The one-year warranty on my MacBook Pro expired last week, presenting me with a choice: sign up for an extended warranty or live without it? I’ve never been an extended warranty kind of guy. They’re cash cows for the companies that sell them. Anything that is a cash cow for manufacturers and retailers is generally a poor deal for consumers.
According to the Washington Post, $15 billion in warranty premiums were charged to U.S. consumers in 2004, of which $7.5 billion went to the stores who sold them. About $3 billion was paid in claims against plans. Only $20 of every $100 spent on extended warranties was paid in claims.
The current issue of Consumer Reports further notes: “Most products don’t break during the first three or four years of ownership. If breakage does occur, the repair costs is typically similar to the warranty cost.”
What should you do if you want some sort of protection, but don’t want to pay the store? Self-insure. Consider paying yourself the warranty premiums. Reader Steven T. wrote to share this clever technique he uses to insure the things he buys:
I have an ING account. On their site, you can open any number of savings accounts, and you can give a nickname to each one. I created one called the “Warranty Scam Buster”. Anytime I’m faced with the option of getting extra warranty protection on an electronics purchase, I decline, but I write down the amount it would have cost, and then transfer that amount to this savings account. If in the future anything I bought needs to be replaced but isn’t protected, this fund can cover the cost. I’m earning interest on my money, and it’s not getting handed over to some huge company.
If Steven is disciplined and leaves all the money in his Warranty Scam Buster account, he’ll eventually develop a large enough pool to cover almost every problem. A general emergency fund can serve this function, too.
I don’t have a large emergency fund yet. So last week I did something I’ve never done before: I purchased an extended warranty. Because my livelihood depends on my computer’s health, a $349 business expense seemed worth the cost. I’m still not convinced it was the right decision, but it gives me peace of mind. In the future, though, I’ll self-insure with my own Warranty Scam Buster account.
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DH says extended warranties only are valuable on laptops (since you’re going to lugging them around). We were glad we got one, we had to have the screen replaced twice, more than paid for itself. We actually ended up getting a new laptop (free) due to screen issues a 3rd time.
On any other item, we put the money in a savings account as well!
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I bought the AppleCare warranty on my MacBook Pro when I bought it originally. It is money well spent, especially on a laptop. In the almost two years that I’ve owned it, I’ve had it in for repairs 3 times (two battery issues, one fan issue). Each time it was a quick and painless fix that didn’t cost me a dime. Had I not had the warranty, I don’t doubt that Apple would have charged me up the wazzoo for the repairs.
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I would agree with Susy. My wife also has a Macbook and the first one she had she didn’t get AppleCare. When her screen broke, she was told it was going to be over $1000 to fix. Fortunately, the private school she was working for decided to buy her a new one with grant money. Needless to say, we did have AppleCare on the new one and even used it once.
Definitely worth the money on a Mac laptop.
I would also say that I know firsthand that if you buy an extended warranty and use it, it is worth the money. Know what you are buying and take advantage of it’s benefits. If you won’t use it’s benefits, DON’T BUY IT.
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Yeah, I should mention that I’ve already been in to the Apple Store three times for minor problems with this laptop, such as a battery that won’t hold a charge. They’ve always been quick to remedy the problem (replacing the battery, for example). But so many small things in the first year make me worried about years two and three…
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This is typical of insurance. I’m no fan of insurance companies but I love the concept of insurance.
I know of two instances where Apple completely replaced the machine. In one case, an almost three year old MacBookPro (or whatever they were called before the switch to Intel) was replaced with a brand new 17″ Intel-based MacBookPro. Certainly the exception but it’s not just repair costs you’re paying for. Insurance is also peace of mind. How much is that worth?
Additionally, and consequently, I disagree with your conclusion that “a cash cow for manufacturers and retailers is generally a poor deal for consumers”. I can argue that almost everything companies do is because of their customers, and, if the company is being run by someone even remotely intelligent, everything they do is in the customer’s best interest. If it happens to also be very profitable, it’s win-win.
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Hmmm… Maybe the cynic in me wonders if despite all those “Mac vs PC” ads, Windows machines are better buys? I picked up a Dell laptop model that is the workhorse of the corporate world and that thing is indestructible – a warranty would have just lined the pockets of Dell.
Good idea about the savings account – it’ll be nice for you to be able to execute an emergency fund sometime.
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An IT friend of mine says the only reason to get a warrenty in the big box stores is a laptop. Either a Mac or a PC. Even if you know someone who can fix computers, they may not be able to fix a laptop. The parts are harder to come by, and there are hundereds of tiny screws to get it apart and then put it back together. So if you pay a professional, you will be paying A LOT.
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As everyone else is saying, and you probably already researched, a laptop is one of the things where an extended warranty is generally worth it. Because:
a) You’re hauling it around and beating it up a lot more than your big screen t.v. for instance.
b) They are so highly integrated, that almost any repair will be major, and probably equivalent cost-wise to replacement.
Busted hinge? You probably have to replace the whole screen. Snap a USB port or mess up the trackpad? Well, those are built into the motherboard, so you’ll be needing a whole new one of those.
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It would be hard to imagine something on a laptop breaking that costs more than $349. I recently wrote about buying a MacBook for the first time and I declined the extended warranty. This starts to make me wonder if maybe Macs aren’t all that reliable.
I have a Dell laptop going on 5 years now and never had a problem with it.
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Joe, I agree with you here. I’m using a IBM T42 that I’ve been lugging around for around 2 years. Not one problem, battery is still working great. Again, an extended warranty here would probably have not been needed. I travel with it fine, it’s been dropped a couple of times . . . it just keeps chugging away.
I really need to start an emergency fund though. With my S.O. out of work and trying to establish a business instead we’ve been running on fumes lately. It’s scary to think that if one thing goes wrong with our house or car we are going to be in a hole we probably will have to borrow our way out of.
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“Maybe the cynic in me wonders if despite all those “Mac vs PC” ads, Windows machines are better buys?”
All computers from all manufacturers have problems since there is always the chance that any component can fail. The ‘Mac vs. PC’ ads don’t say that Macs will never have a bad capacitor or an inverter board that will last until eternity.
What you’re seeing here is an availability heuristic. Author writes about getting an ext. warranty on his Apple laptop so several other Apple laptop users who have exercised the benefits of their ext. warranty chime in to say that it was worth it for them.
“I picked up a Dell laptop model that is the workhorse of the corporate world and that thing is indestructible”
I’ve bought many a Dell laptop and desktop computer. They are most definitely not indestructible. IBMs, yeah… But not Dells.
My two cents: Extended warranties are a good idea for laptops that actually get carried around from job to job regardless of manufacturer.
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RE: Mac vs. PC
I’m not interested in re-hashing that decades-old debate. I’ve used both and liked both. They’re just tools. I’ve personally decided that I’m using Mac OS for the time being, but I’ve used Windows and Linux, too. In the past decade, I’ve owned five laptops. (I was a spendthrift, remember?) One PC laptop was a piece of junk. My Dell laptop (circa 1999) was a tank, and is probably still running today (I sold it). My iBook just died last week after five years. I have a small Powerbook that is a thing of beauty — the best computer I’ve ever owned. And there’s this MacBook Pro. From my experience, laptops of all sorts are prone to unexpected problems, which — as many people have noted — is one of the reasons I chose to go with the extended warranty.
RE: Warranties and profitability
Q makes a good point that in ideal circumstances, the consumer-manufacturer interaction is win-win: the consumer gets something of value and the company makes money. My concern with extended warranties is that companies know the numbers and consumers do not. They prey on consumer fear.
I had dinner recently with a childhood friend who is now a VP at a major retailer. During our conversation, he confided that extended warranties are his company’s largest profit center.
For myself, I’m going to do my best to the Steven T.’s suggestion in this post: self-insure so that I don’t have to throw my money away on extended warranties, but can earn interest on it myself.
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I have a compaq laptop that I bought in 2003. I’ve recently had them replace the cord, I thought there was a short in it. Turns out there is an issue with the power connector – it’s not quite touching the motherboard. I sent it in, they said they couldn’t repair it because of liquid damage. My partner and I found a tutorial online and tore into the laptop, I didn’t see any liquid damage, but I’m not a trained professional. We still haven’t had a chance to look at the connection for the power more than a few minutes. (Promises, promises – my boyfriend is IT.) So it’s been in pieces for about a month now.
When/If we get it fixed and put back together I’ll be thrilled, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. He’s wanting to build me a desktop for under 300 bucks, it’ll be the best computer I’ve ever had and I think I’d prefer a desktop anyway.
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Laptop is not the only thing that needs the warranty/insurance. Other items including, LCD TV, Plasma TV, high end smart cell phone ($500+), Xbox360, Jewelry (one that covers the stone), Certain Cars (You plan to keep over 5+ years and expensive to repair). Finally, home warranty.
Things that you dont need warranty including, refrigerator, Washer and Dryer, CRT TV, most computer printer, DVD player, most desktop PC, water heater and most home electronics are getting much more reliable including digital camera/camcorder.
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American Express’ Buyer’s Assurance Plan extends most warranties one additional year. So your MBP could essentially have a two year warranty, or, with AppleCare, have a four year warranty. This is of course only if you bought it with your American Express.
https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/cda/dynamic.jsp?name=BuyersAssurance_SharedDetailsALL&type=intBenefitDetail
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I think we all agree that apple care rocks.
I had a three year warranty on my old G4 powerbook. The hard drive failed 3 days AFTER the warranty expired. They went above and beyond, repairing it at no cost to me.
My next computer will be a mac, and it’ll have a protection plan.
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IT is my field, and I agree with the others that a laptop is about the only thing that makes sense to get an extended warranty on.
A problem with the screen will cost more than $350. A problem with the hard drive will cost $100-$200. A battery problem or AC adapter problem could easily cost $100.
And with any hardware issue that’s more complex than swapping out a hard drive or memory, you’re looking at labor. Lots and lots of labor. Two or three hours of labor wouldn’t surprise me.
I get lots of requests from people to look at their laptops, in hopes that I can save them some money. Usually I can’t do much for them. I may be able to hunt down parts on eBay to get it going again, but it’ll take me twice as long to figure out how to take that laptop apart, replace the part, and put it back together. Unless I think the problem is a software issue or something simple like a hard drive, I always say no. I HATE working on the stupid things. Come to think of it, I never have met anyone who does enjoy working on them.
This isn’t a Mac vs. PC issue–designing something that can withstand the abuse a typical laptop gets is nearly impossible.
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The only time I have purchased an extended warranty was for a laptop. I was in the USAF and was about to go on a year long assignment where I would be living out of one suitcase and a carry-on bag (my laptop). In the end, my laptop was strapped down on pallets, shoved into cargo holds, slid under seats, and dropped and through it all never skipped a beat. It is 5 years old now and still runs well, though it is a little slow for my taste. I don’t regret purchasing the extended warranty at all.
I think you’ll be happy you did this; if anything for piece of mind. Besides, even though you spent real money, you can expense it!
(By the way, it was a Toshiba Satellite and a Targa case).
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Funny you should bring this up. My year and two month old Sony VHD/DVD just died. No extended warranty ‘cuz it only cost $120 in the first place. In the second place, I bought it at Costco and they will take it back and refund my money or replace the unit as long as I still have my receipt. I do.
On the Mac vs PC thing, I used to favor Mac, it’s people friendly but the constant upgrades and plugins and now new operating systems have driven me away. I want a computer that works to do what I need done, just like I want a car that runs.
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JD,
As you already stated, self-insurance is the way to go. I personally prefer the lower cost of PC’s to the high premium on Macs, and that $349 would just about purchase a replacement laptop that would be “good enough” for most things. Dell’s got refurb laptops in the 400-500 range that are pretty decent these days.
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It is funny that you state all through the article and in your comments that the extended warranty is a profit center for the companies and then you get it.
I guess it boils down to any insurance industry. If you can self insure you are far better off then paying in each month since you are just handing money for fear.
I just did a quick search online and noticed that a used mac laptop can run you 300 to 400. Not sure how fast it is but I am thinking self insuring sounds better.
The first thing I thought of was the fact that you could get a new windows desktop for 400 with some of Dell’s deals. But being a mac you are a little more constrained on the price points.
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I do have to concur with the person who suggested jewelry warranties. My husband intelligently bought at $50 lifetime warranty on my engagement ring, and we have since had to have the band, the prongs, the diamond, and the prongs (again) replaced.
Best $50 he ever spent, considering it’s saved us roughly $800 in repairs over time.
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It is funny that you state all through the article and in your comments that the extended warranty is a profit center for the companies and then you get it.
Trust me: I am painfully aware of the irony. I realize the odds are against me ever recovering my $349…
Also, as a couple people have noted, in the future I will purchase less expensive hardware. (This laptop cost as much as I could spend last November. I’m not sure why I felt compelled to buy top of the line. Sometimes my actions baffle me.)
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Also, as a couple people have noted, in the future I will purchase less expensive hardware. (This laptop cost as much as I could spend last November. I’m not sure why I felt compelled to buy top of the line. Sometimes my actions baffle me.)
Part of your frugal nature I am sure. You wanted to get something of quality that lasted for a long time.
I kind of wished I got the extended warranty for my dell laptop which I use infrequently at work. It has several vertical lines in the screen. However, I am finding that just about the time the screen goes, you are thinking it is time for an upgrade. probably my frugal nature (the 10 percent) vying with my oooooh shiny nature (the other 80… 10 percent I can’t be bothered nature)
Then again like a commenter said above, the mac warranty program is usually the best. They replace the whole thing or give you extremely excellent service. Then again maybe it is just everyone has drank the koolaid and no one posts bad mac service stories.
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I have never been much of an extended warranty buyer, as I never really saw value in them – but I like the idea of putting some money aside into a “just in case” fund for if/when something breaks, with the bonus of the money making interest while it sits there!
This is a very good idea – with the possible exception of laptops.
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The only hole in the “warranty scam buster account” logic is that you’re only setting aside and saving the premium on the insurance, not the actual insured amount. That’s not really “self-insuring.” Self-insuring means you save enough to cover the costs of repair or complete replacement. I never buy extended warranties on computer (or other) equipment, and I just live dangerously. I’ve paid for that behavior, because I’ve had to replace several computers (desktop and laptop) that developed problems after the warranty expired, but for me it’s been worth the risk.
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As stated earlier, American Express & Visa will double a warrenty up to 1 full year. My DLSR had an issue 6 months out of the factory 12 month warrenty and I freaked out, it’s part of what I use to make income for myself. Less than 15 minutes later Visa told me that all I needed to do was get it to a repair shop, get a quote and fax it it in to them, they would evaluate it and if it was approved, either cut me a check to get it repaired or cut me a check to replace it. I get a quote the next day (I have a local camera repair shop) and faxed it to them. Less than a week later the check showed up, it was back to me faster than the camera was from the repair shop. Overall, it was a GREAT experiance and the reason why I only buy electronics with AMEX or Visa.
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I only posted half of the quote from Consumer Reports. The other half noted that most major credit cards offers some form of warranty extension. I was saving that because I’d like to point that out in a full entry sometime…
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The warranty on my Dell laptop has been worth every cent. I’ve had the screen replaced twice at no cost.
Now that the processor is dying and my coverage period is up, I need to decide Mac vs. PC for my next laptop.
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((The only hole in the “warranty scam buster account” logic is that you’re only setting aside and saving the premium on the insurance, not the actual insured amount. That’s not really “self-insuring.” Self-insuring means you save enough to cover the costs of repair or complete replacement.))
No one said it was setting aside the actual insured amount, so the logic hole you mention isn’t there.
You’re looking at it the wrong way. Don’t envision a single ING sub-account called “2007 laptop self-insurance”. Envision an account for *everything*. DVD player, TV, renter’s insurance, trip insurance, etc. etc.
Over the last 5-10 years, I can only remember one occasion on which I wished I had bought the protection. For a DVD player many years ago. And I’m a gadget nut who buys plenty of toys. If I’d had the “everything insurance” account set up, and added the amount for coverage for everything I had bought, there would have been plenty enough in there to replace several DVD players. Laptop protection might be a couple hundred dollars, but I think back to all the smaller purchases that I made at Best Buy or Circuit City, where I was offered $10-$40 for coverage on something that cost between $75-$300 or so. Those amounts over that period of time would really add up and earn interest over the years, giving you your own little fund to cover losses. The insurance and warranty operations are in part making their money by earning interest and investment income on your premiums. Why not do that yourself? Why not earn interest on your premiums instead of letting them do it?
Sure there may be some items where it’s a good idea to get the coverage, such as laptops. When I made the original suggestion, I was thinking about all the times I stood next to my girlfriend at a Circuit City register, shaking my head and frowning at her when she was wondering whether to take the coverage at a cost of $20 on a $129 electronics item. Most of those are unneeded, and you can take that profit away from Circuit City and profit yourself instead. You’ll be plenty covered in terms of your dvd players and ipods and such.
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Extra Warranties are useless…particularly with technology products, they go out of style quickly and new, better models are always coming out. You’re better off buying a new one when it breaks down.
I remember buying a $12 handheld FM radio from Best Buy a few weeks ago. The cashier actually asked me if I wanted to buy extra warranty protection. And she said it with a straight face…I almost died laughing
-Raymond
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Buying the extended AppleCare warranty on the MacBook Pro is probably a mistake. Here’s why…
1. AppleCare does not cover “accidental damage”. In other words, if you drop it or spill something on it, AppleCare won’t cover it.
2. Even with AppleCare, batteries only carry a one year warranty. (The one year warranty also applies to Dell and IBM)
3. If the unit fails after the initial one-year warranty has expired and the failure was not caused by “accidental damage” the computer can be sent to Apple as a “flat rate” repair which costs $329 – less than the cost of AppleCare.
In other words, the only way AppleCare on a MacBook Pro is worth it is if you have two or more failures not caused by “accidental damage” during your second and third years of ownership.
I think the “purchase with AmEx” is the best option.
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could have been your first deposit in your scam buster account…
$349 could cover a lot of problems that you may face with your mac, but the warranty doesn’t cover everything, so essentially you could have covered things that the warranty wouldn’t have. Great idea!
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Always get the applecare plan. I work with macs on a daily basis. Over the past 5 years I’ve supported hundreds of them and applecare has come in very handy many many times, sometimes on machines that seemed perfectly solid.
I have had hard drives fail with a month to go on the warranty and Apple had the machine fixed and returned to me by mail in 48 hours.
Also, with the switch to intel and some of the new graphics chipsets and battery issues, I have noticed a definite spike in Applecare usage at work.
If I wasn’t provided a Macbook Pro at work and had to buy one myself, I would definitely get an applecare plan.
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If you bought Apple Care it was a good investment. Think of it this way
Warranties can be beneficial. Look what it covers, if it is a replacement plan, get it. If it offers to replace a consumable (like a laptop batter) then it is a good deal because batteries will go bad in the 3 year span. If they cover accidental damage and it is a laptop or something you will be lugging around, get it. And like you said, if your job depends on it, get it.
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Jordan;
AppleCare does not cover the battery. All batteries only have a one year warranty. The only exception is if there is some systemic defect in manufacturing that has happened and a recall is put into effect.
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J.D.- I write about notebooks over at http://www.notebooks.com and I generally advise against purchasing extended warranties. They’re just too expensive and generally unnecessary. There are several ways to get a free extended warranty by using the right credit card (AMEX for example) or buying it at a store that doubles your warranty (Costco).
$349 for a year of coverage is ridiculous, especially when you consider the present value of your used computer.
Extended warranties might make you ‘feel’ better, but AppleCare only extends your warranty and doesn’t cover accidental damage.
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AppleCare is worth it, because aside from the potential economic value, it is zero hassle to take advantage of the warranty. I know people who have completely destroyed their laptops in various ways and Apple always replaced them, no questions asked, and it never takes more than 72 hours. I wouldn’t count on that kind of service from Best Buy.
Xavier – it’s $349 for three years of coverage, not one, and yes they do cover accidental damage (although it may not be written in to the contract).
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I use a laptop everyday for work, it’s my lively hood. The company I work for requires me to buy a three year warranty, but I think it really is a scam. The warranty is around $400 on a $2000 laptop. one fifth of the price. They replace them every 3 years or less. So the laptop is worth 2000/36 = $55/month. It comes with a one year warranty, so your basically paying $400 on an investment that’s only worth $1333 (that’s assuming they decrement evenly, which of course, they don’t). I guess if you think the chances of totalling your laptop are greater than one in three, then get it. But how many old laptops do we have lying around that have a bad battery or something, and are just too slow to use.
I think they should just have one or two extra computers lying around ready-to-go for every fifty people or so, and they can pay for them quite quickly from the money saved from these insurances. If the laptop dies in the first year, get it fixed by the manufacturer, if it breaks after that, weigh the repair cost, and either purchase a new one, or get it fixed. With the kind of money you’ll save on warranties, you can buy your way out of most problems.
This is using the example that all of you say is the only thing you’d buy a warranty on! PLUS, buy it on an AMEX, and double the warranty.
The only warranty I’ll buy is when I’m receiving the check!
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wow! I had no idea Applecare plans were $350 on MBPs for the proletariat!
We get them for $239 because of the edumacational discount.
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There’s also the risk that a company won’t honor the warranty. It seems that these days, most companies will try to do as little as possible to honor the warranty, or honor it in such a way that it’s useless (long repair time, incompetent service, etc.).
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If you want new, I suggest buying from Costco .. They not only sell cheap, but extend the warranty for free.. I don’t buy warranties… I just don’t purchase the company’s product ever again if there are problems..Soooo I don’t buy GE, Ford, Dell, Compaq or HP any more..
However, the best warranty is to research the product on the web first … “Laptop problem complaint…” ..
I also tend to buy refurbished items.. My Averatec refurbished unit was dirt cheap and problem free.. Unlike my daughters’ Dell, Compaq and HP laptops..All dogs…
While I was on a traveling team of about 400 staff, we migrated from IBM Thinkpads to Dells. That excursion lasted only one year as the Dells were always in the shop for one thing or another… Kinda funny to hear all the problems with the Apples tho’… Could it be that advertisements are not a reflection of reality????
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Another thing to consider is your abiltiy to fix your comp if it breaks. I build my machines from the ground up, so if something goes wrong or a part breaks I can do the labor myself and just ship in a new one (I had to do this once in the last 3 years, my power supply died). Obviously things like screens or batteries can not often be fixed on your own, your mileage may vary.
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Here’s another advantage to buying AppleCare for your MacBook: it makes it easier to sell it later. I usually need to upgrade to the latest Mac every two years because I work in the Mac industry. I can ask more for a computer that will still be under excellent warranty for another year.
Also, I worry a lot less about selling. If something goes wrong soon after I’ve sold it, it’s covered. Even if it’s not my fault, I would feel bad if something went wrong with a computer I sold to someone else.
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I have an apple laptop too but I was lucky–I bought it from the university shop and they had a promo: free 3 year warranty on the laptop so I’m covered until late 2008. I had a problem with the cd drive and had it replaced quickly and for free.
I did drop it once and cracked the frame (not under warranty) but got it fixed for $125 at an apple service provider so the warranty is still good. When I get a new laptop in 2008, I will invest in the warranty because I think with laptops, it’s worth it.
For desktops, forget ithe extended warranty. I have an old iMac circa 1996 that is still running strong. I also have an iMac that’s over 2 years old and no problems at all.
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Presumably you’ve set up your warranty scam busting account now. And put a bit of cash in. I’m thinking that it needs a float just in case your next purchase is the one that really did need an extended warranty.
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A warranty scam-busting account would not work for me because I own exactly one thing for which I would consider purchasing an extended warranty: a laptop. My warranty account would have had exactly $200 plus interest in it last week when my 2.5 year-old laptop needed $800 in service.
Other than that laptop, I have had absolutely no other item I have purchased that actually broke during any potential extended warranty coverage period.
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[...] this is finally a way of getting back at the insurance companies for profiting from our laziness and fear (though some insurance makes sense to me…just not many [...]
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I never get the extended warranty on anything except laptops. I usually buy Dell laptops and get the Gold warranty because it’s so obviously a good deal and good customer service. Toddler pried a key off the keyboard? Call them up and they’ll send you a new keyboard, no questions asked. My current laptop is on it’s second keyboard and second motherboard due to the abuse I give it and this has earned my loyalty.
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@Soapdish: Where did you get the information on your point #3 about flat-rate repairs from Apple costing $329 no matter what? I have never heard that. If you have a link, post it, because I’d be interested.
@Anne – About Applecare covering accidental damage, that is completely untrue. It’s likely that you got a nice technician who did the repair anyway, or the damage couldn’t be proven as something other than a hardware failure. Certainly, those scenarios often happen, but you are really just getting lucky because the warranty explicitly states no accidental coverage. I used to work at an Apple retail store, and people used to get furious when repairs wouldn’t be covered when they had spilled water on their computer or dropped their laptop.
That being said, I am a big fan of Applecare. Mostly because I have yet to have a laptop (and I’ve had an IBM Thinkpad and and several Apple laptops) that hasn’t had a failure. And every repair has been ridiculously expensive. Fixing a failed logic board or a screen… well over the cost of the warranty. I don’t know who said they couldn’t imagine a laptop repair being more than $349, but I can’t imagine one that’s not.
I also buy Applecare because Apple’s such an easy company to work with and reliable in their service. It’s not like buying a warranty but dreading having to make a claim because the service is a nightmare to deal with. I don’t think you’ll regret your decision, JD.
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