Back to Mobile View

Skip to Content

How to add AppleCare+ to your early iPhone 4S order

by Erica Sadun Oct 11th 2011 at 2:30PM

TUAW is getting lots of queries from those who pre-ordered their iPhone 4S but were not given the option for an AppleCare+ purchase at that time; most of them ordered their phones from their carrier, rather than directly from Apple. If you're unfamiliar with the extended support program, you may wonder why this is an issue. It's because of some wording on the Apple website.

Apple's site states that "AppleCare+ must be purchased together with your new iPhone. To buy it, add it to your shopping cart during the checkout process when you purchase your new iPhone." A call to AppleCare confirms that the service is not intended for sales made directly from AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon. On the other hand, the Terms & Conditions document covering AppleCare+ simply says that the extended coverage must be purchased during the original one-year warranty covering the phone. Which is the real deal?

TUAW did a bit of phoning around, to local retail stores, to AppleCare customer service and to sales support. They all agreed on their advice: If you want to buy AppleCare+ to cover a phone purchased from a carrier or one where you neglected to buy it when purchasing from Apple, just walk on in to an Apple retail store within 30 days of your purchase and ask for help from any sales person. You do not have to make a Genius Bar appointment. This is a one-time exception to the policy requiring simultaneous phone & AppleCare purchasing.

The sales support representative we spoke with explained that many customers who ordered from Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T weren't aware that AppleCare+ isn't a product offered by those vendors. Because of that, Apple is waiving any restrictions for the initial launch.

As for those who ordered from the online Apple Store and weren't offered AppleCare+, several representatives agreed that the launch was a bit "overwhelmed."

If you'd like to take advantage of AppleCare+, which offers repair coverage and technical support for two years plus minimal accidental damage coverage (one supposes that Genius Bars will become far less lenient about extending courtesy repairs and replacements for these), simply head on in after purchase, once the initial fervor dies down. Accidental damage repairs will still incur a $49 charge for each incident, and you are limited to a maximum of two ADR incidents per device/policy.

AppleCare+ costs $99 and is normally purchased along with the iPhone. You can also purchase standard AppleCare for iPhone at any time during a product's initial coverage for $79. AppleCare extends your iPhone coverage and support from the default coverage time to the full coverage time of two years from the purchase date of the phone. It does not restart the warranty clock to the date of the AppleCare+ purchase, so regardless of when you buy the coverage it will not extend past the second anniversary of your phone purchase.

  • Direct number for Apple Care 800-275-2273
  • Apple Care Sales Support 800-676-2775

Thanks Kai C.



View Tags

Related Stories

Categories

iPhone

TUAW is getting lots of queries from those who pre-ordered their iPhone 4S but were not given the option for an AppleCare+ purchase at...
 

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum Comment Moderation Enabled. Your comment will appear after it is cleared by an editor.

23 Comments

Filter by:
a44green

This article has a number of items that are incorrect.

1. I just successfully purchased AppleCare+ by phone from the Apple Store for my iPhone 4S (that I got from AT&T) -- so there is no need to go into a Apple Store.

2. AppleCare is not an option for the iPhone 4S. You can only buy AppleCare+ (according to the sales person).

3. You cannot buy AppleCare+ over the phone if you live in Florida (yes, that's what Sales said).

October 16 2011 at 3:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sandman619

It’s in writing in the AppleCare + Terms & Conditions that the AppleCare + warranty extension can be purchased anytime during the devices original warranty period, which is 1 year. Regardless of what any telephone operator or retail employee says. Of course, that may be up to a court of law to enforce. It’s just small claims court

Cheers !

October 14 2011 at 10:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
macmanmk

If you order online from Sprint they allow you to add AppleCare+ as part of the order process. Maybe AT&T and Verizon need to get on the ball instead of letting the newcomer show them how it's done.

October 12 2011 at 12:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Carlton Bale

Here's how I understand AppleCare+; please correct me if I'm wrong.

AppleCare+ costs $99, covers two broken screens for $49/incident and extends the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. Without AppleCare+, defective hardware will be replaced under warranty during the first year only and cracked screens cost $199 per incident. Here are some "total cost" scenarios to compare options:

No cracked screens: $0 (no AppleCare+); $99 (with AppleCare+)
1 Cracked screen: $199 (no AppleCare+), $148 (with AppleCare+)
2 Cracked screens: $398 (no AppleCare+), $197 (with AppleCare+)
3 Cracked screens: $597 (no AppleCare+), $396 (with AppleCare+)
Hardware issue during the first year: $0 (no AppleCare+); $99 (with AppleCare+)
Hardware issue during the second year: $199 (no AppleCare+); $99 (with AppleCare+)

October 11 2011 at 10:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
FlyAU98

Here is what AT&T Customer Care had to say to me when I sent them an e-mail asking about adding AppleCare+. Looks like you don't need to go to an Apple Store:

"Thank you for contacting AT&T about your wireless service. My name is Paula O., and I will be more than happy to assist you with your inquiry regarding the APP+ today. I understand your concern in acquiring this for your iPhone 4s.

If you want APP+ before October 14, you must first receive your phone. Then, you can contact Apple at 1-800- My-Apple (1-800-692-7753) to purchase and enroll in APP+. Apple will need the IMEI information from your iPhone 4s before they can enroll you in APP+."

October 11 2011 at 9:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to FlyAU98's comment
a44green

I have AT&T too. It's easier to call the Apple Store. You can buy AppleCare+ over the phone (unless you live in FL).

October 16 2011 at 3:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Debby

(iii) Direct mail-in service is available for most Covered Equipment. If Apple determines that your Covered Equipment is eligible for mail-in service, Apple will send you prepaid way bills (and if you no longer have the original packaging, Apple may send you packaging material) and you will ship the Covered Equipment to Appleʼs repair service location in accordance with its instructions. Once service is complete, the Apple repair service location will return the Covered Equipment to you. Apple will pay for shipping to and from your location if all instructions are followed.

October 11 2011 at 9:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
D R

Anybody know if AppleCare+ is available in Canada? It didn't show up when I ordered the 4S last week [just 'regular' AppleCare].

October 11 2011 at 9:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sabler

I called twice to make sure I wasn't getting different answers. Apple Sales and Applecare Sales both told me to go to a store with the inactive and/or unopened phone. What they couldn't tell me is if I'd have to wait on a godforsaken line for hours on end to do something I should've been able to do as part of the pre-order process. (Pre-ordered through Verizon, I looked. Applecare+ *wasn't* presented as an option.)

October 11 2011 at 8:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to sabler's comment
Sandman619

The line is for iPhone purchases only. Just walk in & tell the first person that you reach your situation. It would be a surprise if they expected you to wait in line at all

Cheers !

October 14 2011 at 10:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
YodaMac

I've owned every iPhone version, and have yet to bother with a case or AppleCare. And every iPhone has been used for two (or more) years as I pass them on to family members. (I think my Brother-in-law is still happily using my original iPhone 1)

They fit easily in your pocket and are well protected there. When handling it - just use care. :)

But if you decide to purchase AppleCare, I would suggest the AppleCare+ since that's the only one that protects you somewhat from "droppage" (not signal, but the phone itself).

October 11 2011 at 6:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
The Angry Intern

Thanks for this. My mom just pre-ordered her iPhone from Verizon and was wondering about AppleCare.

October 11 2011 at 6:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buy an ad here

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.