Finally, iPhone Insurance (Sort of)
A very common “feature” of many highly used iPhones are unsightly cracks in the screen. Since screen cracks are almost never covered by the iPhone warranty, an entire cottage industry has cropped up for iPhone screen repairs. Even Apple decided it wanted a piece of the pie, and now do (expensive) iPhone screen repairs. AT&T doesn’t offer any insurance for iPhones, but does for other smartphones. Obviously, this has to do with the high cost of repair combined with the likelihood of breakage. What’s a paranoid iPhone user to do?
Mission: Repair, one of the leaders in iPhone service, is now offering a program which bridges the gap between iPhone repairs and iPhone insurance.
The program, called a “Peace of Mind/Maintenance Performance Guarantee” will cover screen and other repairs to your iPhone. The terms and conditions are a bit lengthy and technically they can’t call it insurance or a warranty. Essentially, the program is a “pay in advance” system for iPhone screen repairs that in practice behaves like an insurance program.
You pay $19.99 for one year or $29.99 for two years and if your screen breaks, they repair it at no charge. For a bit more they’ll cover almost everything but the screen ($34.99 1 year/54.99 2 years) or combine the two (54.99 1 year/79.99 2 years). Unlike AppleCare, this program will cover accidental screen damage as well as iPhones or iPods that are already out of warranty.
Water damage is excluded and you have to ship your iPhone/iPod touch to them for inspection before signing up for the program in order to prove it is in good working condition (an iPhone App allowing you to test it yourself without sending the phone in to Mission: Repair is coming soon). The current requirement for advance shipping is a pain of course, but when I’ve had to do a repair before, I buy a cheap GoPhone and put my SIM card in there for a day. Additionally, users of the new program are required to install an iPhone screen protector and users are limited in the number of repairs per year. The closest equivalent is BestBuy’s $15 per month “BlackTie Protection” which covers pretty much everything. However, one only needs to pull out the calculator app to see that $180 is not a terribly good deal. AT&T’s insurance program for other phones is $60 a year, so Mission: Repair’s combined coverage program is competitive with AT&T’s offerings on other phones.
I’m sure others will pick up on the idea, but I’m glad Mission: Repair is taking the lead! I know what I’ll be giving as stocking stuffers to my risk-averse iPhone and iPod touch friends this year.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user christyxcore.
Tweet This (73)
Gordon Polovin on December 15th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Compare all Iphone and Phone insurance plans in the USA for free visit http://www.ensquared.com
There is options for phone theft and damage as well as extended warranty.
We have not included Mission Repair yet on our site however we will do so in the near future.
iHing on December 16th, 2009 at 1:26 am
I had a friend who left his iPhone in his jeans pocket and it went through a wash. Six days later the iPhone came back to life. Is that not iCrazee or what? I need to write up this story on my blog.
Crayve on December 16th, 2009 at 6:02 am
I added a provision to my homeowners insurance that covers the iPhone for any event..lost, stolen, broken..whatever. I have Allstate.
Staff Comment Dave Greenbaum, TheAppleBlog on December 16th, 2009 at 8:30 am
You might check with the insurance company. I tried to schedule my iPhone and they would only insure the purchase price of the phone: $199. However the actual replacement cost of the phone is $399.
Ed on December 16th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Excellent, thanks for the tip about the iPhone insurance. The insurance supplied by O2 in the UK covers practically nothing!
Robert on December 16th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Is the new screen also a fat resistagt display (for which devices)?
Doc on December 16th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I bought SquareTrade the day I got my 3GS, covers any damage I don’t intentionally do for the ACTUAL replacement cost, and I never had to prove the condition of the phone or agree to any protector.
MM on December 17th, 2009 at 8:37 am
SquareTrade only covers new iPhones purchased within the last 30 days from an authorized eBay seller or other authorized retailer (ie, AT&T, BestBuy, Walmart, etc.). They do not cover refurbished or used iPhones. SquareTrade policies include a $50 deductible per claim, and are more expensive than this program appears to be.
Gazoobee on December 17th, 2009 at 12:04 am
“A very common feature of many highly used iPhones are unsightly cracks …”
Aside from the horrific grammar of your opening sentence, I have to say I’ve *never* seen an iPhone with a cracked screen. I see dozens of them every day, all of my friends have them, and I’m sure some iPhones get cracked screens if yo drop them on concrete many times over, but this is hardly a “very common feature.”
I’ve dropped my 3G many times and never cracked the screen also. It’s generally a very hard thing to do unless you are a complete tool.
Richard on December 17th, 2009 at 11:01 am
I’ll ignore your comment about being a tool, and tell you I broke my 3G screen in two months after purchase. I broke my phone dialing up a booty call after a wedding at 3am. I dropped it from my ear (drunk btw) and it landed face down on exposed aggregate concrete. Most expensive booty call EVER!
And I’ve seen a few cracked screen over time. So its not that hard and you don’t have to be a tool, just clumsy.
Tom on December 17th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
You’re an idiot…
Tom on December 17th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
To clarify: Gazoobee is the idiot. Richard is pretty funny.
Mauro on December 17th, 2009 at 4:30 am
I break mine twice!
I used
http://www.ifixiphone.it
Italian company, screen repair for 99 Euro (150$) shipping included. They ship worldwide now. Website in english soon, they say…
The insurance was probably better for me but I may be an exception.
ano on December 18th, 2009 at 10:42 am
RE:Mauro
Missionrepair is cheaper than that. They do 3gs for 99 and they do it in 24 hours. Its cool they are offering this program though, my friend has broken his glass 4 times in the last year.
Samuel on December 20th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I got proper iPhone insurance at iPhone Insurance Cover. They don’t cover loss but do cover theft and accidental damage including international cover and some other bits. I paid 107 for 15 months cover. It seems ok to me. I guess you pays your money and takes your choice
Kathycorby on December 21st, 2009 at 1:49 pm
FYI just got a great deal on screen repair in Cupertino (Cupertino iPhone screen repair). with 99 buck price & 30 min turnaround . I think they do mail in too. Thank god my baby’s back.
Monae on January 14th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Hello, I just recently dropped my fone and I need to gt it repaired immediately!! Can you help me or point me into the right direction?
Jeff on December 21st, 2009 at 2:50 pm
iRepair Team LLC offers insurance plans that are superior to all other insurance or warranty plans out there.
I am the President and CEO of iRepair Team LLC. We have been in business for almost 2 years now and service customers all across the nation.
We do not require that the iPhone be mailed in to us. We offer two plans. One covering water damage and the entire phone for failure. This plan covers everything but theft and loss.
The other plan covers glass and lcd breakage as well as battery failure for 1 year for only $35 for the 3g and $45 for the 3gs. Only a $10 deductible is required for the 3g and $20 for the 3gs. 5 claims made me made per year.
There is simply no comparison to our insurance plans.
Please see iRepairTeam.com/iphoneinsurance for more information or call 888-269-5658 for more information.
Aaron C on January 10th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Worth Ave Group now offers iPhone insurance. For only 63 dollars you can cover a 16GB 3Gs. It covers just about everything including water damage and theft. There is only a 50 dollar deductible but you are good for the entire year. So if you break your phone again, you are still covered, unlike a warranty you buy from all the other places that just covers the first break/phone.
Here is a comparison chart:
http://www.insuranceforiphones.com/iphone-insurance/iphone-insurance-comparison/
iPhone Repair Parts on March 4th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
If you don’t have any insurance but still need to get your iPhone repaired or get parts for the iPhone, you can use these guys. I have bought parts from them before and they are located in the USA which worked out great for me.
http://www.iPhoneReplacementParts.com
If you like to repair your own iPhone, check out this website. Even if you would rather have a professional do the work, they can do it for you also. They sell parts and do repairs.
Gary B on March 6th, 2010 at 3:01 am
A new company called iphoneinsuranceplan.com seems to have good deals and also seems legit.