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AT&T to Begin Offering iPhone Insurance on June 6th? $13.99 Per Month Plus Deductible

I've seen soooo many people drop their iPhones and have the screens shatter. I've done it, my housemate has done it, and every time I go into the Apple Store I see at least 1 other customer with a cracked iPhone screen.

Since Apple doesn't cover such "accidental damage" under Applecare, I'm sure this will be very attractive to anyone who has heard the stories of or experienced dropped iPhones resulting in cracked screens, but in reality, it's probably more worth just replacing the screen yourself for $60-80 when it happens.

Liquid damage is another question, but water makes me melt, so not to much of an issue for me as I avoid the stuff. :cool:
 
bestbuy offers this same type of insurance for cheaper with no deductible, but i dont think theirs covers loss or theft...
 
RebelScum said:
Gawd DAMMIT AT&T why do you have to suck out loud like that?!?

I thought Rogers was evil.

But 6gb data for $30?

Free incoming texts?

Free tethering?

FREE phone insurance? ( http://www.rogers.com/web/content/h...-Handset Protection Launch May10-_-protection )

And upgrade eligibility after 18 months?

Yeah AT&T is made of suck.
Click to expand...

Chill out! It's not at&t, it's the insurance provider, Ausiron, or how ever you spell it. At&t just said "alright, as long as there's iPhone insurance." And ofcourse, their approval by Apple, (not surprising at all.)
 
Yeah, that's bad. So with a two year contract, on 32GB 3GS, you pay:
$335.76 if NO replacement is needed
$534.76 if you DO use the service

Compared to without insurance:
$0 if NO replacement is needed
$699 if you DO need a new phone

That's a tiny, tiny benefit for the unlikely scenario that you need to use it.
 
Really?

Apple just replaced my 32GB 3GS at retail for $199 out of warranty. Dropped the phone in a glass of water, made an appointment, admitted the water damage and was out of there in 20 min.

Why would I buy insurance from AT&T when I can do that?
 
I would probably go with safeware instead having used them in the past (although I've never had to make a claim so I don't really know how good their service is). Safeware for and iPhone 3GS 32 GB is about $110 a year with a $50 deductible. Still an expensive proposition, but better than AT&T's.
 
Most credit card companies give you an additional 1 full year of manufacturer's warranty (Amex). Why would anyone pay $15 a month AND a deductible?! 10 months of this would be $150 + $100 deductible (or more) = $250. You could easily buy a new iPhone and/or threaten to leave ATT if they don't give you a deal on a replacement.
 
tk421 said:
Yeah, that's bad. So with a two year contract, on 32GB 3GS, you pay:
$335.76 if NO replacement is needed
$534.76 if you DO use the service

Compared to without insurance:
$0 if NO replacement is needed
$699 if you DO need a new phone

That's a tiny, tiny benefit for the unlikely scenario that you need to use it.
Click to expand...

thanks for calculating it out. I agree 100%
 
Tazzy531 said:
I've hard 2 of my iPhones covered under the Mastercard Extended Warranty benefit and 1 covered under the Mastercard Purchase Assurance.

The last one was when I dropped my iPhone and cracked the glass 2 weeks after I bought it.

All this is free! Why are people not using this?

http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/guidetobenefits/index.html#q01
Click to expand...

Is that for all master card cc's? couldn't tell right away. I have a MC cc through Citi...does it have the same benfits?
 
specops said:
bestbuy offers this same type of insurance for cheaper with no deductible, but i dont think theirs covers loss or theft...
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's that ridiculous "Black Tie Protection" insurance. Word on the street that it's a rip off. Which I would actually believe cause the insurance I got back in 2005 for my iPod was never "actually" covered. A.k.a.- a SCAM! So, bestbuy just likes to rip people off sometimes. Believe, they have really good coverage! No doubt about that. But they just don't know how to assume that everything is "covered" when you go get a replacement or get your phone fixed!
 
A phone is no good without phone service.

A phone should just be part of phone service. They should be free as long as you have service. Especially iphones, there are millions and millions, they really aren't worth that much any more.

Until the industry evolves into a common sense business model, these silly "offers" will never end.
 
Wow, Apple would have replaced my wife's iPhone for $199. One Water Detector was tripped, and the GPS don't work. I don't think the price of their insurance is worth it.
 
imo its a great idea but pricing is way to high. pay the same price other than having it lost/stolen for damage.
 
sorry but moore's law should always nullify the need for insurance like this. iphones, imacs, etc. are all last generation after 2-3 years. in this case, my iphone contract is ready to be renewed anyway so why would i pay insurance on something obsolete?

maybe if it was $3-$5/month, it would be useful be i wouldn't even waste my time with that pricing.
 
swingerofbirch said:
I would probably go with safeware instead having used them in the past (although I've never had to make a claim so I don't really know how good their service is). Safeware for and iPhone 3GS 32 GB is about $110 a year with a $50 deductible. Still an expensive proposition, but better than AT&T's.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, that's expensive!!! I have rental insurance with $30k in personal property coverage for about that much yearly (aside from the higher deductable)!

tk421 said:
Yeah, that's bad. So with a two year contract, on 32GB 3GS, you pay:
$335.76 if NO replacement is needed
$534.76 if you DO use the service

Compared to without insurance:
$0 if NO replacement is needed
$699 if you DO need a new phone

That's a tiny, tiny benefit for the unlikely scenario that you need to use it.
Click to expand...

Or you could get a rider on your rental/home insurance and pay like $36 a year to cover the phone with a $25 deductible.

over 2 years:

$97 if NO replacement is needed
$699 if you Do need a new phone

If that is worth it depends on how and where you use your phone. For me it is, but for some it wouldn't be. Either way it's MUCH cheaper than this crap at&t or best buy is peddling!
 
dgonzalez201 said:
Apple just replaced my 32GB 3GS at retail for $199 out of warranty. Dropped the phone in a glass of water, made an appointment, admitted the water damage and was out of there in 20 min.

Why would I buy insurance from AT&T when I can do that?
Click to expand...
Here's a question. How is your 3GS out of warranty? Included AppleCare lasts a year. If you bought it on the release date, the earliest you could be out of coverage is June 9.

AppleCare doesn't include repair or replacement for water damage. So warranty status on that issue isn't relevant. I'd still do as you suggest - pay Apple their repair cost instead of going with this insurance product from AT&T.
 
alexhasfun28 said:
Chill out! It's not at&t, it's the insurance provider, Ausiron, or how ever you spell it. At&t just said "alright, as long as there's iPhone insurance." And ofcourse, their approval by Apple, (not surprising at all.)
Click to expand...

AT&T is making money on Ausiron's policies.

I will keep my 3G as a back up when/if I replace it with the iPhone HD.
 
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