Extended Warranties

[Paddy]

Considering the jaw-dropping amounts charged for extended warranties on plasma TVs and the enormous drop in prices over the past year, you could buy a whole new TV (with associated improvements) instead!!! At least that's the conclusion I reached from the mailings we received from Circuit City, as our one year warranty ended recently on our now-year-old plasma. And from what I've heard, it may be that with plasma, there isn't much they can do to repair it - it's more a replacement warranty than anything, which would explain the ridiculous cost. LCDs may be different.

[Frances144]

I have to say, Applecare is the best purchase I have ever done!

For me the cost of just sending the damn 'puter anywhere is enormous.

I was also told that if you buy your computer from anyone other than Apple (and this includes any dealer or shop), even if you have Applecare, you have to get it back to that store under your own finances.  

If, however, you buy it over the internet (from Apple) or phone (from Apple), they will pay for it to come back to them and then back to you.  For me, this is a diference of about £30 a go.  This is included in their Applecare too once the puter is out of its original warranty.

Can't see how any dealers are ever going to make a living if this is what Apple say.

Fx

[Highmac]

Morning Frances - Obviously your geographical location makes a heck of a difference to ability to send your Mac anywhere. I'm lucky enough to have been able to buy mine from John Lewis (which includes a two-year on-site warranty in the price - no doubt the small print would exclude 'offshore islands'). If I did have to return it, I only face a 20-mile drive each way to the nearest John Lewis.


The G3 was bought in 1999 from John Lewis and died at 13 months - JL sent out a contract technician who diagnosed a deceased motherboard and replaced it there and then.

As Paddy says.... whatever suits your circumstances and makes you comfortable

[Gregg]

Cool! All I have to do is find a bloke named John Lewis?

I wasn't involved in the purchase, but my wife got AppleCare for our son's new 20" iMac. (This was to replace his stolen iBook.) Since we paid for it (stolen from our house, "covered" on our insurance) and he has little "spare change" I didn't quibble with the decision. If it needs repairs, he'll be able to have it fixed. Without AC, he's be stuck.

Generally, I don't like extended warranties either, but on electronic devices, I'm slowly changing my tune. I bought an inexpensive VCR once, and it was a lemon. The replacement was also a lemon, but by then it was past the 30-day warranty period dated from the original purchase. So, I bought an extended warranty for half the cost of another VCR, and walked out with a new one. It's still working more than a year later...

[RobW]

I'm not normally a fan of extended warranties--at all. However, when it comes to new Macs, IAWMayo. While I've not in the past purchased (or needed) AppleCare for my own Macs, I've seen enough over the last two years with one daughter's iBook and my dad's Mac Mini. Any Macs I now purchase will include AppleCare--if not at the time of purchase, then for sure soon after that. Even when there wasn't a hardware issue, a keychain problem popped up on my dad's Mac (after a hardware repair) that would have been a royal pain to resolve on my own. Since he had the AppleCare plan, the phone support saved me hours of aggravation. (When you purchase a new Mac, you only get phone support for the first 90 days. This was outside of that period of time.)

[RHPConsult]

Frances144 says:

QUOTE

I was also told that if you buy your computer from anyone other than Apple (and this includes any dealer or shop), even if you have Applecare, you have to get it back to that store under your own finances.

It may be different in the US version of Apple Inc, Frances, but in late 2004 I bought a PwrBk from MacConnection – in New Hampshire, 2500 miles distant (one of the best on-line purveyors of Mac "stuff"). In early 2006 it began acting squirrelly, so I took iot back for AppleCare at our local Apple Store, 5 miles distant. After 3 trips to Apple's repair depot in Texas , under AppleCare, I was handed a brand new box as a more than fair replacement.

I've never heard (from any US source) that to obtain AppleCare service one must go back to the site of purchase, rather than directly to Apple, itself. I'd write and inquire, were I you, hoping that in the future you won't need to use the info you receive.

[RobW]

QUOTE

...I've never heard (from any US source) that to obtain AppleCare service one must go back to the site of purchase, rather than directly to Apple, itself. I'd write and inquire, were I you, hoping that in the future you won't need to use the info you receive. ...

I've not had that experience either. My dad's Mac Mini was purchased at another store. In addition, having spent time "eavesdropping" at the genius bar, I've never heard them mention that as an issue to any customer.

[Frances144]

I would thoroughly recommend you check it out.  I was told about this:-

http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/12/0...mail-in_repair/

I would find out if this applies to the other countries too.

Fx

[Xairbusdriver]

The only AC I've ever purchased was for my wife's iBook, based on the more frequent hostile environment it operates in and the higher costs of its smaller and more difficult to replace components. It has more than paid for itself having received three 'free' keyboards. Those cost $75, I think, the total is more than the cost of AC, anyway. Of course, they are also user-installable, so it's been a sweet system. But who knows how long the parts supply will last? I have, therefore, applied third-party stick-on key labels and they seem to be indestructible!

I think AC for laptops is easily justifiable. Also for less-than-capable, new Mac users. Possibly even for the new iMacs which are basically laptops built into large monitors; tight spaces to work in when making replacements. Then there is the possibility of less reliable products than than the obviously over-built models of the past...

[Gregg]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jan 18 2007, 02:17 PM) [snapback]116409[/snapback]

the new iMacs which are basically laptops built into large monitors

Exactly.... a MacBook on a stand.