AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod and iTunes Reviews

• Question is, who serves who?

  
  By A1CQRJFY5EEMDZ on 2004-06-27
  Be prepared to hear Apple's Service Representative tell you that, "Amazon is not an authorized reseller" and that you must fax them a copy of your sales/shipping document, and also fax them a copy of the enrollment number of the service plan along with its bar code (which is on one of the sheets of paper inside the "protection plan" package).

  If you have a fax machine at your fingertips, I guess this isn't a really big deal, but if you don't, and if you are handicapped and can only walk with great difficulty, you might decide the whole thing really isn't worth the hassle.

  Also be prepared to read your iPods serial number which is indistinctly, dimly, and microscopically etched into the backside of your machine. My tired, old eyes required my best magnifying glass with intense light to make it out, and even then I managed to mistake 2 Qs for Os on my first attempt.

  On my first request for service I found the iPod representative to be pleasant enough, even affable; but, upon reflection I realized that other than to recite the things I must FAX to them, she hadn't so much as given me the time of day, let alone an answer to the question I had asked her.
  
  

• Expensive, limited coverage

  
  By AN92S28RV1FQ4 on 2004-06-12
  Considering that this policy only extends the warranty for one year, it is expensive. Coverage for the iPod's biggest problem, its battery, is vague. Apple simply defines as non-defects some apparent battery problems, such as the fact that the battery drains very rapidly when the unit is not in use and turned off. Plus, the battery can drop drastically in usage time, and Apple protects itself by saying this: "Service coverage is available ... for battery depletion of 50 percent or more from original specification." What other company clearly states that precipitous product failure is not covered by either the original or extended warranty?
  
  

• Less expensive policy available for 29.95 from Crutchfield.com

  
  By ABX32E8BNXLKN on 2005-12-21
  Although this policy is thru Apple, it is 2x the price of similar policies available from other companies that also have very good reputations. One is Crutchfield.com which has a 2 yr. plan for $29.99 which starts *after* the standard Apple 1 yr labor coverage (for a TOTAL OF 3 YEARS). Apple extended warranty is a total of 2 years for $59.99, rather than a total of 3 years for $29.99 thru Crutchfield.
  
  

• You do have to buy this with Apple products!!

  
  By A3CII7TQWZ5TW8 on 2005-12-26
  Ok, even though i am telling you have to buy this, i gave it 4 stars, and the reason is that with Apple you will need more than 1 year warranty!! Google and you will see how many problems people have with the iPods. I bought my iPod 40gb 4g on July 2004($399,00 + tax), and after 7 or 8 months it began skipping. I thought at first it was a software glitch and overlooked it. Shortly after my warranty expired (1 year) it totally stopped working, i went to the Apple store i had bought it and they told me it is a hardware problem (and they had seen a 'few' with the same problem) and it will cost me $280,00 to fix it. :(
  So, do yourself a favor, pay the extra, but know that if this thing breaks you won't have to pay an absurd ammount of money to fix it!!
  For further accounts of people's experiences with the iPods malfunctionings, go to:
  http://jon.blogs.com/mopho/2004/03/ipod_quirks.html
  
  

• Don't buy this for the battery!

  
  By A2RI0JZB6VTD8O on 2005-08-07
  The guy at a local retail store tried to convince me I should buy this plan because all iPod batteries die within a year and a half or two years. With this plan I can supposedly get a new one for "free". But that only lasts 2 years. Why pay now when you might not even need a new battery within 2 years and Apple already offers an Out-of-Warranty Battery Replacement Program? From the Apple web site: "If your iPod requires service only because the battery's ability to hold an electrical charge has diminished, Apple will replace your iPod for a service fee of $59, plus $6.95 shipping." Just wait and spend the money when/if you need to.
  
  
• a peace of mind
  By A21DLIYKK5V5IP on 2005-08-17
  I had accidentally dropped my ipod a few times but each time afterwards it went on playing as if nothing happened. Finally a few weeks ago it suddenly froze and stopped working. All attempts later to charge it, connect it to the computer, or restore it failed (including looking into apple's website for help). I called for assistance with my AppleCare and the person I spoke to was knowledgeable and amiable, and I had no anxious feelings because I knew I was protected. The person gave me some tips to try, and told me that if it still did not work, I could call back to arrange for my ipod to be sent back as she had already documented our interaction in the computer.
  
  I did call back for it to be sent back and fixed as my own attempts were still not successful, and this time the person I spoke to was also very nice and comforting. I received my fixed ipod just a few days after with no charge to me whatsoever. I highly recommend AppleCare since it is quite convenient and really gives you a peace of mind.
  
  
  
• Not worth the money
  By A228BYYUSAAS4N on 2005-05-09
  My Ipod never worked correctly, and when I tried to send it back they said the warranty was void because of a few microscopic dents in the casing. They wanted $255 plus tax for repair. How are you not going to get wear and tear on a product meant for being on the go? If you get this plan, what are the chances that you wont get any dents in 2 years? The chances of something going wrong internally that wasnt related to some outside force is slim to none. Dont throw away the money.
  
  
• Amazon IS an Authorized iPod dealer
  By ANUPJCZCRHNZK on 2005-03-07
  Regarding the warning in the first Spotlight Review to "Be prepared to hear Apple's Service Representative tell you that, 'Amazon is not an authorized reseller'", please note that per Apple's website, Amazon.com is "a reseller authorized by Apple to make Internet or catalog sales".
  
  
• An easier way to read the serial number
  By AMLSW6ZH41711 on 2004-11-11
  I just wanted to respond to Charles Long's difficulty reading the engraved serial number off the back of the iPod. Apple does have an easier way of accessing the serial number. Just go to the Settings menu, choose About, and you'll find the s/n listed on the iPod display.
  
  That said, there's still plenty of room for improvement in Apple's AppleCare registration process, but I do recommend AppleCare for iPod -- because of the battery replacement issues, and also because the iPod is basically a very very portable hard drive.
  
  
• 100% waste of money
  By A1WEPPAXT6F6LX on 2006-07-03
  I couldn't get them to fix a cracked screen just 2 months after purchase. No pressure was put on it, it wasn't dropped, and was in a leather case the entire time. It was a small crack in the corner (no exterior damage, of course). I'd prefer to simply set three $20 bills on fire than purchase this useless "protection".
  
  
• Our unit was ancient, but they still honored it!
  By A1RQYQO7CLYV54 on 2006-04-23
  My wife bought her unit on clearance so it was "old" technology when she got it. 11 months later, the dial stopped working. We were wondering how Apple would handle something so old.
  
  Pro:
  -Replaced on the spot with a NEW unit (not repaired, not swapped with a refurbished unit)
  -Did not hassle or haggle with us
  -Evaluation of the unit took only about 30 seconds
  -Surprised how easy and hassle-free the exchange went once we had an appointment
  -Technicians were very clever, knew what they were doing and worked very quickly
  
  Con:
  -Need to go to make an appointment, go to an Apple Store and wait for them to call your name (for us the store is 45 minutes from the house, so that's a lot of needless time, travel, and aggravation)
  -Apple's process for booking the appointment was not obvious, so we wasted a lot of time in line
  -There were no more appointments available the day we went (Saturday) so we had to make two trips to resolve our warranty claim
  
  Bottom line: We recommend this item.
  
  
• Well worth the price
  By A2B7BUH8834Y6M on 2006-12-09
  Granted, I would never spend $59 to cover a $79 iPod Shuffle... but for any of the other iPods over $200, it's a good deal... and here's why.
  
  Out of the box, you get a one year limited warranty. In the first 90 days of this out-of-the-box warranty, you can call Apple once for a general question - like "how do I speed up this track" or "tell me how in the hell to use this infernal gadget!" - but after that, it's $49 per call... unless there is something technically wrong, then the call is free. It is a toll-free #.
  
  The one year limited warranty is a 2-parter. In the first 6 months of this warranty (this is where reading the fine print really helps), you can contact AppleCare or go to an Apple Retail Store if your iPod is failing (not from accidental damage, though - just if it stops working or behaves badly) - if they cannot do a software fix for it, they will replace the iPod with a refurb unit. The refurbs have new cases and new batteries - but the LCD and Hard Drive might be refurbs. This is also in the fine print. The unit is still covered under your warranty for the life of the warranty period.
  
  Your warranty period starts from the date of purchase of the iPod, not the date of purchase of the warranty. You have one year to buy the warranty and register it online. So, let's say you are a last minute shopper and you fly to New York to shop at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store that is open 24/hrs a day, 365 days a year... and you buy the blooming iPod on Christmas day. You of course remember the date (like a birthday) in your memory... knowing you have one year to buy the warranty and register it... you will have until Christmas EVE the next year to buy & register the warranty online. You cannot buy it on the one-year anniversary - it's one day too late - 366 days, not 365 days. Don't procrastinate! By waiting, you do not add time to your coverage.
  
  So - back to the limited warranty - after the first 6 months, there is a processing fee. This is waived if you have the AppleCare Protection Plan (APP), but if you just have the limited warranty, you'll pay $29 plus tax for a replacement unit. Why? They ship the old unit back to be taken apart and recycled and it covers the shipping of the replacement unit to the store or to you (if you do the mail in service instead of going to the store).
  
  When you get a replacement unit, the unit is covered for the length of your warranty or 90 days - whichever is longer.
  
  When you have APP, there are no more fees - you have coverage for 2 solid years - unlimited phone support and no fees if you have to replace the unit in the store 20 times.
  
  If you drop the unit, accidentally put it in the washing machine or run it over with your car, they will be able to tell and that kind of damage is not covered. If you have a warranty on your car, you use it if you hit a speedbump and your transmission falls out. But, if you wrap your car around a tree, this is an insurance issue, not a warranty issue. Same with the iPod. Apple does not sell insurance. Some credit cards do offer limited insurance on electronics. You will have to check w/ your card to see if this coverage is available for you.
  
  Some people opt to do all their holiday shopping at a big-box retailer w/ their attractive 6-12 months no interest deals... that's fine and dandy - but you need to be aware of some of the extended warranties they sell. Ask lots of questions.
  
  Many big-box retailers offer a 4-year warranty for about the same price as Apple's 2 year warranty - but what is in the tiny print is that in the first year, you have to take the unit to Apple for service. So - you take it into Apple (or mail it in) - they don't 'repair' your unit - they either do a software fix if it was corrupted software (something you can do yourself at home) or they will replace the unit. When they replace the unit, you now have a new serial number - and this is not covered by the other retailer's 4-year warranty. You won't know this until 2 years later your ipod dies again - you go to the big box retailer and they tell you that the iPod you have in your hand is not the one you covered with their warranty. Oops!
  
  With your APP warranty, you're paying 8 cents a day for peace of mind. And if you're buying a $400 iPod, it's nice that you don't have to worry about getting another one for 2 years. It's a hefty investment only to have to pay $30 for a replacement in 6 months if the thing starts acting funny, then paying for a new one. By the time your APP runs out, you know they will have come out w/ some new awesome model you 'have to have' anyway. I still have the first iPod I bought about 5 years ago and it still works. The battery life is nil, but plugged in, it still works... but I still bought a new model when it came out... and you will too.
  
  
• Not had to use it
  By A3D76NXF6GXW4 on 2005-10-08
  I bought this protection plan for the ipod that I have for peace of mind and protection. Although I have not had to use it, it is nice to have. If I do use the protection plan I will write another review about my experience.
  
  
• worth every penny
  By AA75UTE10SO3V on 2005-04-26
  i've been a mac user for years and kept my computers around longer than pc users, so i didn't really think i needed to purchase the acpp. i pre-purchased a mini when they rolled them out and went ahead and bought the plan with it. it has been worth every penny. i dropped my pod riding my bike in the fall and couldn't get it to work again. apple replaced my pod within 3 days. also one of the reviewers said the plan is only for a year. i was under the impression the pod is covered for two years. however i purchased my plan directly from apple.
  
  
• ??
  By A2RLIYL9W8LXNE on 2004-07-19
  Why on earth would anyone buy applecare from amazon.com? I mean, really, come on.
  
  
• DON'T BUY IPOD OR CARE!!!
  By A1HVBXHORK5FYK on 2006-10-10
  Do not buy one of these pieces of crap. In my first year I had two of them die on me. Since they were covered under the Apple Warranty apple replaced them after serval hours of me waiting at the Apple store. Before the end of my first year I bought the Apple care extended Warranty to cover the current ipod I had for another year, figuring it would die on me within the year, and it did, this time killing my computer's bios while it was at it. Another serval hours of waiting for help at the apple store, they said they couldn't replace it because it wasn't covered anymore. I check with Apple and for reasons that no one can explain to me, the apple care was "returned". This was not done at my request, nor was I ever notified of this so called return. I will never buy another apple product, I got better customer service from Dell when I was speaking with people that didn't speak english. I have spent way more time and money on this terrible piece of S*** than I ever thought I would. I recommend a Archos or Creative product instead.
  
  
• Caveat emptor
  By A389258EAM3PVA on 2006-12-29
  I am always leery about paying extra for so-called extended warranty/protection plans for electronic goods, as for the most part, the products last longer than the time frame that is covered. However, I did relent to buying this because I had read the coverage was a worthy investment for those who use iPods a lot (i.e., like an everyday item or so). So soon after I bought a new iPod, I purchased the protection plan from Apple's website.
  
  Needless to say, I missed one little bit of fine print about exactly what is covered, or rather, what is NOT covered. As it turns out, I found that their LCD screen is not very hardy, and apparently, too expensive to replace or repair. I'm not referring to the early Nano models that got scratched easily; I had a 5G, 60 GB model. It worked like a charm for a couple months until I accidentally bumped into something while it was strapped to me. It wasn't even hit that hard. But I noticed the internal display was now cracked, making portions of the screen illegible. The next day, the screen was "dead," meaning while the backlight still worked, nothing was displayed on the screen. Of course, Apple refused to take care of that problem, so I blew $60 for a warranty that is totally useless. And I might as well consider the iPod a $400 loss as well, as it's impossible to use without a display. (As of now, I'm going to relegate this POS to one of those companies that buy broken iPods.)
  
  Apple's website gives a really good sales pitch about their protection plan, like you're getting world-class service and peace of mind. I received neither.
  
  
• 3 iPods Replaced No Questions Asked
  By A3TPXS56ZGI3K2 on 2006-10-06
  I've had my iPod replaced 3 times in the second year of coverage--that's $1200 worth of merchandise--and once was my fault. Granted, the iPod shouldn't breakdown that many times in 2 years, but you have to face reality here: an iPod is a little computer with a spinning hard drive being bandied about like it's a cassette tape (assuming you don't have a mini iPod with a Flash drive.) The beauty also is Apple sent me a box paid all shipping both ways and the turnaround was always about a week, including shipping. The $59 is well worth it. Imagine treating your laptop like you do your iPod--an iPod is not a Walkman. And of course they're not going to replace it when you bring it in with a cracked display window. How on Earth is that their fault? That's crazy. That's like bringing your car in for warranty repair for a broken windshield and saying "hey, come on man, I kept it in the drive way."
  
  
• Tell Apple to go #$&% themselves
  By A19R6RUWYIVXJE on 2006-10-07
  What a waste of money. For $300 you shouldn't HAVE to buy a protection plan for the 2nd year of a products life; unfortunately the poor quality of iPods makes it a necessity. BUT, the protection plan is riddled with clauses that exclude any number of reasonable issues.
  
  I've bought Apple for the last 15 years, but never again will I send them my money.
  
  
• Well worth it!
  By AXUS946YP0M5 on 2006-11-16
  Although it may seem like anouther expense when you buy your iPod, it is well worth the price! I had a 1st gen iPod Nano that was a year old and had so many scratches on it! My battery was also starting to not hold a charge so I sent it back expecting them to replace the battery and send me back my old iPod.
  
  Instead, they sent me back a fully functional new iPod Nano. Thats a 200 dollar value! It sure saves you money!
  
  

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