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Apple Protection Care.. worth it? what does it do?

M

maxy123

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 29, 2012
18
0
Hi guys, as many might seen me posting my questions for my new 13" MBA 2012. I haven't purchased any Apple protection care. Do I need it? Today there is an offer to purchase the protection care.

What does the protection care does? what kind of repairs they offer? Can anyone tell me the examples? Since I'm new to Mac, I want to know before I purchase this one.

Note: Usually I'm maintain my electronics very well, so would I need this one?

Thanks
 
AppleCare
AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac or Apple Display

  • You can buy AppleCare any time during the first year warranty period, so you don't have to buy it at time of purchase.
  • You can check your remaining warranty and/or AppleCare coverage here
  • AppleCare will extend the 1 year warranty for an additional 2 years, for a total of 3 years coverage from the date of your Mac purchase.
    It also extends telephone support from 90 days, which is included with your original warranty, to a total of 3 years.
  • You cannot buy AppleCare again or renew it once it expires.
  • Neither the Apple Warranty nor AppleCare will cover damage from accidents, spills, etc. They only cover manufacturing defects.
  • AppleCare+ provides some coverage for accidental damage, but is only available for the iPad and iPhone, not for Apple computers.
  • Neither the Apple Warranty nor AppleCare will cover batteries that have worn out. They only cover defective batteries.
  • For more detailed questions, read the AppleCare Protection Plan (pdf) agreement.

As to whether AppleCare is worth it or not, that's a matter of opinion. You'll find lots of opinions on both sides, with roughly 75% saying it's worth it. You really need to decide if it's worth it to you. If you want more information, you can search the forum, where you'll find dozens, if not hundreds of threads asking "is AppleCare worth it?" The overall consensus seems to be about 75% in favor of it.
 
Before you decide either way, take a look at the steeply-discounted price of AppleCare from certain third-party resellers, such as B&H Photo Video.
 
The laptop's are made in China and not the highest quality, compared to Macs made years ago. Not to get off topic, but I've got Macs from the '80's that are still running while I typically have to replace the Chinese made crap every 3-4 years in my office.

You used to never hear of people using Macs having problems, but now it's very common. So, that's a good reason to look at AppleCare. The reason not to look at it is that Apple's folks are prone to accuse you of dipping whatever you send in for repair in water or dropping it to get out of making the repair. Personally, I've had good luck with them, but I've known plenty of others who have had their repairs denied because of the reasons I mentioned.
 
maxy123 said:
Hi guys, as many might seen me posting my questions for my new 13" MBA 2012. I haven't purchased any Apple protection care. Do I need it? Today there is an offer to purchase the protection care.

What does the protection care does? what kind of repairs they offer? Can anyone tell me the examples? Since I'm new to Mac, I want to know before I purchase this one.

Note: Usually I'm maintain my electronics very well, so would I need this one?

Thanks
Click to expand...


I was wary of AppleCare as well when I bought my first Mac in 2009. When the HDD failed(Western Digital's fault), I qualified for a repair to be done in my home. The service tech came to my home and repaired everything and my computer was new again. He even cleaned out the computer and double checked all the connections to make sure everything was right. In my case, AppleCare was definitely worth it.
 
I think is is worth it. I've never need it (knock on wood). It it is just worth it for me for the peace of mind.
 
stockscalper said:
The laptop's are made in China and not the highest quality, compared to Macs made years ago. Not to get off topic, but I've got Macs from the '80's that are still running while I typically have to replace the Chinese made crap every 3-4 years in my office.

You used to never hear of people using Macs having problems, but now it's very common. So, that's a good reason to look at AppleCare. The reason not to look at it is that Apple's folks are prone to accuse you of dipping whatever you send in for repair in water or dropping it to get out of making the repair. Personally, I've had good luck with them, but I've known plenty of others who have had their repairs denied because of the reasons I mentioned.
Click to expand...

Lol. That's BS. It doesn't matter where it's made. It's the design and manufacturing process, which would be the same if they did it here in the US. It's just cheaper to do in China. And what machines from the 80s are you still running? Lol.

Ever since I became an AmEx holder, AppleCare is worth less to me. I mean, it'd only be 1 extra year of warranty. $200 for the 3rd year, on a machine that costed only $1000-1200 isn't really appealing to me.
 
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GREEN4U said:
Lol. That's BS. It doesn't matter where it's made. It's the design and manufacturing process, which would be the same if they did it here in the US. It's just cheaper to do in China. And what machines from the 80s are you still running? Lol.

Ever since I became an AmEx holder, AppleCare is worth less to me. I mean, it'd only be 1 extra year of warranty. $200 for the 3rd year, on a machine that costed only $1000-1200 isn't really appealing to me.
Click to expand...

No....It's not ********. There is a HUGE difference in QC. I am as big an Apple fan as anyone here, been using them since my first SE30 in 1987. I will continue to use them but the chances of getting one that 100% is slim to none. I feel that if manufacturing was stateside that Apple could keep a much better eye on quality, sure they have people in place at Foxcon and wherever else they make these things but work ethics in China suck, I know.
 
The minimum repair charge, labor plus parts will almost always exceed what you would have paid for AppleCare.

There is a life cycle reason the regular warranty only covers a year.

AppleCare will get you the full three years for a small additional percentage.

It will make the machine whole and in some cases even upgrade you to a newer platform.

AppleCare has replaced batteries for me that had not exceeded their charge cycle count but were far below capacity.

Have bought it and would rather depreciate a machine over three useful years rather than one or two.
I will buy it again.
 
How could anyone possibly entertain answering this question? It's asked several times a day.
 
GREEN4U said:
Lol. That's BS. It doesn't matter where it's made. It's the design and manufacturing process, which would be the same if they did it here in the US. It's just cheaper to do in China. And what machines from the 80s are you still running? Lol.

Ever since I became an AmEx holder, AppleCare is worth less to me. I mean, it'd only be 1 extra year of warranty. $200 for the 3rd year, on a machine that costed only $1000-1200 isn't really appealing to me.
Click to expand...

I am an amex holder as well, platinum, what were you referring to in terms of warranty?
 
GGJstudios said:
AppleCare
AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac or Apple Display

  • You can buy AppleCare any time during the first year warranty period, so you don't have to buy it at time of purchase.
  • You can check your remaining warranty and/or AppleCare coverage here
  • AppleCare will extend the 1 year warranty for an additional 2 years, for a total of 3 years coverage from the date of your Mac purchase.
    It also extends telephone support from 90 days, which is included with your original warranty, to a total of 3 years.
  • You cannot buy AppleCare again or renew it once it expires.
  • Neither the Apple Warranty nor AppleCare will cover damage from accidents, spills, etc. They only cover manufacturing defects.
  • AppleCare+ provides some coverage for accidental damage, but is only available for the iPad and iPhone, not for Apple computers.
  • Neither the Apple Warranty nor AppleCare will cover batteries that have worn out. They only cover defective batteries.
  • For more detailed questions, read the AppleCare Protection Plan (pdf) agreement.

As to whether AppleCare is worth it or not, that's a matter of opinion. You'll find lots of opinions on both sides, with roughly 75% saying it's worth it. You really need to decide if it's worth it to you. If you want more information, you can search the forum, where you'll find dozens, if not hundreds of threads asking "is AppleCare worth it?" The overall consensus seems to be about 75% in favor of it.
Click to expand...
Why are you answering so in detail? (just curious).
 
black card here.. wassup?

now that we are done comparing our internet epeens.. most amex cards (green, gold, plat, etc) give an extra year of warranty if the purchase was made using amex.

BigB82 said:
I am an amex holder as well, platinum, what were you referring to in terms of warranty?
Click to expand...
 
The MBA is likely safer than most computers because their is no HDD or optical drive, so no moving parts. That said I treat my MBP like a baby, no problems until a month ago, I now have had the logic board, battery, and HDD replaced. I go out of AppleCare in three weeks, was it worth it the past two years when it went unused, absolutely, because those repairs exceeded $1k.

If buying a brand new computer unexpectedly is no big deal for you you may not need it, but then you can afford to buy AppleCare. I think it's worth it for the peace of mind.
 
GGJstudios said:
Why shouldn't I? The OP asked several questions. Why not provide answers?
Click to expand...

I'm not saying you should not, I'm just curious why your answers are so detailed. Do you enjoy it? (I really don't try to troll here, it's just the first time I see a person that is answering everybody with such detailed responds and I'm impressed).
 
mobilebuddha said:
now that we are done comparing our internet epeens.. most amex cards (green, gold, plat, etc) give an extra year of warranty if the purchase was made using amex.
Click to expand...

I have a HSBC Premier credit card and this also gives an extra year of warranty on purchases.
 
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Moshe1010 said:
I'm not saying you should not, I'm just curious why your answers are so detailed. Do you enjoy it? (I really don't try to troll here, it's just the first time I see a person that is answering everybody with such detailed responds and I'm impressed).
Click to expand...
It's mostly copy pasta from his threads I think.
 
Moshe1010 said:
I'm not saying you should not, I'm just curious why your answers are so detailed. Do you enjoy it? (I really don't try to troll here, it's just the first time I see a person that is answering everybody with such detailed responds and I'm impressed).
Click to expand...
After years of answering thousands of the same questions and knowing what follow-up questions are frequently asked, I have compiled and refined answers that address many of these. Rather than answer one at a time, and have a thread go back and forth with multiple exchanges before their questions are answered, many have found it much more helpful to have many of their questions addressed by a single post. They can use what information applies to them and disregard that part that they already know or doesn't apply.
Dangerous Theory said:
It's mostly copy pasta from his threads I think.
Click to expand...
I don't use copy/paste. I use a text expander.
 
It would cost me £199 to cover an £860 purchase :eek:

Is there a cheaper way of getting it? Surely Amazon SquareTrade is a better option to cover 'costs' at only £80?
 
mba123 said:
It would cost me £199 to cover an £860 purchase :eek:

Is there a cheaper way of getting it? Surely Amazon SquareTrade is a better option to cover 'costs' at only £80?
Click to expand...
If you qualify for an education discount, that would help.
 
mba123 said:
It would cost me £199 to cover an £860 purchase :eek:

Is there a cheaper way of getting it? Surely Amazon SquareTrade is a better option to cover 'costs' at only £80?
Click to expand...

HE store gives you the 3 yr warranty for no extra, if you happen legible for it.
 
To the person who asked, Amex doubles the manufacturer warranty when you pay for an item with your AmEx card. This effectively gives you 2 years of warranty on Apple products. They also give you 3 months of theft or damage protection for 3 months from date of purchase. When you file a claim they can reimburse you up to the amount you put on your AmEx card. You also need to show proof of Occurance, so for example a police report, insurance claim, or Genius Bar quote/receipt.


If you split a purchase, say put only $750 on AmEx for a $1500 laptop, Amex will only reimburse you up to $750.
 
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