Should I buy AppleCare?

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Should I buy AppleCare?

StarBlazer

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#190937 17-Jan-2016 09:16

My daughter has saved up to buy an iPhone 6s. Looking at the cost of replacing screens and the possibility that it could happen (still at high school), is $229 AppleCare worth the money? I understand there is still a $169 fee for any repairs but together that is still much cheaper than the full cost of replacing the screen. Yes we have home insurance but there's the hassle and excess to contend with.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

Procrastination eventually pays off.

1 | 2

3009 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1473012 17-Jan-2016 09:30

My personal opinion is its a waste. Three iPhones down the track and have never had a broken screen. The CGA covers you for other non accidental manufacturer faults

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

hyperman

418 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1473014 17-Jan-2016 09:37

ZollyMonsta: My personal opinion is its a waste. Three iPhones down the track and have never had a broken screen. The CGA covers you for other non accidental manufacturer faults

CGA shouldn't even need to be enforced as in nz brightstar /brightpoint both give them a 2 year warranty thus been what most would call a reasonable period of time for a product that spends all it's life on the move

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer

michaelmurfy

meow
13240 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1473020 17-Jan-2016 10:04

Personally think it is a waste of money. Invest in a decent case and a tempered glass screen protector instead. If you're prone to dropping your phone then the Lifeproof line of cases are very good.

We're so lucky to have something like the CGA here in NZ and even still - that has forced most retailers (including Brightstar) to up their warranties to 2 years to match the CGA. When you smash your screen sure it is annoying, but the cost difference of a new screen from Apple to one of those repair places is only around $60 so you'll have to smash your screen quite a number of times in order to make Applecare worth it.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

alasta

6703 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#1473084 17-Jan-2016 11:50

michaelmurfy: When you smash your screen sure it is annoying, but the cost difference of a new screen from Apple to one of those repair places is only around $60 so you'll have to smash your screen quite a number of times in order to make Applecare worth it.

This isn't really a fair comparison. It's my understanding that repair discount included in the Applecare warranty covers all 'accidental damage', whereas a cowboy repair outfit will probably just replace the screen and hope like hell that no other components have been damaged by the impact.

For me the tech support makes Applecare worthwhile - I don't call them often but when I do I desperately need help. The other benefits are just an added bonus.

hyperman

418 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1473089 17-Jan-2016 12:00

alasta:
michaelmurfy: When you smash your screen sure it is annoying, but the cost difference of a new screen from Apple to one of those repair places is only around $60 so you'll have to smash your screen quite a number of times in order to make Applecare worth it.

This isn't really a fair comparison. It's my understanding that repair discount included in the Applecare warranty covers all 'accidental damage', whereas a cowboy repair outfit will probably just replace the screen and hope like hell that no other components have been damaged by the impact.

For me the tech support makes Applecare worthwhile - I don't call them often but when I do I desperately need help. The other benefits are just an added bonus.

Are we talking about "applecare" or "applecare+"
they are two different products!

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer

StarBlazer

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1473398 17-Jan-2016 22:08

Thanks for the replies, been out enjoying the sun :)

I've heard that a replacement screen is around $600, have I heard wrong?

She's had a 4s for 2 years and always has it in a case, not broken a screen and takes reasonable care of it. At work, I've seen a lot of the people with iPhones break the screen, or bend it badly, or worse toilet, snow, river and even accidentally drive over it. Yes accidents happen to any phone, but never yet seen a Galaxy with a broken screen. The accidental cover is partly the reason for AppleCare, yes I think it is AppleCare+.

She would never put on a bulky/ugly case, more likely to be one of those thin, transparent cases to show off the rose gold!!! The screen protector yes, that sounds like a good idea. Does it protect it from breaking when dropped?

I'm happy to argue with wherever I buy it from for CGA if it develops a fault, but you hear of so many "it's got water damage" excuses on phones that having the cover will just sort this out without argument.

Maybe I'm over thinking this!!

Procrastination eventually pays off.

khull

1245 posts

Uber Geek

#1473433 18-Jan-2016 00:28

I personally do insist after experiencing the hassle of a contents claim. With AppleCare Plus accidental damage is covered for 2 events. It is a blessing to have that

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1473434 18-Jan-2016 04:52

I think it's a waste of money too

Apple are selling it which means it turns a profit

It's basically an insurance policy. I always self insure rather than buy an extended warranty/accidental damage

$600 sound extortion as Apple charge us$129 for a new 6s screen here, walk in to store, walk out with new phone and $129 missing from
Your wallet

CYaBro

4582 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1473444 18-Jan-2016 07:26

nathan: I think it's a waste of money too

Apple are selling it which means it turns a profit

It's basically an insurance policy. I always self insure rather than buy an extended warranty/accidental damage

$600 sound extortion as Apple charge us$129 for a new 6s screen here, walk in to store, walk out with new phone and $129 missing from
Your wallet

Apple don't offer replacement screens on iPhones in NZ.
Only whole unti replacements, hence the higher price.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

jnimmo

1097 posts

Uber Geek

#1473447 18-Jan-2016 07:36

I do like to have it, the Advanced Replacement benefit is always nice too and have had to use it a couple of times.

SheriffNZ

671 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1473451 18-Jan-2016 07:47

nathan: I think it's a waste of money too

Apple are selling it which means it turns a profit

It's basically an insurance policy. I always self insure rather than buy an extended warranty/accidental damage

$600 sound extortion as Apple charge us$129 for a new 6s screen here, walk in to store, walk out with new phone and $129 missing from
Your wallet

Don't insurance policies normally turn a profit?

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1473492 18-Jan-2016 09:27

CYaBro:
nathan: I think it's a waste of money too

Apple are selling it which means it turns a profit

It's basically an insurance policy. I always self insure rather than buy an extended warranty/accidental damage

$600 sound extortion as Apple charge us$129 for a new 6s screen here, walk in to store, walk out with new phone and $129 missing from
Your wallet

Apple don't offer replacement screens on iPhones in NZ.
Only whole unti replacements, hence the higher price.

over here they just seem to give you a new one and the spot and charge the US$129

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1473500 18-Jan-2016 09:28

SheriffNZ:
nathan: I think it's a waste of money too

Apple are selling it which means it turns a profit

It's basically an insurance policy. I always self insure rather than buy an extended warranty/accidental damage

$600 sound extortion as Apple charge us$129 for a new 6s screen here, walk in to store, walk out with new phone and $129 missing from
Your wallet

Don't insurance policies normally turn a profit?

indeed they do, by self-insure I mean take on the risk, and be responsible by not dropping the phone etc

SheriffNZ

671 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1473502 18-Jan-2016 09:32

nathan:
SheriffNZ:
nathan: I think it's a waste of money too

Apple are selling it which means it turns a profit

It's basically an insurance policy. I always self insure rather than buy an extended warranty/accidental damage

$600 sound extortion as Apple charge us$129 for a new 6s screen here, walk in to store, walk out with new phone and $129 missing from
Your wallet

Don't insurance policies normally turn a profit?
indeed they do, by self-insure I mean take on the risk, and be responsible by not dropping the phone etc

I get you now, by self insuring, you're not making a "profit", or at least giving someone else a profit. You're not saying that Apple are making a profit on their insurance policies and everyone else isn't which is how I took your first statement.

Linuxluver

5828 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#1473516 18-Jan-2016 09:43

StarBlazer: My daughter has saved up to buy an iPhone 6s. Looking at the cost of replacing screens and the possibility that it could happen (still at high school), is $229 AppleCare worth the money? I understand there is still a $169 fee for any repairs but together that is still much cheaper than the full cost of replacing the screen. Yes we have home insurance but there's the hassle and excess to contend with.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

I bought AppleCare for my Macbook Air.....just in case.

For phones, two rules:

1. I insure my own. I break it, I buy a new one.

2. I don't buy a phone I can't afford to replace. I buy a cheaper phone.

But teenagers usually have to learn the hard way. Let her do that.

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

1 | 2