Apple Care+ for iPhone 4S

My ATT store claims that AppleCare Plus was only released on 10-7 therefore the ATT store personnel knew nothing about it. ATT customer service advised me to return the basic AppleCare to the ATT store. I did this yesterday. Asked if I could purchase AppleCare Plus. The ATT store folk insisted that the only way to get Applecare plus is via Apple, through an Apple Store. This fully contradicts the memo supposedly issued by Apple last week advising that the phone carriers can and will sell the AppleCare.

At first the staff suggested that when I get my phone i take the basic AppleCare to an Apple store "they will swap you out to AppleCare Plus."

I told th staff that I did not trust their advice ; how could an Apple store exchange or up grade a product sold me by ATT?

Staff could not respond and took back the basic Applecare.

What a mess! Is Apple aware of all this confusion?

You won't believe this!

After working on this all weekend (speaking with reps at 1800-my-apple, verizon customer service, the sales manager at the Apple Store and the Sales manager at the Verizon store.

Here's what I learned.

First, I bought the phone from the local verizon store on 10/14.11. They told me that they didn't have the Apple Care Plus to sell but I could get it at the apple store. The apple store didn't have it so I called the 800 number they "just established to take care of the problem." Called em' and waited on hold for an hour and then the rep told me that because I live in Florida, they can's sell me a warranty over the phone because of some Florida law regarding the telephone and telemarketers selling insurance. They said to go to the Apple Store who is now set up to sell the apple care plus.

I went to the store and the manager told me there is no plans to sell applecare plus on it's own, all of theirs have to be bought at the same time as the phone with both transactions being on the same receipt.

I called Verizon back and the manager had just received a message that they won't be selling the Apple Care Plus warranty, and the only solution right now is to have the customer return the iphone to them, and then turn around and buy it from the Apple Store (who was always able to add it on.)

So, you guessed it, I took a perfectly good iPhone back to verizon and got my money back (minus a restocking charge which the store made good on by crediting me for it.

I then went to the Apple Store and within 10 minutes I had a new Iphone 4S 32gb with a 2 year Applecare Plus agreement on the same receipt.

I still believe that I am owed the $30.00 for the initial "new every two discount."

I don't know if I'm the first of many customers who will do the same thing to get the Apple Care plus, but I imagine there will be a lot of returns in the next few days.

the Mgr at the brandon store told me that they have been recieving poorer and poorer service.

WEll, your Verizon folk allowed you to return your phone.

Not ATT.

I "pre ordered" in person from my local ATT store, drawing on my memory of 2 years ago when I pre ordered at the store and then went to the store to pick up my new phone.Smooth, easy.

This time, I got to the store after work and pre ordered. In addition to selling me tne wrong AppleCare the store associate mentioned " you will get your phone in 14-21 days". I did not pay attention since i was pre ordering on 10-7, which was the magic day to pre order to get the phone on 10-14 or within a couple days thereafter.. Right?

Guess what, I did not receive phone on 10-14. I am back ordered. When I stopped into the ATT store on Saturday to return the wrong AppleCare, I asked the store manager about cancelling my pre order and purchase on the spot as the store had the model I want to purchase. No, he could not do that since, if he cancelled the phone, ATT would still ship and charge me as the order was in the system.

Today I looked and Monday afternoon, still on back order (I wishfully thought I would see progress today), called corporate ATT customer service. No, still on back order for another two or so weeks, per "Justin".

Guess what? Corporate customer service told me the store could and should have cancelled my order " your phone has not been pulled yet" so order could be cancelled.

Guess what? Corporate customer service guy had a hunch the store did not want to cancel as they can sell the in stock phones and still get credit for my sale.

Guess what? Corporate customer service told me that it is ALWAYS better and more cost effective to go online and purchase telephone stuff on line.Even the corporate ATT stores (which I use) are likely to have slighly higher prices than on line (not rate plan).

Guess what? The guaranteed delivery of iPhone on or about 10-14 was really only for on line orders, not the in store orders.

I feel like the biggest idiot. Thought i was doing things the best way and instead I now wait and who knows if I will get AppleCare Plus since I am unable to purchase with my phone from ATT.

I'm all set.

Yesterday I walked over to my local ATT store and asked them to add AppleCare+ to my phone which I had pre-ordered through their website. They were aware of the problem and were unsure whether it would work yet. They tried to add it and it worked. I now have AppleCare+ tied to my new phone.

Good luck

Thanks, Adam

The discrepant ifnormation from reps from the telephone companies is concerning.

I just phoned the store I "pre ordered" my iphone on 10-7. The sales rep now told me "yes, if we can confirm your pre order is not yet in the pipeline we can cancel your order and you can purchase froms us"

I will try but will keep my expectations low.

Barbara

Success- My third trip to the ATT store: This time the reps cancelled my "pre Order"which still was on back order, sold me an iPhone AND AppleCare Plus!

The rep did the phone set up , phone was already charged. Ready to use.

Finally, all is well

I just called Apple Support and they connected me to AppleCare, the customer service rep. added AppleCare Plus after asking for my serial number for proof of purchase, I was never asked to add it when I purchased the 4GS, so glad I called!!! Loving my Phone🙂

My firm provided me with my iPhone 4S and we took the option for AppleCare+ yesterday. Sprint confirmed that the 14th was the last day for 4S's that had been pre-ordered. The only thing I do not know at this point is what do we get for signing up? Does Sprint pass the serial numbers on to Apple or do we get a mailing with an AppleCare+ code number that we need to register? As I was not involved in the process I do not know exactly how the AppleCare+ coverage will be activated on our 4S's.

I was told that my Apple care plus included lost or stolen phones with a $79.00 replacement fee so I bought it. I dropped my phone to the bottom of the ocean and now The Pioner Place Apple Store in Portland, Or is admitting to give me the wrong information and justs says, "sorry," but will not honor what they sold me and replace my phone.

i'm so angry I ready to go postal at the store.

Was anyone else toled this information?

Sorry, Apple was quite specific that AppleCare plus only covered defective or damaged phones, not lost ones. They do cover water damage but you have to have the waterlogged phone in order to get a replacement.

However, there was so much mis-information given among sales people when the iphone 4s and Applecare plus was first introduced that I would completely believe that a sales person gave you that information. I hope you kept their name so you could to to that person's manager to argue your case. If you didn't, then I could see the store denying your claim because if they replaced your phone then everyone would say the same thing to get their phone replaced.

Good luck.

Thank you DeputyDog. The store manager admitted his salesperson gave the wrong information and aopogized but wont compensate me for my loss. I would have bought other insurance if I had of known he was not giving me correct information. I have gone to Customer Care and they all say they.apologize but will not make the store responsible for compensating me. They said they would give me some Apple accessories, (Oh Goodie!)

How can they legally admit wrong doing and then not make up for their mistake?

Also, the insurance covers defective damaged phones but that may be damage from normal wear and tear when things stop working properly (i.e. Charging port not functioning), not from dropping the phone.

Was the phone in case? Was it a case where the manufacturer advertised protection from drops? If so, you might have a claim with that company

Maybe the manager will allow you to purchase the insurance offered thru Verizon that does cover loss and back date it to when you purchased the phone. That is probably what that clerk was talking about when he told you about the lost/stolen phone deductible in the first place. Unfortunately they are not bound contractually just because a salesman told you something wrong. But a REPUTABLE company should stand behind you and eat it if the salesman admitted telling you that. That's the key however how "reputable" the store is.

I've gone all the way to Customer Relations and they admit that I was told erroneous information and that I should be compensated in some way but they said "The system won't let them replace the phone."

They offered "some Ipod accessories or something."

According to what it says on Apple's own website regarding Apple Care+, if you do not purchase Apple Care+ at the time that you are checking out @ Apple's Online Store, you will have only 30 days from the time of purchase to make a Genius Bar Appointment and buy Apple Care+ @ your local Apple Store Genius Bar! It would really help if you guys read Apple's FAQ regarding Apple Care+ before you complain about AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint not being able to sell you Apple Care+ (as they are NOT allowed to sell it to you, you need to get it from Apple)! Just FYI!

Message was edited by: kevpan815