Apple Drops Free AppleCare, Lowers Discount on Macs for U.K. Students

Along with expanding its free Beats promotion to Europe, Apple has quietly changed its education incentives for students in the United Kingdom.

AppleCare MacBook
As of this week, Apple's online higher education store in the U.K. now offers up to 10 percent off Macs and other qualifying purchases, whereas the discount was previously up to 15 percent off. The base model 13-inch MacBook Pro now costs £898.80 for students and £999 otherwise, amounting to roughly 10 percent off.

Apple also no longer includes three years of complimentary AppleCare with Macs, with one year of phone support, and instead offers students 50 percent off the protection plan. AppleCare for the MacBook, MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro, for example, is now £99.63 for students and £199 otherwise.

The changes mean that a student purchasing a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with AppleCare, for example, will now be required to pay £150 or more extra. The free Beats Solo2 Wireless On-Ear Headphones included with a qualifying Mac purchase retail for £269.95, so the difference amounts to around £100 to £120.

Apple's higher education store in the U.K. is now closer in line with the U.S., Canada, and elsewhere, where Apple has offered students up to 10 percent off with no AppleCare included for several years. It remains unclear if the changes are permanent, or only for the duration of the free Beats promotion in Europe.

Update: To clarify, Apple only offered three years of complimentary AppleCare for Mac purchases made through its online higher education store in the U.K. Physical retail stores only offered AppleCare at a discount of up to 75 percent off.



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13 weeks ago
Stingy b******s.
Rating: 21 Votes
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13 weeks ago
Greed. It's not as if they're running tight margins...
Rating: 9 Votes
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13 weeks ago
As if students don't have enough debt as it is with higher tuition fees. Though not Apple's fault, you would expect some sympathy from them. Apple are absolute savages.
Rating: 7 Votes
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13 weeks ago
Offering AppleCare in the UK means nothing since consumer law here already covers devices for up to 5/7 years.

Apple knows this only too well. I've claimed several times under this law.
Rating: 7 Votes
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13 weeks ago

Stingy b******s.


Oh how awful that someone doesn't give you something you think you deserve for free.
Rating: 6 Votes
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13 weeks ago

Oh how awful that someone doesn't give you something you think you deserve for free.


That's not even the point. It's the fact they are ending this deal when they've continue to make tons of money with this discount all those years before. Why the need to end it now? I can't see any reason for this move, other than pure greed.
Rating: 5 Votes
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13 weeks ago

Offering AppleCare in the UK means nothing since consumer law here already covers devices for up to 5/7 years.

Apple knows this only too well. I've claimed several times under this law.


You have to prove a manufacturing fault - you will know that of course as you've done it several times. This can often takes months, but you will know that too. Having an extended warranty for free means you can walk in to an Apple Store and get a repair started same day or, in 2 experiences I had with it, an instant replacement.

Consumer law is absolutely no replacement for a warranty, you may have got lucky, but for most of they are successful it will have taken considerable correspondence and a lot of time.
Rating: 4 Votes
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13 weeks ago
With Dell XPS 15 out there... nah
Rating: 4 Votes
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13 weeks ago
UK had free AppleCare?
Rating: 4 Votes
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13 weeks ago
#Greed instead of customer orientation. Oh well, can't really blame Apple. It's what businesses do, somewhat unfortunate though, plus the image of the company takes a hit.
Rating: 4 Votes
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