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Discrimination of UK customers (AppleCare)

M

macosfan

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 21, 2017
6
4
I recently picked up the Macbook Pro 15" 512GB and thought I'll buy the AppleCare option. When I checked the available options for UK customers here's what I got.

UK residents:
AppleCare Protection Plan
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
£329.00
Includes insurance premium tax at the applicable rate.
One stop for technical support, including:
  • 24/7 priority access to Apple experts via chat or phone
  • Local Apple hardware service around the world
  • Onsite service for desktop computers
  • Collect and return service for portable computers
  • Service options for your Mac computer, battery, included accessories, and AirPort
  • Software support for macOS, iCloud, and quick how-to questions about Apple-branded apps, such as Photos, iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and more
  • Connecting to printers and AirPort networks

Whereas if I change my country of residence to the United States here's what shows up.
AppleCare+
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
$379.00
One stop for technical support, including:
  • 24/7 priority access to Apple experts via chat or phone
  • Global repair coverage
  • Onsite repair for Mac desktops, mail-in repair for Mac notebooks, or carry-in repair for all Mac computers
  • Hardware coverage for your Mac computer, battery, included accessories, and AirPort
  • Coverage for up to two incidents of accidental damage from handling of your Mac, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other damage, plus applicable tax
  • Software support for macOS, iCloud, and Apple-branded apps, such as Photos, iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and more
  • Connecting to printers and AirPort networks

The AppleCare option for US residents provides accidental damage for up to two incidents, whereas UK residents don't get this option. I reached out to Apple Support to confirm whether this is indeed the case and they confirmed that UK customers don't have accidental damage included.


I'm now considering taking a third party option for laptop insurance.

Any recommendations on which 3rd party laptop insurance to go for?
 
Currently AppleCare+ has only been rolled out in certain locations. In the US it is only available during the 1st 60 days after purchase. And there is no regular AppleCare. Only the higher price AppleCare+.
 
Last edited:
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macosfan said:
I recently picked up the Macbook Pro 15" 512GB and thought I'll buy the AppleCare option. When I checked the available options for UK customers here's what I got.
The AppleCare option for US residents provides accidental damage for up to two incidents, whereas UK residents don't get this option. I reached out to Apple Support to confirm whether this is indeed the case and they confirmed that UK customers don't have accidental damage included.


I'm now considering taking a third party option for laptop insurance.

Any recommendations on which 3rd party laptop insurance to go for?
Click to expand...
As others have pointed out, these are different products.

AppleCare+ is only available on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch in the UK and other countries.
For Macs etc we are only offered AppleCare.

The USA offers AppleCare+ on all Apple products.
So I guess you could say there is some discrimination there, but not really.
 
leman said:
Its a different product. One is Apple Care and one is Apple Care +. The later is also more expensive, so I don't see where you see discrimination.
Click to expand...

AppleCare+ isn't more expensive, in fact it's cheaper and provides more.

The UK AppleCare Protection Plan costs £329, does not include accidental damage.
The US AppleCare+ costs $379 = £282, includes accidental damage for up to 2 incidents.

For Macbooks in the UK, AppleCare+ is not offered as an option. The only option in the UK is AppleCare Protection Plan which costs more and offers less.
[doublepost=1512484303][/doublepost]
jerryk said:
Currently AppleCare+ has only been rolled out in certain locations. In the US it is only available during the 1st 60 days after purchase. And there is not regular AppleCare. Only the higher price AppleCare+.
Click to expand...

AppleCare+ isn't priced higher, in fact it's priced lower than the AppleCare Protection Plan offered in the UK and offers more. As for buying it in the first 60 days, it's the same for both.
 
macosfan said:
AppleCare+ isn't priced higher, in fact it's priced lower than the AppleCare Protection Plan offered in the UK and offers more. As for buying it in the first 60 days, it's the same for both.
Click to expand...

Nope, AppleCare can be bought within the first year of purchase. AppleCare+ can only be bought within 60 days.

With regards to AC+, this was only recently released for Macs in the US, so it's very new.
 
macosfan said:
AppleCare+ isn't more expensive, in fact it's cheaper and provides more.

The UK AppleCare Protection Plan costs £329, does not include accidental damage.
The US AppleCare+ costs $379 = £282, includes accidental damage for up to 2 incidents.
Click to expand...

Did you count in the UK VAT and other surcharges that do not apply to products sold in America? Sure, if you ignore the tax and all the regulations, the other side will always seem greener. If you want to benefit from US tax structure and laws, I guess you can always petition your government about becoming part of USA.

BTW, accidental damage in many EU countries is covered by homeowners insurance, if you select an appropriate option. No idea if you also have this in UK.
 
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I never heard of AC+ for Macs, this is cool, especially for laptops. I guess it is new, hopefully it will end up going to the UK too. As for the price differences, you can't really do just a simple exchange rate calculation and say it is cheaper or not. There are many other things that go into the price that just doesn't translate to a simple exchange rate conversion.


leman said:
Did you count in the UK VAT and other surcharges that do not apply to products sold in America?
Click to expand...
leman said:
if you ignore the tax and all the regulations, the other side will always seem greener
Click to expand...

This happens a lot.

Any article posted on MR about the price changes of Apple products outside of the US will bring out a lot of complaints of price differences. Most times, VAT, currency speculation, and regulation is never taken in account (and is sometimes hard to monetize), and usually just the daily exchange rate is used to express price differences.
 
macosfan said:
AppleCare+ isn't more expensive, in fact it's cheaper and provides more.

The UK AppleCare Protection Plan costs £329, does not include accidental damage.
The US AppleCare+ costs $379 = £282, includes accidental damage for up to 2 incidents.

For Macbooks in the UK, AppleCare+ is not offered as an option. The only option in the UK is AppleCare Protection Plan which costs more and offers less.
[doublepost=1512484303][/doublepost]

AppleCare+ isn't priced higher, in fact it's priced lower than the AppleCare Protection Plan offered in the UK and offers more. As for buying it in the first 60 days, it's the same for both.
Click to expand...

US Applecare for the 15" was $249, 185 British pounds. So AppleCare+ price change is pretty big.

Also remember the US does not have a lot of the consumer protection you have in the UK. In the US, the warranty period is whatever the manufactures says it is. There is no general goods warranty and fitness for purpose requirements.

This means that warranty service for US buyers is 12 months unless you buy AppleCare. If a manufacturing flaw is discovered at 12 months + 1 day, too bad. You should have bought AppleCare+, for more money.
 
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macosfan said:
The UK AppleCare Protection Plan costs £329, does not include accidental damage.
The US AppleCare+ costs $379 = £282, includes accidental damage for up to 2 incidents.
Click to expand...

The UK parliament has recently been told by one of the more talented MPs that 2 + 2 equals 4, minus 3 equals 1. (Seriously). It confirms what I think about the math abilities of the people living in the same country as I do. UK prices include 20% VAT. US prices do _not_ contain any sales tax. This has been posted on MacRumors thousands of times, basically whenever someone from the UK complains about prices and is apparently not aware of the most basic economic facts.
 
keysofanxiety said:
Nope, AppleCare can be bought within the first year of purchase. AppleCare+ can only be bought within 60 days.

With regards to AC+, this was only recently released for Macs in the US, so it's very new.
Click to expand...

And a lot of us wish that we could still buy AppleCare (no +).
 
AC in the UK is mainly just a hassle free service, technically you have 5-7 years warranty on the thing (EU law...), but it involves proving manufacturing defects and all sorts of headaches. So technically you don't actually need it, but if you use the computer for any work related things, then being able to walk into an Apple store worldwide and sort it without arguing or getting upset is usually worth it.

If they did offer AC+ in the UK it'd probably be way too expensive to justify, given the insurance rates and things, I reckon maybe £499+ for it (Probably closer to £700). Most people have that same protection on their CC or contents insurance so it's not really a priority for Apple to work out in the UK.

I just checked a third party insurer (Cheapest I could find on a comparison site) for my MBP and it's a cheap £220 a year, so £660 for the 3 years, and that's without the standard AC stuff so yeah... Take good care of it.
 
because Apple only care about USA market

a lot of years passed and still no depot option repair for Apple Customers in UK, you have to go to Apple Store (you need appointment without this it will be only waste of time) and repair usually took 5-7 days, doesn't look like premium quality service
 
Can't you just buy AC+ on the US site? Since it has global coverage...they should allow that.
 
Every apple product is more expensive in the UK than the US, so you can’t compare it.

But you can buy US AC+ for your UK MBP. You’ll get the same worldwide warranty for 3 years as if you bought it in the UK. But the accidental damages can only be repaired in the US.

I still think it’s a no-brainer to buy it in the US, because most likely they will roll out AC+ internationally within the next three years and then you can get accidental damage even in the UK.

But even if they don’t, you get to benefit from the lower price due to exchange rates and GST.

Whatever happens you win. That’s what I did with my HK MBP.
 
If I remember correctly, AppleCare+ only came to Mac in the US in the last 12-18 months. I suspect we'll see it arrive in the UK within the next 12 months.
 
I purchased insurance for £180pa for my new 2017 13" MBP from insurance2go.com who specialise. Covers theft accidental damage etc .. cheers and mention me as a referral if you use them as we'll both get £25 Starbuck vouchers! :)
 
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