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AT&T and AppleCare+?
- Thread starter jackie1998
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Applecare+ Recent news
I called 1-800-myapple today (Twice) and got the same answer both times. My last call to them was a good call, Amanda told me that I was not the only one who has had issues with not being able to purchase applecare+ with their pre orders today. She tried to add it on but she was not able to do so. She then asked me if she could offer me a gift for my trouble. I asked what she had to offer? She offered me a free bumper for the phone. So....I chose a white one to go with my white phone. I know these have been known to scratch the stainless band but I don't use them much, so I went ahead and took one. Anyway, back to the apple care+, she told me to call the local apple store and have them add it to my phone purchase. So I called the local apple store and I was told that they did not have an automated system to add that product on and that there have been so many other customers that were unable to get it with their purchase as well. So she told me to come in to the store after I get my phone delivered and they should have a way by then to add applecare + to the phone as they are going to have to do that to other customers that come in. S there you go, thats the latest news for not that I know of. hope this helps.
T
I called 1-800-myapple today (Twice) and got the same answer both times. My last call to them was a good call, Amanda told me that I was not the only one who has had issues with not being able to purchase applecare+ with their pre orders today. She tried to add it on but she was not able to do so. She then asked me if she could offer me a gift for my trouble. I asked what she had to offer? She offered me a free bumper for the phone. So....I chose a white one to go with my white phone. I know these have been known to scratch the stainless band but I don't use them much, so I went ahead and took one. Anyway, back to the apple care+, she told me to call the local apple store and have them add it to my phone purchase. So I called the local apple store and I was told that they did not have an automated system to add that product on and that there have been so many other customers that were unable to get it with their purchase as well. So she told me to come in to the store after I get my phone delivered and they should have a way by then to add applecare + to the phone as they are going to have to do that to other customers that come in. S there you go, thats the latest news for not that I know of. hope this helps.
T
Well at this point both groups are correct. However it looks like the Terms & Conditions trump the web notes!
The Apple site says it is a required purchase with the new device and the actual Terms and Conditions say you are able to purchase it any time within the 1 year warrarny period.
Here is the direct link to the pdf and on page 5 the following items explain the legal terms as of today with version 1.0 of the T&C
AppleCare+ link: http://images.apple.com/legal/applecare/docs/AppleCarePlus.pdf
(ix) The terms of the Plan, including the original sales receipt of the Plan and the Plan Confirmation,
prevail over any conflicting, additional, or other terms of any purchase order or other document, and constitute your and Apples entire understanding with respect to the Plan.
(x) You must purchase the Plan while your original iPhone is within Apples One Year Limited warranty. Apple is not obligated to renew this Plan. If Apple does offer a renewal, it will determine the price and
terms.
prevail over any conflicting, additional, or other terms of any purchase order or other document, and constitute your and Apples entire understanding with respect to the Plan.
(x) You must purchase the Plan while your original iPhone is within Apples One Year Limited warranty. Apple is not obligated to renew this Plan. If Apple does offer a renewal, it will determine the price and
terms.
Dave
Well at this point both groups are correct. However it looks like the Terms & Conditions trump the web notes!
The Apple site says it is a required purchase with the new device and the actual Terms and Conditions say you are able to purchase it any time within the 1 year warrarny period.
Here is the direct link to the pdf and on page 5 the following items explain the legal terms as of today with version 1.0 of the T&C
AppleCare+ link: http://images.apple.com/legal/applecare/docs/AppleCarePlus.pdf
(ix) The terms of the Plan, including the original sales receipt of the Plan and the Plan Confirmation,
prevail over any conflicting, additional, or other terms of any purchase order or other document, and constitute your and Apples entire understanding with respect to the Plan.
(x) You must purchase the Plan while your original iPhone is within Apples One Year Limited warranty. Apple is not obligated to renew this Plan. If Apple does offer a renewal, it will determine the price and
terms.
Dave
Technically the Terms and Conditions does not have to be updated until the 14th. I'm confident it will be updated to reflect what everyones been told on the website and through Apple reps: that you must purchase AppleCare+ with the iPhone 4S.
Now there might be a grace period for launch devices, given the problems theyre having with preorders and AppleCare+, but moving forward, I'm pretty sure you will have to purchase this Plus service upfront and will not be able to get it anytime afterwards.
I did not buy AppleCare or AppleCare+ when I bought my iPhones, instead since I was on the AT&T site I bought their phone insurance instead and it covers accidental damage, including water and something that AppleCare or AppleCare+ doesn't have and that is if you get your phone stolen. They will replace it and it was $6.99 monthly. To me that is quite reasonable.
But it had to be purchased at the time of the purchase of the phone I believe , but don't quote me as I could be wrong it may be able to be added on later as long as you did not activate the phone yet.
But it had to be purchased at the time of the purchase of the phone I believe , but don't quote me as I could be wrong it may be able to be added on later as long as you did not activate the phone yet.
I got an ATT representative on chat and asked about it. She said I had 90 days to add it and I'd have to do it through Apple, not ATT.
She did offer ATT's insurance program, at $6.99 a month, but with a $199 deductible.
I'm actually going to be out of the country when the iphone arrives, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to get to the Apple Store that is less than an hour away but in the complete opposite direction of work...so I'll probably call Apple next weekend once I've got the phone activated and ask to purchase.
Here's an interesting point though...why would it make a difference if someone buys AppleCare+ once the phone is broken?
Person who buys it today and breaks the phone say, January 1, 2012:
-pays $99 now
-Pays $49 to get phone repaired/replaced on January 2, 2012.
-Total payment to Apple: $148
Person who buys it January 2, 2012, after breaking phone on January 1, 2012: (assuming this is possible)
-pays $99 on January 2, 2012
-Pays $49 to get the phone repaired/replaced on January 2, 2012.
-Total payment to Apple: $148
I'm not sure it's fair to compare it to health insurance, because Apple doesn't look at your usage habits, measure the amount of water around you, or check to see how grippy your hands are, or offer a discount for using a case. Health, car, life insurance is all based on your life and history, unlike a flat rate phone insurance.
She did offer ATT's insurance program, at $6.99 a month, but with a $199 deductible.
I'm actually going to be out of the country when the iphone arrives, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to get to the Apple Store that is less than an hour away but in the complete opposite direction of work...so I'll probably call Apple next weekend once I've got the phone activated and ask to purchase.
Here's an interesting point though...why would it make a difference if someone buys AppleCare+ once the phone is broken?
Person who buys it today and breaks the phone say, January 1, 2012:
-pays $99 now
-Pays $49 to get phone repaired/replaced on January 2, 2012.
-Total payment to Apple: $148
Person who buys it January 2, 2012, after breaking phone on January 1, 2012: (assuming this is possible)
-pays $99 on January 2, 2012
-Pays $49 to get the phone repaired/replaced on January 2, 2012.
-Total payment to Apple: $148
I'm not sure it's fair to compare it to health insurance, because Apple doesn't look at your usage habits, measure the amount of water around you, or check to see how grippy your hands are, or offer a discount for using a case. Health, car, life insurance is all based on your life and history, unlike a flat rate phone insurance.
It actually says both things-- buy with phone and buy anytime during warranty. BUT, I'm guessing they mean it's supposed to be bought with the phone. That said, they have to give some kind of grace period for people that physically could NOT order with preorders, like through ATT and such. Stop freaking out. As long as it's purchased by activation time, I'm sure it will be fine.
My only worry at this point is people saying you have to go to an Apple STORE to do it. There is no Apple store here... and I'm not driving for 2-3 hours just to buy friggin applecare+. That's not reasonable and I don't think that it's true, either. If I had to guess, I would bet there will be some way to add it on when you are activating.
My only worry at this point is people saying you have to go to an Apple STORE to do it. There is no Apple store here... and I'm not driving for 2-3 hours just to buy friggin applecare+. That's not reasonable and I don't think that it's true, either. If I had to guess, I would bet there will be some way to add it on when you are activating.
The regular AppleCare (extended warranty) can be bought within a year -- you must buy it before your warranty ends
AppleCare+ (extended warranty with accidental damage) must be bought with your phone purchase -- since preorders are having a problem with it and AT&T isnt offering it to customers then Apple will have to make an exception and give you a little bit of time to buy it. They'll most likely make an annoucement within the next couple of days on how they'll handle it
There is no way they'll give you a purchase window of 3 months, maybe a few days to a week from release day (doubt they'll require you to buy it on Friday since their stores will be packed as is, unless they want to offer online ordering option)
AppleCare+ (extended warranty with accidental damage) must be bought with your phone purchase -- since preorders are having a problem with it and AT&T isnt offering it to customers then Apple will have to make an exception and give you a little bit of time to buy it. They'll most likely make an annoucement within the next couple of days on how they'll handle it
There is no way they'll give you a purchase window of 3 months, maybe a few days to a week from release day (doubt they'll require you to buy it on Friday since their stores will be packed as is, unless they want to offer online ordering option)
First i doubt the AT&T rep knew much about AppleCare+ especially if they were referring you to Apple to buy it.
Secondly you may not understand my reference to health insurance. Cost wise, youre correct it wouldnt make a difference. But why would Apple allow you to do that, then what would be the point of AppleCare+? If they allowed you to buy AppleCare+ the day AFTER you broke your phone, then why dont they just lower theyre replacement fee to $148 instead of the standard $199 instead of offering AppleCare+ all together? Its silly to assume they would allow that. People who buy AppleCare+-type of insurance dont buy it with the intent theyre going to break their phone and get a replacement, they get it for peace of mind thats why you buy it upfront. People who are allowed to buy it AFTER breaking their phone would be buying it for a cheaper replacememt, which totally defeats the purpose for Apple offering such a service in the first place. They know everyone wants to be careful with their phone, but they offer an extra layer of protection for people who may feel they need that comfort going forward. They dont offer it so you can get a cheaper replacement.
The health insurance analogy fits quite well actually. Those with pre-existing conditions like COPD and a history of smoking (or in this case, a broken iphone or cracked screen from drops) NEVER get the same coverage costs as those with a healthy history and physical examination (ie brand new iphone). The only way Apple can make sure they are covering healthy iphones and not ones with "pre-existing conditions" is to make sure you pay UPFRONT for the "special insurance", like AppleCare+.
Remember its all about the bottom line for companies, and nothung to do with the convenience of their customers.