Applecare? Is it really a must have??

[macinfojunkie]

I don't think this decision is really about how lucky you feel.

I was talking about luck in the sense that you are "lucky" that your judgement call paid off. For me luck is a function of risk management. A balance of probabilities. Most people call it luck, and think it is some kind of magical force. Luck is no such thing, unless of course you never intended the outcome to happen and were unaware that it might even be a possibility.

Apple are going to run the A/C programme at profit? COAB! Why on earth would you expect them to sell cover at a loss?

I generally think that extended warranties are a waste of money for commodity items, e.g. microwaves, regular tvs, DVD players etc. But for complex/expensive items that are often proprietary and you have no wider market to call upon to hedge the bet of malfunction (e.g. BMWs, Apple, B&O) then there is a stronger argument for considering the odds more closely.

Whilst I have not made a red cent from my investment in A/C. I have had the pace of mind that if my $4000 MBP (I live in the UK, we pay more), should suffer a failure - which my previous Apple laptop did. Then I will be covered. The 2% p.a premium I paid on that is small change by comparison.

 

[IJ Reilly]

I'm not the one arguing that Apple should or does sell AppleCare at a loss. I am pointing out that this appears to be the idea behind the argument that one should certainly not buy a given Apple product without it, which is to say, that it is likely to be worth the price. Statistically we should know that it isn't. Statistically, buying insurance you don't financially need is a lot like putting money into a slot machine. People are happy do both, even though they know that the house always rigs the odds in favor of the house.

 

[macinfojunkie]

You are right of course. Statistically the chances of failure are relatively low.

The problem with Apple products is that if the "chance" materialises then the extent of your loss is much higher than with most other computers particularly with regard to desktops.

E.g. if a Dell computer blows, you can probably get it fixed at any mainstream computer outlet - you might be able to do it yourself using off the shelf parts. Since ALL the components are generic, then it is not that expensive to treat yourself, with maybe the execution of their laptops. with a mac machine. Most of the computers are not easily end user or non Apple serviceable because of parts availability or design of the machine e.g. iMac etc. So if it fails you have no choice but to pay pros to fix it and buy parts from apple.

Given the cost of laptop repairs I would say that extended warranty is almost essential regardless of vendor. But what do I care if people don't bother. If they get away with it good luck to them. If they have a failure then I hope they are rich!

 

[IJ Reilly]

You don't have to be rich, just capable of doing the basic math upon which insurance premiums are based. People buy lottery tickets too, even though the odds are terrible.

For those who think AppleCare is worthwhile, they generally say it becomes a necessity with laptop purchases. It doesn't matter if your laptop is made by Apple or Dell. If it fails for any reason, it's going back to the manufacturer. As for desktops, essentially the same parts inside are and are not user-servicable in a Dell or a Mac.

Anyway, this topic is probably exhausted.

 

[tribe3]

What I hate is the way they want to push it to you. Last year on one of our MacBook Pros the fans stopped working; we tested with another MBP and "Hardware monitor and on that computer the fans where zero and the temp high.

I call Apple and the lady asks if I have applecare; I say No. She says if you get your credit card ready I can take care of that. I say I don't want to buy applecare. Than she says; well your 90 days telephone support is expired I say well it's OK just send a box to pick up my computer and I'll explain the problem in a letter. She says we can't send a box without first knowing that there's not a real problem (stooopid). I say; well if you cant talk and you can't send a box than how do you expect to honor my 5 months of warranty left???? She appeared to acknowledge her stupidity and passed me with a technician.

 

[macinfojunkie]

Is that a typical experience, or just an isolated case of the call agent being a dumb*ss? I can imagine apple refusing tech support on the software side of things if you don't have Applecare or Pro support for Apps, but to deny any support, in the case of a suspected hardware issue is just plain idiotic and a clear breach of contract.

Maybe things are different in the US, but we have pretty good consumer laws in EU and thankfully these seem to prevent Apple from being so pushy over here. I'm sure they'd try, if they thought they could get away with it, after all they are one of the most arrogant companies on the planet!