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Purchasing AppleCare+ with a carrier preorder?

I preordered my iPhone 4S from Verizon (the AppleStore site wasn't loading yet), but they did not have AppleCare as an option. Can purchase it from Apple before I activate the phone? The Apple Store site says no, but the terms of AppleCare (section 11(x)) say I can.

Posted on Oct 7, 2011 1:08 AM

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70 replies

Oct 7, 2011 1:37 AM in response to jstonehouse

I sincerely hope so because I just ordered mine with no AppleCare+ through Verizon as well. Verizon DOES NOT have the option to order AppleCare+ on their website right now. The Apple Store website is not working and it will not let me add an iPhone to my cart, let alone AppleCare+...it doesn't even have a buy button available to add the AppleCare+ to my cart. I'm really not happy about this. Apple better let us (especially those of us who have now stayed up until after 4:30 in the morning trying to order a phone) add the AppleCare+ with no penalizations at a later date. This is ridiculous.

Oct 7, 2011 1:59 AM in response to ecb1117

I have the same concern. I tried, really really tried, to do this via Apple. First the iPhone Apple Store app, then Apple's site, all to no avail. Even when I got to the checkout cart on the AT&T site, I had the Apple Store in another tab, hoping it would go through, but it kept timing out at the carrier verification step. Bad backend system. So now what to do?

Oct 7, 2011 7:17 AM in response to ecb1117

I'm on with them now. Guess it's just luck of the draw. Anyway, they're very nice, but so far there is indeed a glitch with their "agreement authorization" system such that if you are not buying AC+ at the time of the purchased iPhone, it won't go through. They agree that is kinda ridiculous, and I stressed that they're losing a lot of revenue this way, since those of us who were, quite honestly, stuck with no option except to use AT&T's site (or VZW or Sprint) last night can't purchase their warranty plan.


I was first told to go to an AT&T Store and buy it and I said that's ridiculous-the first person with whom I spoke at Apple asked me for the phone's serial number and then where it was, so he didn't get that it was a preorder. If their own people don't get it, why would AT&T.


I'm now told I'd need to cancel my AT&T preorder (mind you, the e-mail I received this morning say no changes or cancellations are possible) and reorder via Apple. Glad I got up at 3 AM EST for this. I might just go ahead and get the regular AppleCare plan while it's still available. This is insane. Essentially, anyone who couldn't purchase via the AppleStore is SOL.

Oct 7, 2011 7:38 AM in response to David Toub

That is ridiculous! Wow. I called Verizon's 24 hour help number last night and finally got through around 3:40 EDT. The guy I spoke with had to ask me what the difference between AppleCare and AppleCare+ is, and told me that Verizon hasn't given him any information on AppleCare+ or how to order it. He couldn't help me out at all. Verizon's support Twitter account said yesterday that "AppleCare" was going to be available under the iPhone 4s accessories step of the pre-order process. It most definitely was not there, though, just original AppleCare. There is still no AppleCare+ on their website. I tweeted them this morning to ask how this issue could be resolved. They just responded to me: "I have no info on AppleCare through pre-orders. I have raised this up, and we'll address this issue once iPhone is shipped." Clearly I'm not about to get anywhere with Verizon soon, let alone before I have the iPhone in my hands.

I'm also not about to cancel my pre-order. The phone I currently have is completely dead and I haven't done anything about it because I didn't want to screw up my eligibility to pre-order the 4s. I ordered an iPhone 4s last night without the AppleCare+ through Verizon, after trying for almost two hours, until almost 5:00 in the morning here, to find a way to order it with AppleCare+ because I didn't want to be without a phone for an extra who knows how long if I didn't order right away. I think it is Apple's responsibility to provide this to people who tried to purchase it, not Verizon's (or AT&Ts' or Sprint's) since their website was on and off not working and when it was working, there was no way to purchase AppleCare+. I still don't see how people can order it through Apple's website...I have yet to see an 'Add to cart' button to click.


If only I could get through to Apple to complain...

Oct 7, 2011 7:42 AM in response to jstonehouse

I had the same situation with AT&T. I just spoke with someone in sales at the AppleCare support number (U.S. Technical Support: 1-800-275-2273). He assured me that I would be able to add AppleCare+ as long as I went in to an AppleStore within 30 days and purchased it. If this is accurate, it's a pain, but at least it's an option.

Oct 7, 2011 7:49 AM in response to ecb1117

From just after 12:30AM PDT until just before 2AM PDT I tried unsuccessfully to get an order placed. Just before 2AM Apple changed their web site so that I was able to schedule a reservation for the 4S and recieve a reservation number. The reason for the reservation and not an order was stated in the email which was sent confirming the reservation. It seems as if AT&T's service that provided Apple with eligability data had failed and Apple couldn't verify anyone's eligability. I was to receive an email when my eligability info was received and I could then complete the order. I went to bed.


Upon arising at 7:15AM PDT I found the email had been sent at 3:43AM. I was able to complete the order, including AppleCare+ in about two minutes.


To me the "reservation system" was a major improvement in how Apple handled a breakdown in communications with AT&T.

Oct 7, 2011 8:51 AM in response to AMG124

I finally got through to an AppleCare representative. The person I spoke with wasn't very familiar with AppleCare+ (he said because it is a brand new product), but he was very willing to help me out. He put me on hold for a while as he spoke with his supervisor to get the most accurate information. After he did that, he told me that pre-ordering AppleCare+ through Verizon is not possible because there is no phone serial number to attach it to. He said that I need to either go into an Apple store or call AppleCare support back within 24 hours of when I activate my iPhone 4s and I will be able to purchase AppleCare+ with no penalization for not ordering it with the phone. It will be a big pain to have to go into an Apple store and/or call them again within 24 hours of when the phone goes on sale, but at least they are making the product available.


The phone call with AppleCare took me nearly 30 minutes but if you have the time, I suggest you call. He put my issue in the system, connected to my Apple ID and gave me a case number, in case I for some reason I'm told at the store or on the phone that I can't purchase it. I hope everything works out!! I want to protect the $399 purchase I just made!

Oct 7, 2011 9:32 AM in response to Macaby

Macaby wrote:


You can buy AppleCare anytime up to a year after the purchase. You can save a few bucks by buying it from Amazon (presently as low as $49).

But then again AppleCare is not AppleCare+ which lives by different rules--hopefully for those unable to order it with their iPhones those rules will be relaxed.

Purchasing AppleCare+ with a carrier preorder?

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