PSA: AppleCare+ for Mac and iPhone Must Be Bought Within 60 Days of Purchase

[Victor Mortimer]

I used to advise all my customers to buy AppleCare.

For the past few years, I've been recommending that they save their money.

A new Mac typically has one moving part - the fan. It's not an expensive part, if it fails, the repair will be significantly less than the cost of AppleCare. The rest of the parts, if they survive the first year, will likely not fail during the next two. And as others have mentioned, many credit cards will double (or more) the warranty for free.

Back when Macs had optical drives and spinning hard drives, there was a good chance that you'd see those parts fail during the AppleCare coverage, and not infrequently the part plus labor on the optical drive would be around the same price as the AppleCare. If you were a heavy optical drive user you could easily come out ahead, because optical drives are fragile. Now, the external optical drive is cheap, and you don't need to pay a tech to plug in a USB cable.

The accidental damage thing changes things slightly. It might make sense for you, but probably won't. See, chances are your homeowner's or renter's insurance will cover accidental damage to your computer. Check your policy, check your deductible, and consider a rider with a lower deductible for computer equipment, you'll probably find it's cheaper than buying AppleCare+ and paying the accidental damage fee.

Oh, and actual design defects that affect lots of users (like the bad graphics chips Apple put in multiple generations of Macs) tend to end up being covered by a repair extension even on an out of warranty machine.

 

[sneak3]

bought a macbook pro from apple online in april with apple care. Any way I can upgrade to applecare+?

 

[steveOooo]

Thankfully I can't afford apple products now bar the odd iPad.

Last purchase was a MacPro in 2011 from the refurb store - as long as I have dettol wet wipes I'll keep buying 2-3 year old models from fleabay

 

[fedecape]

Previously you could only get AppleCare and not AppleCare+ for Macs. The primary difference being that AC+ covers accidental damage.

I would still strongly advise you get the AppleCare add on within the first year of owning your Mac. It covers manufacture defects for 3 years instead of the standard 1 year. You will not be covered for accidental damage (drop your laptop, etc), but if something goes wrong as the result of a defect (keyboard breaks, speakers, hard drive, etc) apple will fix/replace the laptop under AppleCare.

The first year of AppleCare is automatically included the extension is what you are still able to buy. Now that they added AC+ as an option people can buy that within the first 60 days of their Mac purchase. Regular AppleCare can still be purchased within the first year.

I hope that helps. Basically the same thing you can buy for your phone (AC+) is now offered for the Mac. Previously the only option was standard AppleCare which covers manufacture defects and not accidental damage.

Oh ok, so nothing has changed for me, really. The coverage that I can currently buy (AC) is the same phone I was able to buy a week ago... Good to know! And yes, I'll be getting it

Thanks a lot

 

[brentsg]

I have a similar protection deal that comes with my VISA card, and the way the contract reads is I just pay for the repair myself through Apple or whatever, then I send VISA the receipt and they reimburse me. There is nothing in the wording that I have seen about dealing with any third party at all.

I went through the process end to end with a TV last year. Now I can't remember if it was Mastercard or Discover, but they initially made it sorta feel like I was dealing with the credit card company. I was transferred to an extension that was actually an insurance company. They sent me paperwork to fill out. After that I had to obtain and submit a repair estimate to them. It was a pain in the rear, but in the end they paid a crazy amount (~$1500).

It was a huge PITA because my mom had a Sam's Club Discover and that was used to purchase the TV. Sam's quit doing business with Discover and sent her a Mastercard in its place. Naturally the TV broke after that. It was a horrible experience, b/c both CC companies pointed fingers at each other for the coverage. They even tried to get Sam's to cover it at one point, which was just silly. It took months to resolve.

 

[Royksöpp]

It's worth it. I'd rather not have my brand spankin new $800 iPad Pro without some kind of insurance. I dropped my Air 2 and it shattered and bent on impact. Two days and $99 later I had a brand new replacement. I've also had to have my motherboard replaced on my rMBP several months after the standard 1 year warranty expired, luckily I purchased Applecare+. I would highly recommend it to anyone investing in an Apple product.

 

[macs4nw]

I wish Apple would just ditch the one year warranty and cover everything for three years out of the box.

I doubt the profit hit will be that big, and it would show so much goodwill towards customers. I've seen VERY few Apple devices fail by themselves in the past few years, especially since Macs have moved to using mainly solid state disks.

They can continue selling AppleCare, just have it be accidental damage protection.

That would afaik be an unprecedented advantage, and keep Apple at the forefront of quality assurance with personal electronics, adding to their already excellent and industry-leading warranty and service program.

Not sure if Tim's passion for profits has room for this, as you legitimately suggested, minor hit to those all-important profit margins.

 

[Tech198]

Since AppleCare+ is ony accidental damage, this 60 days, would force uses to grab this, and would make more sense since regular AppleCare does not cover accidental damages.

My only question would be why would anyone wait to buy Applecare +? when they know they can be a clumsy-klutz. when they get it ?

 

[Taz Mangus]

The only catch with some of these is it won't cover refurbs. I know the protection my VISA provides specifically mentions no refurbs.

Might want to get clarification on that from VISA. I asked AMEX, as they state the same thing, and refurb's being sold by Apple with the manufacturers warranty are covered by AMEX.
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I went through the process end to end with a TV last year. Now I can't remember if it was Mastercard or Discover, but they initially made it sorta feel like I was dealing with the credit card company. I was transferred to an extension that was actually an insurance company. They sent me paperwork to fill out. After that I had to obtain and submit a repair estimate to them. It was a pain in the rear, but in the end they paid a crazy amount (~$1500).

It was a huge PITA because my mom had a Sam's Club Discover and that was used to purchase the TV. Sam's quit doing business with Discover and sent her a Mastercard in its place. Naturally the TV broke after that. It was a horrible experience, b/c both CC companies pointed fingers at each other for the coverage. They even tried to get Sam's to cover it at one point, which was just silly. It took months to resolve.

When I have dealt with getting repairs covered by AMEX they did require to get a written estimate submitted and then approved. This does lengthen the repair time.
[doublepost=1498140295][/doublepost]

bought a macbook pro from apple online in april with apple care. Any way I can upgrade to applecare+?

Call Apple and ask.
[doublepost=1498140504][/doublepost]

So if you buy your Mac with the Amex, you get 2 years covered instead of just the 1 Apples gives you.

What if you buy your Mac with the Amex and 11 months later you purchase AppleCare with the Amex again. At that point, does Amex extend the AppleCare to an extra year so you're covered for a total period of 4 years or does the Amex warranty no longer apply at that point?

AMEX coverage starts when the standard warranty or AppleCare ends.
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Never buy Applecare. Put them on your home contents policy, if they break drop 'em and claim. Worked for me.

Home owners policies usually have high deductibles that have to be paid. So if you have a logic board failure you purposely drop the computer on the floor to make it look like an accident so that your home owners policy will cover it?

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

This is true. When you try to use the warranty from the credit card, you're working with a third party insurance company. You can get it done, but it's not painless.

I hear it depends on Card company. I read that AMEX does it direct while others may do 3rd party. I did inquire about a repair with Discover but they told me they all reach out to me with their decision if they will cover repair. For some reason i haven't received an e-mail. I would first find out how your card handles this. As far as apple care goes, I like to have it for battery replacement since i run my MacBook on battery daily. Id say if you run your mac on battery daily, you'll likely take a battery hit in 3 years time and apple will swap it out. Same ting with deaf pixel or stuck keys.
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All of Apple's AppleCare+ plans for Macs, iPads, and iPhones, must be bought alongside a new device or within 60 days of purchase, according to AppleCare+ support staff that MacRumors spoke to this morning.

Following its Worldwide Developers Conference in June that saw the debut of new iMacs, MacBooks, and MacBook Pro models, Apple introduced an updated AppleCare+ for Mac warranty plan that provides standard AppleCare coverage along with accidental damage coverage.

Apple's AppleCare+ for Mac plan was introduced on June 5​

The original AppleCare plans for the Mac could be purchased while the Mac was still under its standard warranty, so customers had a year to buy it, but with the new AppleCare+ plan for Mac, a purchase must be made within 60 days.

Apple in March changed its AppleCare+ policy for the iPhone and iPad and temporarily allowed customers to purchase the plan for up to one year after the device's purchase, while it too was still under standard warranty, but that policy appears to have been reverted back to 60 days.

In March of 2017, an iPhone 7 Plus purchased in September was temporarily eligible for AppleCare+. That is no longer the case due to policy reversion​

AppleCare+ plans for the iPhone and the iPad must once again be purchased within 60 days of a device purchase. Attempting to make an AppleCare+ purchase on an iOS device purchased more than 60 days ago now brings up no AppleCare+ purchase options when logging into the AppleCare+ website.

AppleCare+ is no longer available for an iPhone 7 Plus purchased less than a year ago​

As for the Mac, customers who have had their Macs for longer than 60 days but less than a year are not eligible for AppleCare+ but are still able to purchase a standard AppleCare Protection Plan, MacRumors has learned. Apple is only offering AppleCare+ for Mac on its website, so customers will need to call in to Apple Support to make the standard AppleCare purchase. Standard Mac AppleCare is priced at $149 to $349, depending on the machine.

A MacBook Pro purchased in October 2016 isn't eligible for AppleCare+, but standard AppleCare can still be purchased via Apple Support​

AppleCare+ for Mac is available for the MacBook, 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini, with prices ranging from $99 to $379. The plan extends the warranty of the Mac to three years and includes coverage for two incidents of accidental damage, but a service fee of $99 will be charged for screen damage or external damage while a service fee of $299 will be charged for any other damage.

AppleCare+ for iPhone is available for $129 for the iPhone 6s and later, $99 for the iPhone SE, and $99 for iPad models. It extends warranty coverage to two years and covers two incidents of accidental damage, with a service fee of $29 required for screen repairs or $99 for other damage.

Purchasing AppleCare+ for Mac, iPhone, or iPad after the device has already been purchased requires customers to run a remote diagnostic to ensure the device is working properly or have it inspected at an Apple retail location.

Article Link: PSA: AppleCare+ for Mac and iPhone Must Be Bought Within 60 Days of Purchase

How much is apple care+ for MacBook 2017 12inch? has the price dropped to $99?

 

[brentsg]

Never buy Applecare. Put them on your home contents policy, if they break drop 'em and claim. Worked for me.

This will likely depend on your policy and the country you reside in. In the US we have deductibles to meet, so it'll need to be an expensive repair. Also, if we make the claim against our homeowners insurance as such, they keep track of these things and will gladly cancel your coverage after paying the claim. Your next insurance policy will often be more expensive b/c you were canceled due to claims.

It's a bad idea to do this here, in other words.

 

[melendezest]

Apple products are expensive enough and their prices continue to go up.

AppleCare should be included with purchase and AppleCare+ coverage should be the only one they charge for.

They're just twisting the knife after stabbing our wallets, in my opinion.

It's just an increasingly BAD value to stay in this ecosystem, as much as I love the Mac platform.

 

[ActionableMango]

This is wonderful news. Now I don't have to worry about accidentally dropping my Mac Pro into the toilet.

 

[ignatius345]

The only catch with some of these is it won't cover refurbs. I know the protection my VISA provides specifically mentions no refurbs.

Hmm. I guess the money saved buying refurbished could go toward buying AppleCare, then -- or considering it the other way, you could justify buying non-refurbished by considering the savings from not having to buy AppleCare. All interesting info, thanks everyone!

 

[Barry Marshall]

I would since the components in Apple products are getting cheaper READ (crappier) by the year.

 

[volcomvenom]

Kind of late to this post, but could I still buy the non+ applecare within the year still or does that one not work any longer and are these apple people forcing us to buy applecare+ and within 60 days? thank you

 

[Weaselboy]

Kind of late to this post, but could I still buy the non+ applecare within the year still or does that one not work any longer and are these apple people forcing us to buy applecare+ and within 60 days? thank you

You can still buy the old one, but they don't list it on the web site. You have to call in to buy it.

 

[Wildo6882]

You can still buy the old one, but they don't list it on the web site. You have to call in to buy it.

How much is it and what all does it cover?

 

[Weaselboy]

How much is it and what all does it cover?

It depends on the Mac. It varies from $150 to $350.

https://www.apple.com/support/products/mac.html

It covers the same things listed at this link for AC+, except without the accidental damage coverage.

 

[Taz Mangus]

How much is it and what all does it cover?

Order it from LA Computer online and save about $30, $139. It covers everything that AppleCare+ does minus the accidental damage.

EDIT: I was referring specifically about the iMac. LA Computer still offers the regular AC for cheaper, check it out.