Macbook Pro... Warranty / AppleCare Protection Plan... What to Do?

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Macbook Pro... Warranty / AppleCare Protection Plan... What to Do?

Starplay

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#97040 9-Feb-2012 17:33

Okay, so im really excited to be getting my first Mac. Ive deceided on which one I want, and im ready to order it. The only thing I wonder about is the whole warranty thing.

In the past when purchasing an item from a store I have never opted for the optional extended warranty as thats what I beleive the CGA is for. But after having to recently return an item using the CGA im wondering if additional cover is better. It took a little over 3 months for an item of mine to be replaced, and I would like to think that if I did have a problem with my Mac that I could have it fixed straight away.

So my questions are:

1. Is it worth buying extra cover?... If I do have a problem with it, it will still have the 1 year manufactuer's warranty that Apple would fix it under.

2. Does the CGA still apply if I order it of the Apple Store.

3. Whats the difference between the AppleCare Protection plan and the warranty Harvey Norman are offering me.

4. If I have a problem with it after the 1 year standard warranty and chose not to get the extra cover. Are Apple likely to fix it quickly? - Providing it is something that the CGA applies to.

Sorry if these questions seem a little dumb.... But I just want to know that if I do have a problem I can have it fixed as I have never seen the point in paying for something you are already entitled to.

Does anybody know how long the Commerce Commision state that a laptop should last for / the parts work for?

Thanks

alasta

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#579395 9-Feb-2012 18:49

AppleCare is expensive and probably not worthwhile for the warranty alone, but it also provides extended telephone support so you need to consider whether that has any value to you.

1080p

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#579397 9-Feb-2012 18:51

Go for the AppleCare warranty if you buy anything. It is valid internationally which is something you are unlikely to receive with the Harvey Norman warranty. The AppleCare will be more expensive. There is no real difference between the two warranties, I would go for one provided by the manufacturer if I was to get one.

You never lose the one year manufacturer's warranty, in fact many extended warranties only kick in twelve months after purchase.

The CGA still applies to products purchased through the Apple online portal.

The Commerce Commission do not state how long an item would/should last. The CGA legislation intentionally leaves the time period ambiguous so that what the majority of consumers believe a product should last for is what will be upheld by any tribunal decisions. Try checking the http://www.consumer.org.nz/ site for a general idea of what its members believe is a reasonable time for most electronics to last.

gehenna

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#579399 9-Feb-2012 18:52

The other thing about APP is that you can purchase it anytime within the first year. It's definitely good if you value your time and don't want to mess around with bureaucracy if you run into problems..

josephhinvest

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#579409 9-Feb-2012 19:15

My opinion is always buy APP for portables. Even if you treat them very well, they have moving parts that are more likely to fail than a desktop machine. They are subjected to being moved around constantly etc also.
CGA will always be there, but remember that just quoting it to any reseller is not necessarily enough, you have to be prepared to go to court to make it stick. This can make a very long process.
Third party warranties are also likely to be much slower, in my experience, the machine would be quoted for repair, then the insurance company assesses it, and if it's authorised the repairer then gets the go ahead. It can easily add days to a simple repair.

1. Yes you always have the Apple warranty for 1 year.
2. Yes CGA applies (personal not business machine of course) but Apple don't have a corporate presence here so you would likely be dealing with Australia or the US.
3. AppleCare means any AASP in world can do warranty repairs. With a reseller warranty you may have to go to a specific repairer. Also as above the repair could take longer.
4. Hard to know. Apple can be very good a coming to the party to help out customers ,but there's no guarantee they will.

(I am an Apple Certified Macintosh Technician with nearly 10 years experience. I've done hundreds of warranty, non-warranty, third party warranty repairs)

Cheers,
Joseph

Aaroona

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#580094 11-Feb-2012 10:11

Including mine... Thanks Joseph!!

Starplay

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#580195 11-Feb-2012 16:10

Awesome... Thanks for your opinions.

Im going to order it online with the APP... I get the university discount on the APP as well so it takes another $70 or so off it.

... Really excited for it to arrive!

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Tockly

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#580200 11-Feb-2012 16:30

From a recent Mac convert you'll love it....

jpwise

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#584017 20-Feb-2012 16:39

Refreshing my old Geekzone account. :)

In terms of APP - I'd also recommend getting the APP. Useful additions to know about is that it also covers your battery in a notebook against 'failure'. If it's consumed, it's not covered, but if it's a legitimate failure in the second/3rd year, it can generally be covered under AppleCare, but rarely under CGA or a 3rd party warranty.

It also extends the warranty on certain accessories used with your Apple, ie: an AirPort Express, or a Time Capsule for Time Machine backups. If you look in the fine print extended the notebook/imac warranty also includes certain accessories used with it. I haven't actually had a customer bring one in yet, but it's in the writeup for the AppleCare warranty. The accessory does need to be purchased within a certain timeframe around the units purchase, but worthwhile knowing.

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