Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Can you purchase AppleCare at a later date?

N

NoHo

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 2, 2011
303
5
I want to get the 64gb 4S, but I need to get AppleCare because my 3GS lasted about a year and a half then I was told tough luck and I don't want to have to deal with the same thing.

Can I purchase AppleCare at a later date or does it need to be purchased with the phone at time of sale?

And is AppleCare+ really worth it? I mean, it's $100, but if your phone breaks, you have to pay $50 so if it breaks twice, that's already $200 you have spent. Just doesn't seem worth it, but maybe I'm wrong.
 
You have 1 year to buy applecare from the original date of your purchase. I bought my applecare in June this year for my iPhone 4 i bought at launch! Apple gives you a 1 year warranty!
 
JLemm said:
You have 1 year to buy applecare from the original date of your purchase. I bought my applecare in June this year for my iPhone 4 i bought at launch! Apple gives you a 1 year warranty!
Click to expand...

Does the one year warranty cover everything that applecare covers?
 
It it true that AppleCare could be purchased at any time during the original one year warranty.

However, this is apparently not true for AppleCare+, it must be purchased together with the covered equipment. From Apple's site:
Important notes
AppleCare+ must be purchased together with new covered equipment. See AppleCare+ Terms and Conditions for complete product details.​
Click to expand...

Text at the bottom of the page: http://www.apple.com/support/products/iphone.html
 
Anytime. I normally buys them from eBay or Amazone, its cheaper there. No problem for at eBay for me. It works and I have used them for many laptop repairs at Apple Store.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

The old apple care you had a whole year. I think with the new accident insurance you have to buy it with the phone.
 
Can anyone tell if there is any way to guarantee you will get a chance to buy applecare+ when purchasing through verizon? Verizon says apple will offer it later but apple says it has to be purchased together with the device. Sprint for instance offers applecare+ with preorders but verizon does not (only confirmed for iphone 4 8 GB preoders).

Alternatively can anyone tell me if it is possible to add a line to a family plan when purchasing a verizon phone through apple online?
 
NoHo said:
And is AppleCare+ really worth it? I mean, it's $100, but if your phone breaks, you have to pay $50 so if it breaks twice, that's already $200 you have spent. Just doesn't seem worth it, but maybe I'm wrong.
Click to expand...

What would it cost if the phone breaks twice WITHOUT AppleCare+? Depends on the breakage. Assume major problems (shattered screen glass), out of warranty Apple has previously offered $200 swap for a refurb so that would be $400. Or you can have screen replaced by a third party, still around $200. So if it breaks TWICE, then AppleCare+ will save you $200.

If it only breaks ONCE, AppleCare+ would cost $150 and paying out of pocket "might" cost $200 so AppleCare+ saves you $50.

If it doesn't break at all, of course, AppleCare+ costs you $100.

Is it worth it? Beats me. You decide.
 
Insurance on the iPhone from Verizon is $11/mo. + $169.00 to replace the phone.

AppleCare+ is $99 once, and $49 per incident, for two incidents.

I don't care how you attempt to do the math, AppleCare+ is a better deal AND it's dealing with Apple, not Asurion.

It's a no brainer for the phone. If you don't pick it up, you're either rich and can afford to pay $649 for another device or foolish.
 
jnick said:
Insurance on the iPhone from Verizon is $11/mo. + $169.00 to replace the phone.

AppleCare+ is $99 once, and $49 per incident, for two incidents.

I don't care how you attempt to do the math, AppleCare+ is a better deal AND it's dealing with Apple, not Asurion.

It's a no brainer for the phone. If you don't pick it up, you're either rich and can afford to pay $649 for another device or foolish.
Click to expand...
Excellent post, with accurate information :)

Remember Apple has a vested interest in keeping their customers happy. Far greater than that of the carriers.
 
jnick said:
I don't care how you attempt to do the math, AppleCare+ is a better deal AND it's dealing with Apple, not Asurion.
Click to expand...
Unless your iPhone is lost or stolen. Then AppleCare+ does nothing for you, while Asurion will replace your phone for about $200 less than it would cost you to buy another one from your carrier.
 
I'm thinking about doing squaretrade warranty, you can catch them for 69.99 for 2 years of coverage with accidental damage protection also.
 
I think if Verizon does not offer it, then order it at the apple page and have it delivered on the same date.

The Apple web site "Important note" says they have to be purchased together. However, it is interesting that it doesn't seem to say this in the actual terms and conditions that it has to be purchased together. In section 4.2 it says coverage does not apply to:

(viii) A pre-existing condition on any Covered Equipment if you purchased the Plan after you
purchased the Covered Equipment

Then, later in section 11 it says:

(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 Apple’s entire understanding with respect to the Plan.
(x) You must purchase the Plan while your original iPhone is within Apple’s 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

So, according to their terms and conditions, you can purchase it within one year. But, it won't cover anything that happens before you purchase it. So, if you drop and smash your phone in 6 months, and then try to buy the warranty and have it fixed, that shouldn't be covered. But, how would they know it broke before you bought the warranty? I mean, it would seem fairly obvious if you bought Applecare+ and a few days later walk in with a smashed phone that "just happened" and want it replaced.

But, I think for all of us doing pre-orders, it should be fine to buy it separately from Apple if the carrier does not offer it at check out. To be safe, I would buy it right away though.
 
Could not purchase AppleCare+ for Iphone 4S

I tried to add AppleCare+ for my iPhone 4S when I placed my order online this morning; however, I couldn't find anywhere to add it. After my order was placed, I called Apple to get it added and was informed that it could not be added to the iPhone 4S as it was a pre-order. The rep told me I could add it later. I just hope that's true.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back