richsadams
iPF Noob
Most Apple sales folks will ask if you'd like Apple Care, but in general they aren't encouraged to pressure anyone to buy anything. That usually results in a very positive shopping experience.I bought my ipad from the Apple store and later was amazed that nobody pressured me to take out an extended warranty. In fact it wasn't mentioned.
Others have posted some good insights into Apple Care and extended warranties earlier in this thread, but I'll add my two-cents here:
FWIW Apple Care can be a good investment depending on your circumstances (heavy use, refurbished item, etc.). Of course you can always buy Apple Care through Apple, however many other retailers sell it as well and it can often be found at a discount (by as much as 50% sometimes) so a little shopping around is worthwhile. For example, Apple charges $79 for the iPad Apple Care plan (extends the warranty to three years total). You can get the identical [ame="http://www.amazon.com/AppleCare-Protection-Plan-for-iPad/dp/B0044SVD50"]Apple Care from Amazon for about $66.[/ame] Not a huge savings, but every little bit helps IMHO.
It's also worth noting that you can purchase Apple Care any time during the first year. So if you bought something on January 15th 2011 you have until January 14th 2012 to buy the additional coverage.
The only third-party extended warranty company that garners continual positive reviews is SquareTrade:
SquareTrade Warranties | Extended Warranties for 70% Less Than Retail | Electronics Insurance Alternative
Their coverage on an iPad is a little more extensive and includes breakage so something to look into if you're in the market. Most of the other "extended warranty" companies have less-than-stellar reputations.
That said there are thousands of stories here and elsewhere about Apple taking care of issues with all of their products after the warranty period. I've personally had a couple of outstanding product repairs at no charge long after the warranties expired. Apple has always gone the extra mile when it comes to customer satisfaction.
Last edited: