AppleCare? Or is the CGA enough??

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tomgeeknz

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Topic # 87063 19-Jul-2011 00:37

Ok, so I am in the process of hopefully buying a MacBook Pro. I have one simple question that i was hoping you can help with. I can't decide whether to trust the Consumer Guarantee's Act or buy AppleCare and have piece of mind, so I was hoping you could share your experiences with Apple in claiming repairs outside the 1 year warranty period without AppleCare.

I look forward to your replies.

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Meow
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Reply # 495095 19-Jul-2011 07:37

You remember my mac? It doesnt have Applecare and Apple think I am joking about the CGA. They are useless to deal with, get applecare if you are buying one of these overpriced machines >.<

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billgates

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Reply # 495097 19-Jul-2011 07:50

Trust the CGA. Applecare is good if you will be travelling overseas with the macbook pro since it covers warranty internationally as well.

Do whatever you want to do man.

gehenna

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Reply # 495114 19-Jul-2011 08:41

AppleCare for convenience, CGA for patience.

alasta

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Reply # 495411 19-Jul-2011 19:36

gehenna: AppleCare for convenience, CGA for patience.

I agree.

I've been shot down in flames for saying this before, but regardless of the legal theory there is overwhelming anecdotal evidence that vendors typically put up a pretty good fight before they will resolve an out of warranty failure. As someone who relies heavily on my equipment and with very limited time on my hands I would rather just have the piece of mind of Applecare, but others will undoubtedly prefer otherwise.

merve0o0

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Reply # 496060 21-Jul-2011 07:55

If it is for personal use or work use makes a difference as the VGA will not cover a work machine

thecripplernz

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Reply # 496479 21-Jul-2011 22:55

I successfully took Apple to the disputes tribunal after they didn't honor the CGA... didn't get that far however, once they received the paperwork they shat their pants and fixed Macbook free of charge

mattwnz

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Reply # 496487 21-Jul-2011 23:17

Definitely get applecare, or extended warranty with your retailer, if you are buying for business use.Otherwise you are only protected by the sale of goods act. If it's not for work, you are likely to be covered by the CGA, but first check that applecare doesn't cover anything extra that the CGA doesn't already cover. There are new laws coming in regarding extended warranties, but I am not sure when exactly they are coming in.

I have personally never had trouble getting retailers to meet their obligations under the CGA, but you do have to be reasonable. Sometimes they first try to get out of their obligations, and fob you off, but a letter to their manager will usually get results. Companies generally don't want to waste time having to go to the disputes tribunal as it is costly timewise.

michaelmurfy

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Reply # 496492 21-Jul-2011 23:57

thecripplernz: I successfully took Apple to the disputes tribunal after they didn't honor the CGA... didn't get that far however, once they received the paperwork they shat their pants and fixed Macbook free of charge

I need to do that, I have a dead MacBook with nobody caring a damn about it.

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nakedmolerat

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Reply # 496505 22-Jul-2011 07:18

NZ LAW > APPLE

wreck90

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Reply # 496529 22-Jul-2011 08:56

alasta:
gehenna: AppleCare for convenience, CGA for patience.

I agree.

I've been shot down in flames for saying this before, but regardless of the legal theory there is overwhelming anecdotal evidence that vendors typically put up a pretty good fight before they will resolve an out of warranty failure. As someone who relies heavily on my equipment and with very limited time on my hands I would rather just have the piece of mind of Applecare, but others will undoubtedly prefer otherwise.

I've made 2 disputes tribunal claims this year, and both times the retailer knew they would lose and settled outside court.

Last year, I had about 3 occasions (apple, lenovo, and ford) where I threatened to take them to the tribunal but they decided they didn't wish to do that and they paid repair costs.Interestingly, I made another repair claim against ford this year, and they didnt pay out until they received the summons so Ford are inconsistent. The build quality of my Ford has been very poor, so many things have gone wrong both inside and outside warranty.

Generally speaking , retailers first response is to say out of warranty then out of luck (they never mention the CGA hoping the customer is ignorant) .Then, when you quote the CGA, about 1/2 the time they will accept your claim. The other times, you have to lodge a claim with the disputes tribunal - but, if you have a solid case they will generally settle beforehand.

I've probably saved a few thousand dollars in various repair costs over the last 5 years or so.

Also, never get stressed or angry, and always be nice to the people you deal with. It seems funny being nice to someone when at the same time you are saying you are taking them to the disputes tribunal but there you go.

chiefie

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Reply # 496541 22-Jul-2011 09:21

If you get from Apple Online Store, recommended to take out AppleCare. If you get from local retail, either CGA be sufficient, or store's extended warranty, or otherwise AppleCare for less hassle.

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bazzer

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Reply # 496557 22-Jul-2011 10:09

When you go to the Tribunal, you have to pay the lodgement fee, right? I guess the company never reimburses you for that?

thecripplernz

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Reply # 496561 22-Jul-2011 10:19

You can claim the lodgement fee within your claim, but I dont think there is a lot of success in getting a retailer to pay that...

bazzer

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Reply # 496567 22-Jul-2011 10:27

Is that so? In that case, it's time for me to head to the Disputes Tribunal! :)

alasta

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Reply # 496577 22-Jul-2011 10:50

wreck90: I've made 2 disputes tribunal claims this year, and both times the retailer knew they would lose and settled outside court.?

Last year, I had about 3 occasions (apple, lenovo, and ford) where I threatened to take them to the tribunal but they decided they didn't wish to do that and they paid repair costs.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It sounds like retailers are becoming more aware of their obligations than they were a few years ago.

Interestingly, I made another repair claim against ford this year, and they didnt pay out until they received the summons so Ford are inconsistent. ? The build quality of my Ford has been very poor, so many things have gone wrong both inside and outside warranty.?

What sort of Ford, out of interest? I'm thinking of buying a Focus, but maybe a Japanese alternative would be a safer bet.

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