3rd-party equivalent to AppleCare?

**Lance** · 21 July 2021, 13:58

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

I'm quite interested in getting an official Apple-refurbed machine but the 1-year warranty on an expensive machine concerns me; this isn't a £400 beige box that if it dies in 2 years I can toss (or probably repair cheaply).

AppleCare has always struck me as a total scam but is that fair? Are there other companies offering a similar product? If it goes wrong - say it just won't turn on one day - what is the experience like?
Equally, if it goes wrong and I don't have AppleCare what are my options? Is it bricked or will Apple fix it for a reasonable charge?

As my main work machine, if it dies then every day without it is a big problem. As is having to traipse to another city to my nearest 'dealer'.
I've never had any specific insurance on a phone or PC to know what it's like - your stories are welcome

I had Apple Care on a Macbook Pro. That turned out to be worthwhile as it developed a fault with the screen about 2.5 years in. Although the repair centre who fixed it weren't an Apple store and they would have done it for a price.
The repair centre have to use genuine Apple parts for an Apple Care repair. Not if you're paying for it yourself. So my advice would be to talk to your local independent Apple Care repair centre.

**eek** · 21 July 2021, 15:05

It's hard to tell as Applecare is a combination of accidental damage and extended warranty.

Personally I had it on a macbook pro and Apple both repaired the computer and gave me a replacement charger as well (which I wasn't expecting and would have cost £130).

**d000hg** · 21 July 2021, 15:18

Yeah I have no real interest in accidental cover for a desktop. If I drop it down the stairs moving house I'd ring my house insurer.
One assumes AppleCare makes a profit like other insurance so on average the cost of repairs of any one item is less than the insurance cost - unless Apple do it as a service that is.

I can't think of a good way to find an unauthorised, reputable Apple Repair centre i.e. one Apple would farm stuff out to.

**courtg9000** · 21 July 2021, 15:33

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

I can't think of a good way to find an unauthorised, reputable Apple Repair centre i.e. one Apple would farm stuff out to.

If you are in the Londonish area Apple Heroes, Park Royal are pretty good

**eek** · 21 July 2021, 15:40

Originally posted by courtg9000 View Post

If you are in the Londonish area Apple Heroes, Park Royal are pretty good

Sadly he's in Durham and I can't think of anyone local to trust.

Also unless I'm mistaken its £189 for an imac, which ain't that bad given how much a replacement xyz would cost if you needed it repaired.

**d000hg** · 21 July 2021, 16:02

Originally posted by eek View Post

Sadly he's in Durham and I can't think of anyone local to trust.

Also unless I'm mistaken its £189 for an imac, which ain't that bad given how much a replacement xyz would cost if you needed it repaired.

Yeah, we have one of those fake-Apple stores (Stormfront?) in Durham city but I think they are authorised.
Thing is, the refurb machine I'm looking at is marked down about £250, if I was buying brand new I'd get a 2-year warranty(?) and not bother with AC so it seems a bit pointless.

My biggest issue would be speed and service in case of a failure... does AC membership get me any priority? They're not going to collect it from my house and drop off a temporary machine I assume

In which case it boils down to betting whether the thing is likely to have a catastrophic failure or not!

**eek** · 21 July 2021, 16:23

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

Yeah, we have one of those fake-Apple stores (Stormfront?) in Durham city but I think they are authorised.
Thing is, the refurb machine I'm looking at is marked down about £250, if I was buying brand new I'd get a 2-year warranty(?) and not bother with AC so it seems a bit pointless.

My biggest issue would be speed and service in case of a failure... does AC membership get me any priority? They're not going to collect it from my house and drop off a temporary machine I assume

In which case it boils down to betting whether the thing is likely to have a catastrophic failure or not!

Stormfront offer 3 years guarantee as standard see Stormfront Guarantee | Stormfront

**d000hg** · 21 July 2021, 16:30

Originally posted by eek View Post

Stormfront offer 3 years guarantee as standard see Stormfront Guarantee | Stormfront

They only offer a reduced subset of current Apple products though. And I don't have a mate there who can get a discount.

**courtg9000** · 21 July 2021, 16:30

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

Yeah, we have one of those fake-Apple stores (Stormfront?) in Durham city but I think they are authorised.
Thing is, the refurb machine I'm looking at is marked down about £250, if I was buying brand new I'd get a 2-year warranty(?) and not bother with AC so it seems a bit pointless.

My biggest issue would be speed and service in case of a failure... does AC membership get me any priority? They're not going to collect it from my house and drop off a temporary machine I assume

In which case it boils down to betting whether the thing is likely to have a catastrophic failure or not!

StormFront are Apple authorised.

3rd-party equivalent to AppleCare?