[markponcelet]

I am about to buy a new Rev D 17" Powerbook. Having had other laptops in the past, and being a PC and Mac technician myself, I know the kind of abuse these things can take. I [I]baby[I] my machines, and still crazy things happen. (everything broke on my old clamshell iBook. Even the apple logo fell off.) So, as just about everyone knows, Applecare is hugely valuable.

But recently at Macintouch, a discussion about using Visa and AMEX cards to extend warranties surfaced. Apparently, you can buy a Performance Guarantee from Visa that will extend your warranty up to three or five years. It's a reimbursement program, but covers more parts (like dead batteries) than Applecare does.

I checked in to my own Visa debit card, and found out that I get an automatic warranty enhancement for free just for using the Visa to buy a Powerbook. Same sort of reimbursement program, only this one merely doubles the manufacturers warranty and has a maximum reimbursement value of only $1,000 per incident ($50,000 per year). In short, this means that I get battery replacements through Visa, and I can still buy Applecare to get everything else taken care of through Apple.

And on top of that, I could buy that Performance Guarantee thing any time within a year or so if I want to supplement my Applecare.

So my question is, has anyone else ever done this? Do you like it? Would that performance guarantee thing be better than Applecare?

Mark

[romeosc]

I still recommend Safeware.com or similar insurance..... covers more including items Applecare laughs at!

[TailsToo]

Amex paid for me to replace my AC Adaptor when it died on me. They told me to just stop into a store a buy a new one, then they took the charge off my bill. Very easy!

I didn't have any other repairs with my TI, so I can't tell you about a major repair experience.

[markponcelet]

That AMEX reimbursement sounds great! Visa makes it a bit irritating.

It just occurred to me that if we get enough responses, I might have enough information to put together a comparrison table. It would give me something to do at work while I wait for my powerbook to arrive.

Mark

[pete]

I've used VISA performance guarantee on numerous occasions (powerbooks, printers, ipod, camera) and I have ONLY great things to say about them and their service. And I'm picky with service. What's great about it?

1. Very fast turnaround
2. You can pick any service provider - apple or any authorised service point
3. No questions asked - they just require a receipt with the diagnosis and repair cost.
4. If the repair cost more than 70% (or somewhere around there) of a new item, they'll reimburse you for a new one.
5. The reimbursement check arrives within a week usually. They even call you to tell you it's in the mail.
6. YOu get one year free extension automatically, no paper work needed.
7. Somebody mentioned that it might not cover an ipod. IT DOES. I had a small problem with mine that Apple said would get fixed for a flat fee of $250! VISA just sent me a check for $250 and let me keep the other ipod on the condition that I cannot make another claim on that ipod. Since I bought a new one with my VISA, it didn't really matter. And , of course, they let me keep the old one.... : )
8. The extension beyond that for an additional three years is relatively inexpensive:

Visa Performance Guarantee Pricing



Retail Price of Purchase
3 Years ESA Price
5 Years ESA Price

Cost of item: $ 150 - 250
3 years: $ 40.99
5 years: $ 58.99

$ 251 - 400
$ 46.99
$ 68.99

$ 401 - 550
$ 52.99
$ 78.99

$ 551 - 750
$ 63.99
$ 96.99

$ 751 - 1,000
$ 72.99
$ 112.99

$ 1,001 - 1,500
$ 87.99
$ 137.99

$ 1,501 - 2,000
$ 119.99
$ 189.99

$ 2,001 - 2,500
$ 165.99
$ 267.99

$ 2,501 - 3,000
$ 235.99
$ 384.99

$ 3,001 - 3,500
$ 267.99
$ 436.99

$ 3,501 - 4,000
$ 291.99
$ 477.99


Just make sure that your card has this benefit. Many cards don't. My old Bank of America card,for example, used to have it and then they suddenly discontinued that benefit. Call your bank! Trust me though, it's really great.

[markponcelet]

Okay, so I've been thinking about this. Suppose I decide not to get AppleCare after all and go instead with the Performance Guarantee. I've got a year's warranty from Apple, but only 90 days of technical support.

How do you get Apple to replace, say, a defective DVD drive if you can't talk to technical support? I live in Utah, and our Apple store is thirty miles (and six months) away.

And what happens if you do the repairs yourself?

[Person Man]

Originally posted by markponcelet:
Okay, so I've been thinking about this. Suppose I decide not to get AppleCare after all and go instead with the Performance Guarantee. I've got a year's warranty from Apple, but only 90 days of technical support.

How do you get Apple to replace, say, a defective DVD drive if you can't talk to technical support? I live in Utah, and our Apple store is thirty miles (and six months) away.

And what happens if you do the repairs yourself?

90 days of "FREE" technical support.

And if it's a hardware issue, then you won't pay anything for the support if it is covered under the first year warranty.

[markponcelet]

Originally posted by Person Man:
90 days of "FREE" technical support.

And if it's a hardware issue, then you won't pay anything for the support if it is covered under the first year warranty.

Uh oh. That sounds a little scary. Suddenly I have nightmarish thoughts of a technician assuming that my malfunctioning DVD Rom unit is actually the result of some software package and charging me lots o' cash to give me the wrong answer.

Not that I can't figure out the problems on my own, but still. Sometimes people just get things wrong. Scary.

[jdogg99]

Anybody have any additional experience with the American Express warranty doubling policy? My 1 year of Applecare is almost up on my 12" Powerbook, and I'm debating whether to renew or not. Even with the edu discount, Applecare is really expensive ~1/5 of the price of a new computer. I bought with my Amex, so I'd be covered one more year...

[senseigmg]

I used the purchase protection to get reimbursed for the dent in my PB, just sent them a bunch of info, and a cancelled receipt from the applestore with a few parts and the labor cost on there. Within a few weeks, i had an extra 600 in my account.

[TailsToo]

Like I said, Amex seems to be great for me, and best of all, it's FREE! After my PB is two years old, I'll probably be close to upgrading anyway, so I'm happy with the coverage I have.

[SSharon]

Time to see if my VISA debit card from my bank offers this. Does Mastercard have anything to offer other than that overused tv commercial?

[jdogg99]

senseigmg,

Amex covered a dent?! That's not covered by Applecare! Sounds like a good deal to me...

I too, figure I will upgrade after two years. Even with a catastrophic failure/damage of the Powerbook after the two years, I think I could get a reasonable amount of money (~$500) for the parts/scraps. That means I'd get two years of good use out of the computer and still get 1/3-1/4 of it's value back. It's more likely any hardware failure would be something cheap (less than the cost of Applecare, like a HD or CD drive).

Also, I think it's more likely I'll damage my computer accidentally (not covered by applecare) than there would be some hardware failure. Who knows, though, since my HD already had to be replaced.

The fact that Apple tries so hard to sell the extended warranty tells me there's big money in it for them...

[senseigmg]

Originally posted by jdogg99:
senseigmg,

Amex covered a dent?! That's not covered by Applecare! Sounds like a good deal to me...

I too, figure I will upgrade after two years. Even with a catastrophic failure/damage of the Powerbook after the two years, I think I could get a reasonable amount of money (~$500) for the parts/scraps. That means I'd get two years of good use out of the computer and still get 1/3-1/4 of it's value back. It's more likely any hardware failure would be something cheap (less than the cost of Applecare, like a HD or CD drive).

Also, I think it's more likely I'll damage my computer accidentally (not covered by applecare) than there would be some hardware failure. Who knows, though, since my HD already had to be replaced.

The fact that Apple tries so hard to sell the extended warranty tells me there's big money in it for them...

Well, the thing is, that it was covered under the 90 day warranty, which covers against accidental damage for the first 90 days, upto $1K. I'm not sure how it works after that period. I hope I dont have to test it out!

[asodamiac]

do you have to purchase applecare in order to get the warranty benefits from Visa?

[tooki]

Originally posted by romeosc:
I still recommend Safeware.com or similar insurance..... covers more including items Applecare laughs at!

Uhh, insurance and warranties are entirely separate things. In fact, Safeware explicitly excludes from coverage anything that would be covered by any warranty.

You can't say one is better than the other: they are apples and oranges.

tooki

[PBG4 User]

Originally posted by asodamiac:
do you have to purchase applecare in order to get the warranty benefits from Visa?

No, the VISA benefit is based on the original 1 year warranty. I did this with the PowerBook I bought in 9/2003. I did have the white spot screen replaced under Apple's warranty so I haven't needed to use VISA's warranty service yet. I figured I'd give them a shot instead of giving Apple $350.

[PBG4 User]

Originally posted by markponcelet:
Uh oh. That sounds a little scary. Suddenly I have nightmarish thoughts of a technician assuming that my malfunctioning DVD Rom unit is actually the result of some software package and charging me lots o' cash to give me the wrong answer.

Not that I can't figure out the problems on my own, but still. Sometimes people just get things wrong. Scary.

I've had to call AppleCare after my initial 90 days of tech. support on both my TiBook and my AlBook. Both times I was able to convince the guy on the phone that it was a hardware problem. They never mentioned the $49.95 support fee in either case (TiBook was dead HD, AlBook was white spot issue).

[asodamiac]

so overall, which ways the best way to go? the visa and applecare plans are about the same price. visa offers a 5 year warranty while applecare offers 3 (but you also get 3 years of phone support. is the phone support necessary?). im not really sure what visa would cover, could anyone clarify? if i had accidental damages, i would have apple fix it, i pay for the bill, and visa reimburses me?

either way, which one: visa or applecare...

[pete]

VISA covers the exact same things as Apple's first year warranty. It's not insurnce for accidental damage. You can take your computer to pretty much any apple authorised repair shop and they will reimburse you for the repair. I've never had a problem and they never even asked me any questions. I just filed the claim online and then sent them a receipt for the costs. They even call you on the day they send out the check to let you know it's on the way.

No phone support, but I've found that this forum provides better support and less frustrating support than Apple does. I've never missed it but that's just my opinion.

Oh, there's also a no lemon policy included. If your computer is in for repair three times, they will replace it for you.

[asodamiac]

visa would replace the entire laptop for you? what happens to the old laptop? thanks pete. i guess i will get insured under visa.

[romeosc]

Originally posted by tooki:
Uhh, insurance and warranties are entirely separate things. In fact, Safeware explicitly excludes from coverage anything that would be covered by any warranty.

You can't say one is better than the other: they are apples and oranges.

tooki

Yeh but Safeware covers "SMASHED APPLES" ..... most true defects could have been caused by accidental damage per Apple Genius.

[pete]

I'm not sure what they'd do with the old laptop. My experience with replacement was with an ipod. There was a problem with the headphone connection and when I told them that apple charges a flat fee of 250 for repair, they asked me if I wanted a check to get a new one. This of course cancels the extension warranty on the old, but they let me keep it. It turned out that I could fix the connection myself with a screwdriver and some wiggling in the slot. The visa extension is a really good program. Even if they didn't let you keep the original product...

good luck!

[asodamiac]

so when my PB comes, and i have to send it in to apple (hopefully not) 3 times, and im under the visa warranty, they will replace the PB with a new one, but the 300 dollars or so i spent on the warranty will now be.. void on the old PB? that means i have to.. purchase the warranty again?

hahaha hopefully everything is fine, but once i get the PB i will probably pay for the visa warranty. can you purchase it at anytime? or do you have to purchase the warranty under some kind of time limit?

[tooki]

Originally posted by romeosc:
Yeh but Safeware covers "SMASHED APPLES" ..... most true defects could have been caused by accidental damage per Apple Genius.

That's really not true. Have you had a bad AppleCare experience that you need to share? Otherwise, be quiet and stop talking nonsense.

tooki

[pete]

Well, I believe they 'buy you out' of the extension. That is, they give you money to buy a new computer and you can use your credit card again and start over again. At least that's how I understand it, but you'd have to check the details. I'm pretty sure once they replace your machine, the extension expires, but maybe I'm wrong. Of course, if it's just repairs, it continues to be valid.

[asodamiac]

Originally posted by pete:
Well, I believe they 'buy you out' of the extension. That is, they give you money to buy a new computer and you can use your credit card again and start over again. At least that's how I understand it, but you'd have to check the details. I'm pretty sure once they replace your machine, the extension expires, but maybe I'm wrong. Of course, if it's just repairs, it continues to be valid.

is there some kind of date that i need to sign up for the warranty for (after i receive the PB). can i wait until my 1 year of applecare is up, or do i have to purchase the warranty in the next 30 days or so?

thanks pete.

[pete]

If you're eligible for the visa performance guarantee, you automatically get double the manufacturer's warranty for free and you have until the end of the second year after you purchase to get the extension.No hurry.

[asodamiac]

awesome.. arent all visa cards eligible? i used a macy's (the department store) visa card.

[pete]

Not all VISA cards are eligible. You have to call your bank. Usually gold and platinum are eligible, but not always. Bank of America, for example, discontinued this service last year.