Tile launches Premium Protect with $1000 lost item reimbursement promise

AppleInsider

Tile has announced plans to launch a new subscription tier called "Premium Protect," which promises to cover lost items with Tile trackers attached up to $1,000.

Tile, a manufacturer of popular Bluetooth trackers, is gearing up to launch a new tier to their Tile Premium subscription. This time, the company plans to offer up to $1000 of lost item reimbursement should Tile not be able to help a user locate a missing item within seven days.

The new service, dubbed "Premium Protect, is provided in partnership with Cover Genius and is available for Tile-enabled partner projects, such as Skullcandy's Tile-enabled TWS Earbuds and the HP Elite Dragonfly laptop.

Engaget points out that this is a warranty on the Tile network, not the item that is tracked. If the Tile network can locate the item, but you are unable to retrieve it due to unsafe conditions, the company would not reimburse you for the item.

However, if the Tile network is unable to provide you with a location, or does not provide you with the correct location of an object, you would be able to file a claim for review for potential item reimbursement of up to $1,000. There is no word whether the service covers a single Tile or can track multiple Tile trackers and cover multiple objects provided the total replacement cost does not exceed $1,000.

In addition to item reimbursement, Premium Protect includes all current Tile Premium benefits. This includes Smart Alerts, which notify users when they leave an area without their Tile, unlimited sharing of owned Tiles, 30 days of saved location history, and free battery replacement.

When it launches, Tile Premium Protect will cost $99.99 a year and is anticipated to arrive this fall but does not have a specific launch date as of yet.

vannygee

It's almost as if they're expecting a competitor to enter the market 🤡

sflocal

Sounds like Tile is getting a bit worried that Apple is going to stomp all over them?

rayz2016

Okay, if the gadget was stolen, then that would automatically qualify as “unsafe to retrieve” wouldn’t it?

vannygee said:

It's almost as if they're expecting a competitor to enter the market 🤡

Well, they could have used Apple’s networkWhich would give them a far better chance of a location hit. I suspect the problem is that using Apple’s network would shut them out of location data that they could use to generate extra revenue. 

I think I’ll pass then wouldn’t want them knowing I left my phone at the Spearmint Rhino. 

wood1208

Not a smart move. People can lost expensive item attached with tile tag and can't locate so get $1000 ?

eric_wvgg

wood1208 said:

Not a smart move. People can lost expensive item attached with tile tag and can't locate so get $1000 ?

not to sound all hand-wavey, but there’s an entire industry called "insurance" that has over a century of learning how to deal with fraud. 

I wanted to stick a Tile on my bicycle, but I could never figure out a way to attach one beyond glue, and have very little faith in glue holding up during bad weather.

edited September 2020

eric_wvgg

Rayz2016 said:

the Spearmint Rhino. 

ahahahahaha

mike1

Interested to see the terms and conditions for payout.

Must have proof of purchase

Must have police report

Must not have been lost or stolen during a full moon.

twokatmew

For $1000 coverage, I’d self-insure anyway. Looking forward to replacing my Tiles with AirTags. 

razorpit

mike1 said:

Interested to see the terms and conditions for payout.

Must have proof of purchase

Must have police report

Must not have been lost or stolen during a full moon.

Video proof of you purchasing said item...

cloudtalkin

Eric_WVGG said:

wood1208 said:

Not a smart move. People can lost expensive item attached with tile tag and can't locate so get $1000 ?

not to sound all hand-wavey, but there’s an entire industry called "insurance" that has over a century of learning how to deal with fraud. 

I wanted to stick a Tile on my bicycle, but I could never figure out a way to attach one beyond glue, and have very little faith in glue holding up during bad weather.

Yeah, insurance companies have risk mitigation down to a science.  The most bargain basement type of person trying to commit fraud for up to $1000 is unlikely to get away with it, unlikely to spend $100 for a warranty, and probably unlikely to even purchase Tile products in the first place.

About the bike, have you tried the seat tube or inside the handlebars?  Bike style dependent suggestion of course.

thinkmanduv

What a sad effort to remain relevant with the imminent release of Apple's tracker. $99./year with so many gotcha's attached to the offer feels to me like a step in the wrong direction (pun alert). 

gadgetfreak-apple

Rayz2016 said:

Okay, if the gadget was stolen, then that would automatically qualify as “unsafe to retrieve” wouldn’t it?

Yep.  But they'll gladly take your $100 a year until you file a claim.

beats

Hmmm... Seen this before. When Apple is about to launch a new product, competitors put their game face on.

If anyone thinks Apple will just copy/paste a tracker product like Tile, you don't know Apple. They will release something different and innovative that just WORKS.

Cool concept:

edited September 2020

mariner8

Eric_WVGG said:

I wanted to stick a Tile on my bicycle, but I could never figure out a way to attach one beyond glue, and have very little faith in glue holding up during bad weather.

How about under the seat?

jintech

Eric_WVGG said:

wood1208 said:

Not a smart move. People can lost expensive item attached with tile tag and can't locate so get $1000 ?

I wanted to stick a Tile on my bicycle, but I could never figure out a way to attach one beyond glue, and have very little faith in glue holding up during bad weather.

Gorilla double sided tape. I put a surge protector on my wall with that tap, decided I didn't like it there and had to use force to get the surge protector off. $35 later I am left with a huge repair job for my own stupidity lol

sportyguy209

Eric_WVGG said:

wood1208 said:

Not a smart move. People can lost expensive item attached with tile tag and can't locate so get $1000 ?

not to sound all hand-wavey, but there’s an entire industry called "insurance" that has over a century of learning how to deal with fraud. 

I wanted to stick a Tile on my bicycle, but I could never figure out a way to attach one beyond glue, and have very little faith in glue holding up during bad weather.

If you just want to attach your Tile to your bike, just use a plastic zip tie. There are multiple places you could attach it that way.

bonobob

Rayz2016 said:

I think I’ll pass then wouldn’t want them knowing I left my phone at the Spearmint Rhino. 

Why would you stick one on your phone?  It already comes with Find My.

brauntj

Without Find My support in the native iOS app, I’m out. I’ve been using Tiles for 4+ years and used to love them. But they’ve been inching in the wrong direction for a long time now. 

beats

sportyguy209 said:

Eric_WVGG said:

wood1208 said:

Not a smart move. People can lost expensive item attached with tile tag and can't locate so get $1000 ?

not to sound all hand-wavey, but there’s an entire industry called "insurance" that has over a century of learning how to deal with fraud. 

I wanted to stick a Tile on my bicycle, but I could never figure out a way to attach one beyond glue, and have very little faith in glue holding up during bad weather.

If you just want to attach your Tile to your bike, just use a plastic zip tie. There are multiple places you could attach it that way.

I don't think he wants the thief to see it.

macpro

I can just imagine the board meeting... 

'So, if this sells X more Tiles and we only agree to pay Y claims, how much will we make before we are out of business because of Apple's AirTags?'