I paid for both of my Mac's cash. In this economy if I don't have the money to buy something, I don't buy it, so I don't have the CC protecting. Not everyone pays with credit cards in this time of crappy economy. Like I said I hear stories on here all the time drives going bad, logic boards go bad. Apple doesn't make the hard drives, video cards and other parts for it's computers and anything can go wrong. I love the stories where something does go wrong after 2 years and the person doesn't have Apple Care and pays 2-3 times more then Apple Care would have cost. You think Apple makes all it's parts on it's own? Mac's are man made so there will be mistakes because of it.
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Apple care or Best buy?
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I paid for both of my Mac's cash. In this economy if I don't have the money to buy something, I don't buy it, so I don't have the CC protecting. Not everyone pays with credit cards in this time of crappy economy. Like I said I hear stories on here all the time drives going bad, logic boards go bad. Apple doesn't make the hard drives, video cards and other parts for it's computers and anything can go wrong. I love the stories where something does go wrong after 2 years and the person doesn't have Apple Care and pays 2-3 times more then Apple Care would have cost. You think Apple makes all it's parts on it's own? Mac's are man made so there will be mistakes because of it.
Bravo. Luckily my HD hasn't died yet, but I use Time Machine so should anything go wrong hopefully Apple care would cover it before I would pay out of pocket. My friend who is also a Digital Media major, did not use Time Machine and her HD Failed. Lost a lot of portfolio data which is priceless to begin with but had she not had the extended Apple Care plan she would be out more on top of that to replace the drive. I think the next investment for her will be a backup drive.
As long as you pay off your CC on time, it costs you nothing to use a CC on a purchase so why would the state of the economy matter? You hear horror stories here because this is where people come when they have problems. Extended warranties are extremely profitable for companies. People should spend a few minutes thinking about why this is so and learn to balance the probabilities involved with the costs. $350 of insurance on a $1000 item (its value in the 3rd year) is excessive in my mind, maybe not in everyone's though.
People who get a piece of junk that needs multiple repairs then saying Apple Care is worth it are missing the point. The computer shouldn't NEED so much work to begin with. Companies used to make good on their sales...if they sold you a lemon they would replace it but now you need some "insurance" to guard against them not holding up their end of the contract. When you pay a couple grand for something you are paying that with the idea it will work and not be defective. Requiring customers to pay MORE for insurance is unethical and should be illegal. If you do not get what you paid for they should make it right regardless of what their legalese says. In my experience they haven't done so and for others they get brand new computers better than what they paid for. It really depends on who you get helping you not what is right or wrong.
You may not think that $350 is worth it on a $1,000 item, however I tend to look at it this way, if the motherboard dies ONCE out of the initial warranty whether that be one or two years, would you rather spend $350 to get it fixed or $1,000+?? I know which way I'm leaning.
I think you may be missing the point of discussion. It isn't whether the current system is broken. Would I rather have the coverage included in the original price of the computer and not have to pay the extra money?? Yes, who would not want that?
The key thing to remember though is the fact that nothing is perfect. Should products work flawlessly or be replaced free of charge should something go wrong? Yes. But nothing and no one is perfect. If all companies replaced everything that went wrong with a system free of charge many would be struggling more than what they already are to even make a profit on their products.
That is the current way the system is set-up and until that changes, there's not much anyone can do. I'll take my extended warranty compared to getting caught with my pants down.
Why would I want to use a CC, wait for the bill then pay it off? I just paid for it and be done with it. Also like I said I only paid $100.00 for my Apple Care, not $350. Also with CC warranties, it's such a hassle. I did it once before on my old Gateway and I was without a computer for over a month because they took so long. I rather pay $100.00, take it to Apple and have them deal with it. Time is money.
If you use a CC, you get the warranty, that's why you use it. My CC also gives me back 2% of my purchase so that is another incentive. I never had any hassle getting my CC company to pay for warranty repair. It was usually arranged within a single phone call. Maybe you should change your CC company.
If you can get legit AppleCare for $$100 on a MBP then that is probably worth it as it represents only 10% of the retail value of the item in the year its covered (assuming a CC purchase). Its obviously even a better deal if you purchase by cash.
Are you behind the times? You can pay your credit card off online the day you use it...you don't have to wait for any bill. Some people buy with a CC for ease or added protection. Try buying online with cash or a check.
I don't get your idea that paying with cash is somehow so much easier. Even if I am buying in the shop I use my credit card for major purchases because of the benefits it gives like damage protection etc. Sure cash for groceries and small things makes sense...but why not use it if it can help with extra benefits? It has nothing to do with the economy you pay the same.
Not necessarily. Some companies do not post their credit card sales the day you use the card. I have seen things like gas purchases appear on my statement up to two days or so after I was actually at the pump. But regardless, you are right you can literally pay the card off by at least the end of the week at least instead of waiting til the end of the month.
Thanks for reminding me. I have to pay mine off now.
Good question. I have a good answer. I put everything on one of two CCs (Costco AMEX + Credit Union VISA Platinum) that give me annual cash back rebates. I wait to pay them as long as I can before they become due and accrue interest. Meanwhile, the cash I have to pay for them sits in an interest bearing checking account. I don't put anything on a card I don't have cash to pay for, but between the cash back rebates and the interest bearing checking account, I get $1200+ back every year and I pay $0 in CC interest. That's $100+ free money every month.
I pay with my Bank card, it's used as a CC. I just don't want ANY MORE CC debt then I have. I am paying them down and very happy they are almost paid off and I haven't used them in a while. People use a CC thinking they will pay it off right away, but then something else comes up and it gets put aside. Why do you think we're in these hard times now?
I get points using my banks CC even if it comes out of my checking count and last we looked we can get a few $100 in gift cards from stores, so yes I do get the benefits also.
A few $100 gift cards vs my $1200+ cash that I can use anywhere (or put back in my interest bearing account). Hmmm...doesn't sound like the same benefits to me. I'll take the latter.
Anyway, the point is, there is absolutely nothing inherently wrong with using CCs. It's not about the economy. It's about discipline, management, and good judgement. People with poor spending habits tend to get themselves in trouble with CCs regardless of the economy.
I can get cash also, I was just telling an example and that was only 1 month. Last year I think I got way over $2000 in cash with my card (either with money or other stuff). What we're starting to do is all the money we get back is to save it for vacations over the summer.A few $100 gift cards vs my $1200+ cash that I can use anywhere (or put back in my interest bearing account). Hmmm...doesn't sound like the same benefits to me. I'll take the latter.
Anyway, the point is, there is absolutely nothing inherently wrong with using CCs. It's not about the economy. It's about discipline, management, and good judgement. People with poor spending habits tend to get themselves in trouble with CCs regardless of the economy.
I'm not saying CC are bad, not even sure how it came to this subject. I just rather not use my CC unless I have too, that's me and how I do things. Is that wrong?
This came too that someone was saying the warranty on a CC was good enough and when I used it once I was with out a computer for over a month. I personally rather spend $100 for Apple Care, take it to the Apple Store, and have them deal with it.
You asked the question yourself!
I hate carrying cash, and getting it is the hassle to me. So CCs work better in my case. I think I've had the same $10 bill in my wallet all month, but I never said using cash is wrong. 'Nuff said.
I just find it bizarre you think you have no control over this. You are not incurring debt if you are using it as a payment method. If you CHOOSE to not pay it then that is your fault not the card's. We are not in hard times now because people buy with credit cards. We are in hard times now because of dishonesty and irresponsibility of several people/companies.
You seem to think paying with a credit card is evil and will make you and others incur debt beyond their control. People's choices are the problem not the card. Put the blame where it belongs and don't put lack of self control on a piece of plastic.
You asked the question yourself!
I know I saw after I posted. Lol
I never said I carry cash. I use my bank card that is hooked to my checking account. It's the same as cash since I don't have a bill to pay off.
Everyone has thier thing so what ever works for you is great. Now I said why I would get Apple Care, it works for me and ithink the price I got it for is worth it. From the issues I had using my cc to get my computer fixed was a pain and not worth it at all.
I hope for your sake that the AC you paid way less for than what Apple offers it for with their student discount, is not fake. Click the link in my signature for some interesting facts. Did they atleast send you the AppleCare box, sealed? The student discount from Apple.com is $183 for the Macbook (What is the collectors edition of the MacBook??)...
Also, I paid cash for my MBP as well. If people want to pay cash, rather than using a CC, that is their choice. Don't see why it is such a huge problem.
THe short-lived aluminum MacBook that became the 13.3" MacBook Pro.
Because you give up the associated 1 year warranty extension (plus possible 1-2% rebate) that using the card provides at no cost to you.
I got it from eBay and from a good seller. My boss also got his AC from this same person and used his AC to get his Superdrive fixed over a year later from the date he got his AC, so I know mine is good also.
This guy has 100% feedback as a seller and been selling Apple Care for years with out any issues. Like I said, you have to be careful no matter what you buy on eBay. I actually got something on eBay where a guy listed it wrong and I came out ahead.
He emailed me the code because I needed it fast. I forgot how close my warranty was to being gone and then he sent me the box and got it about a week later.
This guy has is a "top seller" and like I said my boss used him years ago and he didn't get a box, but he took his Macbook to get fixed a year after he got his Apple Care and no issues. After hearing his story this is why I went to this guy.
He has almost 5000 feed backs for the 12 month and the 6 that are negative are ones saying he emailed to code too slow, but they get the code emailed and a box shipped (if they wanted too), so I wasn't worried.
My advice to friends and family..
1) If you can afford AppleCare, no matter what machine, buy it.
2) If it is a desktop, see #1.
3) If it is a laptop, buy AppleCare because they take much more abuse.
I can't tell you how many times AppleCare has come through for me!
As far as the Geek Squad, a friends business was having trouble with their router/firewall and after several visits and $600 dollars, the Geek Squad still couldn't fix it. He asked me to look at it and 20 minutes later everything was running. $600 dollar lesson on competence of the Geek Squad for him.
1) If you can afford AppleCare, no matter what machine, buy it.
2) If it is a desktop, see #1.
3) If it is a laptop, buy AppleCare because they take much more abuse.
I can't tell you how many times AppleCare has come through for me!
As far as the Geek Squad, a friends business was having trouble with their router/firewall and after several visits and $600 dollars, the Geek Squad still couldn't fix it. He asked me to look at it and 20 minutes later everything was running. $600 dollar lesson on competence of the Geek Squad for him.
i remember the days when Dell offered a lifetime warranty, had profit margins as high as Apple and you could chat with their tech support people for hours about things. a lot of people were blogging back then that it would be great if they took the warranty cost out and let us people who knew what we were doing fix it for less.
now people are complaining that all the computer makers did this
I wish Apple would offer three year warranties by default without charging extra.
Even *DELL* does this; their default warranty is three years. It's one of the few things I actually like about Dell.
Even *DELL* does this; their default warranty is three years. It's one of the few things I actually like about Dell.