dc8900
Distinguished Member
(Hi guys, as requested here is the proto-sticky on Apple Care that I agreed to write last week, do reply with suggestions and thoughts )
AppleCare: Standard Warranty and AppleCare Protection Plan (Extended Warranty)
Defined:
AppleCare: is the standard Apple warranty that is supplied on all new Apple products. The standard warranty is for 1 year from the date of purchase and also includes 90 days complimentary telephone support. For this sticky, it will now be referred to as ‘SW'
AppleCare Protection Plan (APP): is the extended warranty that can be purchased for all Apple products anytime during the first year of complimentary coverage. For Apple computers and Apple Displays, this extends coverage to 3 years service including 3 years telephone support. For the iphone, ipad, ipod range and Apple TV, coverage is extended to 2 years service including 2 years telephone support. For this sticky, it will now be referred to as ‘APP'
Please note both SW and APP do NOT cover accidental coverage or liquid damage etc
Both SW and APP are ‘collect and return' but for desktops you can request onsite service
Apple warranties also include global coverage
What's covered? at a glance (sections adapted from Apple.com-All rights reserved to Apple, Inc):
For Apple Computers and Display the following:
For Computers:
Your Mac computer
Included accessories such as the power adapter
Apple memory (RAM)*
AirPort Express Base Station, AirPort Extreme Base Station, or Time Capsule2*
MacBook Air SuperDrive (for MacBook Air and Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server only)*
Apple display purchased with your Mac**
KBM if purchased with the Mac Mini
*Provided you buy them within 2 years of getting your mac
**If purchased at the same time
For Apple Displays (As a stand alone purchase):
Your Apple display
Built-in iSight camera, microphone, and speaker system
Included power cord
For iPhone:
Your iPhone
Battery (if it depletes by at least 50%)
Included earphones and accessories
For iPod:
Your iPod
Battery (if it depletes by at least 50%)
Included earphones and USB cable
For iPad:
Your iPad
Battery (if it depletes by at least 50%)
Included USB cable and power adapter
For Apple TV:
Your Apple TV
AirPort Express Base Station, AirPort Extreme Base Station, or Time Capsule (if purchased 2 years before your ATV purchase or during your APP coverage)
Included Apple Remote and power cord
SW and APP also include Software telephone support for Apple software products
How to Purchase APP:
If you purchase your APP at the same time as your Apple product, be it at the online Apple store or a retail Apple store, you are normally auto-enrolled for the extended coverage.
If you purchase at the same time (in the same transaction) and are not sure you were auto-enrolled, you can check your coverage status here: https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do
If your APP was not auto-enrolled, you can register your plan here: Apple - Support - AppleCare Products Overview
As mentioned, the AppleCare Protection Plan (extended warranty) can be purchased at any time during the first year of complimentary coverage of your Apple product. You do not need to purchase APP at the same time as your Apple purchase (unless you are buying HE price APP, which will be explained below)
You can purchase APP in a number of ways, online from the Apple online store (Apple (United Kingdom) - Support - AppleCare ) or any Apple Authorised Reseller (online/instore) and the Apple retail stores.
Current prices for APP products are as follows (correct as of 04/01/2012)
iMac - £139.00
Mac Mini - £129.00
Mac Pro - £199.00
MacBook/MacBook Air/13” MacBook Pro - £199.00
MacBook Pro 15” and 17” - £279.00
iPad - £69.00
Apple Display - £69.00
iPhone - £61.00
iPod Touch/iPod Classic - £40.00
iPod Nano/iPad Shuffle - £26.00
Apple TV - £26.00
HE APP:
As was alluded to above, like the general Higher Education discount for Apple products, qualifying customers can also get heavily discounted APP for the following products (Please note, you can only get the HE APP price if you buy it at the same time, if you choose to buy APP at a later date, you are liable for the full regular price*)
This is recommended if purchasing in-store, however if you purchase from your respective HE store, you can make further savings (as detailed below)
Prices are correct as of 06/01/12
Apple laptops - £48.00
iMac - £45.60
Mac Mini - £36.00
Mac Pro - £54.00
HE price APP is exactly the same as the regular APP
*As mentioned, if you buy the Apple Care separately but if you do online via your HE store you can still get a discount but it is advisable to get at the same time as the pricing is as follows:
Prices are correct as of 06/01/12
MacBook Pro 15" and 17" - £220.80
Macbook, Macbook Air, Macbook Prop 13" - £157.00
iMac - £110.40
Mac Mini - £102.00
Mac Pro - £157.20
Apple Display - £54.00
iPod Touch/Classic - £31.20
Complimentary HE Agreement coverage from online HE stores
When purchasing from a HE online store, eligible agreements allow for the user to gain 1 years telephone support and 3 years hardware coverage. Alongside this, you can opt to pay for the AppleCare Protection Plan Uplift which extends the telephone support to 3 years as well as global repair coverage that is offered in under full APP (prices for this is the same as the in-store price for HE price APP.
Other Purchase Channels:
While APP is excellent value for money and provides first class service, unless you're a HE customer it certainly is not cheap. Whilst I personally would recommend purchase through official channels; you can purchase APP through additional third parties.
Ebay sellers: A popular route for many users is obtaining APP codes or packs from sellers on ebay. There are considerable savings to be made and many users have reported no problems. However do remember to always check feedback on previously sold APP products and search forums for recommended sellers. One issue to be weary of is that a minority of sellers will sell codes that were electronically generated and thus when you enter it on Apple's website it appears to work. However, several months later, Apple will discover the forgery and cancel your coverage, by which time you may have already left positive feedback or the chance for an ebay/paypal dispute and refund has expired. Furthermore it should be noted that in a very small number of cases, it has transpired that some sellers when selling APP in digital form only, will provide you with a genuine product but will then get their genuine purchase refunded by Apple and so leaving you in the lurch/unaware until you need to require APP service
Cex: Another method is to use your local Computer Exchange who may often have sealed boxed APP products on sale for considerably less than at official channels. As above, always use caution and common sense when making such purchases.
Please note, that to fully register an APP agreement you need both the enrolment number (found inside the APP box or on your receipt if you purchase in store at the same time as a mac) and also the AppleCare Agreement Administration may also require the original sales receipt of the plan from either Apple or one of it's Apple Authorised Resellers.*
* If the serial is alphanumeric, you will normally not be required to provide proof of purchase (although of course, Apple may reserve the right to do so). If the code is numeric (Apple's older serial system) then you will be asked for proof of purchase as described above
Also avoid APP boxes which state 'Auto-Enrol' if they are sold separately, such editions are fine if purchasing at the same time as your Apple hardware purchase but should be avoided if presented for a stand alone purchase
How to obtain SW/APP service:
When anything goes wrong, this is when your SW/APP kicks in, you can obtain service in a number of ways
1) Apple
2) Apple Authorised Service Providers
Apple:
To arrange service online, follow this link https://selfsolve.apple.com/GetWarranty.do and enter your product hardware serial number.
To get service in person, you can arrange an appointment at the Genius Bar of any Apple Store Apple Retail Store (United Kingdom) - Genius Bar
Apple Authorised Service Providers:
If you're not near an Apple Store or arranging service online is not convenient you can get service from an Apple Authorised Service Provider; to find your nearest provider follow this link to Apple's official directory: Apple (United Kingdom) - Resource Locator
Express Lane:
For APP customers you can cut down on form trawling by using Apple's Express Lane service: https://expresslane.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.do
Transfer APP, How to:
Should you decide to sell your Apple product and you still have time remaining on your APP, you are permitted to make one permanent transfer to another customer, it is described in the APP T&C's:
10. Transfer of Plan
(i) With Transfer of Covered Equipment to New Owner. Subject to the restrictions set forth below, you
may make a one-time permanent transfer of all of your rights under the Plan to another party, provided
that: (a) the transfer includes the original Proof of Purchase, the Plan's Confirmation and all of the Plan's
packaging material, including printed materials and these Terms and Conditions; (b) you notify Apple of
the transfer by sending or faxing notice of transfer to Apple Customer Support, Hollyhill Industrial Estate, Hollyhill, Cork, Republic of Ireland (fax number: +353 (0)21 428 3917; and (c) the party receiving the Plan accepts the Terms and Conditions of the Plan. When notifying Apple of the transfer of the Plan, you must provide the Plan Agreement Number, the serial number of the Covered Equipment being transferred and the name, address, telephone number and email address of the new owner.
(ii) With Transfer From Original Covered Equipment to New Covered Equipment. You may make a one
time, permanent transfer of the coverage under the Plan to a new Apple product that is owned and
purchased by you within thirty (30) days of the Covered Equipment purchase. The new product must be
eligible for coverage under the Plan and at the time of transfer both products must be covered under
the Apple one (1) year limited warranty. Apple will issue a Plan Confirmation for the new product, which
will then become the Covered Equipment. When notifying Apple of the transfer, you must provide the
Plan Agreement Number, the serial numbers and Proof of Purchase of the products being transferred by
sending or faxing, where available, notice of transfer to Apple as set forth in the section immediately
above.
Please note: for the above, if you purchase APP in the same transactions as your product, your receipt/invoice acts as the certificate as mentioned in the excerpt.
AppleCare and AppleCare Protection Plan T&Cs:
SW and APP t&c's can be found here:
For SW: Apple - Legal
For APP: Apple - Legal - Service Products
AppleCare: Standard Warranty and AppleCare Protection Plan (Extended Warranty)
Defined:
AppleCare: is the standard Apple warranty that is supplied on all new Apple products. The standard warranty is for 1 year from the date of purchase and also includes 90 days complimentary telephone support. For this sticky, it will now be referred to as ‘SW'
AppleCare Protection Plan (APP): is the extended warranty that can be purchased for all Apple products anytime during the first year of complimentary coverage. For Apple computers and Apple Displays, this extends coverage to 3 years service including 3 years telephone support. For the iphone, ipad, ipod range and Apple TV, coverage is extended to 2 years service including 2 years telephone support. For this sticky, it will now be referred to as ‘APP'
Please note both SW and APP do NOT cover accidental coverage or liquid damage etc
Both SW and APP are ‘collect and return' but for desktops you can request onsite service
Apple warranties also include global coverage
What's covered? at a glance (sections adapted from Apple.com-All rights reserved to Apple, Inc):
For Apple Computers and Display the following:
For Computers:
Your Mac computer
Included accessories such as the power adapter
Apple memory (RAM)*
AirPort Express Base Station, AirPort Extreme Base Station, or Time Capsule2*
MacBook Air SuperDrive (for MacBook Air and Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server only)*
Apple display purchased with your Mac**
KBM if purchased with the Mac Mini
*Provided you buy them within 2 years of getting your mac
**If purchased at the same time
For Apple Displays (As a stand alone purchase):
Your Apple display
Built-in iSight camera, microphone, and speaker system
Included power cord
For iPhone:
Your iPhone
Battery (if it depletes by at least 50%)
Included earphones and accessories
For iPod:
Your iPod
Battery (if it depletes by at least 50%)
Included earphones and USB cable
For iPad:
Your iPad
Battery (if it depletes by at least 50%)
Included USB cable and power adapter
For Apple TV:
Your Apple TV
AirPort Express Base Station, AirPort Extreme Base Station, or Time Capsule (if purchased 2 years before your ATV purchase or during your APP coverage)
Included Apple Remote and power cord
SW and APP also include Software telephone support for Apple software products
How to Purchase APP:
If you purchase your APP at the same time as your Apple product, be it at the online Apple store or a retail Apple store, you are normally auto-enrolled for the extended coverage.
If you purchase at the same time (in the same transaction) and are not sure you were auto-enrolled, you can check your coverage status here: https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do
If your APP was not auto-enrolled, you can register your plan here: Apple - Support - AppleCare Products Overview
As mentioned, the AppleCare Protection Plan (extended warranty) can be purchased at any time during the first year of complimentary coverage of your Apple product. You do not need to purchase APP at the same time as your Apple purchase (unless you are buying HE price APP, which will be explained below)
You can purchase APP in a number of ways, online from the Apple online store (Apple (United Kingdom) - Support - AppleCare ) or any Apple Authorised Reseller (online/instore) and the Apple retail stores.
Current prices for APP products are as follows (correct as of 04/01/2012)
iMac - £139.00
Mac Mini - £129.00
Mac Pro - £199.00
MacBook/MacBook Air/13” MacBook Pro - £199.00
MacBook Pro 15” and 17” - £279.00
iPad - £69.00
Apple Display - £69.00
iPhone - £61.00
iPod Touch/iPod Classic - £40.00
iPod Nano/iPad Shuffle - £26.00
Apple TV - £26.00
HE APP:
As was alluded to above, like the general Higher Education discount for Apple products, qualifying customers can also get heavily discounted APP for the following products (Please note, you can only get the HE APP price if you buy it at the same time, if you choose to buy APP at a later date, you are liable for the full regular price*)
This is recommended if purchasing in-store, however if you purchase from your respective HE store, you can make further savings (as detailed below)
Prices are correct as of 06/01/12
Apple laptops - £48.00
iMac - £45.60
Mac Mini - £36.00
Mac Pro - £54.00
HE price APP is exactly the same as the regular APP
*As mentioned, if you buy the Apple Care separately but if you do online via your HE store you can still get a discount but it is advisable to get at the same time as the pricing is as follows:
Prices are correct as of 06/01/12
MacBook Pro 15" and 17" - £220.80
Macbook, Macbook Air, Macbook Prop 13" - £157.00
iMac - £110.40
Mac Mini - £102.00
Mac Pro - £157.20
Apple Display - £54.00
iPod Touch/Classic - £31.20
Complimentary HE Agreement coverage from online HE stores
When purchasing from a HE online store, eligible agreements allow for the user to gain 1 years telephone support and 3 years hardware coverage. Alongside this, you can opt to pay for the AppleCare Protection Plan Uplift which extends the telephone support to 3 years as well as global repair coverage that is offered in under full APP (prices for this is the same as the in-store price for HE price APP.
Other Purchase Channels:
While APP is excellent value for money and provides first class service, unless you're a HE customer it certainly is not cheap. Whilst I personally would recommend purchase through official channels; you can purchase APP through additional third parties.
Ebay sellers: A popular route for many users is obtaining APP codes or packs from sellers on ebay. There are considerable savings to be made and many users have reported no problems. However do remember to always check feedback on previously sold APP products and search forums for recommended sellers. One issue to be weary of is that a minority of sellers will sell codes that were electronically generated and thus when you enter it on Apple's website it appears to work. However, several months later, Apple will discover the forgery and cancel your coverage, by which time you may have already left positive feedback or the chance for an ebay/paypal dispute and refund has expired. Furthermore it should be noted that in a very small number of cases, it has transpired that some sellers when selling APP in digital form only, will provide you with a genuine product but will then get their genuine purchase refunded by Apple and so leaving you in the lurch/unaware until you need to require APP service
Cex: Another method is to use your local Computer Exchange who may often have sealed boxed APP products on sale for considerably less than at official channels. As above, always use caution and common sense when making such purchases.
Please note, that to fully register an APP agreement you need both the enrolment number (found inside the APP box or on your receipt if you purchase in store at the same time as a mac) and also the AppleCare Agreement Administration may also require the original sales receipt of the plan from either Apple or one of it's Apple Authorised Resellers.*
* If the serial is alphanumeric, you will normally not be required to provide proof of purchase (although of course, Apple may reserve the right to do so). If the code is numeric (Apple's older serial system) then you will be asked for proof of purchase as described above
Also avoid APP boxes which state 'Auto-Enrol' if they are sold separately, such editions are fine if purchasing at the same time as your Apple hardware purchase but should be avoided if presented for a stand alone purchase
How to obtain SW/APP service:
When anything goes wrong, this is when your SW/APP kicks in, you can obtain service in a number of ways
1) Apple
2) Apple Authorised Service Providers
Apple:
To arrange service online, follow this link https://selfsolve.apple.com/GetWarranty.do and enter your product hardware serial number.
To get service in person, you can arrange an appointment at the Genius Bar of any Apple Store Apple Retail Store (United Kingdom) - Genius Bar
Apple Authorised Service Providers:
If you're not near an Apple Store or arranging service online is not convenient you can get service from an Apple Authorised Service Provider; to find your nearest provider follow this link to Apple's official directory: Apple (United Kingdom) - Resource Locator
Express Lane:
For APP customers you can cut down on form trawling by using Apple's Express Lane service: https://expresslane.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.do
Transfer APP, How to:
Should you decide to sell your Apple product and you still have time remaining on your APP, you are permitted to make one permanent transfer to another customer, it is described in the APP T&C's:
10. Transfer of Plan
(i) With Transfer of Covered Equipment to New Owner. Subject to the restrictions set forth below, you
may make a one-time permanent transfer of all of your rights under the Plan to another party, provided
that: (a) the transfer includes the original Proof of Purchase, the Plan's Confirmation and all of the Plan's
packaging material, including printed materials and these Terms and Conditions; (b) you notify Apple of
the transfer by sending or faxing notice of transfer to Apple Customer Support, Hollyhill Industrial Estate, Hollyhill, Cork, Republic of Ireland (fax number: +353 (0)21 428 3917; and (c) the party receiving the Plan accepts the Terms and Conditions of the Plan. When notifying Apple of the transfer of the Plan, you must provide the Plan Agreement Number, the serial number of the Covered Equipment being transferred and the name, address, telephone number and email address of the new owner.
(ii) With Transfer From Original Covered Equipment to New Covered Equipment. You may make a one
time, permanent transfer of the coverage under the Plan to a new Apple product that is owned and
purchased by you within thirty (30) days of the Covered Equipment purchase. The new product must be
eligible for coverage under the Plan and at the time of transfer both products must be covered under
the Apple one (1) year limited warranty. Apple will issue a Plan Confirmation for the new product, which
will then become the Covered Equipment. When notifying Apple of the transfer, you must provide the
Plan Agreement Number, the serial numbers and Proof of Purchase of the products being transferred by
sending or faxing, where available, notice of transfer to Apple as set forth in the section immediately
above.
Please note: for the above, if you purchase APP in the same transactions as your product, your receipt/invoice acts as the certificate as mentioned in the excerpt.
AppleCare and AppleCare Protection Plan T&Cs:
SW and APP t&c's can be found here:
For SW: Apple - Legal
For APP: Apple - Legal - Service Products
Last edited: