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Readers Respond: Is AppleCare a Good Deal?

Responses: 10

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The warranty that comes with iPods and iPhones includes one call to phone support and a year of hardware repairs. For an extra fee, AppleCare will extend phone and repair support for two years. Consumer advocates charge that extended warranties are wasted money that's rarely used, while their defenders cite many examples of instances in which they came in handy. What's your view: is AppleCare worth it or money needlessly spent? Share Your Opinion

Do it, if your Apple item is essential.

I don't ever buy extended warranties, but AppleCare is good. They fix anything unless you get the thing wet. I have a $2000 MacBook. AppleCare for an additional 2 years was $350. Both those prices sound nuts. But I run my business out of my MacBook. So I feel good about it. Sometimes a repair on a MacBook involves replacing the main board which can be very expensive. I have had two MacBooks that needed this and AppleCare covered it.
—Guest nworbmit

Yes!

With AT&T's so called "insurance", the extra $100 is definitely worth it! If you're careful with your phone then you have nothing to worry about, but accidents do happen. I have it for my iPad 2 as well.
—Guest Mishel Saladino

AppleCare is good

Yes, the level of service with AppleCare is way better than what everyone else receives. It's been worth the $99 for me.
—Guest ed

AppleCare

My iPhone 3GS was under the normal warranty and the battery is useless. I took it to an Apple Store where they said it had water damage so no repair. I do not even take the phone into the bathroom so how it got water damage is a mystery.
—Guest Ian

AppleCare not a good deal

I myself work in retail and as anyone who works in the electrical, electronics or computing section of a retail store knows, you are always forced to sell add ons and extended warranties. This means extra profit for the company. Usually if you look after your product it's extremely rare for anything to happen. And most of the times if something does happen it is because the consumer has not taken proper care of the product. In this case the extended warranty is not valid. So in other words you are just throwing away your money!
—Guest Jimmy

Not at all

I had an iPhone 3GS with AppleCare. My home button stopped working on the iPhone, and because i had a small crack in the upper screen, they ''determined'' that it was abused. Not worth it!
—Guest Chris

AppleCare

Great buy. I usually don't buy extended anything, but this one was easy. Great in-store service and with a smartphone you can have trouble that could be expensive. Get the AppleCare. Well, well worth it. Cheapest money you'll ever spend.
—Guest Jerry

Not if you're in the EU

In the EU Apple is forced to give consumers at least 2 years of warranty. So you're essentially paying for phone support.
—Guest Jasper

not really

i got an ipod touch and it was good fir 2 years and 7 months battery was no problem yet suddnley it has fail as it now not power up and has static screen if pluged in to computer only 7 months out of applecare with no problems (warrenty chip is up i guess)
—Guest des

Yes AppleCare is a Good Deal?

It is a break even deal with me. I have always come out good on Apple care such as my 3 year old iPod 5G went haywire and I received a new looking iPod from Apple. Also the battery never lasts longer than about a year anyway so you can at least get a new battery every year. When Apple will let me change the battery myself then I may consider not to buy the extended warranty.
—bobreese

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Is AppleCare a Good Deal?

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