Now that I got my i4, I was looking into getting the insurance program through apple. My question is, do you guys think it is worth getting the insurance coverage on the phone or not? Pro's/Con's?
There's another really good thread here somewhere where people have suggested several alternatives to Apple Care. Personally, I always go with Square Trade.
If you do go with Apple Care, don't go through Apple. You can actually buy it cheaper through Amazon. About half the price cheaper. Plus, with Apple Care, you don't have to buy it until just before the original warranty is up, which is 1 year from the date of purchase.
All the apple products I bought were bought with AppleCare. It saved me a couple of times. I don't mind paying extra for it. But stkywik is right, you can get it through Amazon cheaper.
The extended warranty for the iPhone is $69 and covers the phone for 2 full years for any and all defects including the battery, USB cable, headphones and AC adapter. As previously stated, it does not cover lost, theft, drops, physical damage and/or water damage. For the most part the only thing you gain during the first year of ownership to it will extend telephone support from 90 days that everyone get to 2 years. What you're really paying for is defect coverage during the second year.
For me it's not worth it simply because I can just as easily go to an apple store than call apple support on the phone. Also, I don't own a phone for more than a year. If by some chance I change my mind and want to keep the phone longer than a year, you have up until the first year is up to add the coverage if you wish.
FYI, a non-warranty battery replacement is around $200 so keep that in mind if you do own it longer than one year.
I have not heard of apple providing insurance for its phones, but I have used asurion for my mobile and broken it three times in one year to have it replaced each time for only $50. Not bad if you ask me. Third party insurers are the way to go. Apple insurance is sure to be overpriced.
AT&T does offer insurance for the iPhone now. It's just pretty expensive.
Hmmm - I wonder if that is regional? AT&T guy here (SC) told me yesterday that they don't offer insurance on the iPs. (But he did tell me about the Apple Care warranty extension.) The folks at Best Buy offer something thru their tech dept but it's 15 or 16 bux a month!
I was planning to buy the Apple Care - as much for tech support as anything else - since I'm an admitted smartphone newbie and this will be the first Apple anything I've ever owned! But ya'll have given some good options to consider...
[QUOTE=cardfan;1614982]Personally, i wouldn't get insurance. If you damage your phone, apple will repair it for 199.
So basically you already have free insurance with a 199 deductible but doesn't cover loss or theft.QUOTE]
@cardfan - I hadn't heard this before? If I drop a brand new $500 phone (list price), Apple will replace for $199? I guess you go straight to Apple and not thru AT&T or wherever you actually bought the phone?
I bought Apple Care when I bought my phone and after reading this thread I think I'll return it and go with Square Trade. Has anyone had to submit a claim through square trade and how was their experience?? Are you satisfied your claim was handled quickly and resolved?
Apple doesn't offer insurance. Try squaretrade, AT&T, State Farm personal artifacts insurance.
Guy at the AT&T store mentioned that if you buy the phone with American Express, you automatically get their return/replacement policy? I hadn't even thought about that. He said that he had one lady who went through 3 iPhone3Gs - damaged them, dropped them, etc... and every time she killed one, she got a replacement courtesy of AmEx.
I'm gonna check my AmEx T's&C's. Anybody else ever gone that route?
Personally, i wouldn't get insurance. If you damage your phone, apple will repair it for 199.
So basically you already have free insurance with a 199 deductible but doesn't cover loss or theft.QUOTE]
@cardfan - I hadn't heard this before? If I drop a brand new $500 phone (list price), Apple will replace for $199? I guess you go straight to Apple and not thru AT&T or wherever you actually bought the phone?
Basically, if i was to drop my phone and damage it, i'd take it to apple store. If the warranty covers it...great for me, if not, they'll charge me 199 to "repair it" which means repair or replace.
That's better than paying money right now for any insurance company and still having to pay deductibles later. Plus the fact that i've yet to damage any iphones.
I certainly wouldn't go with home insurance. Claims could go on record. Not sure. But i dislike dealing with insurance companies anyway.
I don't buy Apple Care because i don't plan on having this phone longer than a year. You already get it free for one year.
Guy at the AT&T store mentioned that if you buy the phone with American Express, you automatically get their return/replacement policy? I hadn't even thought about that. He said that he had one lady who went through 3 iPhone3Gs - damaged them, dropped them, etc... and every time she killed one, she got a replacement courtesy of AmEx.
I'm gonna check my AmEx T's&C's. Anybody else ever gone that route?
American Express will cover accidental damage and theft up to 90 days from the date of purchase. Then their extended warranty will kick in after that which mirrors the manufactures warranty. So if the iphone has a one year warranty you will get an additional one warranty from AMEX. The AMEX warranty only covers what the iphone warranty would cover. Basically it's free apple care.