Apple Looks to Boost AppleCare+ Membership With New 60-Day Purchase Window

Tuesday July 1, 2014 8:38 am PDT by Kelly Hodgkins

applecare_plus_icon Apple today revised its AppleCare+ support service, lengthening the time new iPhone and iPad owners have to purchase the protection plan from the previous 30-day window to an extended 60-days. The new 60-day AppleCare+ option is available both in store and online in all AppleCare+ regions, with the exception of Japan which still offers the original 30-day window, reports 9to5Mac.

AppleCare+ is a premium warranty service for iPhone and iPad owners, providing warranty support and accidental damage coverage for two years from the date of device purchase. The plan costs $99 and includes two accidental damage replacements that cost $49 per incident for the iPad and $79 for the iPhone.

Apple also is discontinuing the previous AppleCare option that extends warranty service for the iPad and iPhone, but does not provide accidental damage coverage. Going forward, Apple will only offer the standard 90-days of free support that is included with every iPhone or iPad purchase as well as the option to upgrade to two-years of AppleCare+ for $99. This change goes into effect today in the United States, Canada, and Japan.

Apple hopes these changes as well other other future improvements will boost the adoption rate of AppleCare+. To compete with carrier and insurance options, Apple may improve its insurance plans for the iPhone as well as expand AppleCare+ internationally beyond its current coverage regions. The international service now has approximately 30 million subscribers and has brought in more than $2b in revenue since its introduction three years ago.

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Top Rated Comments

Chupa Chupa

161 months ago

It's no surprise Apple is opening up the enrollment window. Extended warranties like Apple Care are highly profitable. A lot of buyers can't stomach spending another $99 immediately after spending $200-900 on their iDevice, but give them a little more time to digest the bill + a scary last minute "are you covered" email and I bet Apple herds in a few more sheep. Free money for Apple.

But statistically, unless the buyer is a complete klutz or abuses his or her items it always a better bet to "self insure" against accidents and rely on a CC's free extended warranty for actual product failures. (Yes, yes, I know you all have your personal tales of how an extended warranty here or there paid for itself in spades. But the odds are against you and for the house in the long term just like at a Vegas craps table.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

IJ Reilly

161 months ago

I'm glad to see they are making updates. AppleCare+ seems like a good deal. I recently got it for my parents iPhone 5cs since they are new to the iPhone family. I wanted them to have coverage because they don't treat their phones very nicely. In-fact my dad somehow managed to pop out a clip in his display with in like 3 days... I was able to snap it back in place nothing broke just popped out i popped it back in. But that's when I knew I better "invest" in Applecare + I kinda wish I would of got it for my iPhone 5 because it had battery issues but it would not have paid for its self. Since the battery was only $79.00 or so. But when the new iPhone comes out I am for sure getting AppleCare+ this go around I have gotten it for my iMac it paid for it's self 3x over because I had to get a new LCD. I also got it for my rMBP as well but I have yet to make a claim hopefully I don't.

Are you thinking that AppleCare covers owner abuse? It doesn't. The TAC for AppleCare gives Apple broad authority to either reject a claim that might be the result of reckless use of the product, or to subject the claim to a service fee. The vague yet complex terms of these extended warranty policies put all of the authority to determine what is covered into the hands of the company. People who buy these policies should know that, and also know that they are huge profit centers for the sellers.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

IJ Reilly

161 months ago

Does it rub anybody else wrong that you have to pay to enroll and the have to pay for incident replacement? And that they limit it to 2? And doesn't and out of warranty iPhone replacement cost $199 (16 GB)? It used to. This just doesn't seem like a great deal to me.

I sure does, but then all consumer products warranties are a rip.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

GeneralChang

161 months ago

Cool. Ill still probably never get it, but its a reasonable improvement to the service.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

slu

161 months ago

Does it rub anybody else wrong that you have to pay to enroll and the have to pay for incident replacement? And that they limit it to 2? And doesn't and out of warranty iPhone replacement cost $199 (16 GB)? It used to. This just doesn't seem like a great deal to me.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)