I am just wondering if the apple care is worth the $169 that it cost for when you purchase a iMac?
It extends your one year warranty for another two additional years.
And if your getting the new 27" iMac with quad core processor, a new machine basically, I would get it.
Also if your getting a laptop as they are more prone to problems.
A Mac mini I might it on pass on. A Mac Pro for sure.
It's sure nice to have when something does go wrong, like my Superdrive died and Apple just replaced it no problem.
I know it sounds like a extended warranty scam, but about 16% of Mac laptops fail and are very expensive to fix, especially a iMac since you can't open it up yourself without doing some sort of damage.
A Mac Pro is very easily user serviceable and lasts a long time as it doesn't move much and usually has a better cooling system.
Only if you plan on keeping it for three years. Even then, it's not so important for iMacs.
I agree that if it's a rev A machine, or a laptop, you'd better get Apple care.
For instance, it's almost certain that if you use your laptop every day, the battery will die to well below 50% of it's original capacity before the end of the three years, which means it's usually replaceable under Applecare if you push. Applecare is not much more expensive than a new battery for MacBooks and 13" MacBook Pros, and that doesn't even take into consideration other repair issues you might have in the meantime.
Extended warranties are the most expensive and least cost-effective forms of insurance you can buy. They are only worthwhile if you know that you could not afford to repair or replace the Mac yourself in the event of a problem. Otherwise, save your money for something else, like your next Mac, for instance.
I've had multiple failures with my last couple Macs. Better safe than sorry.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Millmoss
Extended warranties are the most expensive and least cost-effective forms of insurance you can buy. They are only worthwhile if you know that you could not afford to repair or replace the Mac yourself in the event of a problem. Otherwise, save your money for something else, like your next Mac, for instance.
If I hadn't got AppleCare, the hard drive failure in my iMac would have been over $400. $169 is much less than that or the $1500 it would take for a new machine. Drives will fail and anything Ive touches is on a knife's edge thermally.
What annoys me, and likely others, about extended warranties is the fact is you have to pay for something that should come with the machine.
Also it's saying to the customer at the time of purchase that this device, this choice they are going to make, is only going to last a year. The company is only going to back up their creation for a year, like it's a piece of junk or something and soon to fail afterward.
To me as a customer, it allows Apple to produce crappy products right off and fix them later or not if you don't pay for the repairs in advance.
The repair costs are then socialized amongst all those participating, those who don't get gouged. Either way Apple makes a bundle and the customer gets no value, unless something serious goes wrong which only occurs with a few people, then it's likely attributed to a user inflicted action.
I think Apple should just meld the three year warranty right into all products, since more products will be part and therefore everyone's cost will be lower, if even noticeable.
Apple sales technique seems to be is to get you to pay for what you need, after your convinced to part with the big bucks, then to start adding on more things after that.
AppleCare starts the up selling process with fear, like something is going to go wrong with your purchase decision a day after the one year warranty expires, so your most likely to say "yes" and keep on saying "yes" since you said it twice already.
"Well that's going to be $1999 for the MacBook Pro. Oh you'll need Applecare (short fear explanation goes here if they squawk) and more memory (another fear tactic that your computer will under perform without the max RAM installed), oh iWorks (fear, can't write a letter), oh OfficeMac (fear, can't work with business people), oh MobileMe, and do you have any games? Pick a few games, a extra battery? no need, but we got a airline adaptor, throwing it in. Got a connector for your iPod? No iPod, well here I'll pick the largest one for you, the connector/ac adaptor is extra of course as some people don't need it, a iPhone too and a contract..."
You see what's going on? Quash the fear, pony up more and more money. They get the ball rolling with AppleCare and go on from there.
I liked Apple better when they included everything you needed in a new Mac, and AppleWorks too.
Now it's all about milking the sheep with $30 iPod chargers that are $12 on the internet and used to come with the device.
Apple, Apple, where have thou gone? What have you become?
You've let the "sales guys" take over.
I used to like visting Apple Stores, but now I stay out of them like I do casinos.
If I hadn't got AppleCare, the hard drive failure in my iMac would have been over $400. $169 is much less than that or the $1500 it would take for a new machine. Drives will fail and anything Ive touches is on a knife's edge thermally.
Only if you send it to Apple for repair -- third party shops charge far less for the same work.
Apple knows how much to charge for AppleCare in order to make money on it. On average, the extended warranty buyer will lose. Always.
My rule of thumb is always buy AppleCare on laptops, never on desktops. I did buy AppleCare on the new 21.5" iMac I just got, though.
I had a MacMini die on me after 2 years, and a G5 iMac after 3 years. I still have a Wind Tunnel G4 running 24/7 in the basement, and a G4 flat panel iMac my daughter is using - both of them still going strong.
The rationale for not doing that is that the parts are more similar to a laptop than a desktop.
That is logical but then again a Mac Mini being a desktop unit isn't subjected to the same stresses usually, unless one put's one in their car or something.
How much is the AppleCare on respected products, anyone know?
The car companies don't make it damn near impossible to change your oil.
No, but a dealer will charge you far more for an oil change than the shop down the street -- which is one of the ways they justify the exorbitant price of their extended warranties. Apple, no surprise, does exactly the same thing. I've got to laugh when people suggests that Apple loses money on AppleCare.
Which has nothing to do with anything I said. People seem to justify paying a steep price for AppleCare because Apple charges a steep price for repairing Macs. Since they don't actually have to pay Apple's steep prices for repairs, then it seems this justification is nullified.
Comments
I am just wondering if the apple care is worth the $169 that it cost for when you purchase a iMac?
It extends your one year warranty for another two additional years.
And if your getting the new 27" iMac with quad core processor, a new machine basically, I would get it.
Also if your getting a laptop as they are more prone to problems.
A Mac mini I might it on pass on. A Mac Pro for sure.
It's sure nice to have when something does go wrong, like my Superdrive died and Apple just replaced it no problem.
I know it sounds like a extended warranty scam, but about 16% of Mac laptops fail and are very expensive to fix, especially a iMac since you can't open it up yourself without doing some sort of damage.
A Mac Pro is very easily user serviceable and lasts a long time as it doesn't move much and usually has a better cooling system.
(posted via Chrome OS running in VM Fusion.)
Only if you plan on keeping it for three years. Even then, it's not so important for iMacs.
I agree that if it's a rev A machine, or a laptop, you'd better get Apple care.
For instance, it's almost certain that if you use your laptop every day, the battery will die to well below 50% of it's original capacity before the end of the three years, which means it's usually replaceable under Applecare if you push. Applecare is not much more expensive than a new battery for MacBooks and 13" MacBook Pros, and that doesn't even take into consideration other repair issues you might have in the meantime.
Extended warranties are the most expensive and least cost-effective forms of insurance you can buy. They are only worthwhile if you know that you could not afford to repair or replace the Mac yourself in the event of a problem. Otherwise, save your money for something else, like your next Mac, for instance.
If I hadn't got AppleCare, the hard drive failure in my iMac would have been over $400. $169 is much less than that or the $1500 it would take for a new machine. Drives will fail and anything Ive touches is on a knife's edge thermally.
Also it's saying to the customer at the time of purchase that this device, this choice they are going to make, is only going to last a year. The company is only going to back up their creation for a year, like it's a piece of junk or something and soon to fail afterward.
To me as a customer, it allows Apple to produce crappy products right off and fix them later or not if you don't pay for the repairs in advance.
The repair costs are then socialized amongst all those participating, those who don't get gouged. Either way Apple makes a bundle and the customer gets no value, unless something serious goes wrong which only occurs with a few people, then it's likely attributed to a user inflicted action.
I think Apple should just meld the three year warranty right into all products, since more products will be part and therefore everyone's cost will be lower, if even noticeable.
Apple sales technique seems to be is to get you to pay for what you need, after your convinced to part with the big bucks, then to start adding on more things after that.
AppleCare starts the up selling process with fear, like something is going to go wrong with your purchase decision a day after the one year warranty expires, so your most likely to say "yes" and keep on saying "yes" since you said it twice already.
"Well that's going to be $1999 for the MacBook Pro. Oh you'll need Applecare (short fear explanation goes here if they squawk) and more memory (another fear tactic that your computer will under perform without the max RAM installed), oh iWorks (fear, can't write a letter), oh OfficeMac (fear, can't work with business people), oh MobileMe, and do you have any games? Pick a few games, a extra battery? no need, but we got a airline adaptor, throwing it in. Got a connector for your iPod? No iPod, well here I'll pick the largest one for you, the connector/ac adaptor is extra of course as some people don't need it, a iPhone too and a contract..."
You see what's going on? Quash the fear, pony up more and more money. They get the ball rolling with AppleCare and go on from there.
I liked Apple better when they included everything you needed in a new Mac, and AppleWorks too.
Now it's all about milking the sheep with $30 iPod chargers that are $12 on the internet and used to come with the device.
Apple, Apple, where have thou gone? What have you become?
You've let the "sales guys" take over.
I used to like visting Apple Stores, but now I stay out of them like I do casinos.
I know I'm going to lose every time I go in them.
If I hadn't got AppleCare, the hard drive failure in my iMac would have been over $400. $169 is much less than that or the $1500 it would take for a new machine. Drives will fail and anything Ive touches is on a knife's edge thermally.
Only if you send it to Apple for repair -- third party shops charge far less for the same work.
Apple knows how much to charge for AppleCare in order to make money on it. On average, the extended warranty buyer will lose. Always.
Considering that Apple will charge you nearly $100 just to open the machine, I see Applecare as a bargain.
By that reasoning, you must buy extended warranties for all of your cars, too. After all, the dealer charges $200 for an oil change.
A Mac mini I might it on pass on.
The rationale for not doing that is that the parts are more similar to a laptop than a desktop.
By that reasoning, you must buy extended warranties for all of your cars, too. After all, the dealer charges $200 for an oil change.
The car companies don't make it damn near impossible to change your oil.
I had a MacMini die on me after 2 years, and a G5 iMac after 3 years. I still have a Wind Tunnel G4 running 24/7 in the basement, and a G4 flat panel iMac my daughter is using - both of them still going strong.
YMMV.
The rationale for not doing that is that the parts are more similar to a laptop than a desktop.
That is logical but then again a Mac Mini being a desktop unit isn't subjected to the same stresses usually, unless one put's one in their car or something.
How much is the AppleCare on respected products, anyone know?
The car companies don't make it damn near impossible to change your oil.
No, but a dealer will charge you far more for an oil change than the shop down the street -- which is one of the ways they justify the exorbitant price of their extended warranties. Apple, no surprise, does exactly the same thing. I've got to laugh when people suggests that Apple loses money on AppleCare.
How much is the AppleCare on respected products, anyone know?
http://www.apple.com/support/products/proplan.html
Five tabs ought to do it.
In other words, you're dead set against anyone buying Apple care and nobody can tell you otherwise.
No, and that's a weird interpretation which suggests that you didn't read anything else I posted.