Just bought a used iMac 27" late 2009 - Should I extend Applecare?

[Dadioh]

I just picked up a used iMac 27" Late 2009 with Core2Duo 3.06GHz on eBay. I got it at a good price because it has a small crack in the glass display in the lower right corner (in the black area, not in the viewing area).

I checked the serial number and it has the original Applecare expiring at the end of June 2011. I can extend that for $199 (Canadian) for an additional 2 years until end of June 2013.

I am 99.9% sure that they would not cover the crack in the glass since it is obvious something hit the glass and I doubt they cover accidents like that.

However, assuming I just buy a new glass panel to replace this one, is it worth my while to get the Applecare on this. It is a pretty expensive computer to fix I imagine so $199 sounds like a good deal to me but am interested to hear your opinions on this.

Thanks in advance...

 

[blevins321]

I'd get AppleCare regardless. You might find a nice tech at an Apple Store who would replace the screen under the AppleCare warranty. Hit or miss in that regard. As far as the price, in the states at least you can find AppleCare for a pretty discount on Amazon. Might give that a try up there.

 

[harcosparky]

How did the previous owner crack the glass there?

I know I am being skeptical but .....

Did he crack it, removing it to do something inside the unit?

If I were you, I might take it into the Apple store, play dumb, and say " not sure how this happened, can it be replaced? "

Before you spend $199 on Apple Care make sure the previous owner did not go exploring inside the machine.

 

[Badger^2]

Whats "a good price"?

Did you bargain shop for AC?

I can find it for $60 less than apple sells it here in the USA

 

[Dadioh]

How did the previous owner crack the glass there?

I know I am being skeptical but .....

Did he crack it, removing it to do something inside the unit?

If I were you, I might take it into the Apple store, play dumb, and say " not sure how this happened, can it be replaced? "

Before you spend $199 on Apple Care make sure the previous owner did not go exploring inside the machine.

Well the crack looks like an impact (see attached photo). From my "failed" experience removing the glass form a Macbook Pro Unibody I would expect that sort of crack to be across a significant area of the screen. Also, if it happened removing the glass then you would not expect the shards of glass to remain in place.

Looks like something may have fallen over and hit the glass head on.

 

[harcosparky]

Yeah that looks like something hit it, it's a bit more than a crack.

The only concern I would have at this point is, if you took it in for repair under Apple Care and something in the area of the crack failed they *might* and I emphasize *MIGHT* attempt to claim the failure was related to the impact where it was hit and not cover that repair.

Might not be a bad idea to try and replace that glass.

 

[Dadioh]

Whats "a good price"?

Did you bargain shop for AC?

I can find it for $60 less than apple sells it here in the USA

Well let's just say less than $800 plus $45 shipping. The seller did not list it properly. Didn't even mention iMac in the title and anyone looking for an iMac probably would have skipped right over it. Plus it ended at 8:15 in the morning when most people are in their cars on the way to work

I bought my mobile me off eBay. I should have thought to do the same thing with Applecare. I guess I purchase it and apply the number to the serial number of the unit somehow? Never done this before but I expect it is easy. Will do a little searching.

 

[smallfries]

Yeah that looks like something hit it, it's a bit more than a crack.

The only concern I would have at this point is, if you took it in for repair under Apple Care and something in the area of the crack failed they *might* and I emphasize *MIGHT* attempt to claim the failure was related to the impact where it was hit and not cover that repair.

Might not be a bad idea to try and replace that glass.

I agree! Also, I used to have a repair guy who specialized in repairing macs. Whenever someone would try to sell us a 'cracked' unit, they would tell us exactly how it happened. Of course when we took it apart, the story was different than what was told to us.

 

[Dadioh]

I agree! Also, I used to have a repair guy who specialized in repairing macs. Whenever someone would try to sell us a 'cracked' unit, they would tell us exactly how it happened. Of course when we took it apart, the story was different than what was told to us.

Good point. I am very comfortable in disassembling and working with electronics. I have done dozens of MacBooks and MacBook pro's. I think that I will replace the glass and will discover if anything is amiss. I should be able to tell a lot just with software diagnostics without opening it.

 

[Dadioh]

I got this machine today and everything seems OK (typing this message from this beautiful HUUUGE screen The crack is less noticeable than I thought it would be but I already ordered a replacement glass screen which is in transit.

The airport may have an issue. It connects as a "g" device to my Airport Extreme but doesn't connect as an "N" device (I have dual band). A little reading suggests this is not uncommon on these and may be a hardware issue so maybe I need Applecare

I went to the Apple site and it wants $199 CDN for the extension. This is a bit of a ripoff since if I say I am in USA then it wants $169 even though Canadian dollar is higher than American. Guess they haven't checked the exchange rate for a while or at least not when they can still rip off us Canucks....

When I search eBay people seem to want more than $199 to buy it from them? Seems strange. If I bought Applecare from a US seller would it mean it wouldn't work for me in Canada?

 

[Dadioh]

I found an Applecare on eBay from a US seller for $140 but he wants $20 to ship the envelope to Canada = major ripoff for shipping. He claims the code works fine in Canada as well as US. Cn someone confirm if that would work?

 

[applesith]

I thought you could not extend your applecare??

 

[Dadioh]

I thought you could not extend your applecare??

According to Apple I can. I checked online and also called the local Apple Store and confirmed it with them over the phone. I am definitely going to do it. Just trying to decide if I should go the official Apple route or buy off eBay or Amazon. Sounds like Apple is getting tougher with asking for sales receipt on the Applecare from authorized Apple reseller so I may just play it safe and shell out the extra for the official Apple version.

Still pisses me off that they want $199 CDN when the US gets $169US even though $199CDN = $208US. So we get soaked for an extra $40 for living north of the border

 

[applesith]

I tried to extend it on my old MacBook Pro, but they said it is not renewable. They ended up replacing my old one with a new one and I bought eh applecare on that one anyway.

Has anyone successfully renewed their applecare? How so?

 

[Drewbie]

there is no way to renew it after the 3 years is up...

people are probably mixing up the limited 1 year warranty that every product comes with
as long as you purchase the APP before your 1 year is up you are covered though,

if this machine is older than 1 year and its still eligible to receive applecare then it might be a refurb.

when someone buys a refurb apple will essentially renew the 1 year warranty for the new customer.

 

[Dadioh]

I tried to extend it on my old MacBook Pro, but they said it is not renewable. They ended up replacing my old one with a new one and I bought eh applecare on that one anyway.

Has anyone successfully renewed their applecare? How so?

Sorry. We are mixing terminology. My iMac is still under the original 1 year warranty which is due to expire June 27, 2011. As such I can extend the warranty with Applecare for an additonal 2 years as long as I do it before that original warranty expires. After that there are no further warranty extensions.

 

[Drewbie]

in answer to your original question, 199 bucks for 2 years of warranty isnt too bad. and if something does fail its going to pay for itself with 1 repair....

 

[Dadioh]

in answer to your original question, 199 bucks for 2 years of warranty isnt too bad. and if something does fail its going to pay for itself with 1 repair....

Yup. This is the conclusion I have reached. I can get it on eBay for $160US and direct from Apple for $199 + 13% HST = $225. But the extra $60 means there is no question it will be honored. Not worth the chance I think.

 

[philipma1957]

Yup. This is the conclusion I have reached. I can get it on eBay for $160US and direct from Apple for $199 + 13% HST = $225. But the extra $60 means there is no question it will be honored. Not worth the chance I think.

in canada this is what makes you able to use a student discount

http://canadaedu.apple.com/routing/personal_uni.php?phpMyAdmin=cf0c48443a25t37f1feef



Eligibility
Eligible purchasers include students* who attend a provincially accredited college or university in Canada and faculty, educators, and staff who are employed by a provincially accredited college or university in Canada. Apple reserves complete discretion in making all eligibility determinations. This program is not for institutional purchases or resale. *Students may include, parents transacting on behalf of qualifying students.


here is the link for imac applecare

http://store.apple.com/ca_edu_93120/product/MD007LL/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY


139 price I do not know if you can get an education discount but it is a good discount