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Is AppleCare worth it?

please search for the 1,000 + threads on this before posting a new thread...


but yes, in my experience it is worth it. Had applecare, it expired and one month later my logic board starts to fail. Apple replaced it free and clear because they saw I had no other claims on my applecare from before
 
I get Apple Care, but I'm not sure it's rational

We tend to keep our Apple products for the full Apple Care period (whether phones, iPads, computers, etc.), and part of me believes that it makes sense given the convenience and increased sophistication of these products. All that said, if you add up all that I've spent on Apple insurance and compare it to the number of times I've used it in the years I've owned Apple products (none, other than phone calls to solve issues, which I realize would cost something without Apple Care), I should have self-insured. My next computer -- to replace a 2007 MBP -- would be free.
 
themumu said:
Well, there is still plenty of time for something to go wrong. In fact, the chances of issues cropping up increase as the time goes by, as some problems may not show up right away but compound over time. A cracked screen will not be fixed under warranty, but if you start getting any colour changes or stuck pixels - you'll be covered.
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And that is my concern, a cracked screen or something. With everything integrated into that lid, that would be a pretty expensive repair. It's not like they could just replace the glass and that's it, I would have to pay for a whole new top portion of the laptop. That can't be inexpensive.

Just for that, I would have rather gone with squaretrade for the peace of mind.
 
MBrandonLee said:
And that is my concern, a cracked screen or something. With everything integrated into that lid, that would be a pretty expensive repair. It's not like they could just replace the glass and that's it, I would have to pay for a whole new top portion of the laptop. That can't be inexpensive.

Just for that, I would have rather gone with squaretrade for the peace of mind.
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squaretrade is expensive once you get a $2000+ laptop...
 
ano0oj said:
squaretrade is expensive once you get a $2000+ laptop...
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It's $280 with their 30% off coupon and 2 years coverage. I'd say that's a perfectly fine trade for being able to replace it or fix it for ANYTHING that happens. I could chuck it against the wall and it would be replaced. I don't think Apple would do the same with applecare...

Essentially, if you cracked the screen, you'd be paying a heck of a lot more to replace it than both the square trade and applecare together.
 
I'm a huge advocate for AppleCare if you're buying a computer. For my iOS hardware out depends on how long I plan to keep it.
 
Does anyone know how square trade warranties work with Amazon or Amazon marketplace sellers? If that isn't eligible for coverage, I will buy AppleCare. Easy decision for me to make.
 
MN7119 said:
Agree that most credit cards will extend warranty but when it comes to the main computer at my house I don't want to deal with credit card companies and their third party vendors to approve a claim to then have to ship my computer somewhere to get fixed. If something goes wrong I want to be able to go to the closest Apple Store and get it taken care of right away.
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Yep. Plus I live in the boondocks so it's great to be able to pick up phone, call Apple, they ship a box w/ a turnaround FedEx label on it, I've never had a machine take more than three days to get to Memphis and come back fixed. They are amazingly good at this service. Sure, some machines I never needed to use the AppleCare. But, for some reason my mid2010 MBP had been a murphy's law specialist unto itself, I think the repairs done on it have exceeded the cost of a couple of laptops' woth of AppleCare costs. Finally it seems to have got its shopping list out of its system and has been rock solid since. Maybe the threat to think about a Haswell upgrade has settled it down some...

Anyway that experience and the more glued-in, soldered-in newer constructions totally reinforce my preference to pick up AppleCare within the first year. Over the life of the total warranty period, it's not even a ten buck hit on a monthly grocery bill. I can find that in the ten-for-ten sales on tuna or beans or whatever ;)
 
I had an issue with kernel panics after I upgraded my 2010 Macbook Pro to Lion, I believe. AppleCare covered the repairs due to having to replace the logic board and based on the parts and labor invoice it would have been $300 to fix. I believe I paid $240 for AppleCare using my education discount. So it was a wash I guess...but for piece of mind of paying for a $2,000 laptop I think it's worth it.
 
MN7119 said:
Just ordered a fully loaded 13" Macbook Pro: 2.8Ghz i7, 1TB flash memory and 16gb RAM. AppleCare was $249 so I decided tomhold on that. Used Amex card for payment which should extend my warranty by 1 year over Apple's warranty. Should I add AppleCare?
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AppleCare AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac or Apple Display
  • You can buy AppleCare any time during the first year warranty period, so you don't have to buy it at time of purchase.
  • You can check your remaining warranty and/or AppleCare coverage here
  • AppleCare will extend the 1 year warranty for an additional 2 years, for a total of 3 years coverage from the date of your Mac purchase. It also extends telephone support from 90 days, which is included with your original warranty, to a total of 3 years.
  • AppleCare follows the device, not the owner. When a Mac changes hands, the AppleCare coverage still applies to the computer. There is no need to "register" the new owner in order to receive coverage.
  • You cannot buy AppleCare again for the same device or renew it.
  • Neither the Apple Warranty nor AppleCare will cover damage from accidents, spills, etc. They only cover manufacturing defects.
  • AppleCare+ provides some coverage for accidental damage, but is only available for the iPad and iPhone, not for Apple computers.
  • Neither the Apple Warranty nor AppleCare will cover batteries that have worn out. They only cover defective batteries.
  • You can buy AppleCare from Apple or from other sources, such as Amazon, B&H Photo Video, L.A. Computer Company and others. Exercise caution when buying from sites such as eBay, as some AppleCare offers have been scams.
  • For more detailed questions, read the AppleCare Protection Plan (pdf) agreement.
  • Apple to Update AppleCare with Subscription Service and In-Store Repair Options
As to whether AppleCare is worth it or not, that's a matter of opinion. You'll find lots of opinions on both sides, with roughly 75% saying it's worth it. You really need to decide if it's worth it to you. If you want more information, you can search the forum, where you'll find dozens, if not hundreds of threads asking "is AppleCare worth it?" The overall consensus seems to be about 75% in favor of it.
 
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It was worth it for my old mid-2009 MBP. I'm upset that the issues it started having after two years have never been completely fixed, but they kept it going another two years. I got it for my new rMBP because of all the glued and soldered parts and last gen's screen issues. It gives me peace of mind. $183 with the edu discount helped make that an easy decision. I also got AppleCare+ for my iPhone 5.
 
Is it also within the 1 year in Canada? I was at 2 Apple stores in Vancouver yesterday, and the geniuses at both stores told me I could only get the AppleCare within 14 days if I were to buy a new Haswell rMBP.
 
No not worth it in my opinion, never had an issue n my MBP is like over 2 years old now
 
You can "make" AppleCare be worth it--i.e. by requesting replacement parts prior to the end of the three year term.

I had extremely minor problems with my headphone jack and some GPU-switching-related video glitches, as well as a slightly "noisy" trackpad on my 2010 MPB. I took it in and they replaced the entire logic board and trackpad for me.

So I was essentially able to give my computer a new lease on life shortly before the warranty ran out.

And given that newer MacBooks are all but impossible to repair now, I think Apple Care makes more sense than ever.
 
Yeah definitely.

I have over $1000 worth of repairs done to my MBP 15" 2011. A logic board replacement, case (that's my fault but they covered the top case while I paid for the bottom), screen replacement, and power block replacement.
 
MBrandonLee said:
It's $280 with their 30% off coupon and 2 years coverage. I'd say that's a perfectly fine trade for being able to replace it or fix it for ANYTHING that happens. I could chuck it against the wall and it would be replaced. I don't think Apple would do the same with applecare...

Essentially, if you cracked the screen, you'd be paying a heck of a lot more to replace it than both the square trade and applecare together.
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Where's this coupon? At that price that's a no brainer
 
Guys, if your Apple computers are breaking down within 3 years, why are you buying Apple products again?

AppleCare to me is a gamble. My credit card already covers me another year, so paying $249 for one year may not be worth it.

I'll buy AppleCare+ for my iPhone in a heartbeat but am debating whether to spend $249 or almost 20% more than what i paid for the laptop.

I have until next October to decide.
 
Amex extends apple care also

My understanding of the Amex warranty extension is that if you buy an extended warranty they will extend that an extra year also (up to a limit of five years). So if you buy AppleCare with your computer and out it all on Amex you should be covered for four years.
 
TmanATL said:
in my opinion, yes, yes, a thousand times yes. with AppleCare they'll basically fix anything that goes wrong with the mac for free in that 3-year window except for obvious accidental damage - and even then they may give you some leeway and fix for free anyway.

I've ALWAYS had things go wrong with every mac I've ever owned beyond the 1-year warranty, so I always felt that it was useful.

I believe you can buy at any time before the 1-year is up, so you do have some time to decide.
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Honest question: why do you always have things go wrong? That doesn't speak well of the quality of the machine. Can you elaborate?
 
Yell0w said:
Does anyone know how square trade warranties work with Amazon or Amazon marketplace sellers? If that isn't eligible for coverage, I will buy AppleCare. Easy decision for me to make.
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It should cover it. I just had my daughter alienware laptop that died on the 13th month(figured that) fixed via squaretrade two weeks ago. It was excellent service and speed. I looked up for my new rMBP 15, squaretrade wants $500 - 30% for 3 years. It came out to be higher then $239 3years applecare. I went with applecare.
 
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