Is Applecare a rip-off?

[bushman4]

While most people will NOT ever use AppleCare, It can come in handy if something goes wrong. MBP especially since these are constantly mobile and endure many types of environments, terrains and abuse.
Keep in mind that if you plan on keeping your Imac, MBP etc several years the more likely that you might use it and it will pay for itself.
If you upgrade almost every year or so then don't worry about it

 

[likegadgets]

On my MacBook Pro's (3) and my iMacs (2). I have used and needed Applecare after the 1st year. It paid off.

On my iPhones - I needed it twice after year one. But made selling them much easier before expiration.

 

[archipellago]

On my MacBook Pro's (3) and my iMacs (2). I have used and needed Applecare after the 1st year. It paid off.
On my iPhones - I needed it twice after year one. But made selling them much easier before expiration.

surely you wouldn't buy any more Apple computers after that?

would you..?

 

[hippo206]

Personally, IMO, I don't think Applecare is worth the price.

I done a calculation before on the amount Applecare would have costed me and I belive it was in excess of 3k (business, personal computers, iphones etc). I have never had any issues except for a gpu failure on the 07 mbp (which was a known issue and the warrenty was extended for 3 years) and a airport what was out of warrenty by 2 week. My airport was exchanged hassle free from the apple store... i didn't even ask for it to be exchanged, they just did it.

I believe every computer listed is either really close to or over the 3 year mark. It would be safe to assume that I would have not used any of the Applecare if I had purchased it. So, all in all, i have saved >3k... enough to go out and buy a new fully loaded MBP.

With all that being said, a friend of mine was out of warrenty on a MB. He had some sort of power failure and it costed something like 350 to replace the part. That sucked.

I believe if you are personable, polite, and don't ask for the world... then you could walk into any Apple store and they would go out of their way to help you.... but that is just opinion.

 

[Orme]

A rip off?

Well.. there is no way I am paying £2500 for a computer and not buying a care package for it!

 

[hatersgonnahate]

like any warranty, its only a ripoff if you never use it.

 

[kazmac]

I think not...

The sole instance I did not get Apple Care my refurb iMac died just past the 90 day mark and I was out a grand.

So I will never skip Apple Care again.

 

[grawk]

The sole instance I did not get Apple Care my refurb iMac died just past the 90 day mark and I was out a grand.

So I will never skip Apple Care again.

Even apple refurbs have 1 year warranties.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Of course, that position isn't generally supported by the threads on this very forum.


iMacs over the years have consistently had issues, many due to QC and supplier issues, ranging from bad conterfeit capacitors, bad LCD panels, defective video circuits and many of the problems seem to arise a awhile after ownership.

PC's also suffer the syndrome, and Dell, HP, Gateway, Sony, Toshiba . . . all have their respective issues.

I hear ya.

 

[silverboadicea]

If I buy the computer, and get the automatic one-year warranty, will I be as protected as if I got the apple care? Say something goes wrong with the computer. Would I be able to get it fixed, or take it back? How exactly does that work? I would be very willing to buy the applecare at a later time ( in a few months, when money isn't so tight).

 

[iStudentUK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

If I buy the computer, and get the automatic one-year warranty, will I be as protected as if I got the apple care? Say something goes wrong with the computer. Would I be able to get it fixed, or take it back? How exactly does that work? I would be very willing to buy the applecare at a later time ( in a few months, when money isn't so tight).

Apple's standard one year warranty is fine. AppleCare extends it to 3, nothing more. You can buy it anytime in the first 12 months.

 

[hexonxonx]

I have never needed it. I've owned more than ten iPhones, a Mac Pro, three MacBook Pros, a Macbook and an iMac.

Warranties are designed to make the company more profit first and foremost. They bet that whatever they sell will never need repairs.

 

[John T]

I have never needed it.

Famous last words!

 

[grawk]

Famous last words!

Famous last words that have saved him enough to buy a computer if the current one fails.

 

[yustas]

Do I have to purchase Applecare at the same time I buy a new iMac, or can I purchase Applecare any time within a year, as long as it is still under original 1 year warranty?

 

[boogei]

Do I have to purchase Applecare at the same time I buy a new iMac, or can I purchase Applecare any time within a year, as long as it is still under original 1 year warranty?

Any time in the first year.

 

[yustas]

Any time in the first year.

Does it cover 3 additional years (for the total of 4 years, i.e., 1 year under original warranty plus 3 more years under extended warranty), or does it cover 3 years in total - i.e., 1 year under original warranty plus 2 years of extended warranty?

 

[iStudentUK]

Does it cover 3 additional years (for the total of 4 years, i.e., 1 year under original warranty plus 3 more years under extended warranty), or does it cover 3 years in total - i.e., 1 year under original warranty plus 2 years of extended warranty?

It always extends it to 3 years after the purchase date. Sorry, nice idea though!

 

[zepharus]

Its like buying a German car without and extended warranty.. NOT ADVISED

Elegant and well engineered.. not super dependable

 

[starzplacez]

I'll be another to testify for the necessity of AC... I had my MacBookPro's DVD Rom replaced twice, battery once under warranty (second year), keyboard once, logic board and magic mouse once. Although logic board/video card was later recalled, was it worth it to me? heck yah..

I do want to bring up those with American Express or select credit cards, your card may have extended protection plan built into the card benefit if you paid for computer in full with that card. It often doubles your OEM warranty (1 year on Apple, second year on AmEx), I had my old MBP keyboard backlight replaced once under that. Quick and painless, take it to Apple and get it repaired, pay the bill with AmEx, they credit your account within 2 billing statement. One of the biggest reason I have been AmEx member since 1997

 

[maclaptop]

its like buying a german car without and extended warranty.. Not advised

elegant and well engineered.. Not super dependable

+2

 

[henryp]

From the NY Times: Seven Tech Trade-Offs Worth Making:

PAY FOR APPLECARE, NOT MOBILEME Apparently, Apple makes some products that people really like. But Mobile Me, the company’s suite of cloud-based services, does not have the same draw. Maybe it is because most of what Mobile Me can do is available free from other companies. Web e-mail? Gmail. Photo storage? Flickr. Cloud storage? Dropbox. There used to be one killer app on MobileMe — Find My iPhone. But now that is available for free to all iPhone users, so that is one less reason to pay $99 a year for the service.

​

 

[mattg3]

So what happens after year 3?

 

[iStudentUK]

So what happens after year 3?

You-

a) Ask very nicely and try your luck and get a free repair
b) Pay for a repair
c) Buy a new machine when a repair arises

 

[ayzee]

Took my 2008 iMac to apple store this morning for a new SuperDrive. They ran diagnostics and are now replacing DVD drive, graphics card, temp sensor and logic board! It's a £871.20 repair! My AppleCare was due to run out in a couple of months. IMO AppleCare is definitely worth it,
especially when you really put computers through it's paces like I do.