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Warning about squaretrade

K

Kestrel452

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 23, 2008
197
256
I called SquareTrade today about their warranty policy. All was fine until he got to the part about how much they'll cover the iPad. Apparently they will cover up to the purchase value of the iPad, but there are catches. If your iPad needs any kind of work like a new screen or what have you, that gets deducted from your coverage amount. So you basically get screwed if you have had to bring it in a couple or few times for work and you drop it. They wont just replace it for you since you've used up some of its value.

Word to the wise: GET APPLECARE, and then a Worth Ave Group plan if you're really that scared of it getting broken. DEFINITELY forget Squaretrade! WAG will keep your policy as long as you dont file a replacement claim twice in the same year, so in essence (unless you're a total clutz) you won't get dropped by them whereas ST will.

This policy is for ALL Apple devices! I've bought ST warranties in the past, and never will buy one from them again.
 
Kestrel452 said:
I called SquareTrade today about their warranty policy. All was fine until he got to the part about how much they'll cover the iPad. Apparently they will cover up to the purchase value of the iPad, but there are catches. If your iPad needs any kind of work like a new screen or what have you, that gets deducted from your coverage amount. So you basically get screwed if you have had to bring it in a couple or few times for work and you drop it. They wont just replace it for you since you've used up some of its value.

Word to the wise: GET APPLECARE, and then a Worth Ave Group plan if you're really that scared of it getting broken. DEFINITELY forget Squaretrade! WAG will keep your policy as long as you dont file a replacement claim twice in the same year, so in essence (unless you're a total clutz) you won't get dropped by them whereas ST will.

This policy is for ALL Apple devices! I've bought ST warranties in the past, and never will buy one from them again.
Click to expand...

I'd imagine that they're trying to protect themselves from people who abuse the service.

If you're that much of a klutz, don't buy expensive electronics.
 
NathanMuir said:
I'd imagine that they're trying to protect themselves from people who abuse the service.

If you're that much of a klutz, don't buy expensive electronics.
Click to expand...

I agree. If you end up using a squaretrade warrantee once, you've already made more than your money back...
 
NathanMuir said:
I'd imagine that they're trying to protect themselves from people who abuse the service.

If you're that much of a klutz, don't buy expensive electronics.
Click to expand...

I meant "work" as in fixing electronic issues not due to physical damage that wouldnt need replacement of the whole unit. sorry.
 
Kestrel452 said:
I called SquareTrade today about their warranty policy. All was fine until he got to the part about how much they'll cover the iPad. Apparently they will cover up to the purchase value of the iPad, but there are catches. If your iPad needs any kind of work like a new screen or what have you, that gets deducted from your coverage amount. So you basically get screwed if you have had to bring it in a couple or few times for work and you drop it. They wont just replace it for you since you've used up some of its value.

Word to the wise: GET APPLECARE, and then a Worth Ave Group plan if you're really that scared of it getting broken. DEFINITELY forget Squaretrade! WAG will keep your policy as long as you dont file a replacement claim twice in the same year, so in essence (unless you're a total clutz) you won't get dropped by them whereas ST will.

This policy is for ALL Apple devices! I've bought ST warranties in the past, and never will buy one from them again.
Click to expand...

that doesn't surprise me the least. you pay what? $80 for a $829 device and you get it replaced once if you break it or the same amount over several accidents.

Getting Applecare is $99 and on top of that you need an insurance for accidents and spill. So you end up paying $150 or so.
 
Jay42 said:
I agree. If you end up using a squaretrade warrantee once, you've already made more than your money back...
Click to expand...

Yes but if you have to have electronics failures fixed by squaretrade, they deduct that from your coverage value. Even if it's a factory defect.

The squaretrade plan would be a good deal, but if the iPad starts needing work, the costs for repairs count against your accidental damage coverage amount.
 
Kestrel452 said:
I meant "work" as in fixing electronic issues not due to physical damage that wouldnt need replacement of the whole unit. sorry.
Click to expand...

Why would one go to Squaretrade for an issue like that? Seems like Apple would take care of anything like that for free, basically.

When I bought Squaretrade coverage for my 3GS sixteen months ago, the only reason I bought it was for catastrophic damage, something that Apple would never cover. If I ever have an 'inside' issue with my 3GS, I'll take it straight to Apple. I've never had an issue with Apple not covering an 'inside' issue that occurs with their products, no matter how far out of coverage the product is.
 
NathanMuir said:
Why would one go to Squaretrade for an issue like that? Seems like Apple would take care of anything like that for free, basically.

When I bought Squaretrade coverage for my 3GS sixteen months ago, the only reason I bought it was for catastrophic damage, something that Apple would never cover. If I ever have an 'inside' issue with my 3GS, I'll take it straight to Apple. I've never had an issue with Apple not covering an 'inside' issue that occurs with their products, no matter how far out of coverage the product is.
Click to expand...

Really? :confused:
 
Kestrel452 said:
Really? :confused:
Click to expand...

I took my 2nd generation iPod Touch to Apple about two years ago for an internal problem. After I replicated the problem for the Genius, they replaced it on the spot, for free. All I had to do was sign the paperwork acknowledging the service that was performed.

Hell, that same Apple store even replaced my brothers cracked iPhone 3GS screen for free seven months after purchase, even after he acknowledged he accidentally dropped it when getting out of the car. Again, all he had to do was sign the paperwork acknowledging the service that was performed.
 
NathanMuir said:
Why would one go to Squaretrade for an issue like that? Seems like Apple would take care of anything like that for free, basically.

When I bought Squaretrade coverage for my 3GS sixteen months ago, the only reason I bought it was for catastrophic damage, something that Apple would never cover. If I ever have an 'inside' issue with my 3GS, I'll take it straight to Apple. I've never had an issue with Apple not covering an 'inside' issue that occurs with their products, no matter how far out of coverage the product is.
Click to expand...

That is called goodwill, and can not be relied on once outside of the standard warranty period.
 
Squaretrade warranties are generally good, but I agree with the OP that I would never buy them for Apple devices.

The Worth Avenue Group (WAG) is a much better option even if they are more expensive. Insurance is insurance and an extended warranty is just an extended warranty.
 
Ciclismo said:
That is called goodwill, and can not be relied on once outside of the standard warranty period.
Click to expand...

Still, in my experience, over the past two, two and half years, I've never had a problem with getting service on internal problems from Apple.

I'd still take my chances with Apple and wouldn't trust Squaretrade, or any other third party insurance, to fix internal problems.

As I said before, the only reason I bought Squaretrade was for catastrophic damage Apple wouldn't cover under any circumstance.
 
Fixes beyond warranty coverage aside, there aren't any iPads outside of the 1 year complimentary support yet anyway! (at least here in US, don't know the Applecare terms in other countries) ALL iPads are still on their first year.

So, yeah, the only reason to have outside coverage right now is for accidental damage and theft. All mechanical issues should be taken to Apple first.
 
I thought Square Trade was pretty much up front with their replacement policies.

Yeah, it's not great, but they need to draw the line to keep the price reasonable. All it would take is a handful of folks using their iPads in high-risk environments to crush the profitability of their business if they had no limits.

I guess the warning applies to any replacement/repair contract you get. Give it a careful read before you buy.

This is why I hate the Best Buy extended service plan pitch when you're checking out. You've got no time to read and see what's actually being covered. I'd much prefer being handed a flier that explained the plan and lets me activate it within X number of days.
 
To be honest, I think Applecare extended warranty and a comprehensive contents insurance (which covers your stuff even when it is not at home) is all you need. My current policy is like that, and it has the upshot that all of our stuff is insured when we are travelling within NZ. The extra premium for the comprehensive policy was less than what Squartrade wants for the iPad policy alone, and covers much more than just the iPad.
 
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