Are there any good alternative to AppleCare.
Applecare doesn't seem to have the best reputation, so are there other options?
Applecare doesn't seem to have the best reputation, so are there other options?
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Good alternative to AppleCare?
- Thread starter friendlyghost
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Buy a Dell
Sorry, I couldn't resist. I don't have AppleCare, but my experience w/ Apple under the one-year so-called warranty has been lousy, so I don't plan to spend $349 to extend it.
Sorry, I couldn't resist. I don't have AppleCare, but my experience w/ Apple under the one-year so-called warranty has been lousy, so I don't plan to spend $349 to extend it.
Here's a pretty good article on AppleCare:
http://www.macnet2.com/more.php?id=323_0_1_24_M
Just remember that AppleCare is not insurance. It is just an extension of the one-year warranty to repair any defects. Read the fine print here:
http://a1456.g.akamai.net/7/1456/51...sConditions.pdf
Just to summarize, AppleCare does not cover:
BTW, Dell offers coverage for accidental damage for an additional $100 or so.
http://www.macnet2.com/more.php?id=323_0_1_24_M
Just remember that AppleCare is not insurance. It is just an extension of the one-year warranty to repair any defects. Read the fine print here:
http://a1456.g.akamai.net/7/1456/51...sConditions.pdf
Just to summarize, AppleCare does not cover:
I think the best option is to see if your homeowner's insurance will cover your Mac and what the conditions are.
BTW, Dell offers coverage for accidental damage for an additional $100 or so.
Insurance, not warranty extension
Thanks for bringing this one to my attention. Seems like a great insurance plan.
Thanks for bringing this one to my attention.
Seems like a great insurance plan.
Spiled Coke on my iBook
One time I spilled a whole cup of Coke on the keyboard of my 1 month old iBook, while it was plugged into the wall socket. All the soda poured right into the guts of the computer. I didn't have Apple care. i only had that 1 year warranty that comes with it.
I called Apple on a Monday and they said they would ship overnight a special box to put the iBook in to. Tuesday morning i got the box from Airborne Express. Tuesday afternoon Airborne Express came back to pick up my iBook to ship overnight (no Charge) back to Apple. Apple got my iBook on Wednesday. I was sure they would find a reason not to fix my iBook. I was thinking I would get my old one back and be out a $1000. Thursday afternoon they shipped it back to me via overnight delivery. Friday afternoon I got my Ibook back and it was in perfect condition. They fixed it and it looked good as new. At first I thought they gave me a new one until I checked the hard drive and saw that all my files were still there the way I left them.
I was very impressed with their repair service. It gave me another reason and story to show windows users why Apple ROCKS!
One time I spilled a whole cup of Coke on the keyboard of my 1 month old iBook, while it was plugged into the wall socket. All the soda poured right into the guts of the computer. I didn't have Apple care. i only had that 1 year warranty that comes with it.
I called Apple on a Monday and they said they would ship overnight a special box to put the iBook in to. Tuesday morning i got the box from Airborne Express. Tuesday afternoon Airborne Express came back to pick up my iBook to ship overnight (no Charge) back to Apple. Apple got my iBook on Wednesday. I was sure they would find a reason not to fix my iBook. I was thinking I would get my old one back and be out a $1000. Thursday afternoon they shipped it back to me via overnight delivery. Friday afternoon I got my Ibook back and it was in perfect condition. They fixed it and it looked good as new. At first I thought they gave me a new one until I checked the hard drive and saw that all my files were still there the way I left them.
I was very impressed with their repair service. It gave me another reason and story to show windows users why Apple ROCKS!
Re: Spiled Coke on my iBook
Thanks for that example. It is for reasons like this that on annual consumer polls by PC mags Apple always comes out on top for customer service.
Personally, I'm prepared to take the risk. Think about it. If you back up all your stuff on another drive (like we all do) and your HDD fries, you fork out for a new HDD. Check out the prices, compare them to AppleCare (About the same for decent sized HDD); or your Mobo fries, you buy a new Mobo. Then consider the risk of this occurrence - it is obviously less than 1:1.
The risk of left and some kinds of damage /risk are covered by my house insurance.
So I personally don't really see the point, but that's just me. Some other people will have a lower tolerance of risk (Sorry, I used to be a financial planning training manager for an Aussi Bank)
B
Thanks for that example. It is for reasons like this that on annual consumer polls by PC mags Apple always comes out on top for customer service.
Personally, I'm prepared to take the risk. Think about it. If you back up all your stuff on another drive (like we all do
) and your HDD fries, you fork out for a new HDD. Check out the prices, compare them to AppleCare (About the same for decent sized HDD); or your Mobo fries, you buy a new Mobo. Then consider the risk of this occurrence - it is obviously less than 1:1.The risk of left and some kinds of damage /risk are covered by my house insurance.
So I personally don't really see the point, but that's just me. Some other people will have a lower tolerance of risk (Sorry, I used to be a financial planning training manager for an Aussi Bank)
B
Re: Spiled Coke on my iBook
Glad that you got the iBook repaired for free
However, sounds like your story is an exception to the rule -- Apple were being particularly nice, but the official rules say they wouldn't normally do something like that.
Glad that you got the iBook repaired for free
However, sounds like your story is an exception to the rule -- Apple were being particularly nice, but the official rules say they wouldn't normally do something like that.
For every horror story, there are more stories of success. You just don't hear about many of those. There are times when AppleCare will let you down. It happens. But it's better to be safe than sorry IMO. Some companies will offer other types of warranties (didn't CompUSA used to have a "better" one?). But most of what I've seen is just AppleCare.
Do a search. Some one's got to know something.
BTW: While doing a search for warranties and Towers, a couple of places seem to be low or out of stock. Weird, huh?
Do a search. Some one's got to know something.
BTW: While doing a search for warranties and Towers, a couple of places seem to be low or out of stock. Weird, huh?
So after all this posting, have you all decided if Applecare is worth it, or should people ask if their home insurance covers it? Or how about that Safeware website? Is that better? I know its more expensive, but is it better?
Citibank will double the warranty to two years if I buy the computer on their credit card. I am not sure who has to service the computer, but its a free perk.
i still think its a good idea for apple to have a two year warranty plan also, like compaq, which offers their standard included one year, an extra charge for two years, and a little more for three years
many of the users here seem to get a new machine every other year, or even more often than that
many of the users here seem to get a new machine every other year, or even more often than that
i think it's good to have AppleCare for hardware defects and other things like that, and i also had my PowerBook covered under my Home and Contents insurance. i just had to pay a bit more to have it covered outside the home. but it's worth it knowing that if you completely smash your notebook that you aren't left $2500 out of pocket.
I was the person who originally posted this thread, so I thought I'd chime in with the conclusion I've come to.
Conclusions:
1. Paying $350 to cover an $1800 Powerbook is just way too much, and I will not be buying applecare.
2. Applecare, since it only technically covers defects by apple, really doesn't seem like much in the way of support. I feel like apple is saying "Why don't you pay us $350 in advance just in case WE screwed up."
3. I MIGHT purchase the Safeware insurance.
The dilemma here is that Safeware covers accidents, like me dropping the Powerbook down a flight of stairs. If the powerbook just stops working though due to a dead component, Safeware does nothing for me.
Applecare on the other hand may cover that latter scenario, depending on whether I can prove to them it's their fault and not mine.
All in all, I think apple really needs to look at this issue. I really shouldn't even have to think about this sort of thing. The price for it should be built in and it should be comprehensive. I should simply buy the machine knowing it'll be there when I need it and fixed if it breaks in the first 3 years (provided I haven't been hitting it with a hammer), not mulling over whether I need to fork over another $350. A purchase like this should be a joy and not filled with hand wringing that this issue causes.
In short, Apple should simply be saying "for the next three years, we've got your back." I always felt that way with Dell and Dell pulled through for me on support issues. Then again, Dell machines run Windows, so nevermind.
Thanks everyone for all your help.
Conclusions:
1. Paying $350 to cover an $1800 Powerbook is just way too much, and I will not be buying applecare.
2. Applecare, since it only technically covers defects by apple, really doesn't seem like much in the way of support. I feel like apple is saying "Why don't you pay us $350 in advance just in case WE screwed up."
3. I MIGHT purchase the Safeware insurance.
The dilemma here is that Safeware covers accidents, like me dropping the Powerbook down a flight of stairs. If the powerbook just stops working though due to a dead component, Safeware does nothing for me.
Applecare on the other hand may cover that latter scenario, depending on whether I can prove to them it's their fault and not mine.
All in all, I think apple really needs to look at this issue. I really shouldn't even have to think about this sort of thing. The price for it should be built in and it should be comprehensive. I should simply buy the machine knowing it'll be there when I need it and fixed if it breaks in the first 3 years (provided I haven't been hitting it with a hammer), not mulling over whether I need to fork over another $350. A purchase like this should be a joy and not filled with hand wringing that this issue causes.
In short, Apple should simply be saying "for the next three years, we've got your back." I always felt that way with Dell and Dell pulled through for me on support issues. Then again, Dell machines run Windows, so nevermind.
Thanks everyone for all your help.
Just go with teh creditcard extended warranty. If you can't pay it off in one month, do a balance transfer to a card with a promotional low interest rate.
I don't know which other cards do this. You have to call and ask about the protection, and register for it over the phone once the item appears on your card's balance.
MacSolutions, an authorized Apple reseller and service provider, is selling Applecare at a significant discount:
iMac & eMac = $132 (MSRP $169)
iBook & PowerMac = $192 (MSRP $249)
PowerBook $262 (MSRP $349)
I just saw the advertisement in MacAddict and confirmed it on their website.
iMac & eMac = $132 (MSRP $169)
iBook & PowerMac = $192 (MSRP $249)
PowerBook $262 (MSRP $349)
I just saw the advertisement in MacAddict and confirmed it on their website.
i have a compaq notebook from 5 years ago (yeah, crap), and i have dropped it, kicked it, and spilt water on it (accidentally). works fine. my sister's dell inspiron she got for college is 5 months old, had a huge crack on the bottom from where the plastic overheated, and has had teh hard drive, dvd drive, motherboard, and keyboard replaced on separate occasions. and it never leaves her desk. yeah, dell has good coverage, but it NEEDS it. then again, once a month, an apple technician comes to service my school's 4 ibook labs. it seems some students like to drop things..
Is it just me, or is it weird to see discounts on warranty plans? Don't get me wrong, I think its a good idea to have them cheaper.
I think apple should do what some other places do, sell accidental damage insurance. Maybe call it "Applecare Pro" or something. The regular Applecare should be to extend the regular warranty, which should be 2 years, or maybe 18 or so months.