AppleCare necessary?

Comments

• Reply 1 of 21

  shawnj Posts: 6,656member

  October 30, 2006 7:02AM

  Oh Jesus.
  
  
  
  Get the AppleCare Extended Warranty always if you purchase a laptop. I can't tell you how many times it's come in handy to fix something or other. The good thing is that you don't have to purchase it until just before your standard one-year warranty is up-- but make sure you don't forget. Usually if you call Apple and express at one point a desire to purchase AppleCare, they'll call you to remind you just before the standard warranty expires, but don't count on it.
• Reply 2 of 21

  benroethig Posts: 2,782member

  October 30, 2006 7:44AM

  If the iBook repair program hadn't come to pass, my iBook would have been gone shortly after the first year.
• Reply 3 of 21

  mrsin Posts: 163member

  October 30, 2006 7:14PM

  Mostly for peace of mind if nothing else ? I purchased the AppleCare Protection Program for my iBook G4 and my newest 24-inch iMac - haven't had to use it on either, but I'm definitely glad I have it - just in case? If you like walking the high wire sans net - go for it! Maybe you have the luck of the Irish, I'm not that confident or brave ! Granted, it's something you can save a few dollars by not getting, but if you need it and don't have it, I shudder to think of it .
• Reply 4 of 21

  oldcodger73 Posts: 707member

  October 31, 2006 6:11PM

  Any extended warranty is a crap shoot. It's a waste of money if you don't have to use, a life-saver if you do. I've owned Macs since 1987, never had a problem with them within a normal 5-6 life of the computer and never bought AppleCare. However, when I bought a Titanium Power Book in 2002, for the first time I did buy AppleCare. The machine is still working flawlessly and I never had an occasion to use AppleCare.
  
  
  
  In 2004 I bought a PowerMac G5 Duo 2.5. At about the six month mark the power supply failed and was replaced under warranty. Given that the G5 was a new unproven design and based on the one problem already, I bought AppleCare at the 11 month mark. The computer worked perfectly until July of this year when it started have major problems. In all I made 4 trips to an AppleStore for servicing, they replaced both processors and the motherboard before deciding that the computer was unrepairable and I had put up with enough. They replaced it with a brand new MacPro 2.66. Total cost to me for the repairs and new computer: $0.00. I WILL be buying AppleCare for the MacPro at about the 10-11 month mark.
  
  
  
  If you're making monry with your computer, then buying AppleCare is a no-brainer. I think Apple also offers a more expensive option of AppleCare that gives you priority on appointments and repairs. Someone else may know if they do or not.
• Reply 5 of 21

  blackwave Posts: 84member

  October 31, 2006 9:43PM

  It's ABSOLUTELY worth it, but if you want to defer the initial cost of your purchase, waiting 'till the 11th month or when you ned it is a better option. That's what I'm doing - it's one of the nicest parts about Apple's warrenty plan.
• Reply 6 of 21

  SpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member

  October 31, 2006 9:56PM

  All of our computers have Apple Care. It's worth it.
• Reply 7 of 21

  lakingsfn Posts: 141member

  November 1, 2006 1:54AM

  For a professional laptop user, I would definitely recommend Apple care! Oh and, welcome to the family!!
• Reply 8 of 21

  magicmartin Posts: 3member

  November 1, 2006 3:41AM

  Thank you all very much!
  
  
  
  All of this info was very valuable. The overwhelming response was to take the safe option which is what I had planned anyway. It's good to know that there are many helpful and experienced people out there, willing to share their experience with a newbie.
  
  
  
  Best regards,
  
  
  
  M.
• Reply 9 of 21

  sailing_badger Posts: 8member

  June 22, 2009 3:02AM

  Hi all - two and a half years after the last post was left in this thread - I hope that someone sees my question!
  
  
  
  I'm also new to this forum & to macs. I've finally given up on pc's and windows and will shortly buy a MBP 13". However I'm in the same pickle as 'magicmartin' was in a couple of years ago. The thread answers most of the questions, but the remaining question is: Is it safe to wait until the 10th/11th month of the first year before I buy applecare so as to maximise the length of the warranty?
  
  
  
  Further to that; do you get preferential treatment if you have applecare in the first year if the MBP breaks, or would they treat you the same as if you had the normal 1 year warranty remaining?
  
  
  
  I'm very excited about the prospect of a computer that will work consistently - to put you in the picture, it took 4.5 hours to update my iphone to 3.0! Crashed half way through update, then restored to factory settings and then crashed half way through the backup restore! I hate pc's!
  
  
  
  Thanks for your help
• Reply 10 of 21

  oldcodger73 Posts: 707member

  June 22, 2009 2:04PM

  badger, it doesn't matter at what point within the first year you buy AppleCare, it extends your warranty to the three year mark from when you first bought the computer, not an additional two years from when you buy AppleCare.
  
  
  
  The main advantage of buying AppleCare with the purchase of your computer is you have free telephone support for the whole three year period. The computer's original one year warranty provides free telephone support for only the first 90 days. If you live close to an Apple Store that might not make any difference.
• Reply 11 of 21

  futurepastnow Posts: 1,772member

  June 22, 2009 6:41PM

  I think I'd get Applecare for a notebook, but probably not a desktop.
• Reply 12 of 21

  benroethig Posts: 2,782member

  June 22, 2009 6:48PM

  Seeing that they don't make the later anymore, just get it and be better safe than sorry.
• Reply 13 of 21

  floorjack Posts: 2,726member

  June 22, 2009 8:01PM

  I NEVER buy warranties. I've come out ahead far more than behind. If you have the means to replace what you buy within a month or two don't bother with the warranty.
• Reply 14 of 21

  benroethig Posts: 2,782member

  June 22, 2009 8:28PM

  95% don't.
• Reply 15 of 21

  sailing_badger Posts: 8member

  June 24, 2009 10:46AM

  Thanks to all for your answers! Seems to be the same story of 'Yes you should!' or 'No!'... I think I'll decide nearer the day and see what I think then.
  
  
  
  Thanks to codger - I thought that that might be the case but I hoping it wasn't. In hindsight my hopeful thought of a four year warranty for the price of a three year was a bit stupid!
• Reply 16 of 21

  grnxnham Posts: 13member

  June 24, 2009 11:46PM

  You have to remember that there is a reason that companies try to sell you an extended warranty. It's because odds are that after they sell you the extended warranty you won't need it and that translates into more money in Apple's pocket.
  
  
  
  If companies were losing money on extended warranties, they wouldn't offer them.
  
  
  
  Most problems with computers will occur during the first 12 months and during that time your standard warranty will apply.
  
  
  
  That being said, some people still want extended warranties just for the peace of mind and that's okay.
  
  
  
  Just remember it's a roll of the dice and the odds are that you will lose the money buying the extended warranty.
• Reply 17 of 21

  winter Posts: 1,238member

  June 25, 2009 11:13AM

  There's always the eBay option. Reputable sellers provide Applecare at 50% of retail.
• Reply 18 of 21

  dr millmoss Posts: 5,403member

  June 25, 2009 11:47AM

  Before you buy any kind of insurance, you should ask yourself whether you could afford to pay for repair or replacement yourself in the event that it was necessary. Insurance is only worthwhile if the answer to this question is 'no' because over time, you will pay more in premiums than you collect back. Insurance is designed this way, and especially extended warranty policies, which are very profitable for the people who sell them.
• Reply 19 of 21

  nofeer Posts: 2,427member

  June 25, 2009 12:46PM

  yes yes yes yes
  
  i have always purchased applecare for all my apple products except ipod shuffle
  
  my most recent experience makes a great point
  
  mb c2d 2gb ram, optical drive went out
  
  went to apple care on line, filled out the form and got a reference fixit number
  
  called applecare in less than 30 seconds got an nice lady who went through some things
  
  well since i'm over 100 miles from nearest service she
  
  sent me fed ex next day box to ship it to apple
  
  that afternoon sent it out
  
  tracking emails told me when it arrived and repaird and sent out the same day
  
  got it two days after i first called apple care.
  
  
  
  my friend who saw all this was just mesmerized at how well apple took care of me, because she has to find "friends" to fix her windows machine.
  
  
  
  had a similar experience when my niece dropped my wifes MB, and messed up the hard drive
  
  even though it was dropped then said no problem and replaced the hard drive and using superduper rebuilt the hard drive and bingo hassle free and up and running.
  
  
  
  so for me its well worth the price, and the hassle free relationship with apple is wonderful
  
  
  
  apple since 1984 and the above are the only times i've had to get apple to fix my machines, presently i have 5 macs, 2MB's and 3 imacs. (my g3imac use as a print server)
  
  
  
  also if you purchased refurbished from apple the cost of apple care makes the total as if you bought new. so you can save money.
• Reply 20 of 21

  dr millmoss Posts: 5,403member

  June 25, 2009 1:06PM

  It's at times like these that I wish I sold insurance.