next question du jour... smart phones

[BUGGZY]

I don't think that's a good value. You're guaranteed to be out $100, $150 if you break the phone. If you don't purchase the insurance and you do break the screen, you might never spend a dime, or if you're HIAB, you're out $175. I'd take the $25 bet I won't break the screen and keep that money to use on a new phone when my contract is up. If you have kids playing with it, I guess I could see it but for most responsible people, prolly not worth it. They don't lose money on those insurance plans.

but if the phone was completely broken at any point, i'd be out $800. and i do have 2 young kids, refuse to put a case on my phone, etc, so $99 for 2 years of coverage is a no brainer for me.

[HokieJamie]

Just buy a good case, Otter Box.

+1 on the Otterbox. my son broke the screen on our Ipad2. Fixed the screen and got the otterbox for it now.

[BayouGobbler]

but if the phone was completely broken at any point, i'd be out $800. and i do have 2 young kids, refuse to put a case on my phone, etc, so $99 for 2 years of coverage is a no brainer for me.

99 for 2 yrs wand a $50 deductible is a no brainer. The verizon insurance for androids is $7 a month plus a $90 deductible. That's not worth it for me and I have broken or lost most of my phones.

[BUGGZY]

99 for 2 yrs wand a $50 deductible is a no brainer. The verizon insurance for androids is $7 a month plus a $90 deductible. That's not worth it for me and I have broken or lost most of my phones.

and apple care+ offers free software and general device support both over the phone and in their stores or certified service centers, so it goes well beyond the normal "insurance". i doubt i'll ever use it, but knowing some of the issues with upgrading iOS updates, etc i've heard about with other users, it's nice to know that support is there and that i won't have an $800 brick.

[BigDave]

99 for 2 yrs wand a $50 deductible is a no brainer. The verizon insurance for androids is $7 a month plus a $90 deductible. That's not worth it for me and I have broken or lost most of my phones.

So you're paying $100 if nothing happens and $150 if something happens, as opposed to paying $0 if nothing happens and $200 if something happens? That doesn't sound like a great deal to me.

[AbsolutHokie04]

So you're paying $100 if nothing happens and $150 if something happens, as opposed to paying $0 if nothing happens and $200 if something happens? That doesn't sound like a great deal to me.

If you break your phone 3 months into contract ... it's not $200 (without insurance) to repair. HIA is lucky that she has an upgrade available on her family plan. Without insurance, you pay full retail price to replace your phone - $500+ for higher end smartphones

[BayouGobbler]

So you're paying $100 if nothing happens and $150 if something happens, as opposed to paying $0 if nothing happens and $200 if something happens? That doesn't sound like a great deal to me.

$200 if that something is a broken screen. $700 if that something is your phone going for a walk or taking a bath.

[BUGGZY]

So you're paying $100 if nothing happens and $150 if something happens, as opposed to paying $0 if nothing happens and $200 if something happens? That doesn't sound like a great deal to me.

a new iPhone 4S during a contract period would be $849 for me, not $200.

[BigDave]

If you break your phone 3 months into contract ... it's not $200 (without insurance) to repair. HIA is lucky that she has an upgrade available on her family plan. Without insurance, you pay full retail price to replace your phone - $500+ for higher end smartphones

... or buy a used/refurb. You can get a used iPhone from eBay/craigslist/whatever for a few hundred dollars.

Yes, if you buy the newest latest+greatest phone and break it the next day and you repeatedly break your phone, you are screwed. But on the whole, as long as you aren't stupid, these things are a waste of money.

[AbsolutHokie04]

But on the whole, as long as you aren't stupid, these things are a waste of money.

I agree to the fullest extent of which agreement is possible.

But some people are stupid. Lots of them actually.