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MBP stolen - insurance claim advice

B

B1ueguy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 28, 2011
14
0
Hey guys,

A few days ago I had my June 2012 Macbook Pro stolen out of the trunk of my car. Quite upsetting, but the good news was that my insurance would cover the cost of an equivalent replacement.

The model I lost was MC975LL/A @ $2199:
Retina / Core i7 2.3 GHz / 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage / dual graphics processor (NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M + Intel HD Graphics 4000)

I sent the insurance company the receipt of my purchase and their claims rep said the equivalent purchase today would be this base MBP
Retina / Core i7 2.0 GHz / 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage / Intel Iris Pro Graphics

When I saw that, I emailed the rep back and mentioned that the retina display that I lost was 2.3 GHz, and not 2.0 GHz and her response was:

"The model I used matches all the specifications on your laptop as far as hard drive etc. While I did use the 2.0 Ghz it now includes retina display, which assists in the overall processing time. To my understanding the 2.0 Ghz with a retina display is equivalent to a 2.3 Ghz without the retina display."​

1. I don't think she realized the MBP I lost was also a retina display
2. Not 100% sure, but my first thought was what she said about the retina display assisting in overall processing time is bogus

Problem: Although models and pricing have been shifted around since I first got my retina MBP in June 2012, it seems to me that the equivalent model would actually be this one.. one which has a dual graphics processor. The problem is that it retails for about $400 more than what I originally paid for my laptop in 2012.

I just wanted to run this by you guys before I make that argument to see whether you all agree about which model is equivalent to the one I lost. If you disagree, could you help me figure out which model I should be arguing for?

Thanks guys, really appreciate all the help you've given me on these forums.
 
B1ueguy said:
Hey guys,

A few days ago I had my June 2012 Macbook Pro stolen out of the trunk of my car. Quite upsetting, but the good news was that my insurance would cover the cost of an equivalent replacement.

The model I lost was MC975LL/A @ $2199:
Retina / Core i7 2.3 GHz / 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage / dual graphics processor (NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M + Intel HD Graphics 4000)

I sent the insurance company the receipt of my purchase and their claims rep said the equivalent purchase today would be this base MBP
Retina / Core i7 2.0 GHz / 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage / Intel Iris Pro Graphics

When I saw that, I emailed the rep back and mentioned that the retina display that I lost was 2.3 GHz, and not 2.0 GHz and her response was:

"The model I used matches all the specifications on your laptop as far as hard drive etc. While I did use the 2.0 Ghz it now includes retina display, which assists in the overall processing time. To my understanding the 2.0 Ghz with a retina display is equivalent to a 2.3 Ghz without the retina display."​

1. I don't think she realized the MBP I lost was also a retina display
2. Not 100% sure, but my first thought was what she said about the retina display assisting in overall processing time is bogus

Problem: Although models and pricing have been shifted around since I first got my retina MBP in June 2012, it seems to me that the equivalent model would actually be this one.. one which has a dual graphics processor. The problem is that it retails for about $400 more than what I originally paid for my laptop in 2012.

I just wanted to run this by you guys before I make that argument to see whether you all agree about which model is equivalent to the one I lost. If you disagree, could you help me figure out which model I should be arguing for?

Thanks guys, really appreciate all the help you've given me on these forums.
Click to expand...

You are correct on the graphics card. Base model has only the Iris Pro. Upgraded model has Iris Pro + Nvidia Geforce GT 750m. No way to upgrade or even custom order the base model to include the Nvidia card as far as I know. Hopefully this is enough to convince your insurance co to step up to that model.
 
BasicGreatGuy said:
Read your policy. It should provide you the answers you seek. Doing so is a lot more prudent than asking strangers about your policy that they can't see and haven't read.
Click to expand...

The issue here though is a lack of understanding of what would be considered "equivalent" based off the current models apple has out vs the one which was stolen. That's the advice I was seeking here. Can't find that in the policy.. Thanks for your thoughts though.

ddotmason said:
Just kick up a fuss tell them you want the same specs as what you lost.
Click to expand...

I'll definitely try. Thanks ddotmason

thetman said:
You are correct on the graphics card. Base model has only the Iris Pro. Upgraded model has Iris Pro + Nvidia Geforce GT 750m. No way to upgrade or even custom order the base model to include the Nvidia card as far as I know. Hopefully this is enough to convince your insurance co to step up to that model.
Click to expand...

I'll try that and see what they say. The only thing that could come up thought is that base model has 512 MB of storage vs the 256 that I lost. Maybe they can meet me somewhere in the middle. It's just the $1999 model they're suggesting just doesn't seem equivalent.
 
heisenberg123 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but don't insurance company's give monetary value for your loss?

Is your insurance company going to the store and buying the replacement?
Click to expand...

You're correct. They will send a check, however the amount is based not on what I paid for the item stolen, but for an equivalent item that can be purchased today, regardless if it's less or more than what I originally paid.
 
B1ueguy said:
You're correct. They will send a check, however the amount is based not on what I paid for the item stolen, but for an equivalent item that can be purchased today, regardless if it's less or more than what I originally paid.
Click to expand...


if they are giving you 2K I think thats still fair, can you not get your identical rMBP
refurbed for that? if you only paid $2199 last year

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FE664LL/A

here is an early 2013 rMBM for $1659
 
Last edited:
In my opinion this is correct, the current $1999 model is the equivalent of the $2199 model from a year ago.

CPU and storage is actually faster, the only thing you could use to argue for a higher price is the GPU. I'd take the $2k and buy what you need.
 
heisenberg123 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but don't insurance company's give monetary value for your loss?

Is your insurance company going to the store and buying the replacement?
Click to expand...

I'm not the OP, but my home was broken into a few weeks back and in the list of the things stolen was a late-2013 rMBP. I'm expecting my delivery of a replacement tomorrow, and in a roundabout way my insurance company did actually go buy it for me.

Essentially, the company that does my insurance contracts with a third party to assess the value of the stolen items. The company returns two values to the insurer: depreciated Actual Cash Value, and their estimated replacement cost for the same or similar items. The insurance company than offered me the option of either having the third party source and send me the stolen items, or taking a check. But the check would be for the Actual Cash Value, and I would have to send them receipts for repurchases at which point they'd reimburse me the difference between ACV and whatever I actually paid. Some stuff had an estimated depreciation of 25%/year, so ACV would have been painful for some items.

While it didn't really make a difference on the rMBP (which was purchased in the last few days of December and so didn't have a huge depreciation assessed), it wound up actually being beneficial for them to replace a few of the items for me as their comps in a couple of areas were upgraded versions (ie, 3rd gen iPad being replaced by an Air of the same color/storage.)

I don't really have substantial information to offer the OP since ultimately everything I lost either was the current model or had a newer model equivalent with the same obvious specs. I am kind of surprised/impressed that your insurance company will cut you a check for the full replacement cost up-front, instead of doing the ACV reimbursement thing; it seems like taking the $2K assessed replacement cost and then repurchasing your prior model isn't a terrible deal and is less of a hassle then having to front the money and get repaid later.
 
heisenberg123 said:
if they are giving you 2K I think thats still fair, can you not get your identical rMBP
refurbed for that? if you only paid $2199 last year

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FE664LL/A

here is an early 2013 rMBM for $1659
Click to expand...

Agreed. They are giving you enough for a new Macbook and not even the depreciated value. If you found out who stole your Macbook and then sued them and won, you would be awarded the depreciated value.

Take what they are offering and be happy.
 
accountforit said:
Agreed. They are giving you enough for a new Macbook and not even the depreciated value. If you found out who stole your Macbook and then sued them and won, you would be awarded the depreciated value.

Take what they are offering and be happy.
Click to expand...
You make it sound like they are doing him a favor by offering him this...

I am assuming his insurance is replacement value vs actual value coverage.

So in no way are they doing him a favor, just the coverage that he purchased
 
NukeIT said:
You make it sound like they are doing him a favor by offering him this...

I am assuming his insurance is replacement value vs actual value coverage.

So in no way are they doing him a favor, just the coverage that he purchased
Click to expand...

Clearly you can't comprehend. The point I was making was that our own judicial system would have awarded him the depreciated value; not the value of a brand new machine. He used the machine for a year and now gets a new one.

On top of that, new processors are always faster than old so his complaints about minor clock differences are moot. At best, he can complain about no dedicated graphics but that is pretty much dumb as well.
 
accountforit said:
Clearly you can't comprehend. The point I was making was that our own judicial system would have awarded him the depreciated value; not the value of a brand new machine. He used the machine for a year and now gets a new one.

On top of that, new processors are always faster than old so his complaints about minor clock differences are moot. At best, he can complain about no dedicated graphics but that is pretty much dumb as well.
Click to expand...

No need for the personal attack on my ability to comprehend.

I was only stating that he appears to have paid for insurance that pays "replacement value" and you are saying that he should settle for less due to diminished value.

If the OP has in fact paid for "replacement value" being compensated at "actual cash value" would be taking less then what he is due.
 
Unfortunately the new 2.0GHz base model is the equivalent for your computer.

You're lucky your insurance company isn't telling your current is only worth $1000 now and that's all you're getting. ;)
 
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