Apple to Charge $279 to Repair or Replace a Damaged HomePod Without AppleCare+

[Cloudkicker]

I bet that nice fabric covering is going to attract the attention from more than a few less well behaved cats.

Those cats will have dust in between their claws. Oooh! I'd like to see a Consumer Reports on how well they attract or repel dust... the HomePod, not the cats.

Edit: Speaking of CR-- they don't recommend extended warranties (even if it's boutique-y AC).

 

[Wags]

Repair charge is most likely more than cost to build. Charge is probably just the same as the out of warranty purchase price. How much really risking with $39 AC and another $39 to repair

 

[run1976]

as somebody who lives alone and has no pets this thing will never get damaged with where it has been put.

Somehow I do not feel envy but pity

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Often. Apple cables are pretty terrible

This one is braided. And if you're moving your TV so often that you fray the cable, that's all on you, not the electronics maker.

Having owned hundreds of Apple products over the years, I've never once had a problem with the power cable. Sounds like user error on your part.

 

[coolfactor]

This is really annoying how they continue to make all of their devices virtually un-repairable and extremely expensive.

The price has to do with the tremendously complex technology packed into these devices, which in turn makes them difficult to repair.

I love how they make devices that don't need to be repaired very often.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It’s an individual call. Things have hit the floor in my house I never would have thought.

Obviously gadget insurance is an individual call. Sure HomePod might fall off the shelf. My $5000 projector might shoot down from the ceiling too.

 

[Zzzoom]

That is disgusting.

 

[The Game 161]

Somehow I do not feel envy but pity

Don’t need to, I don’t have time for pets so wouldn’t be fair.

The life I live is far better than being married and having kids trust me. Don’t think I could stand having a life that boring day after day

 

[ani4ani]

The price has to do with the tremendously complex technology packed into these devices, which in turn makes them difficult to repair.

I love how they make devices that don't need to be repaired very often.

.......at these prices they wouldn’t be repaired ever!

 

[IJ Reilly]

Edit: Speaking of CR-- they don't recommend extended warranties (even if it's boutique-y AC).

Extended warranties are a ripoff in general. They are very high profit margin products for the companies selling them, which should tell us everything we need to know about them.

 

[Piggie]

Be interesting to see if this device, due to software updates over a few years, becomes pretty unusable and a much more powerful version is needed.

If this lasts as long as it should do, then Apple would not be very happy as they will sell you one and that's it for many many years....

Unlike Phones etc, this SHOULD do the same job as well for the next 10+ years if not much longer.

Apple make money from hardware sales, so what do you think they have planned deliberately in place to make this device become obsolete and requires an upgrade after x years?

 

[Doomtomb]

$279 should've been the original MSRP

 

[Keebler]

I've never purchased any type of care for a speaker. They should last a long time. I've had our home theatre speakers for almost 15 years. They don't move. They work flawlessly. I guess maybe more people will move the Homepod. I wouldn't buy Applecare for it and I have Applecare for every Apple thing I own.

 

[Swift]

The bad thing is Apple "tests" new sales model with repair costs and enforced Apple Care. The very bad thing it will become daily practice soon.

To force you to buy AC+. Can’t see any other reason at that price point.

You're not forced. Quite sure that the cost for those innards-- likely something replaced as a unit-- would be just about the whole cost of the speaker. I mean, take a look at it. 7 microphones, tweeters, one advanced 4" woofer, not sure what parts can be replaced. Mind you, if all you have a problem with is a frayed power cord or a tear in the speaker grille, that would be a snap.
[doublepost=1518207144][/doublepost]

I've never purchased any type of care for a speaker. They should last a long time. I've had our home theatre speakers for almost 15 years. They don't move. They work flawlessly. I guess maybe more people will move the Homepod. I wouldn't buy Applecare for it and I have Applecare for every Apple thing I own.

I'm with you. If it sounds like they say, $350 is a bargain. I wouldn't leave one outside, in the weather, and tell the kids they can't touch. I think repairs will generally be small. I'm curious if the power cord, which is cloth, will last the full duration of the HomePod.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

This thread is full of people that said they'd never buy a HomePod, complaining about the repair price of something they'll never buy.

"The Porsche 911 Turbo is far too much to repair! How dare they charge so much for repairs on such an item!!!!!"

 

[Biggey]

I don't know what AC cost for HomePod but it seems excessive to charge $78 for the repair to people who have already purchased AC. They are charging 22% the price of a new HomePod to the people who have "insurance". I only have to pay a 20% copay when I use my Anthem healthcare insurance.

The article states that repair cost includes the initial cost of AppleCare+ which is $39. The deductible is also $39. Hence the total cost of $78 they stated.

 

[twistedpixel8]

I don't think I've ever seen a repair cost that close to the original purchase price.

What's the point?

That’s exactly the point. They do it with Apple Watch too. I’m on my last tether with Apple these days. One more kick in the teeth to consumers and I’m Duncan Bannatyne.
[doublepost=1518208609][/doublepost]

This thread is full of people that said they'd never buy a HomePod, complaining about the repair price of something they'll never buy.

"The Porsche 911 Turbo is far too much to repair! How dare they charge so much for repairs on such an item!!!!!"

Your point is that we are already dissatisfied with the product so we are not allowed to be even more dissatisfied without purchasing it? Do you hear yourself?

 

[imola.zhp]

What would break on this product?

 

[pankajdoharey]

This can be said of every single consumer electronic device out there. Chips and electronics as a whole are becoming smaller in every device. This isn't just an Apple thing. Look at how repairable modern car issues are.

You are absolutely right, every component the chips, the processors , ram is getting cheaper and cheaper in android ecosystem and in Apple everything is increasing at exorbitant prices. I mean we are looking in an era where Quad Core arm processors systems with ram and everything can be bought at $9 for instance https://getchip.com/ And there are tons of maker boards out there which are so powerful https://shop.udoo.org/x86.html this is an indicative of dropping hardware prices yet every apple phone in more and more expensive and unreachable.

 

[twistedpixel8]

I've never purchased any type of care for a speaker. They should last a long time. I've had our home theatre speakers for almost 15 years. They don't move. They work flawlessly. I guess maybe more people will move the Homepod. I wouldn't buy Applecare for it and I have Applecare for every Apple thing I own.

You are absolutely right, every component the chips, the processors , ram is getting cheaper and cheaper in android ecosystem and in Apple everything is increasing at exorbitant prices. I mean we are looking in an era where Quad Core arm processors systems with ram and everything can be bought at $9 for instance https://getchip.com/ And there are tons of maker boards out there which are so powerful https://shop.udoo.org/x86.html this is an indicative of dropping hardware prices yet every apple phone in more and more expensive and unreachable.

And you get a whopping 64GB storage on your $999 iPhone... Apple are filthy these days purely because too any sheep will jump off a cliff for the Apple logo.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

You are absolutely right, every component the chips, the processors , ram is getting cheaper and cheaper in android ecosystem and in Apple everything is increasing at exorbitant prices. I mean we are looking in an era where Quad Core arm processors systems with ram and everything can be bought at $9 for instance https://getchip.com/ And there are tons of maker boards out there which are so powerful https://shop.udoo.org/x86.html this is an indicative of dropping hardware prices yet every apple phone in more and more expensive and unreachable.

You're comparing apples to oranges. Your comparison doesn't work.
[doublepost=1518209172][/doublepost]

Your point is that we are already dissatisfied with the product so we are not allowed to be even more dissatisfied without purchasing it? Do you hear yourself?

Sure seems like a waste of time to spend your day complaining about something you have no intention of purchasing. That's really the best you have going on in your life. "The home owners insurance on that $20 million home is too much money. It's just ridiculous."

 

[Tech198]

Why would you drop your Homepod....? It's sits on a desk

 

[twistedpixel8]

You're comparing apples to oranges. Your comparison doesn't work.
[doublepost=1518209172][/doublepost]

Sure seems like a waste of time to spend your day complaining about something you have no intention of purchasing. That's really the best you have going on in your life. "The home owners insurance on that $20 million home is too much money. It's just ridiculous."

Not sure anyone spends their day complaining about it. Most of us simply voiced our opinion once at how outrageous Apple’s pricing has become and how disrespectful it is to their loyal customers. Who are you to say what we can and can’t discuss? Is your last name Putin?

 

[44267547]

$279 should've been the original MSRP

Why? Because that's Apple is charging for Applecare? I don't think $350 is necessarily unreasonable for a product that the HomePod is boasting with the audio, even given some of it's limited features. With the amount of technology packed in the HomePod, it incorporates more than what some are anticipating if you have not experienced it yet.One justifies the price point based off what do you have an appreciation for the product and what it delivers. For some, $350 is worth the investment.

 

[MiamiC70]

Well, they shouldn't buy the HomePod unless they've got more money than brains. I've never said that about an Apple product before, but this one is ridiculous.

And homeowners insurance policies in the US include your home's contents by default. I've never seen a homeowner's policy that doesn't. Now, there's a deductible that's usually higher than the cost of this stupid outrageously priced speaker, so I suppose if you're going to buy one and put it where it'll get smashed by your trash compactor or something you should probably get the AppleCare, but if you have lightning damage you're typically going to have more than one thing zapped, you'll almost certainly be going over the deductible anyway, and your insurance is going to buy you a new one.

The best individual call is to not buy a HomePod. Apple is charging a highway robbery price for this speaker.

Sounds like you lack both. Fortunately, one you can aspire to make more of if only you had the other.