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Best insurance for iPhone - liquid/spills/loss/theft?

D

dtcdtcdtc

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 21, 2016
3
1
Years ago, I signed up for Mobile Phone insurance on AT&T for a samsung phone I had. Back then, the plan was $5.99/mo and the deductible was $50. I liked it because it covered liquid - and I'm accident prone and frequently on boats.

I took the time to look through my plan and it is now $7.99/mo and the deductible is $225. WHOA.

Now, granted, the replacement value for my phone is $749 - but sheesh. There's got to be a better deal out there!

Things I'm looking for: coverage for liquid, coverage for loss & theft

GoCare doesn't seem to cover loss/theft (I think)
SquareTrade doesn't seem to cover loss/theft
insureappleiphone has some mixed reviews here (I think I saw a post where someone received a bad used phone through their claim.)

Any other suggestions?
 
Most cost effective 'insurance' is either squaretrade or AppleCare.

Loss or theft is a pricey option and you should rethink carefully if you want that.
 
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Turnpike said:
I go through about 5 phones a year, for work and other purposes.... I would say BY FAR that in my personal experience, (after having had insurance programs at different points and for different reasons, filing claims on a few different ones, etc...) that you are MUCH MUCH MUCH farther ahead if you buy your phone outright, are careful with it, use at least the Apple brand silicone case, and should you break it you get the screen fixed at Apple for $120ish, and if you break it more than that you buy a BRAND NEW ONE and you sell your broken one on Ebay. If you figure the difference between what you get for any level of damaged iPhone and the price of a new one, (there are enough bargain hunters on Ebay that nothing goes for peanuts) it's well worth your time to have a replacement right away (because you went and bought it) and you have a NEW replacement, brand shiney new instantly in your hand, no paperwork, no questions, no deductible. And the boost you get for your damaged phone takes the edge off your new phone. Also, since you would be buying the phone outright, you pick what plan when you want, the prepaid plans are as cheap and easy as any other kind now, and when you buy the phone in the store you get the unlocked version which gives any kind of damaged phone on Ebay a bit of a boost on the price as well. Just my 2 cents, but any insurance plan is a bad investment, if you put that money aside for when your phone actually broke, you'd be much better off. I wonder how many other people have come to feel this way after years of iPhone replacements....? I'm convinced the insurance plans and phone payment plans even exist are because most can get started with a simple signature. If companies are making $$ on these, that means you are paying it.
Click to expand...


you're rambling way too much. this is not what he asked. i know its sunday. maybe not answer when you're drunk lol.
 
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Turnpike said:
I go through about 5 phones a year, for work and other purposes.... I would say BY FAR that in my personal experience, (after having had insurance programs at different points and for different reasons, filing claims on a few different ones, etc...) that you are MUCH MUCH MUCH farther ahead if you buy your phone outright, are careful with it, use at least the Apple brand silicone case, and should you break it you get the screen fixed at Apple for $120ish, and if you break it more than that you buy a BRAND NEW ONE and you sell your broken one on Ebay. If you figure the difference between what you get for any level of damaged iPhone and the price of a new one, (there are enough bargain hunters on Ebay that nothing goes for peanuts) it's well worth your time to have a replacement right away (because you went and bought it) and you have a NEW replacement, brand shiney new instantly in your hand, no paperwork, no questions, no deductible. And the boost you get for your damaged phone takes the edge off your new phone. Also, since you would be buying the phone outright, you pick what plan when you want, the prepaid plans are as cheap and easy as any other kind now, and when you buy the phone in the store you get the unlocked version which gives any kind of damaged phone on Ebay a bit of a boost on the price as well. Just my 2 cents, but any insurance plan is a bad investment, if you put that money aside for when your phone actually broke, you'd be much better off. I wonder how many other people have come to feel this way after years of iPhone replacements....? I'm convinced the insurance plans and phone payment plans even exist are because most can get started with a simple signature. If companies are making $$ on these, that means you are paying it.
Click to expand...

Also, Paragraphs do work wonders. Didn't bother to read. Too difficult
 
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Self-insure. Unless you expect accidental damage, loss or theft to be a frequent phenomenon (e.g. at least once a year), putting that $7.99/mo and $225 deductible into a savings account should get you enough for an upgraded replacement for the occasional accident or loss. After just 1 year, the monthly premiums and deductible is sufficient to pay for an out-of-warranty replacement from Apple in case of accidental damage.
 
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Depends how you treat your phones. My wife is brutal with all the phones. Drops, spills. Taking pics in the pool/beach (we live in Florida with pool and beach access).

I call her the black widow of electronics. So for her i went with square trade.

Keep in mind square trade it may take X amount of days to get ur phone fixed cause Apple stores are getting horrible getting an appt (in orlando area sometimes a 5-7 day wait for appt). Have a spare phone in hand.

If you went with apple care they will get u a phone overnight.
 
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dtcdtcdtc said:
Years ago, I signed up for Mobile Phone insurance on AT&T for a samsung phone I had. Back then, the plan was $5.99/mo and the deductible was $50. I liked it because it covered liquid - and I'm accident prone and frequently on boats.

I took the time to look through my plan and it is now $7.99/mo and the deductible is $225. WHOA.

Now, granted, the replacement value for my phone is $749 - but sheesh. There's got to be a better deal out there!

Things I'm looking for: coverage for liquid, coverage for loss & theft

GoCare doesn't seem to cover loss/theft (I think)
SquareTrade doesn't seem to cover loss/theft
insureappleiphone has some mixed reviews here (I think I saw a post where someone received a bad used phone through their claim.)

Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1469402778][/doublepost]Sorry for blank post.

God, I'm retarded :)

Like the OP, I was looking for insurance.

The self insure replies make more sense, and do offer the OP another option. Bust your phone, it will find a new home on eBay. You can sell a used spatula on eBay, if you're so inclined.
 
dtcdtcdtc said:
Years ago, I signed up for Mobile Phone insurance on AT&T for a samsung phone I had. Back then, the plan was $5.99/mo and the deductible was $50. I liked it because it covered liquid - and I'm accident prone and frequently on boats.

I took the time to look through my plan and it is now $7.99/mo and the deductible is $225. WHOA.

Now, granted, the replacement value for my phone is $749 - but sheesh. There's got to be a better deal out there!

Things I'm looking for: coverage for liquid, coverage for loss & theft

GoCare doesn't seem to cover loss/theft (I think)
SquareTrade doesn't seem to cover loss/theft
insureappleiphone has some mixed reviews here (I think I saw a post where someone received a bad used phone through their claim.)

Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...

I agree with others:
  • If you need theft/loss coverage, Asurion coverage through carriers pretty much only choice--and an expensive one.
  • Otherwise, put a solid case/screen protector on it and self-insure--put aside money every month until you've saved up enough to replace.
 
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