Best Advice of the Day -->from an Apple Sales Guy

[drjsway]

Interesting that you say that. That's exactly what I do for a living, I'm a licensed financial advisor and advising my clients how NOT to go broke is my job and I've been very successful at it for the last 13 years. By your logic, sure, if you keep on buying Applecare and never using it then it's pure profit for the company, but since we can't predict the fate of electronics it makes better sense to pay $180+ that the OP paid then to pay $800 on a repair that Apple wholeheartedly charges.

Don't know why a company that makes high profits concerns you? You can't stay in business without making profits. You wouldn't have job if your company or whatever you do doesn't turn high profits so that's a moot point.
I'm happy to tell you, your Financial Advisor description of services is completely wrong.

Let's say you buy a laptop once every 3 years for sixty years. So, 20 laptops, you've paid close $4000 for AppleCare. You will have definitely spent more for AppleCare than paying for repairs. Since AppleCare is profitable, it's only common sense. As a financial advisor, I'm sure you can do the math on the average failure rate, average repair cost, price of AppleCare and determine if it's a good investment. IT IS NOT.

We can't predict the fate of anything in life. Do you advise on buying insurance for everything? There is a more than a 10% chance of a laptop getting accidentally damaged/stolen/lost in 3 years, almost as high as it's failure rate. Do you recommend getting additional 3rd party insurance for that? Where does it stop?

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Apple will replace a battery, if, under a year, it has dropped to below 80% of its original capacity, and has under 300 cycles. After a year, they won't warrant a battery, or if it has over 300 cycles.

granted, this probably changed with the new batteries that have "1000 charge cycles" before they start losing their capacity.

I have Dell's poor man's air, which cost me $450 + tax. I didn't buy an extended warranty on it, as it came with full coverage - phone and support - for 1 year, and extending it would have cost 20% or more of the purchase price. For the air, where extending it costs <20% of the purchase price, it's probably more worth it.

But again, you have a full year to decide if you want to get it, or sell the air. you didn't need to buy it right then and there.

 

[drjsway]

Only cost £43 here in the UK! I have had 3 macs!

Sold WhiteBook after 2.5 years immediately after having cracked palmrest replaced !

cracked palm rest is a known issue and covered out of warranty.

 

[celo48]

I never purchased Apple Care before but I will this time. However, I'd rather wait until the last days of my warranty just in case I want to sell my notebook. I do not think I can get back what I paid for the AppleCare. Also, on Ebay, you can get them a lot cheaper. Of course from a reputable seller.

If you are not going to sell your notebook, I think you made a wise choice. You could get it cheaper on Ebay though.

 

[HLdan]

Let's say you buy a laptop once every 3 years for sixty years. So, 20 laptops, you've paid close $4000 for AppleCare. You will have definitely spent more for AppleCare than paying for repairs. Since AppleCare is profitable, it's only common sense. As a financial advisor, I'm sure you can do the math on the average failure rate, average repair cost, price of AppleCare and determine if it's a good investment. IT IS NOT.

We can't predict the fate of anything in life. Do you advise on buying insurance for everything? There is a more than a 10% chance of a laptop getting accidentally damaged/stolen/lost in 3 years, almost as high as it's failure rate. Do you recommend getting additional 3rd party insurance for that? Where does it stop?

I honestly started not to post because at this point this thread needs to be closed anyway, the OP's problem is solved. Your analogy is such nonsense it's shocking that you'd even write it. First of all the personal computer hasn't even existed for 60 years, nor may they still be in existence for the next 60 years, nuff said because you can't make a point from your post because it's greatly exaggerated.

I handle life insurance and retirement planning so no, I don't advise buying insurance on everything such as the chair your were sitting in when you typed this funny post.

 

[rdowns]

Post unnecessary. Just saw that the OP got free Applecare. Chances are he will use it.

Dream on. Were that the case, why would Apple, or any other company, offer extended service? The fact is, extended warranties and service plans are huge money makers and margin builders.

 

[drjsway]

I honestly started not to post because at this point this thread needs to be closed anyway, the OP's problem is solved. Your analogy is such nonsense it's shocking that you'd even write it. First of all the personal computer hasn't even existed for 60 years, nor may they still be in existence for the next 60 years, nuff said because you can't make a point from your post because it's greatly exaggerated.

I handle life insurance and retirement planning so no, I don't advise buying insurance on everything such as the chair your were sitting in when you typed this funny post.

Even if laptops doesn't exist for 60 years, there would be something equivalent that you would advise people foolishly buy AppleCare on. The point being, if you keep doing this your whole life, you will LOSE YOUR MONEY.

Post unnecessary. Just saw that the OP got free Applecare. Chances are he will use it.

The chances are not a matter of opinion. There are actual numbers. The failure rate of Apple laptops are 17.4% within three years and 4.2% within the first year. The chance is 13.2%. Chances are he will NOT use it. That is a fact, not an opinion.

 

[kyleen66]

I have always purchased Apple Care on my laptops and only once I have not needed it for something. For me, is worth the peace of mind that I won't have a costly repair.

Also- I've never once had Apple say they would not cover something. In the general scheme of things, perhaps extended warranty's are a bad idea. But two years from now I could be out of work with a broken computer. (Hey, could happen) By buying the warranty now, I know I'll be able to get it repaired.

 

[mattb79]

Thanks Matt. I will remember this. By the way, just out of curiosity, are you a lawyer?

No, actually. I'm a business owner, and I didn't even know about it myself until I was compelled to look it up.

I know a lot of great consumer-oriented things that stores would rather you didn't know.in you unless they have clear proof of a crime (suspicion is not enough)

 

[ssb333]

if you really want to get the point across to the store, send an email to the store, should be on the specialist's card and/or fill out the survey you may get if you had your receipt emailed to you. if you didn't, you can go to http://www.apple.com/retail/feedback/ and submit your feedback there.

Thank you to everyone and especially to jlsm511, I did the survey and it made and impact. My faith in Apple is restored again.

Thanks everyone. You guys are very helpful. Even those with condescending remarks.

 

[talmy]

I left a very long detailed account of what happened at the apple store. 5 minutes ago (1 hour after I submitted the Apple customer satisfaction survey), Apple called me.

Apple called and apologized. They also offered me free Apple Care
Thank you everyone.

Last week I had AppleCare misrepresented to me on an iPad purchase (see this thread - https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1032034/), I didn't bite, but did leave a complaint in the customer survey. I got a phone call apologizing, but no free AppleCare.