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AppleCare not needed if bought with AMEX?

elephunkman said:
Are you sure? Because my card's terms doesn't have that.
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That's what it says online when I looked a few weeks ago.

Granted, it sounds like Amex has covered some people's phones from this thread. I'm just saying it sounds like they have an out though if they decide they don't want to cover your phone so I wouldn't trust it.

Then again, I'm still a little skeptical about them covering my macbook with the extended warranty even though I didn't see anywhere they could disclaim that they covered it.

Just one of those seems too good to be true that I think they will find reasons to weasel out (though at least I hear people seem to have good experience with Amex). Just call me cynical/jaded.
 
edtorious said:
what about purchased using Visa Check card, do they cover the warranty also:confused:
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You would have to check w/ your card issuer. Every Visa/MC is different since there are so many different issuers w/ various features. I do know that all "Signature" Visa's have it, but those are CC, not debit.


tigress666 said:
Then again, I'm still a little skeptical about them covering my macbook with the extended warranty even though I didn't see anywhere they could disclaim that they covered it.

Just one of those seems too good to be true that I think they will find reasons to weasel out (though at least I hear people seem to have good experience with Amex). Just call me cynical/jaded.
Click to expand...


Don't be AMEX ext warranty works great. I've used it a couple of times. Once time I used there repair vendor and they did all the work. The other time I had it repaired at the Apple Store, charged it to my AMEX, and then AMEX just put a credit on my card for that amount after I submitted the repair order to them for verification.
 
I make all my major electronics purchases on my AmEx card because of their comprehensive, and easy, coverage. They also offer (or offered - maybe things have changed) price protection, so if you happen to find a lower price somewhere else, they will reimburse you the difference between what you paid and the lower price you found, regardless of where it is. Caveat to this is that I know they stopped doing this with some photo places because many stores are scam artists, so check into this before relying on it.

For those who don't want to pay a yearly fee like most AmEx cards require, look into the AmEx Blue card - it's basically a regular credit card (meaning: interest) backed by AmEx and it has most of the AmEx plusses (including the above.) Very handy card.
 
Here's my take on these extended warranties:

If Applecare only extends the original warranty for one year (so total of 2 years warranty) like they have with iPad (yes the iPad only has 2 years covered), iPod, iPhone; in my opinion, you are better off saving that money if you have a credit card (and some platinum debit cards also like Bank of America platinum Visa Debit cards) double the warranty for free.

The AMEX warranty program is probably the easiest of them all. As people have stated, the real distinguishing thing about AMEX is 90 days accidental damage (read..liquid damage or accidental drops) and theft. However, be very careful about reporting if the phone was stolen out of a car. My friend was denied that claim because it was out of his car. AMEX told him that would have to go under his homeowner/renter's insurance. Obviously since most home insurance deductible began with $1000, it's not worth it to file a claim.

As for AMEX or Visa or Mastercard. The rest of their extended warranty programs are very similiar. Again AMEX wins because you can start your warranty claim by filing online. VISA, I have to call in the warranty claim. They will email me the forms. I fax in all the appropriate forms.

The key with all of these credit card warranties is to have your paperwork in hand. I am a neat freak when it comes to receipts (it comes from owning a small business and I'm always worried about an audit).

I PDF all my important receipts. What they want is copy of the original receipt. Copy of the manufactuers warranty (you can download it from apple.com). And they want a copy of the repair bill estimate. You have one of two options:
Pay for the claim yourself (I have down this twice). And they will send you a check for the exact same amount.
Or wait for them to issue you a check for the repair.

Note: AMEX or any of the other credit card companies WILL not honor any warranties that are cause by liquid or accidental drops (if determine by Apple because they will put that on the repair estimate). This statement obviously applies to problems arising outside of the 90 days AMEX limit.

In closing, I feel applecare for one extra year for products such as the iPhone or iPad or AppleTV are a waste of money.

As for other apple products (like macbooks, iMacs) which give you the option for 3 years (1 free plus 2 extended years). It's totally up to you. Me personally I didn't insure my AppleTv (purchased for $329). It died. I used my Visa warranty and go a check mailed to me within 2 weeks for the $169 out of warranty replacement.

But for both my iMac (in 2007 and my new iMac core i7). These are $2000 plus purchases. The AppleCare 3 year warranty is worth the $120 applecare warranty for me.
 
malnar said:
I make all my major electronics purchases on my AmEx card because of their comprehensive, and easy, coverage. They also offer (or offered - maybe things have changed) price protection, so if you happen to find a lower price somewhere else, they will reimburse you the difference between what you paid and the lower price you found, regardless of where it is. Caveat to this is that I know they stopped doing this with some photo places because many stores are scam artists, so check into this before relying on it.
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Thanks, that was the feature they did change (that would have automatically covered the Apple price drop). It's no longer offered.
 
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