That's what I told the OP. However, dropping in the toilet is more of an act of carelessness than pure accident. I suppose I make it a point not to use it while at the toilet.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AppleCare+ Is A Giant Ripoff!
- Thread starter mastercheif91
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
That's what I told the OP. However, dropping in the toilet is more of an act of carelessness than pure accident. I suppose I make it a point not to use it while at the toilet.
What I am talking about is simple. Most folks who want insurance on their phones want it on the entire value of the phone. For them this is not a comprehensive enough option. For those that it is, awesome.
Having made a claim to AMEX for on a TV, it surely didn't happen over night or within a few hours. Don't get me wrong the claim happened quickly but surely not as fast as walking into Apple and walking out 30 minutes later.
Not everyone purchases their phone outright. I would assume most are under some sort of contract spread out for up to 2 years.
Personaly I used square trade for their 3 year warranties.
You can also take advantage of apple store services but I believe you have to pay out of pocket and wait for a settlement check.
Not everyone purchases their phone outright. I would assume most are under some sort of contract spread out for up to 2 years.
Personaly I used square trade for their 3 year warranties.
You can also take advantage of apple store services but I believe you have to pay out of pocket and wait for a settlement check.
A TV is a bit different especially when it comes to repair. Amex knows what is involved when it comes to Apple repairs, which generally result in OOW replacement for a set amount. For a cheaper purchase like a $50 fish aquarium, they don't bother looking into it and just credit the $50 in the next billing cycle.
Like I said, you can do the repair/replacement first (as fast as walking into the Apple store and walking out 30 minutes later) and file the claim later. You can rest assured they'll cover you (unless you abuse the program).
Yep. I've used Amex's warranty service, as well as Visa Signature's extended protection, both are a PAIN. They make you send in the device for repair\evaluation\replacement\reimbursement, then 3-4 weeks later decide what to do with your claim. It's all done through a third party... so if you can be without a phone for 3-4 weeks, or are willing to buy a new one and HOPE they decide to just refund your purchase price instead of repair or replacement, so be it. Apple Care is like anything Apple... costs a little more than its competition, but you get what you pay for, and in my opinion Apple service is worth paying more for.
I guess it all varies by person. I filed a claim for my iPad 3 because the home button was flakey. Apple wanted 279 for refurbished replacement. I filed a claim with Amex. Next day they credited my account 499 full purchase price on the iPad with no questioned asked. I could've just made it up I guess.
From a strictly numbers point of view, apple care isn't worth the money for he "average user". Overall apple makes a profit on its apple care business. Therefore, it means as a whole consumers are losing out. However, it makes sense if you like going naked, are prone to drop phones or are immoral and drop your phone on purpose at the end of AppleCare to get a new refurb.
I never buy insurance and self insure. I'm way ahead in my lifetime. Even when I accidently swam with my 5s last year, I just payed the 279 to get an out of warranty replacement. Yeah I paid 100 more than what it would have cost wig AppleCare and deductible but this was my first phone I lost or damaged in 15 years.
Ah, true, I had forgotten the out of warranty replacement wasn't the same cost as a full new phone.
This is my take on the Apple Care +
I buy a new iPhone every single year so basically my risk is the first 12 month. I choose to buy Apple Care + because for me it's a cheap way to get covered.
The 99 $ cover your phone for 2 years. After 12 month I call Apple and get reimbursed for the remaining 12 month.
So for 49.50 $ a year I get a coverage that makes me eligible to only pay 79 $ if I damage my phone.
49.50 $ a year is a no brainer for me
I buy a new iPhone every single year so basically my risk is the first 12 month. I choose to buy Apple Care + because for me it's a cheap way to get covered.
The 99 $ cover your phone for 2 years. After 12 month I call Apple and get reimbursed for the remaining 12 month.
So for 49.50 $ a year I get a coverage that makes me eligible to only pay 79 $ if I damage my phone.
49.50 $ a year is a no brainer for me
Nope, I just pay $6.99/mo and I get theft/loss protection. And with their diminishing deductible, I'd only pay $99 for a new phone if it ever gets lost/stolen since I've had 0 claims.
But yes, haha, I'm sure they do. I usually get a prorated refund on my AC+ since I upgrade a year, so I get $45-50 back.
That's a good way to look at it. Another way to look at it is if you self-insure for $50 a year and your personal/historical risk of damaging your iPhone is so low that you've never incurred a screen or water damage going all the way back to the original iPhone. You will have saved $50 x 8 years = $400, more than enough to cover a $109 screen replacement or a $299 out of warranty full replacement. Again, this depends largely on your personal/historical risk of damaging your iPhone.
I agree with what you are saying.
Just remember that "history of prior damages" is a little like the roulette at a casino.
Because it's red 5 times in a row does not mean that there are any less chances of yet another red even though we sometime think that way. My point is: because I haven't dropped my phone in the past does not mean that I won't do it this time.
Personally I'm perfectly fine by paying 49.50 $ a year and not use the coverage. That combined with a 79 $ fee to get a new phone if something should happen is for me better than the 320 $ if I don't have Apple Care +.
Just remember that "history of prior damages" is a little like the roulette at a casino.
Because it's red 5 times in a row does not mean that there are any less chances of yet another red even though we sometime think that way. My point is: because I haven't dropped my phone in the past does not mean that I won't do it this time.
Personally I'm perfectly fine by paying 49.50 $ a year and not use the coverage. That combined with a 79 $ fee to get a new phone if something should happen is for me better than the 320 $ if I don't have Apple Care +.
Asurion through verizon wireless is actually amazing - although pricey at $10/month, but it covers theft/loss. I had my iPhone 5 screen die on me while on a trip for work. The backlit no longer worked. The screen functioned but I needed a flashlight in order to barely see the screen. I was 1.5 years after purchase so the warranty was up. I know some people could have gotten lucky and had it replaced on the spot for free, the apple store wanted full replacement cost for a replacement. Asurion said no problem and overnighted a brand new (refurb - but looked 100% new) iphone to me. I paid $0 surcharge/deductible - just sent the busted phone back to them in a prepaid envelope. Although I did have to wait until the next day, it really saved my ass.
Moral of the story - the screen breaking is NOT the only possibility of having to use insurance/applecare+. Many many other things can and WILL go wrong when the phone is out of warranty.
I have had iPhones since the very first one. I never had AC until the 5 (and now my 6 plus) I used AC for my iPhone 5 a few times, having the earbuds and lightening cord replaced. My husband just balls the earbuds up and shoves them in his pockets. Apple replaced them 3 times and I have had to have 2 lightenings replaced too (all with no deductibles) So right there AC has paid for itself. About 2 weeks ago I took my iPhone 5 in because it was not holding a charge. They gave me a new phone which now I can sell for more since it is in perfect condition.
Agreed. I have saved enough to cover the $299 OOW replacement from self-insuring since 2007 having never broken the screen or water damaging it. You're more comfortable spending $50 per year and not use the coverage whereas I'm more comfortable self-insuring and playing the Russian roulette. AC+ isn't a giant ripoff as the OP would like us to believe, just what we're more comfortable with.
That's my point. People pay because they are afraid of the "what if". But if you look at the statistics, it's far from being a rational purchase.
It's 4.13 / a month for peace of mind. People have accidents, kids who grab things, etc. I know people who got pushed in pools with their phones, kids put it in the washer, & all kinds of other incidents.
I haven't needed to use it yet but I'm glad it's there.
I haven't needed to use it yet but I'm glad it's there.
This can be said about any insurance, even car\home\life insurance... doesn't mean one doesn't need it. LOL
Perhaps I'm the exception... I've had Apple Care since my first purchase of the Iphone (IP4). So thats iPhones 4,5,6 Plus. That's 300 bucks since 2009. I didn't have any replacement for the 4 but replaced the 5 twice. Those two replacements would have cost me $550, but instead it cost me $158.
I just don't see how its a waste. Can I take a chance and not get AC+, sure but it's only 100 bucks for 2yrs of coverage of water and other accidentals that I otherwise wouldn't have.
I have renters insurance and flood insurance of which if I didn't have, water damages to my house would have costed me over 13K. At the time of damage, I paid a total of $560 in flood insurance.
I enjoy the feeling covered and not just seems like jumping into the middle of the ocean w/o any kind of assistance and hope for the best on the way back to shore. Maybe its just me though.
Out of curiosity, were those two replacements for a defect that the standard warranty would have covered or a screen/water damage?
One was for screen and other water. I'm usually pretty careful but this year has been different for some reason.
----------
Check out posts 17 and 31. You may be a bit dissapointed in depending on AMEX. I have AMEX also but it just doesn't compare to AC+.
Last edited by a moderator:
Then it'd be more accurate to say it cost you $458 ($300 since 2009 plus $158 for those two replacements) vs. $550 if you didn't purchase AC+ for all those years. A smaller gap than you think but you still came out ahead in your case.
You're doing that wrong. Good luck fighting with Amex trying to get them to reimburse you on that extended warranty. It takes weeks, if you even get anything. Amex covers almost nothing as shown in the their warranty terms.
Last edited by a moderator:
Got Apple care in my phone 5 no copays. Had two refurbished Units and two battery changes in the 2 years. All considered manufacturers.
My last since running out in a month I web support about dropping calls restored had Verizon replace sim. Went into Apple store and pulled the case and they gave me refurbished new one. Best $99 I ever spent.
----------
Battery replacement through Apple store in iPhone 5/5S is $79. With normal use you lose 20% in 8 to 12 months
My last since running out in a month I web support about dropping calls restored had Verizon replace sim. Went into Apple store and pulled the case and they gave me refurbished new one. Best $99 I ever spent.
----------
Battery replacement through Apple store in iPhone 5/5S is $79. With normal use you lose 20% in 8 to 12 months