Should I purchase a Best Buy warranty ($400) with a MacBook
I plan on purchasing a new MacBook from Best Buy. Best Buy offers a 3 year warranty for $400. It covers basically everything including accidental damage and surge protection. If they can't fix it, they will replace it. Does anyone have experience with Best Buy warranties? Is it worth an extra $400? With the warranty it will bring the price of my new MacBook up to $1700. YIKES!!!!
I don't know all the terms of this, but it doesn't seem very cost effective. Is this three years from the date of computer purchase or can you buy it before your Apple warranty is up in one year? Is this 400 plus tax? That's almost a third of the price of a brand new one. Personally, I think you should just be careful with your computer, always use surge protection when plugged in, and buy Applecare as cheap as possible.
It is 3 years from the date of purchase. I am not sure if it is taxed because it is a service not a product. I like the fact that all accidents are covered. Even if you spill your Starbucks coffee on the keyboard, it is covered. But I am just having a hard time swallowing the $400 price tag.
I used to work for Best Buy in the computer department. You should DEFINITELY just get Applecare, rather than the Best Buy warranty. Trust me. For real.
My understanding of the Best Buy warranty is that it's almost like insurance. So if you require support from Apple once your complimentary coverage has expired (1-year) you'll have to go through Best Buy for everything, as in Apple's eyes the machine is out-of-warranty.
With that being said, AppleCare does not cover your machine if you break it (drop it, smash it, spill your coffee, etc.). So if you find yourself to be clumsy, perhaps the peace of mind of $400 vs. $1300 makes sense. Quite frankly, if you don't keep an open container of liquid near your machine when you're using it, you've already saved yourself a lot of "worry."
I've never purchased a 3rd party hardware warranty, I've always gotten the manufacturer's one (if ever). But from my experience, the 3rd party ones required extra work to file and process a claim when the product would fall outside the manufacturer's window and inside their window.
When it comes to Apple, the only thing that the Best Buy Service plan has on regular Apple Warranty + Apple Care is that the Best Buy Warranty has protection against accidents. If you aren't accident prone, go with Apple Care (which should only run you around $300 dollars for three years of coverage and Phone Support.
However if you were buying a PC I'd say go for it. With the experience I've had with warranty repairs of other companies, I'd get Best Buy, They have a lemon policy where if it breaks down three times they will often issue credit towards a new system. My wife and I did purchase this service plan with our most recent windows PC laptop purchase, but I'd only ever by Applecare for an apple computer, though.
Apple however is really good about honoring their warranty as long as there is no evidence of abuse about, that's the only time you will generally have problems with Apple service. In the case of an Apple product I would much rather get Apple care and then look into your home owners insurance has riders cover none manufacturer faults.
If you do get the Best Buy warranty you'll be going to Best Buy if you have any problems, not Apple, though the Apple warranty would still be in affect for the first year, you wouldn't want to waste one of your years with Best Buy.
I agree. I would recommend you get your MacBook covered under homeowner's or renter's insurance for accidental damage. You may have to pay a slightly extra premium to specifically cover a laptop, but in the long run it should be a lot less than $400 over three years. There may be a deductible to consider as well.
As a Best Buy Employee I agree. If you want the accidental protection get the service plan. The reason it costs so much is because of the price of the computer. The lower the computer price the cheaper this warranty is. So if you're considering direct ordering from Apple (sans education discount) you are looking @ $250 for 3 years vs. $400 for 3 years. So you have pretty similar coverages. Your choice. I went with AppleCare.
xray scatter wrote:
I plan on purchasing a new MacBook from Best Buy.
Why on earth would you do that? Buy it from Amazon.com and grab any possible rebates they offer and then save a couple hundred by not paying sales tax.
I have had (and used) AppleCare on several iBooks and PowerBooks. It has been worth it on every one. When there was a problem, they would send a shipping carton overnight, and I would typically be without the computer for a week (once even less!). My guess is that if Best Buy were to fix a similar problem, it would take longer. Of course, AppleCare doesn't cover abuse of the computer, and Best Buy costs more. Another advantage of AppleCare is that you can get phone support, which is occasionally good enough to avoid even having to send the computer in.
Personally, next to FireWire, I think AppleCare on notebook computers is Apple at its best :0)
I agree with others here. Get the AppleCare and then do a google search " computer insurance" for coverage of those unfortunate accidents that sometimes happen.
Avoid Best Buy extended coverage at all costs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bought a plasma display from them with they're extended coverage.
It died 2 years ago and still fighting to get something done!!!!!
Just bought my Macbook 2.0ghz today, LOVING IT!!
No slanted F keys.. or any other problems mentioned on this forum...
I bought mine at Futureshop (CAD version of Best Buy). I wasn't going to buy the 3 year extended warranty which cost cad$369 or something. I considered it.. because my previous Toshiba PC laptop broke down on me after 1.5 years.. but $369+tax was too much.. so I said no thanks. BUT THEN the sales guy offered me a deal.. $270 for 3 years extended warranty.. I couldn't say no to that.. 3 years of PIECE OF MIND.. especially with my luck with computers.. so yeah, $400 not worth it... $270ish, definitely worth it.
