Squaretrade Warranty

[jalpert]

I just purchased a squaretrade warranty as well. Though I am now a little worried. What kind of insurance company doesn't ask you for things like the serial number of the phone? Isn't that a basic question to ask to avoid the ole' switch-a-roo? I bought the warranty, but what if my friends phone breaks, we could say it was his. This place is obviously legit because of the comments, but again, the fact that they don't seem to care about my specific device is strange to me.

Also, guys, don't forget to add tax. Remember this is the cost to replace the place. I did $499 at 8% which is reasonable came to $538.92.

 

[sr5878]

I just got off the phone with SquareTrade and the rep I spoke to told me that they provide coverage ONLY up to the purchase price on the receipt. They will NOT cover the full unsubsidized price!

No squaretrade for me, sorry!

 

[Pheelyx]

This is the response I got from Squaretrade when asking if I could insure for the subsidized price:

Thank you for contacting SquareTrade.

I understand your issue and propose that we use the original retail cost for your item to facilitate your Care Plan purchase. This gives you the protection equal to the real value of your phone.

In order to confirm the cost of your item, and to secure a “receipt”, I’ll ask you to find a comparable item listed for retail sale (e.g., Best Buy, Circuit City) and print a copy of the page/listing for your records.

Additionally, please retain your invoice/receipt in case of claim as well as a retail sale page for your item.


I would think we could just print the page from ATT that shows the early upgrade price.

 

[cshale210]

This is the response I got from Squaretrade when asking if I could insure for the subsidized price:

Thank you for contacting SquareTrade.

I understand your issue and propose that we use the original retail cost for your item to facilitate your Care Plan purchase. This gives you the protection equal to the real value of your phone.

In order to confirm the cost of your item, and to secure a “receipt”, I’ll ask you to find a comparable item listed for retail sale (e.g., Best Buy, Circuit City) and print a copy of the page/listing for your records.

Additionally, please retain your invoice/receipt in case of claim as well as a retail sale page for your item.


I would think we could just print the page from ATT that shows the early upgrade price.

Now I just spoke to a rep at SquareTrade and he said they would only cover the price on the receipt. Since I direct ordered my phone it only says $299. After speaking with the rep, it sounds like if I put down $699 as the price but then send them my receipt for only 299 it voids the warranty, according to him. What should I do??

 

[jesusiPhone]

Now I just spoke to a rep at SquareTrade and he said they would only cover the price on the receipt. Since I direct ordered my phone it only says $299. After speaking with the rep, it sounds like if I put down $699 as the price but then send them my receipt for only 299 it voids the warranty, according to him. What should I do??

My iPhone 1st Gen died in 4 Months.
Apple told me they can't cover it under warranty citing "User Abuse". My LCD Screen had cracked.

I've now got a 8GB iPhone 3G. And I really want to get the Squaretrade warranty. I wanna buy insurance at the unsubsidized price.

So yeah, I've got the same question as cshale210. How much do I have to buy insurance for $399+tax? or $599+tax? (8GB iPhone)

Please share your views and info that you've got from squaretrade. Thanks.

EDIT: I'm unable to contact Square Trade. seems they're open from Mon - Fri.

 

[eneisch]

Now I just spoke to a rep at SquareTrade and he said they would only cover the price on the receipt. Since I direct ordered my phone it only says $299. After speaking with the rep, it sounds like if I put down $699 as the price but then send them my receipt for only 299 it voids the warranty, according to him. What should I do??

Did you get the phone from Apple or AT&T? Perhaps you could contact them and ask them for a receipt that shows the subsidy being applied. My receipt from the AT&T store shows the sale price of $299, but also clearly indicates that they were including a "2 year agreement savings" of $200. I was told that was sufficient when I spoke to them on the phone. For that reason I insured it for $499. I'll just have to sign another 2 year contract to get the $499 pricing next time.

I think you would also be able to make a good case for $499 even with the reciept showing $299 if you presented them with a print of the AT&T webpage that explains the $200 subsidy. Since the no commitment pricing has not been officially released I think you would have a harder time backing up a $699 claim at this time.

 

[scaredpoet]

Well worst case, you could buy a new iPhone if your old one breaks, and you now have a receipt for what the actual replacement price is for the phone. Based on that, SquareTrade should reimburse you (which is what they would likely end up doing anyway).

By the way: SquareTrade has made it clear at the corporate level, that they know full well what people are in for if they have to replace their iPhones, and that it won't be at the $199/$299 price point:

http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/popup/iphone-adh-release

Abernethy and his team at SquareTrade suspect that the new pricing on the 3G will cause more price-sensitive buyers to look to the iPhone - and these people will seek warranty coverage that also offers a better value. The cost of a SquareTrade warranty for iPhone amounts to about 12% of the item’s replacement cost – which is $399 and $499, depending on model -- and includes three years of hassle-free coverage, an online warranty management tool, no deductible, and the SquareTrade five-day service guarantee. An additional fee and deductible applies for Accidental Damage from Handling coverage.

 

[chakraj]

I spoke to them this morning. They only insure your device for the amount on your receipt. So you will not get replacement value. they will only give you 199 or 299 I double checked and said so if my phone breaks you will not give me the amount needed to replace my device wich will be 499 plus tax, you will only give me the 299 i payed for my device and i will have to pay for the rest? he said yes

 

[cshale210]

I spoke to them this morning. They only insure your device for the amount on your receipt. So you will not get replacement value. they will only give you 199 or 299 I double checked and said so if my phone breaks you will not give me the amount needed to replace my device wich will be 499 plus tax, you will only give me the 299 i payed for my device and i will have to pay for the rest? he said yes

I am in this same boat. At the same time, paying like $50 bucks, dropping my phone and getting $299 is a heck of a lot better than not paying and not getting 299...am i right?

 

[jalpert]

Just spoke with squaretrade.

He stated that the device is covered up to the purchase price. However, there is some internal confusion about this, and the managers/supervisors are not in until Monday. As of now, it's covered to $299 but he said call back Monday and the supervisors will rule one way or the other.

Based on their own press release, I can't image they won't cover the full $499. If a supervisor states that they will cover to $499, I suggest you get them to shoot you an email stating that with their signature....

With accidentals the math doesn't make sense. About $100 for the plan, $50 deductible, so it would cost $150 to replace a $300 phone according to them, that is WAY off their normal margin of 12% stated in the press release...

 

[uncleguito]

I have an iPhone 1G (bought it about 10 months ago) and a while ago, the back "rubbery" area covering the bottom started to come loose a bit. It doesn't come off, but it creaks and pushes in slightly when the phone is held.

Apple won't replace/fix it because I haven't activated the phone (I use it with T-Mobile). If I buy a SquareTrade warranty, will they cover something like this and replace it?

 

[elbirth]

So since I bought my iPhone 3G from an Apple store, my receipt only shows the $299 price for mine (16GB) with no reference of it being a subsidized price...

Has anyone purchased a warranty here that bought from an Apple store? What price did you enter for the value? I guess I'll probably try to call them Monday to see if I can get a better answer, but at this point, I really don't know how much it would actually cost to get the phone replaced if I broke it...

 

[btnnaz]

Ok this may be a dumb question but i just broke my 3g iphone screen and got a replacement for 299 through apple store. I bought it on release date. If i bought squaretrade now would they cover my replacement

 

[RetiredInFl]

TWO MONTHS (and there is a $50 deductible):

From their website:
It does NOT cover issues where the item does not arrive fully functional or issues that occur during the first 60 days after item purchase.

Oh, one little word of caution to everybody: the SquareTrade warranty coverage starts about a month after your purchase date (probably to avoid insurance fraud). So, be careful for the next month.

 

[jesusiPhone]

Just spoke with squaretrade.

He stated that the device is covered up to the purchase price. However, there is some internal confusion about this, and the managers/supervisors are not in until Monday. As of now, it's covered to $299 but he said call back Monday and the supervisors will rule one way or the other.

Based on their own press release, I can't image they won't cover the full $499. If a supervisor states that they will cover to $499, I suggest you get them to shoot you an email stating that with their signature....

With accidentals the math doesn't make sense. About $100 for the plan, $50 deductible, so it would cost $150 to replace a $300 phone according to them, that is WAY off their normal margin of 12% stated in the press release...

TWO MONTHS (and there is a $50 deductible):

From their website:
It does NOT cover issues where the item does not arrive fully functional or issues that occur during the first 60 days after item purchase.

Thanks a lot guys..

So, we need to be extremely careful for the first 60 days.

jalpert,could you kindly update us after you get a chance to speak with SquareTrade guys on Monday?

Thanks again.

 

[thechidz]

does squaretrade cover lost/stolen phones?

 

[Diode]

Thanks a lot guys..

So, we need to be extremely careful for the first 60 days.

jalpert,could you kindly update us after you get a chance to speak with SquareTrade guys on Monday?

Thanks again.

A lot of credit cards offer 60 day accidental damage. I know mine does.

 

[jalpert]

Just spoke with Squaretrade.

My 16gb Iphone 3G is covered up to $499.99.

They do NOT cover tax. My policy was $538 and change, so I had to cancel that and redo it, it was $10 less.

I cited the press release, she verified with her supervisor and stated the press release was correct.

$87.49 for $499.99 worth of coverage for 3 years including accidentals (which has a $50 deductible) is what it turns out to be. I'm happy, I'm canceling my applecare (which I probably shouldn't have bought anyway)

She was more than happy to shoot me an email that detailed the confusion and the fact that $499.99 is the value of the phone and the value of the policy. Great service, highly recommended (so far).

 

[mntentman]

Just spoke with Squaretrade.

My 16gb Iphone 3G is covered up to $499.99.

They do NOT cover tax. My policy was $538 and change, so I had to cancel that and redo it, it was $10 less.

I cited the press release, she verified with her supervisor and stated the press release was correct.

$87.49 for $499.99 worth of coverage for 3 years including accidentals (which has a $50 deductible) is what it turns out to be. I'm happy, I'm canceling my applecare (which I probably shouldn't have bought anyway)

She was more than happy to shoot me an email that detailed the confusion and the fact that $499.99 is the value of the phone and the value of the policy. Great service, highly recommended (so far).

Thanks. Can you share that email when it arrives?

 

[jalpert]

Thanks. Can you share that email when it arrives?

I cannot, no. The e-mail references me specifically and my case individually. Seriously though, I don't think there is a problem here with these guys. In this case, I think it's a simple case of an uninformed weekend crew, the email was more of a better safe than sorry. The press release is really very clear about how coverage will work.

 

[rfmurphy81]

Since there's effectively three prices for this phone, I guess I need to know what price is most appropriate to insure for.

$299 = New Contract Price
$499 = Existing Contract Price
$699 = No Contract Price

Which of these is most appropriate for the 16GB? If I insure the $499 price (per the response from them in jalpert's post) and my phone gets damaged, will I be able to replace it through AT&T at that price or will they be asking me for $699? I don't want to "underinsure" the phone and end up paying more than needed.

Any ideas?

 

[sr5878]

Since there's effectively three prices for this phone, I guess I need to know what price is most appropriate to insure for.

$299 = New Contract Price
$499 = Existing Contract Price
$699 = No Contract Price

Which of these is most appropriate for the 16GB? If I insure the $499 price (per the response from them in jalpert's post) and my phone gets damaged, will I be able to replace it through AT&T at that price or will they be asking me for $699? I don't want to "underinsure" the phone and end up paying more than needed.

Any ideas?

I would like to know the answer to this as well. Since I'm an existing AT&T customer, I should be allowed to do an "early upgrade" to the iPhone 3G if it needs to be replaced, but I wouldn't put it past them to charge the full unsubsidized price of the phone if damaged.

 

[RetiredInFl]

I would think the $499 is for a 1 time "early upgrade" and the $699 would be for "retail purchase" which you would be, and unable to get any discounts like any other phone purchased during the term of an existing contract.

I would like to know the answer to this as well. Since I'm an existing AT&T customer, I should be allowed to do an "early upgrade" to the iPhone 3G if it needs to be replaced, but I wouldn't put it past them to charge the full unsubsidized price of the phone if damaged.

 

[snook911]

This is the way I see it. The $599/699 price is for people who want no commitment. Buy the phone and walk out with no contract. If you already have an AT&T account you cant fall into this catagory because you have a contract with At&T. I think you would have to pay the $499/$599 early upgrade price and sign a new 2 year agreement at the time your new 3G was purchased. Just one persons opinion but make sense no?

 

[rfmurphy81]

I guess the question is whether we should be insuring the phone A) at $699 to avoid having to sign a new contract or B) at $499 and be expected to resign a new contract for 2 more years.

Honestly, I wouldn't feel as comfortable signing a NEW contract (since I'm already at the start of a new one) only to be stuck longer, even though I'll likely stick with AT&T after the original 2 years anyway.