Apple Care for Macbook

cambsno

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My aluminium macbook is coming up for a year old (in 5 days).

Been fine so far, now I need to decide about getting Apple Care. Worth it or not? Like anything like this, chances are I wont use it - have never taken out warranties on previous computers and so I guess even if this breaks then in theory I have probably saved enough over the years to buy another! £195 is not cheap either!

Mine is only the basic one.

IMO Apple is a reliable brand so worth getting - yes or no?
 
Another vote for eBay apple care. Mine was about £90 for my MBP, and I had a complete display replacement (the whole lid) a couple of months ago. No quibbles, just dropped it off at the Apple store and collected 3 days later.

Considering the price of the MacBook, it's worth buying.
 
Im sure you need to buy it when your purchasing your mac as a student. I think it works out at like £50 ish
 
I bought an Ebay code on the day before the 1 year one ran out and it registered fine.
 
I did a top tip about this a while ago in my TOP TIPS thread.

The Applecare codes are worldwide so you can buy one from wherever is cheapest and as there is no physical need to have the paperwork they can just email the code over.

When I bought the Applecare for my Mac Pro I got it for under £60 from the USA when it was £200+ here PLUS my Macbook pro one for £85 (if I remember rightly) from Ireland when it was £200+ here.

So buy it from anywhere you like in the world, enter the code and hey presto all sorted.
 
Seeing this was actually a timely reminder that I need to do one for my Imac
 
I would only buy off a seller who also offers to post the physical item, because the codes can be generated too, and Apple eventually find out and ask for the box serial numbers
 
Bought off ebay for £70 and all ok for another 2 years now!
 
Do you mind me asking which seller you bought from, planning ahead for the iMac...
 
Also check CeX for AppleCare, they sometimes have quite cheap deals. Also if you fit Apple's definition of a student, I think the extra AppleCare only costs ~£35.
 
My 1 year warranty has expired now (expired a couple of months ago). Can I go and get AppleCare now? I was thinking it might put my mind at rest in case my MB suddenly dies...

No you must have a current warranty :(
 
No you must have a current warranty :(

bah, rubbish.

Maybe I'll buy one of the new MBP's then :D

AppleCare covers everything in your household (MB/Time Capsule/iMac etc) or so the Apple support person told me, so if I were to get a new computer from Apple would I then be able to purchase the AppleCare and have that cover my MB? Probably not now I've said (written) it out loud, and I guess that's more a question for the Apple forums :lol:
 
bah, rubbish.

Maybe I'll buy one of the new MBP's then :D

AppleCare covers everything in your household (MB/Time Capsule/iMac etc) or so the Apple support person told me, so if I were to get a new computer from Apple would I then be able to purchase the AppleCare and have that cover my MB? Probably not now I've said (written) it out loud, and I guess that's more a question for the Apple forums :lol:

No, the appecare only covers certain peripherals purchased with the computer that you are getting the applecare for ie monitors, keyboards, mice, airports, time capsules
 
Mine runs out the end of the month, where's the best price at the mo for cover for a MBP 13"?

Thanks
 
Japan via ebay = £64.98 LINK

UK via Apple = £199 LINK


Hmmmm :shrug: Nope can't work it out ;)
 
If you know anyone who is in education it is about £43 just need an NUS card and an apple store..!
 
If you know anyone who is in education it is about £43 just need an NUS card and an apple store..!

It has to be university and it is only when they run that offer and only with a new machine ;)
 
I am on a university campus and it is coming up as £157 so not as cheap as when you buy it....

Bummer.
 
I am on a university campus and it is coming up as £157 so not as cheap as when you buy it....

Bummer.

;) I know....

They often run a virtual give away Apple care offer for students but it is to sell new machines and the Apple care is already linked to the machine when you get it so the Japan or USA route is best this time.
 
From the flipside, I didn't bother with Apple Care.
After 3 years of faultless running, my Macbook developed a fault where it wouldn't sleep properly, over heated and killed the battery.
Being out of warranty and with no AppleCare I took it into the Apple Store at the Bullring fearing what this was about to cost me.
They had a look, diagnosed a fault with the microswitch that controls putting it to sleep and whisked it off to be repaired. This was Sunday lunch time.
At 10am Monday morning, I got a call to say it was ready. They'd replaced the faulty switch, the cover around the keyboard (as it was chipped), the bezel around the screen (which was cracked) and put me a new battery in.
All of this work cost me the princely sum of £80 for the replacement switch (£5) and new battery (£75 - which needed replacing anyway as it only lasted 30 mins on a full chanrege before it got fried), they wiaved the costs for the other replacement parts and all the labour was free :thumbs:

Now I appreciate that something far mor expensive may break, but other than covering the cost of that, what else does AppleCare get you?
 
From the flipside, I didn't bother with Apple Care.
After 3 years of faultless running, my Macbook developed a fault where it wouldn't sleep properly, over heated and killed the battery.
Being out of warranty and with no AppleCare I took it into the Apple Store at the Bullring fearing what this was about to cost me.
They had a look, diagnosed a fault with the microswitch that controls putting it to sleep and whisked it off to be repaired. This was Sunday lunch time.
At 10am Monday morning, I got a call to say it was ready. They'd replaced the faulty switch, the cover around the keyboard (as it was chipped), the bezel around the screen (which was cracked) and put me a new battery in.
All of this work cost me the princely sum of £80 for the replacement switch (£5) and new battery (£75 - which needed replacing anyway as it only lasted 30 mins on a full chanrege before it got fried), they wiaved the costs for the other replacement parts and all the labour was free :thumbs:

Now I appreciate that something far mor expensive may break, but other than covering the cost of that, what else does AppleCare get you?

3 years of telephone support.
Tech tools utilities disc.
 
Be careful purchasing applecare from ebay, as some of the codes are generated, apple are now asking for proof of purchase of the apple care, as per the terms and conditions, you must have a valid receipt from an authorised apple reseller, ebay purchases do not count, quite a few people are now finding out their applecare is worthless.
 
Be careful purchasing applecare from ebay, as some of the codes are generated, apple are now asking for proof of purchase of the apple care, as per the terms and conditions, you must have a valid receipt from an authorised apple reseller, ebay purchases do not count, quite a few people are now finding out their applecare is worthless.

I have not seen this happen and have claimed on my Apple Care for the MBP and Pro but buyer beware so they say........ Best take this into account.
 
I claimed on my applecare years ago from ebay, but now its just not worth it, thats my opinion.

Also read the link Edtog posted further up the thread.
 
I bought my Applecare from an Apple Reseller with 5 digit feedback so being an Apple Reseller all was well. Seriously though it is worth being particularly careful buying Apple Care this way.
 
I never bought it, but my Macbook's casing kept cracking by the palm. Four times it happened and each time I kicked up and they replaced it, although on the fourth time (2 years after purchase) I told them I wanted a full refund, it took a week or so of arguing, but I got it and bought a MBP with the money.
 
I never bought it, but my Macbook's casing kept cracking by the palm. Four times it happened and each time I kicked up and they replaced it, although on the fourth time (2 years after purchase) I told them I wanted a full refund, it took a week or so of arguing, but I got it and bought a MBP with the money.

That is a know fault with macbooks and apple will replace or refund as a standard response.
 
Sounds like it's a good plan then. Also sounds like the customer services in the Apple shops is also good. Any other experiences good or bad??...

You will rarely hear bad reports. They replaced the entire motherboard on Wail's laptop out of warranty! They have just replaced mine too and also replaced the power supply because the lead was tatty !
 
That is a know fault with macbooks and apple will replace or refund as a standard response.

Nope, it certainly wasn't a standard response. I had to get trading standards involved well before they even offered to fix it again, let alone refund me.
 
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