Applecare: Why bother?

[plinden]

This thread is scaring me out of buying a mac?

...are failures really that common?

I PC box has lasted 4 years and never missed a beat...a noisy GPU fan was replaced by me and so was a noisy heatsink fan.

I could not afford apple care when it almost costs more than the ibook or powerbook

That's why I would like to see a proper poll, just to quantify it rather than using anecdotal evidence - how do you go about suggesting something along these lines for the weekly poll?

By the way, AppleCare is nothing like "almost costs more than the ibook or powerbook". It's $349 for the PowerBooks (13% of the price of the 17" PB, 24% of the price of the 12" combo PB) and $249 for the iBooks (16% of the 14" iBook, 25% of the price of the 12" iBook). In other words it's between 13% and 25% of the cost of the laptop.

To compare, here's something I posted a couple of weeks ago:
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=1449882#post1449882

90 days seems to be standard now on all Dell's home PCs, even the most expensive XPS desktop and laptop. They charge an extra $29 for a 1yr warranty. They have different options for businesses.

The 3 yr warranty for their XPS laptop is $279 (12% of the base price), $179 for the XPS deskop (11% of the base price), $189 (35% of the base price) for their cheapest Inspiron 1200 laptop and $119 (40% of the base price) for their cheapest Dimension 2400 desktop. All base prices include the current discounts.

 

[deryk]

Thanks for your input

I really appreciate everyone's willingness to share their opinions. I was really fence sitting on this decision. I am purchasing this as a student and the applecare is only $239 and panda's statement that it covers both the powerbook and the monitor helped in swaying my decision. Les Kern's statement was the final push for me though. I too am a homeowner and never purchase extended warrantees for my appliances either.

I would be interested in seeing a poll on who has used applecare beyond the first year of owning a Mac. As I stated before, I've never had a problem with any of my Macs, but I've never spent over $3000 one one either. I want this to last me years like my previous computers.

Thanks!

 

[Lacero]

By the time the 3 year Applecare is up, the computer is already pretty much obsolete. Most problems with computers stem from bad RAM or a crashed HD, otherwise, every other component will last for a long time, ie the mobo and the LCD.

 

[asqy]

By the way, AppleCare is nothing like "almost costs more than the ibook or powerbook". It's $349 for the PowerBooks (13% of the price of the 17" PB, 24% of the price of the 12" combo PB) and $249 for the iBooks (16% of the 14" iBook, 25% of the price of the 12" iBook). In other words it's between 13% and 25% of the cost of the laptop.

Hyperbole

 

[wnameth]

I second that, go for the apple care, because if within a month if your screen happens to go or something really major, you will really wish you had the apple care.

Unfortunately I have a computer that is almost 5 years old (blue and white)
I wish i could still get apple care for it, because i have put every cent i have into upgrading, and if it craps out now i will be at a major loss.

I am planning on getting an ibook sometime in the summer, and i know i will go for the apple care

i wish you good luck with your new mac, please keep us posted on it, and maybe even write your own personal review on it.

thats my $0.02

 

[telecomm]

I think I'll have to be one of the dissenters here. Applecare is a profit-making venture. It's an expected value issue, for those of you with statistics backgrounds. They consider the likelihood of your encountering a problem and the cost of repairs vs. the likelihood you won't have a problem and the cost of applecare. You can bet that the expected value comes out to Apple's advantage. It's pretty safe to assume Apple's calculations (1) are correct and (2) will make them a profit. That means, if their calculations are correct, it's in your interest not to buy applecare.

Of course, everyone to whom you argue this point will tell horror stories of logicboard failure, etc., but think of how many people never encounter issues (or read threads like this).

 

[asqy]

I second that, go for the apple care, because if within a month if your screen happens to go or something really major, you will really wish you had the apple care.

within a month and your screen goes? Doesnt that mean its covered under the standard 1 year?

 

[James Philp]

I think I'll have to be one of the dissenters here. Applecare is a profit-making venture.

So is an Apple computer - not going to buy one now?
Don't you think it's better that Apple cover the repairs/replacements rather than any other company? ALL insurance is profit making! Do you own ANY insurance policies on these grounds then?

 

[telecomm]

So is an Apple computer - not going to buy one now?

OK, point taken, but after the cost of a computer I've got... a computer. After the cost of Applecare I've got... peace of mind? A clear conscience after having helped Apple to higher profits?

Don't you think it's better that Apple cover the repairs/replacements rather than any other company?

Not necessarily, and this assumes, of course, that there will be repairs.

ALL insurance is profit making! Do you own ANY insurance policies on these grounds then?

No, I don't own any insurance policies, but I do know some actuaries. For some, peace of mind will be worth this expense. But in the long run, it's better that you take the money you'd spend on these policies and invest it wisely.

 

[michiwama]

Seems like if it costs upwards of 25% per year that in 3 years you can come close buy a new on with the savings from not purchasiing applecare. That's a guarantee and not the gamble that insurance is.....

 

[cooknwitha]

I've had 4 Macs and never bought Applecare. The only problem I've ever had was with the first Mac which was an LC II (remember them?!) and that started to fade about 5 years after I bought it. Then about a year later the screen started packing it in. But by then I'd got a new computer.

 

[asqy]

within a month and your screen goes? Doesnt that mean its covered under the standard 1 year?

..well?

 

[Macky-Mac]

..well?

yes, if your hardware goes bad within a month of purchase, you're covered by the standard warranty

 

[zach]

What I'd do is wait until the end of your first year, then make your decision. You're still eligible for applecare for a whole year, and if you don't have any problems by then, the chances of you having them later are a lot less.

On the other hand, if you've had to send it back several times, and don't have a brand new machine, chances are something else is gonna go wrong...

That's what I'm doing with my Powerbook, waiting at least until then, and so far so good.

 

[DakotaGuy]

Applecare is a great deal for the consumer desktop models, not so much for the PowerMacs and laptops. I can see them charging more for a PowerMac since it covers the stand alone display, and I can sort of understand why the laptops cost more to cover, BUT I never understood why they charge more for the Powerbook then the iBook. Also, I could have swore when I bought my iMac G5 Applecare for it was only $149. Now I see only the Mini is $149. The eMac/iMac plan is now $169.

 

[Macky-Mac]

How much is it? Like $350
Think of it as $120 a year for 3 years free repair and return policy That's $10 a month!. Sound like it's worth it to me. Wish I had got it to all my Macs. Having it gives you loads of piece of mind. If your Mac lasts 3 years, you're doing well, and with this It will last AT LEAST 3 years.
Of course it is! You try to get insurance for a laptop for free repair and replacement (no minimum contribution) for less than $10 a month!

actually you're purchasing a 2 year extension and not a 3 year extension - the first year comes standard with the computer - so that means you would divide the $350 by 2 and not by 3.....the difference in monthly cost isnt that much but a lot of people are under the incorrect impression that they are buying 3 extra years

 

[zen.state]

macworld said it best in the late 90's.. if its a portable then buy applecare 100%. if its a desktop only buy it if its a very large system investment.

 

[plinden]

Seems like if it costs upwards of 25% per year that in 3 years you can come close buy a new on with the savings from not purchasiing applecare. That's a guarantee and not the gamble that insurance is.....

Eh? What do you mean? Do you really think it's $349 per year for Applecare? The $349 is for the extra two years, so it's 8% of the cost of the laptop each year.

I think I would get AppleCare for a laptop. I wouldn't bother for a desktop.

 

[Bozola]

Two points and my thought...

1 If you buy applecare 'right away' you should be able to negotiate a few bucks off (I was quoted 50$ by just asking)

2 Applecare only covers you for 2 years. You get the first year with your computer purchase, applecare covers you for year 2 & 3. They advertise it as a 3 yr plan but it's really a +2 plan.

You can argue pluses/minuses on both sides.

Eventually.. it's buyers' choice.. based on who you are, you reading forums, your prior experiences, your friend's experiences, your wallet thickness, your mood when you buy, etc

There is no wrong, there is no right. It's your choice, and decision.

 

[greg555]

Two points and my thought...

1 If you buy applecare 'right away' you should be able to negotiate a few bucks off (I was quoted 50$ by just asking)

2 Applecare only covers you for 2 years. You get the first year with your computer purchase, applecare covers you for year 2 & 3. They advertise it as a 3 yr plan but it's really a +2 plan.

You can argue pluses/minuses on both sides.

Eventually.. it's buyers' choice.. based on who you are, you reading forums, your prior experiences, your friend's experiences, your wallet thickness, your mood when you buy, etc

There is no wrong, there is no right. It's your choice, and decision.

My credit card (Royal Bank Visa) doubles warranties (up to an extra year)
so buying Applecare or any other extended warranty seldom makes sense
to me. That said, when I bought a Maytag Neptune (front loader) when
they were fairly new I paid to get the 5 yr extended warranty and it
was worth it since had 3 repairs after the first year.

So if you have the right credit card the decision may be easier to make.

Greg

 

[Windoze_Fanboy]

Just to summerise a few points

Remember that the first year of hardware repair/replace is free anyway so its 2 years extra you are buying not 3 years extra, just three years in total. Telephone support first 90 days is free of charge.

Someone qouted a magazine as saying: Definately buy for the laptops, don't for the Desktops, unless it is a large financial envestment. Because for the chances involved, its not worth it.

If you feel that the peace of mind you'd get is worth it then do so, you don't want to be worrying all the time about something going wrong, whether its a good financial decision or not, at the end of the day you want a good experience and if the cost of Apple Care is worth it because it gives you a better experience then go for it.

--------------------------------------

Personally I never buy insurance on anything unless its a large investment that is critical to protect, and for everything else I buy things which are extremly unlikely to have a problem


Bottom line is 'Just Do It'. You've payed $3000 dollors for it and the chances of something going wrong is obviously worrying you so put yourself at ease and spend a little more, since you've already spent so much it wont make much of a difference, just consider it $3300 for the whole thing. (Not sure on USA price of apple care).

 

[thequicksilver]

My iBook hadn't had a single problem since I bought it a year and a bit ago. It comes everywhere with me - a 35 mile journey by bus, train and foot every day to university, about ten return trips to France, and other general carrying - and is the archetypal "solid laptop" that the iBook is famed for.

Coming up to the first anniversary of the purchase, I too wasn't really sure why I needed Apple Care. I simply couldn't see it breaking. But, against my better judgement, I decided to go for it, if only for piece of mind.

On Tuesday, while I was idly browsing and listening to music, a loud clunking sound came from the system. Then another. Then consistently. Put succinctly, my hard drive failed. Without Apple Care, I'd be facing a bill probably just the same as the hard drive replacement - but with it, I have that repair in the bag (well, currently being done) and almost two years' extra coverage on top of it.

From where I'm sitting, it's a no brainer.

 

[Maxiseller]

I'm just saying that here, the price of this "peace of mind" is about half the price of an ibook - close to £300!

I wouldn't pay for the peace of mind. Apple are trying to sell you a product that isn't going to break on you. I know it's possible it could, but its personal choice whether you're willing to part with that much money to cover it.

 

[thequicksilver]

I'm just saying that here, the price of this "peace of mind" is about half the price of an ibook - close to £300!

Just to add a little perspective to this post...

 

[petej]

My personal view is that the expected life of a computer is 2 years. If it goes wrong after 2 years, I would not want it repaired, I would just buy a new one and get a new current model of my choosing (PC or Mac whichever suits best at the time). If it failed within 2 years then a minor repair I would do myself, for a major faullt, I would stat kicking off with consumer protection laws. As for accidental damage, well my houshold insurance policy provides that. If the computer lasts beyond 2 years then obviously I'm very happy and just keep using it until it dies or I choose to replace it.
I therefore never choose any extended warranty type of insurance policy.

In a previous employment, I had the fortune to sell this type of policy to consumers. Fortune because it was very rewarding. For every one I sold, I would get a bonus. If the store met its target for selling these policies then we would get an extra bonus. Now I'm not saying this applies to all polices or indeed AppleCare, but in this case, there was a large profit margin for the company. This experience also showed me how unfair these policies can be. For the most part, the people who purchase them tend to be the ones who can least afford them.

At the end of the day though, it is a personal decision. Don't worry about the statistics. If you feel that the price of the policy is fair for the the service you are promised then buy it. One more thing, if you buy an extended warranty in a physical shop, don't forget to haggle on the price.