One of the biggest reasons to have apple care, which I have yet to read here, is the FREE phone support! They have the best tech support in the business! When your machine is down they are there to help, free of charge for three years with apple care! I highly recommend Apple care!
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Is AppleCare a good investment?
- Thread starter Emoo
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
priceless.
over the past 15 years I've had several issues with almost all of my Macs.
Hardware failures are not just possible, they are likely.
I've had hard drives fail, motherboards, power supply and all under Apple Care.
They fix it or they give you a new computer.
My Mac Pro had a graphics card issue, they sent someone out from a third party and the swapped out the board, it still caused problems and a new computer was sent the next day. Apple is unrivaled in the customer and tech support. Need elevated service, ask for tier 2 support. Almost never waiting for a tech support person to pick up the line.
And no foreign solutions, all are in the USA.
That's worth a million bucks right there. Don't make the mistake and pass on Apple Care, you'll regret it.
L8R
over the past 15 years I've had several issues with almost all of my Macs.
Hardware failures are not just possible, they are likely.
I've had hard drives fail, motherboards, power supply and all under Apple Care.
They fix it or they give you a new computer.
My Mac Pro had a graphics card issue, they sent someone out from a third party and the swapped out the board, it still caused problems and a new computer was sent the next day. Apple is unrivaled in the customer and tech support. Need elevated service, ask for tier 2 support. Almost never waiting for a tech support person to pick up the line.
And no foreign solutions, all are in the USA.
That's worth a million bucks right there. Don't make the mistake and pass on Apple Care, you'll regret it.
L8R
My logic board failed after 15 months on my unibody. Thank god I had AppleCare.
To the guy who says he just buys a new computer instead--I've always done that in the past, but this machine cost $3k when it was new (top CTO spec), and when the board took a crap the machine was still worth probably $1500.
Now, with a $1k logic board repair, had I not had AppleCare, it becomes a question of "Do I want to spend $1000 on a computer that's already 15 months old, bringing my total into this computer to $4000?" or "Do I really want to try and convince myself it's not worth fixing a machine that is still worth $1500, sell it for *maybe* half of that if I'm lucky since it doesn't work, and then spend anther $3k on a new one?" Neither of those situations sound appealing to me, and I'm pretty vain for all things new.
When the machines are this expensive, it's well worth it.
To the guy who says he just buys a new computer instead--I've always done that in the past, but this machine cost $3k when it was new (top CTO spec), and when the board took a crap the machine was still worth probably $1500.
Now, with a $1k logic board repair, had I not had AppleCare, it becomes a question of "Do I want to spend $1000 on a computer that's already 15 months old, bringing my total into this computer to $4000?" or "Do I really want to try and convince myself it's not worth fixing a machine that is still worth $1500, sell it for *maybe* half of that if I'm lucky since it doesn't work, and then spend anther $3k on a new one?" Neither of those situations sound appealing to me, and I'm pretty vain for all things new.
When the machines are this expensive, it's well worth it.
I've bought 3 iMacs, 5 iBooks (for my kids, mom, siblings), a Powerbook, 2 MacBooks, a MacBook Air, and a MacBook Pro in the past 12 years. Bought AppleCare for every one (student-teacher price gives a nice discount), and am always glad I did, whether it's been for the great free support or an actual repair, which always makes AppleCare a bargain. Buy it.
I've purchased it for several of my machines, and never regretted it. The service is top notch, and stupid fast too.
Apple Care
I think it's worth it. Yes, the Apple machines are too expensive to begin with; on the other hand, when something does go wrong with such costly gear you need the insurance even more than with cheaper computers. I had a G5 PowerPC covered by Apple Care and I'm glad I did.
I think it's worth it. Yes, the Apple machines are too expensive to begin with; on the other hand, when something does go wrong with such costly gear you need the insurance even more than with cheaper computers. I had a G5 PowerPC covered by Apple Care and I'm glad I did.
Apple care over time still pays out.
I've had 9 macs over the last 22 years and all of them were covered by Apple Care hasn't always been called Apple Care however but the service plan hasn't changed significantly. And I have used it 5 times or on a little over 45% of my Macs
So given enough time about half the time you are going to experience a hardware failure of some type even though people claim Macs never fail. They are no different than any other device.
Accidental damage is not covered by Apple Care. So for me based on a long relationship and history with Apple, I would never not purchase Apple Care.
I don't remember what each of these events or even what the Apple Care cost but I never remember feeling like I got ripped off. I do remember feeling relieved that it wasn't going to cost me a fortune. And on one occasion if I had been without Apple Care I would have just lived with the dead pixels but Apple Care covered it. I have always gotten good service I liked it better before you had to take it to an Apple Store but it is only 15min away, and if you do live far away they will still ship the box thing which I was OK with, but I did like it when they sent someone to you home the best. So it has changed some over the years but I've never had a problem getting them to take care of it. It has always been "this happened" and they have always said we'll take care of it. And you can always buy Apple Care during the first year, so if you don't plan on having it for at least a year don't buy it, otherwise buy it. I also try to never keep a Mac beyond the Apple Care coverage, and if you were to sell it during year 2 or 3 while covered you always get part of your money back on the Apple Care as the Mac is a safer purchase for the buyer and they are willing to pay a premium for your Mac compared to one without it.
You also get special treatment at the Apple Store if you have Apple Care better appointment times, and free technical support for example. A single phone call outside of your warranty without Apple Care is $49.
So there are many benefits and I can not think of one detriment. Buy it, you will never regret it.
I've had 9 macs over the last 22 years and all of them were covered by Apple Care hasn't always been called Apple Care however but the service plan hasn't changed significantly. And I have used it 5 times or on a little over 45% of my Macs
So given enough time about half the time you are going to experience a hardware failure of some type even though people claim Macs never fail. They are no different than any other device.
Accidental damage is not covered by Apple Care. So for me based on a long relationship and history with Apple, I would never not purchase Apple Care.
I don't remember what each of these events or even what the Apple Care cost but I never remember feeling like I got ripped off. I do remember feeling relieved that it wasn't going to cost me a fortune. And on one occasion if I had been without Apple Care I would have just lived with the dead pixels but Apple Care covered it. I have always gotten good service I liked it better before you had to take it to an Apple Store but it is only 15min away, and if you do live far away they will still ship the box thing which I was OK with, but I did like it when they sent someone to you home the best. So it has changed some over the years but I've never had a problem getting them to take care of it. It has always been "this happened" and they have always said we'll take care of it. And you can always buy Apple Care during the first year, so if you don't plan on having it for at least a year don't buy it, otherwise buy it. I also try to never keep a Mac beyond the Apple Care coverage, and if you were to sell it during year 2 or 3 while covered you always get part of your money back on the Apple Care as the Mac is a safer purchase for the buyer and they are willing to pay a premium for your Mac compared to one without it.
You also get special treatment at the Apple Store if you have Apple Care better appointment times, and free technical support for example. A single phone call outside of your warranty without Apple Care is $49.
So there are many benefits and I can not think of one detriment. Buy it, you will never regret it.
My brother and I both bought laptops at the same times... over the course of the applecare warranty, I had to replace the superdrive (about equivalent in cost to the applecare), but my brother never needed it. In general, its probably a good idea, because apple pretty much controls the market on a lot of the more expensive repairs...
Saved Me A Couple Of Times
Have had my Macbook Pro 2.2 15 inch in about 5 times, all covered under Applecare. Well worth the price.
Have had my Macbook Pro 2.2 15 inch in about 5 times, all covered under Applecare. Well worth the price.
3rd Time
You do realize that if you ask on the 3rd time they will replace the unit over repair. But wow 5 times on the same machine 5 different issues or the same one 5 times?
You do realize that if you ask on the 3rd time they will replace the unit over repair. But wow 5 times on the same machine 5 different issues or the same one 5 times?
Depends on how long you plan to own the Mac. Most major credit cards will double the manufacturer's warranty up to 5 years. So, you automatically get two years of warranty just by purchasing with a major credit card.
If you want to keep it a LONG time, buy Applecare at the time of purchase, with a major credit card. That will give you the max of FIVE years (AppleCare is considered manufacturer's warranty as long as you buy it at the time of purchase).
Personally, I never buy AppleCare.
If you want to keep it a LONG time, buy Applecare at the time of purchase, with a major credit card. That will give you the max of FIVE years (AppleCare is considered manufacturer's warranty as long as you buy it at the time of purchase).
Personally, I never buy AppleCare.
No, AppleCare always last to three years after purchase. You can just delay your decision for a year. So if you had three warranty repairs in the first year, you absolutely go and buy AppleCare. If your Mac worked perfectly fine with no problems whatsoever, then maybe not. Just don't forget it.
Only warrany choice: Squaretrade
Cheaper, amazing service, more options and a great value.
www.squaretrade.com
Cheaper, amazing service, more options and a great value.
www.squaretrade.com