Slight regret... sorta

[pedzsan]

This just occurred to me. I switched from AT&T's next plan to Apple's Upgrade program. They both more or less are the same critter. The advantage of Apple's program (unless I'm confused which is definitely possible) is Apple's Upgrade customers get preferential treatment for the upgrades.

The "disadvantage" (subject to your perception and values) is the Apple Upgrade Program automatically throws in the Apple Care. A $200 charge for the iPhone X.

When I bought my 6+, I added it on because I had destroyed a Palm Treo by wading into my pond with the phone in my pocket. I had insurance on it at the time too. The 6+'s insurance turned out to pay for itself because they gave me a three month grace period. I broke the screen about three months after the insurance expired but they let me pay as if it was still insured.

The likelihood that I drowned the phone seemed real to me because I had already done it once. But I'm not really the type to drop things so the probability of breaking the screen seems very unlikely for me. Although... obviously I've done that once too.

Long story short, now that the phones are water resistant, I would probably not pay for Apple Care if I had a choice. Its going to be an extra $100 per year thrown Apple's way that I predict I don't recoup from insurance claims.

 

[Gaprofitt]

Apple care is a cash cow for Apple. Never buy extended warranties on any electronics.

 

[ihonda]

^ normally I agree, except this one.. yeah I got it for both my X because of how costly cracked screens are

 

[techspin]

Sounds like you had a great experience with AC though. No one has accidents on purpose and now you're covered.

 

[LD Curb]

The way Apple promoted IUP is that Apple Care is free .... that is how I understood it. I see now that that is wrong and they just add it on. Dang!

 

[Faelan]

^ normally I agree, except this one.. yeah I got it for both my X because of how costly cracked screens are

Depends on how clumsy/unlucky you are. Never cracked a screen. I’m sure I will someday, but the money I’ve saved from not buying any extended warrenty will easily pay for that repair/replacement and then some.

 

[mattopotamus]

^ normally I agree, except this one.. yeah I got it for both my X because of how costly cracked screens are

Likewise. I don’t buy extended warranties for anything other than my phone. It’s literally in and out of our pockets all day long. $200 to have peace of mind going naked with the X is worth it IMO.

 

[BigMcGuire]

AppleCare+ has paid for itself several times over for us. Also, you get preferential treatment at AppleStores. "Oh you have AppleCare+? Here is a replacement phone, have a great day!"

Though I've only had to pay for the $99 replacement once because I broke the glass. The other 4+ times were defects in the phone that were going to be replaced by sending the phone to get fixed until they found out we had AppleCare+ - bam immediate replacement.

 

[EdisEdward]

Never get Apple care. Many economists have researched this topic and say insurance should only be purchased in areas where incidents can be potentially catastrophic and repairs/recovery services being considerably cost prohibitive, like health insurance. For phones? Using the probability weighted scenario, the cost of Apple care is not justified. Paying out of pocket is cheaper if you consider probability of cracking your screen

 

[mattopotamus]

Never get Apple care. Many economists have researched this topic and say insurance should only be purchased in areas where incidents can be potentially catastrophic and repairs/recovery services being considerably cost prohibitive, like health insurance. For phones? Using the probability weighted scenario, the cost of Apple care is not justified. Paying out of pocket is cheaper if you consider probability of cracking your screen

I’ll disagree here. I see people with cracked screens every single day. The probability is pretty high considering how often they are being moved.

 

[Macbook14in]

It's worth it, unless someone other than Apple can fix your phone

 

[barkomatic]

Even though it's $200 and the iPhone is now water resistant I still think it's worth it. It's still possible to drown a water resistant phone and the standard warranty won't cover that damage. Also, if you drop your phone and the glass breaks Apple charges an obscene amount to fix it out of warranty.

I've had a bad run the past few years and have drowned phones two years running by accident. The last time I forgot my iPhone was in the pocket of my swim trunks and got in the hot tub (It was a long day ok? lol). I didn't discover it until about an hour later and I'm pretty sure that exposure would have destroyed an iPhone X as well.

 

[DiveKitty]

I don’t bother with most extended warranties, including AppleCare+ for my iPads. They only really are used at home or in my work office. I don’t even put screen protectors on them.

However for my iPhones, which I take everywhere, including to gym, running, traveling, on dive boats, and am constantly taking in and out of pockets or bags, setting down here or there, I think it is worth it. I always use a case and have yet to ever need an iPhone repaired, but with the screen or “other damage” replacement costs of the X without AppleCare+ (and original price of $1500 CAD), to me $250 CAD is worth the peace of mind, if not only for their tendency to provide immediate replacement for AppleCare+ customers. And yes, I have also had friends experience that they still tend to provide care out of warranty if you had AppleCare+.

Like any insurance, if you never use it, it can seem like a “waste”, but if you do, you are glad you have it. And with AppleCare+ if you need it even twice (especially for “other damage” like the back glass) you will definitely come out ahead. If you only need it once for a cracked screen you pretty much even out, but that is okay with me.

 

[naturalstar]

Have you seen the cost to repair a damaged screen and the cost to repair a damaged glass back on the X without AppleCare? I personally will opt for it just for that. I also tend to keep phones longer than a year.

That said, I don’t believe AppleCare should be forced as a purchase. I’m a part of Verizon’s Upgrade Program which operates the same as IUP except device insurance is an option. That’s the way it should be.

 

[Oridus]

I don’t have AppleCare, but I do have carrier insurance on my family plan. It’s $35 (or in my case $5/mo per person since we have 7 adults on my account). I just went on vacation and got my 7+ water damaged (dunno if it was the salt water that made a huge difference but I digress). I paid a $112 deductible and got my phone replaced. My personal cost: $172 ($5/mo for 12 months and deductible). I much prefer that scenario than paying off the remainder of the $400 I owed on my 7+, plus buy my iPhoneX

 

[Sean76]

You will say it was a good idea when that drop happens!

I know you never drop your phone, that’s what we all say...lol

 

[Carilyn]

I’d normally not get Apple care. This time I did. The Apple rep told me if you happen to break the glass in back it’s $99 with Apple care and $600 without! Something like $30 for front glass with and $300 without. The peace of mind makes it worth it to me.

 

[bambooshots]

An insurance policy that costs almost 20% of the item seems kind of steep, IMO.

 

[Wando64]

Its going to be an extra $100 per year thrown Apple's way that I predict I don't recoup from insurance claims.

The whole point of the insurance business is that, on the whole, the majority of people don’t “recoup” the premium through claims.

 

[predation]

AppleCare+ has paid for itself several times over for us. Also, you get preferential treatment at AppleStores. "Oh you have AppleCare+? Here is a replacement phone, have a great day!"

Though I've only had to pay for the $99 replacement once because I broke the glass. The other 4+ times were defects in the phone that were going to be replaced by sending the phone to get fixed until they found out we had AppleCare+ - bam immediate replacement.

Apple elitist. Lol.

Agreed. I’ve had numerous occasions where the genius just replaced because I had Apple care +. In the store, it’s all about speed of service. Having Apple care+ allows them to speed up by just giving you a replacement.

 

[Megan Boyce]

Likewise. I don’t buy extended warranties for anything other than my phone. It’s literally in and out of our pockets all day long. $200 to have peace of mind going naked with the X is worth it IMO.

agree plus i used my iphone "naked" so AC+ is great

 

[Resqu2]

Verz insurance on my X but had Apple care on my watch and it got broke while weedeating, had a brand new watch the next day, wasn’t without one for more than 15 hours. That was a cheap $49.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Never get Apple care. Many economists have researched this topic and say insurance should only be purchased in areas where incidents can be potentially catastrophic and repairs/recovery services being considerably cost prohibitive, like health insurance. For phones? Using the probability weighted scenario, the cost of Apple care is not justified. Paying out of pocket is cheaper if you consider probability of cracking your screen

When you turn your phone into Apple they will refund the unused portion of the insurance provided you didn't use the insurance.

 

[PTLove]

By virtue of Apple offering Applecare+, you can be sure they make a profit on it.

 

[Gryzor]

The "disadvantage" (subject to your perception and values) is the Apple Upgrade Program automatically throws in the Apple Care. A $200 charge for the iPhone X.

They don't just "throw it in" for free ya' know? It's added to the monthly, and frankly, anybody who buys any kind of extended warranty for anything is playing a mugs game. I have a friend who buys every insurance going. It costs him thousands over the years. Thousands he hasn't had to spend on replacing anything damaged or that failed.