Apple too cheap to pay for license that would make AppleCare valid in FL

[cleo]

If you live in Florida, you know that AppleCare extended warranties are good everywhere but in the Sunshine State. Apple has claimed that this is because of a state law, but today's St. Petersburg Times reveals that Apple would merely have to pay a $500 license to sell extended warranties:

Despite claims, Apple could honor warranties

As a Floridian who recently had to fork out $320 for a failed hard drive that would have been covered under AppleCare, I'm pissed off. I wonder what it would take to get them to follow the rules and get the license? They certainly have the money for it!

 

[mac-er]

I'm sure that it isn't that they are cheap.

Apple makes a huge amount of money off of AppleCare, and it is in their best interests to sell as many as possible.

There is probably something fundamentally wrong with Florida's law that Apple disagrees with, and thus, they refuse to pay the $500.

(And if you are upset about it....you could buy the license on their behalf)

 

[JeffTL]

The fee is $500?

Outrageous. AppleCare is almost pure profit in most cases (most people's hardware lasts three years), and they'd make their $500 back posthaste.

 

[PlaceofDis]

seeing that Apple make so much off of Applecare i am sure that there is something else holding them back from selling it there than just the fee, otherwise it would only take two applecare plans for powerbooks to make up the cost, i wonder if the problem is deeper than this and i suspect it is so

 

[rdowns]

I don't buy it. I'm VP of Sales of a company that sells auto extended warranties. We have a license to sell in Florida, most competitors do not. Some car manufacturers do not offer coverage in Florida. I would imagine the requirements are the same for any extended warranty (really a service contract). There is a license fee and then fees for each agent you appoint to sell on your behalf. Paperwork hassles up the wazzoo.

Rates filed with the state, more paperwork up the wazzoo. Rates can not be deviated from (no discounts). Contracts and sales forms filed with the state, more paperwork.

We are required to deposit our reserve funds (the amount we expect to pay out per contract sold) with the Florida Dept. of Insurance for the life of the contract and pay claims out of our operating capital. Then there's the annual audit. Not to mention the loss ratios are higher in Florida than anywhere else (at least in auto industry and no one knows why).

Dealing with consumer complaints through a state insurance dept. is no fun either. Not to mention state cancellation rules (how about buy AppleCare, make a claim and demand and receive 100% refund within first 30 days?)

If we did not have a huge market share there, we'd be gone in a NY minute.

 

[PlaceofDis]

thanks for the info rdowns it makes it a bit more understandable as to why apple wouldnt sell it there then, and obviously the situation isnt as clear cut as one would think, perhaps if Apple's marketshare grows in FL there would be more incentive to sell it there and deal with the BS

 

[cleo]

Thanks for the insight, rdowns. I still think it's disingenuous for Apple to claim that they're prevented by law from offering AppleCare. They're choosing not to jump through the hoops to offer the warranty, and they should just be honest about that instead of blameshifting.

Florida is the only state in which AppleCare is invalid, but I wonder if it's the only state with rigorous licensing procedures?

 

[PlaceofDis]

Florida is the only state in which AppleCare is invalid, but I wonder if it's the only state with rigorous licensing procedures?

i would guess so, i know up here in IL there are not the same procedures, and i would assume if another state had similar procedures apple wouldnt offer it there either

 

[broken_keyboard]

Blame your state senators for your $320.

 

[MattG]

Yep...very frustrating that I've never been able to buy Applecare for my iPods or any of the notebooks I've owned.

Luckily, the rule doesn't apply if you're a business (all of my Macs at work have Applecare).

 

[watcher2001]

Can someone help me understand this law? Does this just apply to instate warranty repairs? What about if I live in GA, buy an iPod with the applecare warranty and then move to FL a week later... Am I screwed? Are there any other states that do this? One would think that with the amount of tourism dollars that FL brings in each year they would not need to do this...

 

[zakatov]

Can someone help me understand this law? Does this just apply to instate warranty repairs? What about if I live in GA, buy an iPod with the applecare warranty and then move to FL a week later... Am I screwed? Are there any other states that do this? One would think that with the amount of tourism dollars that FL brings in each year they would not need to do this...

If you register the Apple product in another state, then AppleCare is valid even if the repair has to be made in/from Florida.
The guys over at the local Apple Store encourage registration with an out-of-state adress.

IIRC, Florida banned extended warranties to "protect consumers" who are ripped off by extended warranties

So businesses are exempt

 

[bousozoku]

Thanks for the insight, rdowns. I still think it's disingenuous for Apple to claim that they're prevented by law from offering AppleCare. They're choosing not to jump through the hoops to offer the warranty, and they should just be honest about that instead of blameshifting.

Florida is the only state in which AppleCare is invalid, but I wonder if it's the only state with rigorous licensing procedures?

Many companies work with 3rd parties to cover the products through an extended warranty mechanism. Apple also chooses to not do this. This is the reason I chose an HP version of the iPod instead of one sold by Apple.

 

[wdlove]

I hope that after this article Apple might be coaxed into making an application for a license. Those that live in Florida should certainly write a letter to Apple.

 

[mkubal]

Ok, I'm pretty sure that they have the AppleCare boxes on the shelves at the Tampa Apple Store (I could be mistaken). And I'm darn sure that when I had had my out of warranty Mac repaired at the Apple Store in Orlando, I was called by an Apple rep afterward asking if I wanted to purchase AppleCare. I never purchase extended warranties because, well, they're a scam. But why does AppleCare seem to be readily available for purchase in Florida if they're not allowed to sell it.

Someone please tell me I'm an idiot and I'm thinking of some other protection plan.

I wish all these "plans" were illegal anyway so the people at Best Buy wouldn't try to sell me a service plan on everything I buy. Honestly, they make no commission from it, but they hawk it like a used car salesman.

 

[PlaceofDis]

I wish all these "plans" were illegal anyway so the people at Best Buy wouldn't try to sell me a service plan on everything I buy. Honestly, they make no commission from it, but they hawk it like a used car salesman.

well they push it on you because they are pushed to push it on you, and in some cases its not a bad thing to have, in the case of an iPod, if the battery goes its sometimes easier to get it replaced from Best Buy than through Apple, etc, but them pushing it for every little thing is a pain in the butt

 

[LethalWolfe]

I wish all these "plans" were illegal anyway so the people at Best Buy wouldn't try to sell me a service plan on everything I buy. Honestly, they make no commission from it, but they hawk it like a used car salesman.

Don't want it don't buy it.

For something like $10 or $15 I purchased an extended warranty for a cordless phone/answering machine at BB. Well, 4 months and 3 phones later I ended up w/one that worked properly for more than 6 weeks. And, because of price drops, I actually paid less in the end than I did in the beginning.


Lethal

 

[bousozoku]

Ok, I'm pretty sure that they have the AppleCare boxes on the shelves at the Tampa Apple Store (I could be mistaken). And I'm darn sure that when I had had my out of warranty Mac repaired at the Apple Store in Orlando, I was called by an Apple rep afterward asking if I wanted to purchase AppleCare. I never purchase extended warranties because, well, they're a scam. But why does AppleCare seem to be readily available for purchase in Florida if they're not allowed to sell it.

Someone please tell me I'm an idiot and I'm thinking of some other protection plan.

I wish all these "plans" were illegal anyway so the people at Best Buy wouldn't try to sell me a service plan on everything I buy. Honestly, they make no commission from it, but they hawk it like a used car salesman.

They sell AppleCare in Floriduh but consumers can't use it officially.

 

[mkubal]

Don't want it don't buy it.

For something like $10 or $15 I purchased an extended warranty for a cordless phone/answering machine at BB. Well, 4 months and 3 phones later I ended up w/one that worked properly for more than 6 weeks. And, because of price drops, I actually paid less in the end than I did in the beginning.


Lethal

And I don't. I'm a pretty young guy, but I can remember the days when if you bought something and it didn't work, you brought it back. Unfortunately these new "coverage plans" are starting to be seen by people as the only way that you can ever return something that doesn't work. As if somewhere along the line manufacturers starting selling things "as is" and were no longer responsible for defective products.

A few years back I purchased a HD TV from Best Buy and seriously had to beg them to stop trying to sell me the service plan. At one point I asked them if I was going to have to leave the store and not buy the TV because I couldn't get it without the service plan. Amazing, all that and they get no commission. What's even more amazing is that 3 years later the TV is in perfect working order.

I'm not trying to be hostile to you Lethal. Sorry if it might have come off like that. I just equate buying service plans to playing a casino game where the house advantage is rather large.

 

[mkubal]

well they push it on you because they are pushed to push it on you, and in some cases its not a bad thing to have, in the case of an iPod, if the battery goes its sometimes easier to get it replaced from Best Buy than through Apple, etc, but them pushing it for every little thing is a pain in the butt

Yeah, I know they're pushed to push it. I lived with two Best Buy employees. The place is like a cult. Very strange.

I've replaced a few batteries in regular iPods. Not too hard, but I enjoy fixing things. I suppose for some people a warranty for such things would be appealing.

 

[mkubal]

They sell AppleCare in Floriduh but consumers can't use it officially.

Can they use it unofficially?

 

[Sun Baked]

I'm not trying to be hostile to you Lethal. Sorry if it might have come of like that. I just equate buying service plans to playing a casino game where the house advantage is rather large.

That sort of reminds me of this risque game of chance...

 

[rtdgoldfish]

I have noticed the FL exclusion on Apple's website reguarding AppleCare. I am a Florida resident and have never had a problem getting anything repaired from Apple. I purchased AppleCare for my Mac Mini when I bought it and was not informed that it didn't work in Florida. I purchased it at the Millenia Mall store. Anyone out there in FL with AppleCare that has had problems getting repairs?? Several of my friends also own Macs and have never had a problem.

 

[watcher2001]

I just equate buying service plans to playing a casino game where the house advantage is rather large.

Wow, that is the best analogy I have ever heard. I too am VERY hard pressed to buy an extended warranty. I figure if it doesn't break down within the first year it isn't going to. JMHO

 

[mkubal]

That sort of reminds me of this risque game of chance...

Hilarious. Thanks.