Is Apple Care necessary?

[kazmac]

There used to be an education discount for apple care. When I go to purchase it this doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Has apple stopped this?

When I was toying with new iMac configurations in the Educational store last week I noticed a discount: $10 ($159 as opposed to $169) here in the States. Part of that is probably that it is now Apple Care+ and Apple are a bit more picky with educational discounts on the whole these days.

 

[montanaco]

Just got it on my 27" iMac...

This computer is too dang expensive for me to justify not insuring it even though I am SURE I will never need Apple Care lol.

 

[Traverse]

Yes, yeah, yep, indubitably, most assuredly, indeed, and without a doubt.

I never buy any major purchase without it. I bought a 2011 MacBook Pro in June 2011 (go figure). Between the last half of May and first week of June 2014 (weeks before AppleCare ran out) the GPU failed 3 times. After the third time they said "we're just going to swap this out" and I received a brand new Late 2013 15" MBP. I pushed for more storage because they wanted to give me the 256GB model to replace my 500GB HDD and they obliged and gave me the high end model with 512GB and 750M.

The only cost to me was AppleCare on this new MacBook Pro. Well, after a year one of the thunderbolt ports failed. They replaced the Logic board (bill $600) that was covered under Apple Care.

In total, between servicing the 2011 and 2013 MacBooks and the value of the 2014 MacBook, the cost of two Apple Cares $700 resulted in $4,400* of value in return. That's a good investment.

*Two logic board replacements on the 2011 model, one on the 2014 model: $600 x 3
*New Late 2013 MacBook Pro retail value: $2600

 

[SaSaSushi]

Just a quick followup to this thread to confirm that the regular AppleCare Protection Plan without accidental damage coverage (up to one year from purchase date for registration) is still able to be used on the 2017 iMac.

I picked up a shrink-wrapped copy from a third-party seller at Amazon Japan for 9800 yen (about $88 USD at current exchange). I had to call Apple directly to register it because it seems like the registration service on the website only works for the new AppleCare+ plans but they confirmed my details and registered it to the new iMac with no problems.

There is no need to buy the AppleCare+ if you don't need the accidental damage coverage nor do you have to pull the trigger within 60 days.

 

[cynics]

I bought AppleCare with my 2013 which has since expired. I did not need to use however I did appreciate the peace of mind and I feel that peace of mind was worth the money I spent (160 dollars IIRC).

Its especially nice to have if you plan on reselling your Mac after 2 years or so. If I was a potential buyer I would feel more comfortable buying a Mac with a warranty through Apple.

Regardless it all depends on how you feel about warranties. Things I consider are...can I fix it myself (how handy are you)? How hard are parts to diagnose and obtain if I were to fix it myself? Is it typically inexpensive or expensive to fix if it were to break? How difficult would the entire process be (moving it, shipping it, waiting for it, etc) if I did have to repair it? Who is offering the warranty (the manufacturer or 3rd party)? Etc etc....

For example I wouldn't buy the Home Depot warranty on a cheaper washer machine because I can fix it, the warranty is probably 3rd party, I can find parts online, I know how to open it up and have the tools to fix it, etc. And if everything goes wrong I'm only out a couple hundred bucks. I can't say the same thing about a new iMac.

 

[ProTruckDriver]

Yes I believe Applecare is worth the money. I bought a new 27 inch last year and I'm starting to get the Black Smudge marks in the lower left side of the screen. If I didn't have Applecare I would be up the creek because the 1 year warranty ended two months ago. Applecare coverage until April 2019.

 

[CaptainChunk]

I frequently had to use my AppleCare coverage on my laptops -- but most of these examples have been the models that still had optical drives in them and those were notorious for failing. I also had a couple of warranty claims related to overheating GPUs. My current 2015 13" Retina MBP has had two screen replacements: One during the first year and another about a year later that wouldn't have been covered if I didn't have the 3-year AppleCare.

On the other hand, I bought AppleCare for my 2008 Mac Pro and never used it once. In fact, that machine gave me 8 total years of flawless service until one of its RAM riser cards started acting glitchy. The machine still works, but only sees some of its installed RAM. And that machine was subjected to a lot of wear and tear being carted around on film sets when I was still a DIT. It's probably the most resilient Apple machine I've ever owned. I may actually replace the bad RAM riser and run a dedicated server on it.

I always skip AppleCare+ coverage on iPhones. I generally take pretty good care of my phones and by the time I actually manage to break one, I'm already eyeing the next upgrade.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to the risk you're willing to take. I know a lot of people that simply save the money they would have otherwise spent on extended warranties and then repair out pocket when necessary. And almost all of those guys end coming out ahead. But I suppose extended warranties make sense to people that aren't always in financial situations that would allow them to cover an expensive repair.

 

[Shivetya]

No. At least not for a desktop that isn't going to move around. Figure if the iMac will go bad it will do so early

 

[SaSaSushi]

No. At least not for a desktop that isn't going to move around. Figure if the iMac will go bad it will do so early

Over eleven years, three iMacs and at least eight AppleCare cases, a few for $800 LCD panel replacements, I can say this has not been my experience at all.

I found a really great deal for my latest copy but even at $139 from L.A. Computer you're only talking about $6 per month for an extra two years of warranty coverage.

 

[Glockworkorange]

I will be purchasing a new iMac 27" and a new MacBook.
I have always bought it in the past, and felt it necessary for a laptop, but will a desktop need Apple Care?

Considering the cost of the iMacs and the cost of repairs post warranty, I think Apple Care is very reasonable and I strongly recommend it.

 

[LilliLaLa]

Ok I have a question tho, I just ordered my iMac and didn't get it. Figured I could get it in a year when the 1 year warranty goes? Is that true or do I have to buy it now with the Mac

Applecare is good for 3 years from the date of purchase so it will not extend the warrant if you wait a year to buy it.

 

[montanaco]

Just got it on my 27" iMac...

This computer is too dang expensive for me to justify not insuring it even though I am SURE I will never need Apple Care lol.

Lol remember when I said I wouldnt need apple care^^

Well, a couple months ago my little brother knocked into my desk and the computer fell flat on its face. $1100 in damages ended up only costing $99 thanks to Apple Care. Talk about ****ing BLESSED.

 

[Raist3001]

Apple Care is necessary. AT least it is for me. I just had my 27" 5K iMac replaced with a 2017 model after 3 failed repair attempts. I totally believe in Apple care. ANd I get the option to purchase apple care again for my new iMac.

 

[294307]

Lol remember when I said I wouldnt need apple care^^

Well, a couple months ago my little brother knocked into my desk and the computer fell flat on its face. $1100 in damages ended up only costing $99 thanks to Apple Care. Talk about ****ing BLESSED.

AppleCare doesn't cover accidental damage on Mac products, so how did you manage to get away with that?

 

[LogicalVue]

It is probably necessary for newer Macs which are insanely expensive to repair. Personally I've never bought AppleCare for a Mac, but I'm still rocking a 2009 Mac Pro. It never had AppleCare because I figured if something broke I could probably fix it myself -- one of the benefits of a modular computer. Previously I had a MacBook Pro whose video card died, but thankfully Apple had an "extended repair" on that other I would have been SOL as it was out of warranty.

So I'm waiting to hear about the next year's Mac Pro before I decide to go that route or iMac Pro. Regardless, I'll get Apple Care this time.

 

[Grohowiak]

I bought one and from now on for the next two and a half years I will throw everything I got at my iMac not caring about temps or anything else.
If it melts I’ll get it fixed. If it melts too many times I will get a replacement and in the end I will either sell it still with warranty or have a newer model to work for adittional two years or so.

Worry free experience. Priceless.

 

[montanaco]

AppleCare doesn't cover accidental damage on Mac products, so how did you manage to get away with that?

It does cover up to two incidents of accidental damage!

 

[294307]

It does cover up to two incidents of accidental damage!

You're referring to AppleCare+ which isn't available in all countries. This isn't available in the UK for Mac products. I didn't realise it even existed until now.

 

[brofkand]

I typically recommend AppleCare for anything Apple makes that's portable. MacBooks, iPads, iPhones, etc - especially now that they cover accidental damage.

I do not recommend it for desktops, Apple TV, or other hardware. They are very reliable machines. I have some Mac minis in my office that have been in use for 8 years now, still running like a clock. AppleCare is cheap enough for desktops though that you may consider buying it just for peace of mind.

 

[Raist3001]

I typically recommend AppleCare for anything Apple makes that's portable. MacBooks, iPads, iPhones, etc - especially now that they cover accidental damage.

I do not recommend it for desktops, Apple TV, or other hardware. They are very reliable machines. I have some Mac minis in my office that have been in use for 8 years now, still running like a clock. AppleCare is cheap enough for desktops though that you may consider buying it just for peace of mind.

Couldn't disagree more in regards to the bold text. I have had 3 iMacs since 2011. All of them needed display replacements just at the 3 year mark due to blown pixels that applecare covered. My last iMac had the same issue with pixels and had some unsolved loss of power issue. Without applecare, I would have never gotten my iMac replaced with a new 2017 model. I totally believe in apple care for all of apples products. They are not as reliable as they once were.

 

[brofkand]

Couldn't disagree more in regards to the bold text. I have had 3 iMacs since 2011. All of them needed display replacements just at the 3 year mark due to blown pixels that applecare covered. My last iMac had the same issue with pixels and had some unsolved loss of power issue. Without applecare, I would have never gotten my iMac replaced with a new 2017 model. I totally believe in apple care for all of apples products. They are not as reliable as they once were.

There are always people who have beat the odds and won with AppleCare with an iMac or Mac mini. Everyone will speak from their experiences.

I have used iMacs professionally and at home since the sunflower and have never had to send one in for repair for a defect that wasn't covered under the 1 year warranty or a repair extension program. We buy APP for iMacs at work because it's inexpensive and it covers repairs if they are needed, they just never have been. I don't buy it for my home machines.

The bigger question to me is, if you've had 3 duds in a row why are you still buying them? I quit recommending Dell laptops after we had 3 problems with them.

 

[Pheebers]

Statistically, you come out ahead if you self-insure. Anecdotally, I need peace of mind. I self-insured for 20 years for car-rental insurance, never needed it, considered myself smart. A tree fell on my car, it took a month+ to repair, and the hassle and expense of a rental made me add the coverage to my auto policy. I'll probably never need it again, but I just need the peace of mind at this point. A lot of warranty coverage is psychological. And I personally get AppleCare on everything except AppleTV.

 

[Raist3001]

There are always people who have beat the odds and won with AppleCare with an iMac or Mac mini. Everyone will speak from their experiences.

Which is exactly where I was speaking from.

I have used iMacs professionally and at home since the sunflower and have never had to send one in for repair for a defect that wasn't covered under the 1 year warranty or a repair extension program.

And this is your experience. Not everyone will have the same experience.

The bigger question to me is, if you've had 3 duds in a row why are you still buying them? I quit recommending Dell laptops after we had 3 problems with them.

Why is it that if you have issues with an apple product, the first thing somebody wants to know is why you keep buying
Although my experiences lead me to believesome apple products are not as reliable as in the past, they still run MacOS/iOS which should be enough to answer that question

 

[brofkand]

Why is it that if you have issues with an apple product, the first thing somebody wants to know is why you keep buying
Although my experiences lead me to believesome apple products are not as reliable as in the past, they still run MacOS/iOS which should be enough to answer that question

Totally your prerogative, but I don't buy Samsung appliances anymore because they're junk in my opinion. I don't buy VW cars anymore either because of similar experiences. And I wouldn't buy another iMac if I had a string of 3 bad ones - one of which was so borked it required a full replacement, according to your recount of the events.

 

[Raist3001]

......And I wouldn't buy another iMac if I had a string of 3 bad ones - one of which was so borked it required a full replacement, according to your recount of the events.

3 bad displays is hardly a reason to drop support for apple and the iMac. My last iMac required a full replacement which applecare covered. Which has been my point. I recommend apple care for all things apple.