I would buy it. If I decide to sell it early, it helps tremendously with resale. If I keep it, I will worry about things a lot less. The one time I didn't buy it, I limped along with a bad track pad until now when I just bought a new rMBP. Now I have to get the trackpad fixed because I am going to give my old one to my son. Wonder that will cost ...
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Is AppleCare worth it?
- Thread starter MN7119
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i personally do not think its worth it.
i bought mine refurbished for 1269$ , apple care is 279$ cad. and thats 22% of the cost.
if it breaks a year outside of warranty i figure i can recover my money in parts and buy another refurb unit and be ahead and thats assuming it breaks 1 month out of warranty which is highly unlikely unless its water spill / drop which apple does not cover anyway.
i bought mine refurbished for 1269$ , apple care is 279$ cad. and thats 22% of the cost.
if it breaks a year outside of warranty i figure i can recover my money in parts and buy another refurb unit and be ahead and thats assuming it breaks 1 month out of warranty which is highly unlikely unless its water spill / drop which apple does not cover anyway.
As I rule, I don't do extended warranties for anything. However, each of my last three laptops needed repairs of some kind. I didn't buy AC for the first two and I got burned. My latest, a mid-2012, 15" rMBP just recently got a new $575 logic board. It was within the 1 yr, but just barely. I got 2 wks left. So I ponyed up for the AC and now I can sleep safe for the next 2 yrs.
I wish Macs were as reliable as Toyotas. But they're not. They're more like german cars. Beautiful and expensive and works wonders when running properly. But when they fail, you take it up the behind.
I wish Macs were as reliable as Toyotas. But they're not. They're more like german cars. Beautiful and expensive and works wonders when running properly. But when they fail, you take it up the behind.
So many people have had experiences with their apple products breaking in the 2nd and 3rd years.
For comparison's sake, my cousin owns multiple Macs and he has not yet had any of his computers break in the dreaded 2nd/3rd year mark. For what its worth, he has had a few problems that appeared within the first year (covered under standard warranty).
YMMV.
For comparison's sake, my cousin owns multiple Macs and he has not yet had any of his computers break in the dreaded 2nd/3rd year mark. For what its worth, he has had a few problems that appeared within the first year (covered under standard warranty).
YMMV.
I'm also anti-ext. warranty. I've never actually had to use a regular or extended warranty. It's my belief that the money is better off in savings. In fact I just purchased a new Mazda recently and the dealer kept trying to sell me on a whopping $4000 ext. warranty. Insanity!!!
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AppleCare vs Upgrade
(Double posting from recent purchases)
Bought a 15 inch stock retina with the 2.3 / 16GB / 512... was deliberating the BTO 2.6 but in the end it was the stock models' ability to exchange quickly if necessary to minimise down time that won me over.
Had one store offer me around $190 discount on the laptop purchase but it turned out the last unit in store was reserved online while we were chatting so would have to wait until next week... another store originally offered me a $100 discount with Applecare thrown in but that turned out to be a 'computer error' and in the end I paid an additional $80 on top of RRP including the AppleCare.
Had never intended to buy AppleCare and the final price happens to be exactly the same amount as the BTO 2.6 (after BF discount/voucher) and so the box remains unopened while I consider switching out for the BTO less Applecare. Or alternatively the price of Applecare is around halfway to the 1TB SSD upgrade.
The main value I see in having Applecare lies in screen replacement in the event of dead/stuck pixels but Apple were unable to advise on what the threshold is before screen repairs or replacement is covered by AppleCare so this may end up being of little advantage.
Thoughts?
(Double posting from recent purchases)
Bought a 15 inch stock retina with the 2.3 / 16GB / 512... was deliberating the BTO 2.6 but in the end it was the stock models' ability to exchange quickly if necessary to minimise down time that won me over.
Had one store offer me around $190 discount on the laptop purchase but it turned out the last unit in store was reserved online while we were chatting so would have to wait until next week... another store originally offered me a $100 discount with Applecare thrown in but that turned out to be a 'computer error' and in the end I paid an additional $80 on top of RRP including the AppleCare.
Had never intended to buy AppleCare and the final price happens to be exactly the same amount as the BTO 2.6 (after BF discount/voucher) and so the box remains unopened while I consider switching out for the BTO less Applecare. Or alternatively the price of Applecare is around halfway to the 1TB SSD upgrade.
The main value I see in having Applecare lies in screen replacement in the event of dead/stuck pixels but Apple were unable to advise on what the threshold is before screen repairs or replacement is covered by AppleCare so this may end up being of little advantage.
Thoughts?
Apple Retail employees who want to get promoted and 'experts' need a good attachment of applecare for results. They are willing to do anything to get you to purchase it - including discounting the price.
If you just mention that your purchase is for a student (or you're a student yourself) they will give you the discount and not ask for proof.
I have a friend who works at apple and he gladly discounts applecare whenever I get a computer (2 in the last year).
$187 for applecare (for 13" retinas and mbas) is a good deal.
If you just mention that your purchase is for a student (or you're a student yourself) they will give you the discount and not ask for proof.
I have a friend who works at apple and he gladly discounts applecare whenever I get a computer (2 in the last year).
$187 for applecare (for 13" retinas and mbas) is a good deal.
While I don't have a MBP (yet), I do have a couple of iPads, and just had my 20 month iPad 3 and charging cable exchanged under warranty, so I definitely think AppleCare is worth the price.
If you don't use it you will look back and say "I could have saved some $$", but if you do use it you be saying "I'm glad I had AppleCare"
Let's face it, with the newer computers being as integrated as they are, and equipped with retina displays, repair costs will only increase, so even one repair will more than justify the cost of AppleCare.
If you don't use it you will look back and say "I could have saved some $$", but if you do use it you be saying "I'm glad I had AppleCare"
Let's face it, with the newer computers being as integrated as they are, and equipped with retina displays, repair costs will only increase, so even one repair will more than justify the cost of AppleCare.
For my previous one that had a user replaceable drive and ram I didn't bother, but for the one I just ordered (13" rMBP) I decided to go for it since pretty much nothing on the damn thing is user replaceable.
So the general logic is to not purchase it for the first year and just ride the 1 year manufacturer warranty.
Then, right before that 1 year mark, purchase Applecare for an additional 3 years. This gives you a full 12 months with the laptop before having to decide if you want to throw down $200ish for Applecare
Then, right before that 1 year mark, purchase Applecare for an additional 3 years. This gives you a full 12 months with the laptop before having to decide if you want to throw down $200ish for Applecare
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Applecare's 3 year starts at your purchase date (or manufacturing date) of the computer NOT the date you bought Applecare.
Oh yeah you're right... ha this makes more sense then. I guess if you're tight on funds, you can use the 1 year manufacturer warranty for the timebeing and buy Applecare before the year is up.
From Apple website:
Your AppleCare Protection Plan and AppleCare+ coverage starts from your hardware purchase date.
AppleCare through the education store is $183. They don't verify if your a student or not. Your AmEx card you used extends the warranty one year, BUT (and here's the good thing), it kicks in last. The warranty that came with your MacBook Pro covers the first year, AppleCare covers second and third year, then AmEx covers the fourth year. AmEx is very liberal and easy to deal with. They don't require you to fix your item. If it's an expensive repair and your have a quote from Apple to fix it, they credit your card and it's your choice to repair it or not, or do it yourself with iFixit. I had a sleep light go out on a almost four year old Powerbook G4, Apple wanted $600 to repair. AmEx credited my account the $600 and I didn't fix it. Also they covered a new charger and battery at the same time. Also AmEx covers your item against loss, theft or damage for 90 days from purchase. You decide if that fourth year is worth $46./year to you. Love AmEx.
"is applecare worth it?"
Statistically speaking, obviously not becuase they make a lot of money selling it. i.e. most people end up not using it. This is really a personal choice. Is it worth it to you? Only you can answer that.
Statistically speaking, obviously not becuase they make a lot of money selling it. i.e. most people end up not using it. This is really a personal choice. Is it worth it to you? Only you can answer that.
AppleCare doesn't add 3 years of coverage. It extends the original warranty's coverage from 1 year to 3 years, giving an additional 2 years of coverage.
Applecare is useless until you need it. 
With that said, I get it on my phone and Macbook Pro and my monitor, I skipped it on my iPads.
With that said, I get it on my phone and Macbook Pro and my monitor, I skipped it on my iPads.
I had 1 battery, 2 superdrives(which were far from super), and a logic board replacement under AppleCare. It would've cost me more than $1500 without AppleCare.
I have AppleCare on my new rMBP now.
I have AppleCare on my new rMBP now.
For me in the past its been worth it, mid 2008 white MacBook (worse one Ive ever had) had 3 case replacements through cracks and a new battery at 3 years old.
I also had an iPad 2 replaced at 2 years old for not switching on (John Lewis)
Saying that I have always got 3 years AC buying through the HE store, had it not been included I would have probably argued the sales of goods act (UK) should any problems have arisen.
I also had an iPad 2 replaced at 2 years old for not switching on (John Lewis)
Saying that I have always got 3 years AC buying through the HE store, had it not been included I would have probably argued the sales of goods act (UK) should any problems have arisen.