Best way to protect new Iphone...Verizon Insurance or Applecare

[zoo2tycoon]

Posted on Community Board but thought might be more of a budget issue since I want to go best route economically. IF THIS IS IN WRONG PLACE I APOLOGIZE!

Just got the Iphone 4S. Currently have insurance on the 3 phones we purchased. I didn't know about Applecare until a friend told me about.

We have never had smart phones, but my family is very careful with phones and never had to replace or had them lost or stolen.

With the cost of the phones I feel we should have something. So with verizon it is 9.99 month per phone. This does cover lost and stolen BUT we have to pay the cost of the phone (in our case a lost Iphone would be 149). So Applecare doesn't do the replacement of lost or stolen but does cover for the problems with the phone.

To those with Iphones what do you have .....

Thanks...trying to save money. OR do I even need to worry about insurance or applecare (although I can say after the 1 year warranty on our basic phones they have had issues within 2 months after that warranty expires).

 

[Miss Mary Poppins]

I declined insurance from Verizon and didn't know about the apple insurance. I have never had insurance on a phone, but I never thought about how expensive it would to replace one either. hmmm

 

[My2Qtz0205]

I'm not familiar with Verizon's insurance, but Apple's insurance is a rip-off, IMO. The only thing it covers is software failure. We learned the hard way to buy all of our Apple products through Best Buy and to get their warranty. Theirs covers everything, even accidental damage.

 

[clm10308]

AppleCare isn't really insurance. It is more like an extended warranty. As long as you live relatively close to an Apple store, there is no need to get this. If you ver have a software issue with the phone, just take it to the Apple store, and they can usually fix it. As the PP stated, AppleCare does not cover loss, theft, or accidental damage.
Personally, I would not get either. my family has owned many cell phones over the years, including iphons, in a major metropolitain area and have never had one lost or stolen.
Accidental damage is another story. If your plan covers water damage or damage to the screen, I might consider it.

 

[njsweetP]

Neither, use Squaretrade (squaretrade.com). Best coverage and best price, especially if you can find a code.

 

[CatNipRules]

I definitely agree with the PP. I only use Squaretrade for my warranites. They are cheaper and the claims are handled quickly.

 

[NancyIL]

We have Sprint, and my DH and I got new phones last month. Mine is an iPhone, and we don't have an Apple store near us. So - we added a rider on our homeowner's insurance policy for the new phones, rather than pay for Apple's insurance.

 

[scrapquitler]

I kept Verizon's insurance for the first year (which just ended in Feb). This month I dropped the insurance because I figure that if something happens to my iphone, I will just upgrade and get the newest model....at this point if I still had the insurance, I'd have a $99 (or is it $109?) copay to get it replaced, by saving the $7 or whatever the insurance per month costs plus that copay, I could just replace the phone with the current model and renew my contract for about the same price.

 

[scooffer]

Another vote for SquareTrade. We have our iPad, portable DVD players, Dehumidifiers, and phones all on Square Trade. I have already made a claim on one of the Dehumidifiers, easiest transaction ever! Google for coupon codes for ever better prices

 

[PurpleDog]

If you live near an Apple store, you are OK to a certain extent ... FOR ONE YEAR ONLY.

AppleCare is an extended warranty. Most Apple products come with a 1 year warranty and allow one phone call to AppleCare for any reason during the first 90 days of ownership. The Apple Care extends your warranty out to 2 years from the date of purchase AND allows unlimited support calls. I have AppleCare on 2 iPads and a Touch, and its has saved my bacon more than once. I've had iPad replaced because of a light leak problems, and had many app and iTunes issues resolved over the phone. Sooner of later you WILL need to talk to someone, and without AppleCare it's $29.95 per call.

I wall also mention that I never buy the AppleCare from Apple. It's much cheaper on eBay. =)

 

[adventure_woman]

My DH just got an iPhone. Instead of spending money on the insurance, he got a lifeproof case. At least online - that thing is amazing. Waterproof, you can literally throw the phone across the pavement and it is fine. The first thing he had to do when he got it was to put it in water for an hour (w/o the phone in it) to make sure it was waterproof. I think it was $80 or so?

 

[KristiKat]

Not worth it in my opinion. Get a good case. I know that Verizon insurance is a rip off. My mom dropped her phone and they sent her a used and refurbished phone. Guess what, it didn't work either so she had to get them to send another. You pay that money every month and they send you a used phone that they have "fixed". I love Verizon coverage but the insurance sucks. You could just put the money you would pay on insurance in a savings account each month and if anything happens buy a new phone. Don't know about the AppleCare.