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AppleCare+ now charges $79.99 per 2 incidents?! So messed up!

O

okwhatev

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 19, 2005
307
66
Totally without anyone noticing, AppleCare+, a default purchase by so many of us when purchasing a new iPhone, now charges $79.99 PER INCIDENT for accidental damage repair, up from the $49.99 they charged before. Not only that, but they've reduced the number of incidents per year from 3 to 2. I always thought AppleCare+ was a ripoff, especially with places like SquareTrade and WorthAve Group offering tremendously superior insurance (Worth Group offering THEFT protection as well with a $50 deductible), but many people I know like it due to the convenience of going into the Apple Store and getting a replacement on the spot.

I just find it super sneaky that they changed the terms of AppleCare+ for iPhone so drastically without anyone noticing. I am totally shocked.
 
I thought Applecare+ was 2 accidents per warranty?

Also tech sites reported this change in last week... we know.
 
Apple also use to send you a replacement via fed ex without having to send your broken one back until you got the replacement. Not anymore. You send your broken one in first. Just like Square trade. AppleCare+ is great if you live close to an Apple store. But for those of us that live 150 to 200 miles away, it really provides no advantage.
 
They also changed the OOW price from $229 -> $269 for the iPhone 5/5C/5S. It happened the day of the iPhone 5C/5S announcement.
 
As has been mentioned, incidents per the two year period has always been two.

I am not sure why you feel increasing the price is "messed up". It is really the consumer's job to be informed about a service like this, is it not? If you inquire about it, I am sure the Apple employee will be glad to go over it with you. I got my phone at radio shack and even the employee there knew what was up.

I am thinking a lot of people were abusing this. "I will just trash my phone and then replace it for $50 before I want to sell it, and sell it as brand new with plastic still on the unit". Definitely helps get a higher value for the phone, and you don't even have to worry about the phone. A $50 replacement was only $10-20 more than a third party case. It's a no-brainer.
 
wxman2003 said:
Apple also use to send you a replacement via fed ex without having to send your broken one back until you got the replacement. Not anymore. You send your broken one in first. Just like Square trade. AppleCare+ is great if you live close to an Apple store. But for those of us that live 150 to 200 miles away, it really provides no advantage.
Click to expand...

I disagree as I just did an advance replacement with AppleCare+ for my iphone 5. (Stateside)

----------
lordofthereef said:
As has been mentioned, incidents per the two year period has always been two.

I am not sure why you feel increasing the price is "messed up". It is really the consumer's job to be informed about a service like this, is it not? If you inquire about it, I am sure the Apple employee will be glad to go over it with you. I got my phone at radio shack and even the employee there knew what was up.

I am thinking a lot of people were abusing this. "I will just trash my phone and then replace it for $50 before I want to sell it, and sell it as brand new with plastic still on the unit". Definitely helps get a higher value for the phone, and you don't even have to worry about the phone. A $50 replacement was only $10-20 more than a third party case. It's a no-brainer.
Click to expand...

Hell I've done this.. In fact I did it the other day for my iphone 5. Though legitimately damaged, I'm replacing it and going to sell it as new at my local gamestop for top dollar!
 
Maybe is because the parts inside are more expensive. Especially know that we have finger print scanner; that's extra hardware to replace.
 
Is this only for new AppleCare+ purchasers? If I bought AppleCare+ a year ago and I trash my iPhone 5, do I also have to pay $80? If so, I agree that's pretty crappy as I didn't agree to those terms when I purchased the service. I know they can change the terms whenever they want (which I don't like) but they should only be charging the $80 to people who are just buying this now and maybe just for the newer phones and beyond.
 
It was always two incidents. Although with the price increase I'd definitely pass on it now.
 
Mlrollin91 said:
They also changed the OOW price from $229 -> $269 for the iPhone 5/5C/5S. It happened the day of the iPhone 5C/5S announcement.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's absolutely ridiculous.

Before $199 was the standard replacment fee for out of warranty service. Than they raised it to $229.

Now it's $269?

I know Apple's strategy. They are trying to promote repairs in store and not replace the phone all together. Repairs are much more profitable than replacements for Apple.
 
ajm222 said:
Is this only for new AppleCare+ purchasers? If I bought AppleCare+ a year ago and I trash my iPhone 5, do I also have to pay $80? If so, I agree that's pretty crappy as I didn't agree to those terms when I purchased the service. I know they can change the terms whenever they want (which I don't like) but they should only be charging the $80 to people who are just buying this now and maybe just for the newer phones and beyond.
Click to expand...

If you got AppleCare and your contract with them states $50/replacment that is what you will pay. All new contracts are writen with $80/replacement.
 
i knew full well going into the store friday that they raised it but i still got it anyways. i got it because it is still cheaper the the vow insurance. 2 years X $10= $240 if you don't break it or get a replacement. $99 for two years is alot cheaper. even if you only have your phone for a year it is still cheaper.

or

$10x 2years+$175 ( deductible for VZW) =$315

$99+ $89 (apples deductible) =$198

sounds better to me
 
wxman2003 said:
Apple also use to send you a replacement via fed ex without having to send your broken one back until you got the replacement. Not anymore. You send your broken one in first. Just like Square trade. AppleCare+ is great if you live close to an Apple store. But for those of us that live 150 to 200 miles away, it really provides no advantage.
Click to expand...

As long as you have AppleCare+, you can use the Express Replacement Service. They'll send you a new device, then you put it in the box they sent you and mail it back (it's already pre-postaged).

I just did this 2 weeks ago. You have to set up the replacement request over the phone, you can't set it up online.
 
wxman2003 said:
Apple also use to send you a replacement via fed ex without having to send your broken one back until you got the replacement. Not anymore. You send your broken one in first.
Click to expand...
FWIW:

Express Replacement Service for iPhone Terms and Conditions

If you want to minimize the amount of time without an iPhone when seeking service under Apple’s warranty, Apple can mail you an express replacement iPhone for a fee when you arrange service. This fee is waived for AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone customers.
Click to expand...
http://images.apple.com/legal/sales-support/terms/docs/iphone_ars_na_en.pdf
 
ajm222 said:
Is this only for new AppleCare+ purchasers? If I bought AppleCare+ a year ago and I trash my iPhone 5, do I also have to pay $80? If so, I agree that's pretty crappy as I didn't agree to those terms when I purchased the service. I know they can change the terms whenever they want (which I don't like) but they should only be charging the $80 to people who are just buying this now and maybe just for the newer phones and beyond.
Click to expand...


no, you are under the previous plan. The thing we don't yet know is if current AC+ customers can keep the plan rules they have had previously, since it's a YEARLY plan and many may still be on the first year.
 
Was The Apple Store supposed to give me a box or some other kind of proof that I bought Applecare on my phone other than a receipt?
 
aristobrat said:
No, they stopped handing out boxes when AppleCare is purchased at the same time the item being protected is.
Click to expand...

Well, I bought my phone from Best Buy on Friday and Applecare from the local Apple Store on Sunday, so they weren't at the same time.

Unfortunately Apple's support site is listing me still at my standard 1-year warranty, so I'm guessing the clerk at the Apple Store didn't put in my information correctly. Urgh...guess I'll need to shoot Apple an e-mail.
 
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