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AppleCare+ to End Informal Free Replacement Policy for Damaged iPhones

JohnnyQuest said:
So for those who didn't purchase AppleCare+, what about the first year of warranty? No more free replacements even though the phone is still under warranty?
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If the malfunction is due to a defect in the iPhone and you caused no damage to the device, you get it replaced under the warranty. If you drop your phone in a puddle of water you have to spend $199 to get a replacement.

A perfectly fair policy if you ask me.
 
sweetbrat said:
Huh, that's interesting. My husband has had his iPhone 4 replaced twice, and both times they gave him a brand new one, not a refurb.
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Also in my experience apple does not give you a "new" device for warranty replacement, they used refurbished devices. At least they have in the past when I made in warranty claims on past iPhones.
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This may have changed as I have indicated this was their practice in the past, namely with the original, 3G and 3GS. Did they take your husbands from a brown box or from an iPhone4 box wrapped in cellophane?
 
Apple is doing what any good business would do.

They want to protect their customers and themselves by providing a reasonable cost plan for iPhones that become damaged, and not have Genius bar techs providing good will repairs for nothing.

It sets a clear path for getting a accidently or inadvertently damaged in most cases, iPhones repaired/replaced for a relatively reasonable cost.

Course having to buy it at time of purchase seems to be a bit of a push, I have a limited warranty for 1 year, which I can extend with AppleCare+, that does not have the accidental replacement coverage. I should still be able to purchase AppleCare+ anytime during that warranty period as long as I can show that my phone is not damaged to extend AppleCare, I shouldn't have to forced to buy it at the start and not have any option to extend it later.
 
I've been in multiple Apple stores and see employees go "Well we don't cover these damages but I'll make a one time exception and give you a replacement." I've seen this for iPods and iPhones. They do sometimes add that they recommend Applecare for future products and even for the replacement.


I think Apple will still give one time exceptions but the Genius staff will now have to say something like "We can offer you a discount on the new Applecare which and sell you a replacement. This price covers the replacement and any damages to the device for 2 years" Customers who push a little will likely get a free pass once.

And I hope this doesn't affect Apple's long standing unofficial policy for computer replacements. I've heard people getting new Macbook Pros to replace their old Macbook Pros that have had 3 or more major repairs done to them, even out of warranty.

LIkely this shift is due to Apple's immense popularity and success these days. Millions of iPhones, millions of iPads, millions of iPods....suddenly all these new customers buying these devices. Apple has to put something in place or else they'd be giving away way more free replacements then they should. Most of the customers today probably didn't even know Apple made computers before stepping foot in an Apple store to have an iPhone serviced.
 
AppleCare+ = Qwikster.

EDIT: as in, price increase + total confusion. hopefully they get the confusion part sorted out.
 
samcraig said:
Letting Apple Genius' have the leeway has always been a liability. A liability that Apple was obviously OK with. But consider that as iPhone sales/user base increases - so does that liability. At some point - they can't or won't tolerate it. This policy makes decent business sense no matter how much it ruffles feathers. I would imagine many of the replacements they gave under the loose policy were catering to perfectionists who knew about the policy and were abusing it - or at least taking somewhat advantage of it. Those will be the people who whine the loudest on this thread/down vote the reality of the situation.
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Sadly the same people who have convinced Apple they need to change the policy to be more strict.

Kinda like people who have abused return policies and caused many stores that used to be really nice about it to get really strict about it (like Target now only allowing you one return without receipt). And then bitch when the company realizes they are losing too much money being nice and have to get stricter (the ones that get "spoiled" and expect the store to be more than fair).
 
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I guess that they are making you purchase it with the phone to stop people only buying it if they damage their phone.

I guess also that local laws will affect the terms of purchase. Several Canadians have already mentioned this and I doubt forcing you to purchase AC+ with the phone would be legal here in the UK.

Also, while the accidental damage cover is good, it should be optional for those that have that cover elsewhere. My 3GS is covered under a policy through my bank account as part of the monthly Acct fee (NatWest Advantage Gold) and it's a good policy. I know two people who've had iPhones replaced. One dropped it in the river while fishing and my daughter dropped hers down the toilet!! (don't ask, I didn't as I don't want to know) NatWest send you a form which you take to an Apple Retail Store with your damaged phone and they give you a new one.
 
thetexan said:
If you wreck your car, do you demand Ford give you a new one for free?
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Apple Care has been worth EVERY DIME for me. I always get it for all new computers, thought it was more worthwhile when I was fresher to Mac and their tech and OS were changing a lot. That call-up service was a life-saver several dozen times. Every newbie to Apple should prudently get it. They also did repairs without a shrug or an excuse: invaluable.

Once you know everything about the OSs and the computers, Apple Care isn't quite as necessary. It's still a gamble to not get it, so get it and sleep easy.
 
ah wel.... looks like my iphone 4 will have to float untill the apple care runs out in April 2013....................think im going to get a Samsung infuse 4g to compliment it.....
 
JohnnyQuest said:
So for those who didn't purchase AppleCare+, what about the first year of warranty? No more free replacements even though the phone is still under warranty?
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The warranty is there to cover defects and wear. You aren't getting your phone replaced if you drop it in a toilet or crack the glass because it slipped out of your hand.
 
bytethese said:
Ok, they are covered, my mistake. I just replaced 3 screens, they cost $65 each, shipped. $65 < $148 however, is it not? Heck, same site sells iPhone 4 batteries for $13.99. In other words, parts are cheaper to replace yourself than to file a claim, even for accidental damage.
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Not counting your time ... the replacement or fixing included their labor costs, etc.

It is rational to go either way depending on your skill level, value of your time (to you), and what actually goes wrong.

Ed
 
To be fair I have had 2 iPhone 4's replaced for free, and I don't have AppleCare. The first time the on off button at the top of my phone just randomly quit working so I took it into the genius bar to see what could be done and after they assessed the situation they gave me a replacement phone for free. Second time around my phone quit charging or responding to the 30pin connector randomly, and wasn't recognized by iTunes when connect to my MacBook Pro. took it into the genius bar and walked out with another replacement device. I've never dropped any of my phones, and I take really good care of them. I guess I just have bad luck with malfunctioning devices. Not saying this will be the case with everyone but perhaps I have just been fortunate to receive replacement phones.
 
darthraige said:
Apple Care is a waste of money. I have tons of friends who work at the Apple Store and they say just walk in with a smile, feed them the usual of how much you lover their products, blab blah blah, and they'll bend over backwards for you and fix or replace for free. Works all the time.
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Try reading the article.... NOT. ANY. MORE.

Also, yes, they would usually replace the device for you if you had Apple Care on it, even though the coverage didn't include accidents. If you didn't have Apple Care at all, you were generally SOL.

And no, I don't believe you have friends at the Apple store who told you that, because they are well aware of the directive that limits the former "exception policy" except in rare cases where the uncovered device was still in it's 1 year warranty. If the device it out of it's factory warranty, they just simple wouldn't do anything for you. Which is more than fair. Most of the time, the repair is simple and it's easy for them to refurb the device so it doesn't hit them for a loss. Now if you ran over your phone or iPod with your car.... good luck.

The Genius staff doesn't just replace phones on a whim. There is a procedure for it, but they have a way of making it seemed like they broke the rules just for you to make you feel special.

The only thing about Apple Care that does suck is that it doesn't have any accident protection. The Apple Care+ to me, it worth the extra $30 if you can get 2 replacements for a $49 fee.
 
bytethese said:
This may have changed as I have indicated this was their practice in the past, namely with the original, 3G and 3GS. Did they take your husbands from a brown box or from an iPhone4 box wrapped in cellophane?
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I honestly can't say, since I haven't been with him at the store when he's had to get a replacement, and I've never needed a replacement on my 3GS. He told me they gave him a new phone, not a refurb, so I believed him. Maybe he was mistaken. I'll ask him about it tonight.
 
I was led to believe that Apple products do not break, thus purchasing any form of AppleCare is unnecessary. Was I misinformed? :confused:
 
I don't know if AppleCare+ is really worth it. It may be better to just role the dice. If, by chance, you damage your device, you'll have to pay $199 instead to $148, but you are not just giving $99 away outright. So, for most people, they will save $99 by bot getting AppleCare+.

Besides, when I bought my new iPhone 4S from AT&T, I wasn't given the option of purchasing AC+ anyway.
 
Waste of Money

Get Squaretrade warranty instead, cheaper, and it covers drops and spills too
 
Tiger8 said:
Get Squaretrade warranty instead, cheaper, and it covers drops and spills too
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The squaretrade deal is exactly the same price. 99 dollars and a 49 dollar replacement fee... Also read the article, applecare+ now has accident protection with a 49 dollar deductible. You aren't saving any money getting that squaretrade deal.

http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/iphone-landing24

2 years of coverage: The SquareTrade iPhone warranty covers your iPhone for up to 2 years, starting on the date of purchase.

Covered Issues: Both accidents (e.g., broken screen or other damage through drops AND liquid damage including full immersion) and out-of-warranty normal use failures (e.g., battery no longer charging or other hardware failures) are covered. We do not cover loss, theft, willful damage or damage occurring through gross misuse.

Deductible: There is a $50 deductible when claiming on an accident (e.g., drops, spills). There is no deductible for a normal use failure (e.g., power issue
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Why this change? Is there rampant "abuse" with Apple losing suffering financially or is this just out of the blue? Doesn't seem positive in the least. I've always thought AppleCare was a rip off. This takes the cake.
 
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