Understanding AppleCare Protection Plan

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IORIGIN

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It is to benefit those who are going to purchase AppleCare Protection Plan.


There are cases whereby apple customers got their favorite apple product covered by AppleCare protection plan, but when come to repairing using the plan, it is voided as Apple couldn't authenticate the source of the AppleCare purchase. That is true even for those who had went thru a successful registration and confirmation email.
For those bought directly from Apple Store or Apple authorized resellers, you are probably quite safe from the above issue provided you kept the sale receipt/ proof of purchase.

There are a few important points to take note when come to purchasing of AppleCare.

1) Non-Retail Boxed version of AppleCare
Avoid buying fake/ counterfeit!!! I wondering why they bother to send you just the registration code + serial number when it actually comes with the box? It is true because to save on shipping charges? Probably these registration codes are regenerated by illegal method thru key generators. After Apple discovered that the code is invalid, and registration will be revoked and your warranty will be avoided.

2) Retail Boxed version of AppleCare
Are you absolutely safe when you got a sealed retail boxed version of AppleCare? The answer is NO. Some facts below shocked me initially, read on...

a) Imitation AppleCare box with fake registration number in the package. Just custom printed box with few papers and CD inside, is definitely possible unscrupulous seller will resort this method to earn the few hundreds dollars!!! These custom printed boxes may not have a serial number on the outside. For your information, both AppleCare serial number (located outside the retail box) and registration number (inside the retail box) are uniquely linked together.

b) Real AppleCare that are purchased via fraudulent credit cards. Needless to say more, warranty voided after exposed.

c) Real AppleCare that are purchased via legitimate means. Now, real retail box with real registration number... however, once sold to you, the seller can always go for apple refund program to get back pro-rata refund based on the percentage of unexpired coverage in the agreement. It appeared to me that refund only required original proof of purchase with agreement number and hardware serial number as stated in website. This is a high level scamming through legitimate procedure.

d) Real AppleCare Sealed in Boxed but USED. Well, not to mention seller used it and re-packaged with shrink-wrap to look like BNIB, it is possible thru another means whereby the AppleCare is auto enrolled. When you received your sealed AppleCare box, make sure the Auto Enroll is not printed on the sticker on the box, as it may be already used and registered on other apple product before. This type of AppleCare is normally received when you purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan at the same time from the Apple Online Store, the Apple Retail Store, and selected Apple resellers, your AppleCare Protection Plan will be automatically registered. You will then receive a proof of coverage, either immediately in the form of a receipt that indicates the end date of your AppleCare Protection Plan coverage or within thirty days in the form of a Proof of Coverage certificate provided by Apple, and you probably you will be provided a sealed boxed without registration number inside, only with T & C booklet and CD.

Conclusion:
Do not save money on buying discounted AppleCare from unauthorized seller. Well I think come on... if you can afford apple product, why still want to scrimp and save the money on AppleCare, the money saved is not worth the risk you are taking. Repair fee without AppleCare cost a lot more. Of course, if you did buy from unauthorized seller and managed to had successfully received professional apple repair warranted by the AppleCare protection plan, then you really got a good deal. However, some apple customer may not be so lucky as you.
Buy AppleCare from Apple Store or Authorized Reseller, keep the retail box and most importantly original sale receipt safely. You will not know when you will need them.
 
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giogioarmani7

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i did bought locally apple care with box. Meet the guy and he registered for me immediately. After that no problem with my apple care.. but its true, just be careful if buying with box.
 

llvisionll

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way i guess really need the original sale receipt, else its like useless. I do not want to end up pay for repair cost, thinking that I'm covered by applecare initially...

and seems like Apple quite strict with their procedure now with so many fake applecare product floating around especially in ebay.

from apple website:
"Keep Your Sales Receipt and Proof of Coverage in a Safe Place
Please put your product's sales receipt, and if applicable, AppleCare Proof of Coverage document in a safe place. You may be asked to provide a copy of these if there is any question as to your product's eligibility for service coverage under the warranty or AppleCare service contract. When seeking service, Apple may request that you submit proof of purchase information to verify eligibility for warranty service, even if you have already registered your product. Your warranty is the same whether or not you register."

so right now looking around for applecare with original receipt... else no deal.
 

PCdumb

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IORIGIN

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AppleCare protection plan is just extension of current warranty, and should always follow the T&C of your standard 1 year warranty. Regardless where you buy your AppleCare protection plan from, if your apple product is under international warranty by default, the AppleCare plan will extend period of the international warranty.

I am quite certain that ipod and macbook are under international warranty. As for iphone and ipad, the warranty T&C stated "Apple MAY restrict service provided under this Plan to the Covered Equipment’s original country of purchase"... haha, i like the word: 'MAY' as it is rather convenient to use.
 
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eric16

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Is there a difference between getting applecare from the Sgp site or the US site? Also, from the apple US site, there are differing prices.

The prices in SG are more expensive due to 7% GST.

The prices stated on the US Apple Store doesn't include State taxes, which differ between states. For example, in Texas, the sales tax is around 8%. (Thus it may not be cheaper to buy Apple Macbooks or iPads in US due to this.)

And in places like Oregon and Alaska, the sales tax rate is 0%. That is why companies like Vpost and Comgateway uses Oregon as the place to collect your online shopping in US and send them out to Singapore.

And the applecare purchased in the US can be used for macbooks purchased in SG. I've done that for my Macbook Air.
 

cowfart

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Does unregistered applecare ever expire? (In other words, buying the protection plan today and registering it many years later, for a new product)

I intend to buy a few units to keep, and possibly pass on to relatives in future - since ST having promo now :s
 

renfred89

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Does unregistered applecare ever expire? (In other words, buying the protection plan today and registering it many years later, for a new product)

I intend to buy a few units to keep, and possibly pass on to relatives in future - since ST having promo now :s

No you cannot buy applecare and keep.

Each model of apple product is tagged with a certain models of applecare. how sure are you that your applecare is compatible with the newer products?
 

cowfart

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No you cannot buy applecare and keep.

Each model of apple product is tagged with a certain models of applecare. how sure are you that your applecare is compatible with the newer products?

New generation of an existing product, I meant :s8:
(eg buying iphone AC now for future iphone5)
 

IORIGIN

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Since apple upgraded their applecare to applecare+, the applecare+ need to be purchased within 30days from your iphone purhcase (no longer within a year), nevertheless it is best to purchase together. Although, there is a possibility to purchase appoecare+ at earlier date then activate it within the 30days timeframe, it is advisable you not to risk. Even though the trend is unlikely, no one will know what is apple's next move exactly. Even those apple cso won't make the 100% commitment to you that applecare+ will be good for next gen iphone.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2394604,00.asp

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/11/18/applecare_now_available_30_days_after_purchase.html

New generation of an existing product, I meant :s8:
(eg buying iphone AC now for future iphone5)
 
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cowfart

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Since apple upgraded their applecare to applecare+, the applecare+ need to be purchased within 30days from your iphone purhcase (no longer within a year), nevertheless it is best to purchase together. Although, there is a possibility to purchase appoecare+ at earlier date then activate it within the 30days timeframe, it is advisable you not to risk. Even though the trend is unlikely, no one will know what is apple's next move exactly. Even those apple cso won't make the 100% commitment to you that applecare+ will be good for next gen iphone.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2394604,00.asp

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/11/18/applecare_now_available_30_days_after_purchase.html

Are you able to point us to a link on Applecare+ in the Apple Singapore store? I'm unable to find it online, except in the US store
 

IORIGIN

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Thanks to the correction by some forum members. Not yet apply to Singapore. Singapore apple store only have Applecare (non plus) hence iphone 3G still can use it. When it is available in Singapore, I believe it is a replacement.

Are you able to point us to a link on Applecare+ in the Apple Singapore store? I'm unable to find it online, except in the US store
 
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IORIGIN

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"Like the traditional US$69 version of AppleCare for iPhone that it replaces, the new US$99 AppleCare+ for iPhone extends an iPhone's repair coverage and technical support to two years from the original purchase date but also adds coverage for up to two incidents of accidental damage due to an owner's poor handling of the device.

Each accidental damage incident is subject to a US$49 service fee and is available only for the iPhone and its original included accessories. In turn, Apple promises that the replacement equipment it provides to customers taking advantage of the "may be new or equivalent to new in both performance and reliability" -- meaning either a new iPhone or a certified refurbished one.
"

from Appleinsider
 
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mitlan

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if my 1 year warranty ended less than a month ago, and i would like to extend it by buying Applecare, is it possible? or is it completely over for me?
 

IORIGIN

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By right is a NO. You may try to make some noise when you call AppleCare, though not sure if anyone is successful in doing this.

if my 1 year warranty ended less than a month ago, and i would like to extend it by buying Applecare, is it possible? or is it completely over for me?
 

IORIGIN

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By the way, your product got any problem now? I am wondering maybe they can diagnose your out-of-warranty product, if it is ok, then let you purchase for AppleCare. That is my thought, and is for you to suggest to them if they insist reject you in the first place.
 

sgenea

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I bought an AppleCare off Ebay from the UK for my 11" MBA 2011, BNIB and authenticated by Apple within a week. Savings of more than SGD$100.

I believe it boils down to doing adequate research before purchasing online, avoiding sellers with shady records. Also pays to be able to differentiate between a good deal and a deal too good to be true. :)
 

EEXOOO

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I bought an AppleCare off Ebay from the UK for my 11" MBA 2011, BNIB and authenticated by Apple within a week. Savings of more than SGD$100.

I believe it boils down to doing adequate research before purchasing online, avoiding sellers with shady records. Also pays to be able to differentiate between a good deal and a deal too good to be true. :)

Care to share the seller ?
 
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