MBA AppleCare

[Chilulu]

For those planning to get one of the new Airs, will you also be purchasing AppleCare? Any thoughts on why or why not to do so?

 

[GGJstudios]

For those planning to get one of the new Airs, will you also be purchasing AppleCare? Any thoughts on why or why not to do so?

As to whether AppleCare is worth it or not, that's a matter of opinion. You'll find lots of opinions on both sides, with roughly 75% saying it's worth it. You really need to decide if it's worth it to you.

• You can buy AppleCare any time during the first year warranty period, so you don't have to buy it at time of purchase.
• You can check your remaining warranty and/or AppleCare coverage here
• AppleCare will extend the 1 year warranty for an additional 2 years, for a total of 3 years coverage from the date of your Mac purchase.
  It also extends telephone support from 90 days, which is included with your original warranty, to a total of 3 years.
• You cannot buy AppleCare again or renew it once it expires.
• Neither the Apple Warranty nor AppleCare will cover damage from accidents, spills, etc. They only cover manufacturing defects.
• Neither the Apple Warranty nor AppleCare will cover batteries that have worn out. They only cover defective batteries.
• For more detailed questions, read the AppleCare Protection Plan (pdf) agreement.

If you want more information, you can search the forum, where you'll find dozens, if not hundreds of threads asking "is AppleCare worth it?" The overall consensus seems to be about 75% in favor of it.

Applecare worth it?
Applecare worth it?
AppleCare 3-yr Protection-Worth it?
Is applecare worth it?
you guys think applecare is well worth it?
Is Applecare worth it if I don't even use the macbook pro to its full potential?
Is Applecare worth it for MBA 11 in case SSD fails?
Applecare - Worth it?
AppleCare worth every penny
is applecare worth the money?
Worth buying applecare?
Mac Pro and AppleCare, worth it?
Is AppleCare Plan worth it?
applecare worth it?

 

[PDFierro]

You have up to a year to purchase it. I will probably do so eventually to increase resale value.

 

[mac3973]

My American Express has many benefits, one of which features a double warranty period for any purchase made on the card. Since I purchased my MBA last month on it, I am covered for two years already, I don't think the extra year is worth it, but that's my personal opinion. YMMV.

 

[clyde2801]

The nice thing about the air is the SSD, which should make it relatively bulletproof.

I don't think there's been any squawking about any alleged failures or defects on the 2010 models, and I'm wondering if Applecare is even necessary. Nice thing is, by the time the initial one year period is over, you should know if it's going to be a winner or a wiener.

Same for the 11's, at least for the waiting period. Guess you'd want to see if the new cpu's get too toasty for them before you pulled the trigger on the applecare.

 

[TheEmpty]

I plan on waiting until the one-year is almost up. Because 1) I go to school in a bad area 2) I'm indecisive and now 3) clyde2801 pointed out that by then we should know if it's really worth it.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I will also be waiting a year before tacking on 2 years to my AppleCare. I'll still be a student then, so the student discount off AppleCare will still apply.

 

[596123]

You know, I usually don't. But my iMac started acting up a month after my standard one year ended and it was such a shame. I think I might this time.

Also, if you didn't know, you can wait to purchase Apple Care any time as long as you are within the first year. I might wait until the 50th or so week, but I will probably do it.

My American Express has many benefits, one of which features a double warranty period for any purchase made on the card. Since I purchased my MBA last month on it, I am covered for two years already, I don't think the extra year is worth it, but that's my personal opinion. YMMV.

Awesome! How exactly does that work?

Say you are in your 14th month and something stops functioning correctly, do you contact AE or Apple? Also, do they abide by the same returns as Apple if it is them you go through?

 

[onthecouchagain]

Actually, are there cheaper places to purchase Apple Care, cheaper than the Educational Discount?

 

[Patriot24]

I will likely purchase it, but not until I am near the end of the standard 1-year warranty.

 

[596123]

Actually, are there cheaper places to purchase Apple Care, cheaper than the Educational Discount?

This is your best bet, you won't find it cheaper anywhere else.

 

[GGJstudios]

This is your best bet, you won't find it cheaper anywhere else.

Be very careful buying AppleCare on ebay, as many have been burned by scammers.

 

[596123]

Be very careful buying AppleCare on ebay, as many have been burned by scammers.

If it says unopened I'd feel safe. But only because - doesn't ebay have really strict regulations nowadays? Aren't you protected by them if you get scammed, or no?

 

[mac3973]

Awesome! How exactly does that work?

Say you are in your 14th month and something stops functioning correctly, do you contact AE or Apple? Also, do they abide by the same returns as Apple if it is them you go through?

it goes through AMEX. If something were to fail in month 14, I would get it repaired by a Genius at an apple store, and send the bill to AMEX with a copy of my credit card statement back from when the mac was purchased along with a copy of the warranty booklet that came with my mac. I would get a check in the mail for the repair within 30 days.

 

[596123]

it goes through AMEX. If something were to fail in month 14, I would get it repaired by a Genius at an apple store, and send the bill to AMEX with a copy of my credit card statement back from when the mac was purchased along with a copy of the warranty booklet that came with my mac. I would get a check in the mail for the repair within 30 days.

That's amazing! If it weren't for AE being rejected by so many companies (because of how expensive it is to process?) I would definitely go through them.

 

[GGJstudios]

If it says unopened I'd feel safe. But only because - doesn't ebay have really strict regulations nowadays? Aren't you protected by them if you get scammed, or no?

FAKE APPLECARE APPLE CARE - A warning to buyers
BEWARE OF FAKE APPLECARE APPLE CARE PROTECTION PLANS!
Apple Care At Ebay

 

[Cynicalone]

I always buy AppleCare.

In the last year I've had nearly $2,000 USD in repairs completed by Apple at no cost to me.

• Screen on a Cinema Display
• HDD on an iMac
• 4GB RAM stick in a Mac Pro

I've also spent a couple of hours on the phone with AppleCare setting up appointments and getting help. The phone tech support is actually very good and helpful.

You may never need AppleCare but if you do you will regret not buying it. The Screen repair above was over $900. It was covered by the AppleCare I purchased on my Mac Pro in 09.

 

[Variant]

My American Express has many benefits, one of which features a double warranty period for any purchase made on the card. Since I purchased my MBA last month on it, I am covered for two years already, I don't think the extra year is worth it, but that's my personal opinion. YMMV.

I usually buy Apple Care, but this is what I'll be doing this time.

Seems every time I don't buy Apple Care, something goes wrong with the computer, and every time I do buy Apple Care, something DOES go wrong!

 

[jenzjen]

My American Express has many benefits, one of which features a double warranty period for any purchase made on the card. Since I purchased my MBA last month on it, I am covered for two years already, I don't think the extra year is worth it, but that's my personal opinion. YMMV.

Note, if you buy AppleCare, you actually are covered for 4 years - the first 3 from Apple/AppleCare, the 4th year from AMEX.

For the sake of argument, Apple is one of the only manufacturers where this applies. Normally, AMEX would overlap with the extended warranty, and AMEX terms require you to exhaust other insurance avenues before coming to them.

Also, only the black AMEX doubles the original warranty period (up to 5 years) vs standard AMEX adds only 1 year.

 

[Brenzo]

My American Express has many benefits, one of which features a double warranty period for any purchase made on the card. Since I purchased my MBA last month on it, I am covered for two years already, I don't think the extra year is worth it, but that's my personal opinion. YMMV.

This is great news. I thought I had read something similar on another forum. I will have to see if the Gold card I just received in the mail and was planning on using for the purchase of my 11" Air includes this extended warranty coverage.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I always buy Applecare for Apple computers, and yes, I have found it worth it.

Moreover, I agree with GGJstudios to be very careful if thinking of buying something such as Applecare on eBay. Personally, I wouldn't touch eBay for such a thing - there have been too many tales of scams, some of this related on these very fora.

 

[mac3973]

Note, if you buy AppleCare, you actually are covered for 4 years - the first 3 from Apple/AppleCare, the 4th year from AMEX.

For the sake of argument, Apple is one of the only manufacturers where this applies. Normally, AMEX would overlap with the extended warranty, and AMEX terms require you to exhaust other insurance avenues before coming to them.

Also, only the black AMEX doubles the original warranty period (up to 5 years) vs standard AMEX adds only 1 year.

Not Quite... Its a maximum of 24 months from the "Original" Manufactures warranty, not extended warranty.... I have the USAA American Express Black Card

And even if I do get the extended applecare warranty, AMEX will only extend their responsibility if the extended warranty is for a term not more than 12 extra months from the original warranty. And sense applecare extends the coverage by 24 months... well, no dice.

Also, nowhere does it state that I have to "exhaust all other insurance avenues first". That makes no sense because there is literally insurance for almost anything, anywhere. Google "extend mac waranty", there are tons of 3rd party companies that offer insurance/extended warranties , but I sure as heck would never trust them

 

[getyup]

It really comes down to this. Will you own it for more than 12 months? If yes, then buy Apple Care. If no, don't buy it. Some will say it increases value in resale, but that's generally minimal. I replace my technology before the mfg warranty ends, so I never buy Apple care

 

[jenzjen]

Not Quite... Its a maximum of 24 months from the "Original" Manufactures warranty, not extended warranty.... I have the USAA American Express Black Card

Those terms are specific to your USAA card, here's the terms for the warranty that would apply to the majority of people here
https://www212.americanexpress.com/...toid=d13cbc0508bdf210VgnVCM40000037b3ad94RCRD

Here's the exhaustive PDF that answers the other questions
https://www.onlineclaim.americanexpress.com/pdf/EW-IND-OSBN1-07-07.pdf

Happy reading. Unless your card has different terms than what I've just posted, you're incorrect on all points, but your card very well may have the terms you highlighted. I'm not familiar with the USAA card.

 

[Duke15]

I thought the apple premium was becasue they offer premium products, how come so many ppl have had to make applecare claims, shouldnt the product be well built when you buy it since it costs so much.

On another note, ive heard of other providers which offer similar things any of them good?