Select Apple Stores Piloting Extended AppleCare+ Eligibility Beyond Usual 60 Days

[MacRumors]

A small number of Apple Stores in the United States and Canada are piloting a new program that allows customers to purchase AppleCare+ for devices beyond the usual limit of 60 days after the purchase date, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The pilot program began this week.

The pilot program allows customers to add AppleCare+ to a device between 61 days and one year after the device was purchased. To do so, a customer must book a Genius Bar appointment, during which a technician will run diagnostics on the device and perform a visual inspection to confirm eligibility.

We were initially told the extended eligibility was for up to two years, but another source said the period was shortened to one year.

The pilot program is rolling out to 50 or so Apple Stores in the United States, as well as all 29 locations in Canada, one of our sources said. It is unclear how long the program will remain available.

MacRumors contacted a participating Apple Store that confirmed existence of the pilot program. It applies to the iPhone for certain, and likely extends to the iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and other devices. We don't want anyone to be disappointed, so keep in mind that the pilot is subject to change.

AppleCare+ provides two or three years of extended hardware coverage and technical support depending on the type of device. This includes up to two incidents of accidental damage, each subject to a service fee.

Update: We've received additional info on the pilot program, which covers iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. It allows people to add AppleCare to their devices for up to two years after purchase, either as a two year contract or on a monthly basis. It's still not known how long the program will last, but as of January 2020, it's ongoing.

Article Link: Select Apple Stores Piloting Extended AppleCare+ Eligibility Beyond Usual 60 Days

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Nice! I would like to put my 2016 MacBook under AppleCare+

 

[fmcshan]

Hopefully this rolls out nationwide. It would nice to have longer than 60 days to decide if I want to purchase AppleCare+ or not.

 

[cuwickliffe]

I missed the window for my Apple Watch (just barely). Would love to have another chance. If anyone can find a list of participating locations, that would be huge. Here in Greenville, SC.

 

[iGeneo]

Excellent opportunity for Apple to drive a little extra revenue

 

[OriginalClone]

So they’re going back to how it used to be..
Apple seems to be backtracking on quite a few decisions lately.

 

[iObama]

Awesome!

 

[mannyvel]

Really, you should be able to enroll up until your standard warranty runs out.

 

[jz0309]

this would be very cool

 

[barkomatic]

I wish there was an option for 3 years of Applecare on iPhones-since most people now keep them for 3 years or more.

The 2 year model is based upon the old wireless contract system where you would get a heavily discounted smartphone from your carrier every two years. That obviously doesn't exist anymore.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Very generous and unusual for Apple. They acknowledge that some people will do some research in the 12 months post-purchase and after seeing that their product is likely to be faulty and require repairs, they will purchase the very costly AppleCare+. It is a win-win for Apple. The customer feels grateful that the Cook empire allows them to buy insurance later than usual and Apple reaps the financial benefit of selling insurance on products that should be fit-for-purpose at the time of sale. Barnum would be proud!

 

[konqerror]

So they’re going back to how it used to be..
Apple seems to be backtracking on quite a few decisions lately.

No, it's not "backtracking".

The old policy was for AppleCare non-plus, that is coverage only against defects. You had to buy AppleCare while in the standard 1-year warranty. This prevented people from buying AppleCare after they had experienced a problem since they would have continuous coverage.

This policy changed when the plus, accidental damage policy was added. There was no coverage of accidental damage from day one, so there needs to be a way to prevent people from buying insurance after an accident. The way most insurance does it (healthcare and car insurance) is to offer a limited window ("open enrollment").

I wish there was an option for 3 years of Applecare on iPhones-since most people now keep them for 3 years or more.

Similarly, people keep computers for more than 3 years. PC makers like Dell and Lenovo offer 4 and 5 year service plans.

 

[DeanL]

So they’re going back to how it used to be..
Apple seems to be backtracking on quite a few decisions lately.

It technically never was like that, because what you're talking about applied to the standard AppleCare, not the AppleCare+.

 

[TacoChowder]

I wish there was an option for 3 years of Applecare on iPhones-since most people now keep them for 3 years or more.

The 2 year model is based upon the old wireless contract system where you would get a heavily discounted smartphone from your carrier every two years. That obviously doesn't exist anymore.

You can pay monthly now, which extends until cancelled

 

[Rivvvers]

So they’re going back to how it used to be..
Apple seems to be backtracking on quite a few decisions lately.

Let’s hope the routers end up being a decision they go back on

 

[iMerik]

I wish there was an option for 3 years of Applecare on iPhones-since most people now keep them for 3 years or more.

The 2 year model is based upon the old wireless contract system where you would get a heavily discounted smartphone from your carrier every two years. That obviously doesn't exist anymore.

You can pay monthly now, which extends until cancelled

Yeah, this seems to be exactly what barkomatic wants. https://www.macrumors.com/2019/09/11/applecare-renewable-monthly-payment-plans/

 

[barkomatic]

You can pay monthly now, which extends until cancelled

I didn't know that--good to know. It's still more expensive per year to pay that way then paying all up front--even for just two years.

 

[porscherain]

Anyone have a list of stores? I need to add AppleCare ASAP.

 

[OriginalClone]

No, it's not "backtracking".

The old policy was for AppleCare non-plus, that is coverage only against defects. You had to buy AppleCare while in the standard 1-year warranty. This prevented people from buying AppleCare after they had experienced a problem since they would have continuous coverage.

This policy changed when the plus, accidental damage policy was added. There was no coverage of accidental damage from day one, so there needs to be a way to prevent people from buying insurance after an accident. The way most insurance does it (healthcare and car insurance) is to offer a limited window ("open enrollment").



Similarly, people keep computers for more than 3 years. PC makers like Dell and Lenovo offer 4 and 5 year service plans.

Besides the difference of AppleCare vs AppleCare+ they are backtracking. Point is you had up to a year to add AC additional coverage, they just didn‘t cover accidental damages then. You still had to run a remote diagnostic or take the device in for an inspection/diagnostic test like they’re doing now.

 

[barkomatic]

Yeah, this seems to be exactly what barkomatic wants. https://www.macrumors.com/2019/09/11/applecare-renewable-monthly-payment-plans/

Indeed, I may select this option when I buy a new iPhone. Too bad this wasn't an option when I bought my iPhone X--I would have liked to extend my plan.

 

[cardfan]

Such a waste of money. No wonder it drives apples services.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

I know there are many fans of AppleCare plans, but not me. I've got many Apple devices and if I paid for AppleCare+ on all of them, plus the deductible if I actually needed a repair (unlikely), I could have just taken the premiums i paid and paid for a repair.

But, I'm not clumsy and have never broken an iPhone screen or had any real problem with any Apple device that required repair.

Plus, I always pay with a CC that extends the warranty 1-2 years, and that is free.

 

[Kelly the Dude]

No, it's not "backtracking".

The old policy was for AppleCare non-plus, that is coverage only against defects. You had to buy AppleCare while in the standard 1-year warranty. This prevented people from buying AppleCare after they had experienced a problem since they would have continuous coverage.

I see your point @konnektor and @DeanLubaki... but at some point there was a switch where it became nearly impossible to get Applecare non-plus. (Applecare- Maybe? ☺) I put it on my 2015 MBP about a year after I bought it and I had to call someone through Apple to do it. I got the impression from that call that the original AppleCare was going away. I think this is a good solution to this problem.

 

[mattopotamus]

As long as the phone is in new condition within the first 2-years, why not extend it? Just require people to bring it in stores after the 60-day mark so it can be inspected.

 

[sw1tcher]

So they’re going back to how it used to be..

Yup. And the way it should be. Give people more time to decide if it's needed or not. It's like with HondaCare. As long as your new Honda is less than 3 years old and under 36,000 miles, you can buy it, though at a slightly higher price than during the 1st year.

The only time I ever bought AppleCare was for a 3rd gen iPod. And if I remember correctly, that was around 9 months after I purchased it.