppleCare, we get it for free, if we bother to know our rights under our consummer protection act. You can also buy AppleCare if you want to, they still sell it here in Canada, but all extended warranties are worth crap in Quebec thanks to our laws.
Next time, actually bother checking the Apple Store for prices before you spout non-sense like you just did. I can't believe what kind of an ignorant comment you just made.
It's also a good idea to check with your homeowners insurance provider. For $5.00 a month extra, my MacBook Pro, PowerBook G4, iPhone, etc... are completely covered--I just take them into the Apple Store and my insurance company pays the bill.
I did this last year for my dying 17" PowerBook G4 and now I have a brand new completely rebuilt PowerBook G4 on my desk. When they said they'd give me a new computer if they found five defects, I was really hoping they meant a new 17" MacBook Pro, but I'm happy with what I got.
I did this last year for my dying 17" PowerBook G4 and now I have a brand new completely rebuilt PowerBook G4 on my desk. When they said they'd give me a new computer if they found five defects, I was really hoping they meant a new 17" MacBook Pro, but I'm happy with what I got.
That's because people fail to realize that UK prices include VAT (which is 20%) whereas US prices are tax free and the tax will be added based on your location (since the sales tax is state dependent). Do the math and the prices are actually very close.