Does Bose, Audio Engines, B&O, Klipsch, Yamaha, Magnepan, Polk Audio, Bowers and Wilkins, MartinLogan, etc, offer warranty coverage for most of your life? No? Then why should Apple?
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Apple to Charge $279 to Repair or Replace a Damaged HomePod Without AppleCare+
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Does Bose, Audio Engines, B&O, Klipsch, Yamaha, Magnepan, Polk Audio, Bowers and Wilkins, MartinLogan, etc, offer warranty coverage for most of your life? No? Then why should Apple?
Yes, but this is a more complicated design, much more complicated than an active speaker. Its more than speakers, crossover and amplifier, its got some sort of motherboard with CPU, microphones etc so more to go wrong.
The physical speaker might not but the other components are no less likely to break than any other hi tech equipment.
I've had a couple of Sonos Play:1 speakers pack in in me but both times Sonos sent replacements under their 2 year warranty (and before I had sent the old ones back)
To be fair, this isn't just a speaker with 2 terminals for input. It's also an amplifier, and it's also basically an iPhone with all that comes with (SoC, storage, microphones, etc.).
Yes, plain speakers in a wooden box and a pair of terminals are pretty resilient. But to be fair the "speaker" aspect of these smart speakers is but a minor component. Devices with more complicated circuits and miniaturized components have a tendency to break just from time. For example, cooling and heating cycles from the SoC working actively to sleeping is will cause stress on the solder points over time. Microphones might get clogged with dust. The capacitors in the camp will wear down over time and eventually fail.
Sure, but AppleCare is insurance. And traditionally an insurance premium is based on risk -- the likelihood of the insurance company having to pay out. It's why flood insurance for buildings on the water is more expensive than building more inland. You make my case for why AppleCare here is overpriced -- sure there is a chance of dropping a HomePod, but it's more remote than dropping your iPhone. It's simply to based on risk. It's based on Apple really wanting customers to just buy a new unit.
Who would make a home owner's claim on a $349 device?
It's really permanently connected? Where does that even begin to make any sense, plus I thought it was an EU standard that the cords have to be detachable?
Someone downstream was taunting you with 'how can you fray the cord'. Easy. It's not detachable, it gets yanked. Tears, and a trip to the Apple Store.
The HomePod is the most expensive cat scratching-post in recent memory.
Why is it always amateur hour around here? It's not even funny and it adds nothing to the discussion. Does a cat scratching post have the best hardware in the smart speaker space?
Stop posting for likes from Apple haters and add something to the discussion.
Yup,...cats would love HomePod's woven texture. Be careful!
this was really funny; because i actually have to buy my apple product retail no employee discount.
Thanks for monopolizing your presumptions about what's fun, useful or negative.
Thinking different, on afterthought, doesn't fit a walled garden indeed
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AppleCare for mobile devices makes sense. I never purchase extended warranties on things like televisions, stereos, etc. Never needed one either. Anytime something failed for me, it was well beyond any warranty period.
No...but at least here in the UK most offer 5 year warranty. (Because they have confidence in their products and respect for their customers).
Apple are just basically making / designing products that are not suitable for their environment if they really think covering their liabilities is going cost this much. Honestly how can they charge 80%+ for the privilege of a cheap(er) repair. Much like I wouldn’t call Apple crooks for this behaviour (but they are acting like one), I wouldn’t call folks mugs for taking this up ( but they would be acting like one)
My AudioEngine A5 died after 3.5 years of service. Warranty on that was 3 years.
AudioEngine folks told me that they will not repair it but offer a discount on a set of new speakers. I said no and sold the damn thing for a massive loss, swearing off AudioEngine. The guy who bought it from me put in 40 bucks worth of components and got it working again.
I bet the A5 is not even as complex as the HomePod cause it is not a smart speaker. The HomePod is complex and more importantly Apple's first attempt at this kind of a thing. Off late, I have lost faith in Apple's first attempts, be it either in hardware or software. I would stay away unless a really good Black Friday deal this year chomps a 100$ from the price.
apple care for homePod is $39 but first time incident fee is $78. So $120 total. Cheaper than 278 but really the default 1 year warranty is pretty bad for non consumer caused issues. Most speakers have 3-5 years. A lot of speakers last 10-20 years. My $400 home audio TV setup with receiver and 5.1 speakers is 15 years old and is still working fine. My sonos's are running fine and they are over 5 years.
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That UK price without AC+ has got to be wrong - the £319 UK repair price is the full purchase price whereas both the US and Australia repair prices are both around 80% of the purchase price.
It cost me £49 to add a three year warranty (increased to 5 years) for my near £1000 Marantz amp...and I would say that is a whole new paradigm of complexity against basically something that is positioned once and never has any physical interaction for its’ entire life. (In most cases]
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And nearly as tuneful!