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iPad Has AppleCare ever saved your *ss with iPad?

0989382

0989382

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Original poster
Jan 11, 2018
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I was just looking at the iPad screen repair costs out of warranty (or even in warranty, but your own fault). That's not to mention logic board failures, battery issues and other failings such as buttons or cameras etc. Plus, the possibility that I personally ruin it in some unforeseen way. Especially as a device I'd depend on.

From what I can gather, iPad Air 3 has Apple Care for £69 in the UK and then excesses of £39 per damage repair. Plus extended warranty into a second year. Disappointed as I thought Apple Care was a 3-year ordeal.

I'm selling my MacBook 2017 to buy an iPad and I can either get a Pro 11 64GB, Air 3 256GB WIFI. I'm leaning towards the Air 3 for more storage and Apple Care etc for less than the Pro on its own. I'm also concerned a new model is coming in October (only applicable if I buy the Pro and it gets replaced so soon).

Wondering if you guys have ever had your a** saved by Apple Care with your iPad and any stories to convince me it's worth the money upfront.
 

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For me, it's more for peace of mind. The iPad's my primary device and I couldn't go without it for even a week. I'd rather pay for AC+ rather than have my iPad break and be forced to spend $599+tax on an out of warranty replacement when a new one is expected to be released within the next few months.

I don't know if credit card issuers have similar programs your side of the pond but my credit card gives me 1 year extended warranty so I get 3 years total (2 years AC+ plus 1 year CC).
 
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rui no onna said:
For me, it's more for peace of mind. The iPad's my primary device and I couldn't go without it for even a week. I'd rather pay for AC+ rather than have my iPad break and be forced to spend $599+tax on an out of warranty replacement when a new one is expected to be released within the next few months.

I don't know if credit card issuers have similar programs your side of the pond but my credit card gives me 1 year extended warranty so I get 3 years total (2 years AC+ plus 1 year CC).
Click to expand...

I think we do have such credit cards. My other option was to investigate third party insurers covering it for a few years. Surely, whilst they're not Apple, they'll cough up the money for Apple authorised repairs OR a new device?
 
Most credit cards offer an extended warranty for 1-2 years, but the warranty only extends the manufactures warranty, meaning for the iPad, accidental damages won't be covered, only defects. There are 2 credit card providers (that I'm aware of) that actually extends the manufacturers warranty and a purchased warranty (AC+ for example). If you use a Citi or AMEX card, they will extend the AC+ warranty by another 2 years, so you have 4 years of defect and damage protection. I recently used my Citi card and will be receiving 4 years of protection.

I used AC+ about 3 months ago on my 2nd Gen iPad Pro. I dropped it (no case) and scattered the screen. Apple sent me a replacement within 2 days. Unfortunately a crack developed in my iPad last week (don't know how it happened), but it's 2 months out of warranty. It was either replace as out of warranty and spend over $600 or get the 3rd gen. I use to be against AC+, but it's been very useful and gives you peace of mind.
 
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Nope. I haven't bought Apple Care for any Apple product in at least 12 years. Never needed it (*knocks on wood*). In general, I never buy extended warranties. That said, I might feel differently if I had kids.
 
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Cue the people who say: Applecare+ is a waste of money to Apple for certain devices that don't have any preexisting manufacturing defects or impending bright spots.
 
I have not been able to justify the price AppleCare+ for my iPad Pro, but if you can I think it is a wise decision. I got mine at a large discount, so the thought of paying 1/3 of the device for AppleCare+ is mentally tough. That said, when compared to a laptop, accidentally damaging a phone or iPad is much more likely since I carry them more often.
 
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I bought it on my Cellular Mini in the end after considering not. I think I wouldn’t have done had I gone WiFi only due to lower device cost and less scope to use it outside of the house.

As yet, not needed but the increased OOW costs for a laminated display device and the whole Touch ID repairability issues were also a factor.

I used to have an extended warranty with a card but they changed the terms and stopped offering it. I don’t think many if any offer them in the UK now.

The Pros seem to be more susceptible and with the laptop price tag it would be a must buy for me.
 
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Cannot justify it either. Didn't save me anything. Got a freezing screen problem on the iPad Pro, replaced it while on AppleCare and then replacement developed the same problem after a while when AppleCare already finished up. Now Apple wants me to pay ~$700 (plus cost of AppleCare) for another replacement (decided not to do it).
 
DragonX said:
Cannot justify it either. Didn't save me anything. Got a freezing screen problem on the iPad Pro, replaced it while on AppleCare and then replacement developed the same problem after a while when AppleCare already finished up. Now Apple wants me to pay ~$700 (plus cost of AppleCare) for another replacement (decided not to do it).
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You would think a fair and honest policy would be that the duration of Apple Care on a replacement item would reset and be as long as on the original item. Hard to believe that is not the case.
 
I’m not sure. I got the iPad Pro 12.9 in 2016. I got AppleCare with it. I think it was around 2017 that I noticed the battery started becoming very inconsistent. I’d charge it and it would take longer than usual to get to 100% and then it would be fine until it got to like 50% and it would drop rapidly or stay there longer than it would normally be there and drop like 20% in 5 minutes.

Took it to the Apple Store and they said the battery had swelled. This was an AppleCare claim. Looking back, I’m not sure if it should have been. So, I got it replaced. Also realized when I got home that there was already a scratch on the screen, so be careful of that before you leave the store.
 
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0989382 said:
I was just looking at the iPad screen repair costs out of warranty (or even in warranty, but your own fault). That's not to mention logic board failures, battery issues and other failings such as buttons or cameras etc. Plus, the possibility that I personally ruin it in some unforeseen way. Especially as a device I'd depend on.

From what I can gather, iPad Air 3 has Apple Care for £69 in the UK and then excesses of £39 per damage repair. Plus extended warranty into a second year. Disappointed as I thought Apple Care was a 3-year ordeal.

I'm selling my MacBook 2017 to buy an iPad and I can either get a Pro 11 64GB, Air 3 256GB WIFI. I'm leaning towards the Air 3 for more storage and Apple Care etc for less than the Pro on its own. I'm also concerned a new model is coming in October (only applicable if I buy the Pro and it gets replaced so soon).

Wondering if you guys have ever had your a** saved by Apple Care with your iPad and any stories to convince me it's worth the money upfront.
Click to expand...

I had AppleCare+ with a launch MacBook 2015 with the Butterfly Keyboard which I love, in 2016 some circuit component failed and it was not replaceable it was my second visit with the same issue and store manager swapped it for a new 2016 MacBook which was a Huge Upgrade since it had Retina Display, 2nd Gen Butterfly keyboard. I was on cloud nine.
 
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OP Update: I bought an iPad Air 3 on Sunday at Apple and opted for the AppleCare+ for two years. I figured if I'm going to get my money's worth from this thing (and also use it as my main device) then I'd need to be prepared to copy with a shattered screen, though I've never shattered an iPad display before. Apple's 100% right on the repair situation, about third parts guys putting crap sub-par parts into the repairs and charging an arm and a leg, just like car mechanics.. ugh. Would rather pay a fortune to get it done right, should it happen. AC+ will help this from hundreds to under half a hundred. Thanks for the replies!
 
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MrRabuf said:
Nope. I haven't bought Apple Care for any Apple product in at least 12 years. Never needed it (*knocks on wood*). In general, I never buy extended warranties. That said, I might feel differently if I had kids.
Click to expand...

I haven’t either. First time since the original 3g iPad where it would have come in handy, since I broke my screen Saturday.
 
Northern Man said:
You would think a fair and honest policy would be that the duration of Apple Care on a replacement item would reset and be as long as on the original item. Hard to believe that is not the case.
Click to expand...

And I would also think that the fair and honest policy is to give you a replacement product that doesn't get broken on its own in 3 months! What was it? A refurb? Other customer's return? That renders Apple Care completely useless, you receive a replacement that breaks the next day Apple Care ends.
 
I ALWAYS get AppleCare. I just know that the one time I don’t get it will be the one time I really need it. My peace of mind is worth the price alone.
 
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It saved me from my iPhone 6 Plus. I broke the screen 4 times. At least two was covered otherwise I would of had to pay $150 each time.
 
0989382 said:
I was just looking at the iPad screen repair costs out of warranty (or even in warranty, but your own fault). That's not to mention logic board failures, battery issues and other failings such as buttons or cameras etc. Plus, the possibility that I personally ruin it in some unforeseen way. Especially as a device I'd depend on.

From what I can gather, iPad Air 3 has Apple Care for £69 in the UK and then excesses of £39 per damage repair. Plus extended warranty into a second year. Disappointed as I thought Apple Care was a 3-year ordeal.

I'm selling my MacBook 2017 to buy an iPad and I can either get a Pro 11 64GB, Air 3 256GB WIFI. I'm leaning towards the Air 3 for more storage and Apple Care etc for less than the Pro on its own. I'm also concerned a new model is coming in October (only applicable if I buy the Pro and it gets replaced so soon).

Wondering if you guys have ever had your a** saved by Apple Care with your iPad and any stories to convince me it's worth the money upfront.
Click to expand...
This was ripe for a poll...

Q: Has AppleCare ever saved your *ss with iPad?
A: No, never.

Q: Could it have?
A: No.

I've owned dozens (perhaps over 40) Apple products eligible for AppleCare. I never purchased AC for any of them. There was never a time when I could've used the protection that AC offers.
 
I have been using Apple devices exclusively for 10 years and have never bought Apple Care for any of them. I had only one incident where it would have saved me--when I dropped my iPhone 4 face down on a tile floor and shattered the screen. At the time I was on a 2 year contract with AT&T and Apple charged me $200 to replace the phone, which was what I would have paid for it on the 2 year contract. (Pretty cool of them, actually.)

So in the end, I'm in the black. I have saved money just breaking that one phone and paying out of pocket to replace it rather than paying for Apple Care on every single device.
 
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i purchased AC for my 17in mbp back in 2006. i accidentally closed a thumb drive cap on the keyboard causing internal screen damage. Apple wanted $300 to fix it. That's when i knew AC was a rip off. I never purchased it again until iPhone xs max and ONLY because you could pay monthly and it included lost/theft and i was ineligible for mobile carrier insurance at the time.

i now have mobile carrier insurance and am still paying for AC for my iPhone and I don't know why. i have mobile carrier insurance for ipad pro and aw s4 as well. just a better value.

the only value AC gives is the discount on screen repairs but tbh if you are using tempered glass you really shouldn't have any major issues
 
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razmonster said:
i purchased AC for my 17in mbp back in 2006. i accidentally closed a thumb drive cap on the keyboard causing internal screen damage. Apple wanted $300 to fix it. That's when i knew AC was a rip off. I never purchased it again until iPhone xs max and ONLY because you could pay monthly and it included lost/theft and i was ineligible for mobile carrier insurance at the time.

i now have mobile carrier insurance and am still paying for AC for my iPhone and I don't know why. i have mobile carrier insurance for ipad pro and aw s4 as well. just a better value.

the only value AC gives is the discount on screen repairs but tbh if you are using tempered glass you really shouldn't have any major issues
Click to expand...

AppleCare is not AppleCare+. AppleCare only extends the manufacturer’s warranty by a year, which is why your accidental damage on your MacBook wasn’t covered. If you had purchased AppleCare+, screen or external enclosure damage costs $100 to fix which is pretty reasonable IMO.

The case for AppleCare+ on the iPhone isn’t so clear cut, because of the enormous premiums it commands relative to the price of the phone. On the iPad Pro it’s mostly a no-brainer - the repair costs max out at $100 as opposed to $600+.

If you feel like you’re supremely confident of not damaging your device then sure, don’t get AppleCare+. Just don’t complain about it when the other shoe drops.
 
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