Do you get phone insurance?

[funksouljon]

I just got a couple new phones, our old ones were old and suffering. We usually keep them for 3-4 years. I have had insurance and then not. I have never needed to use insurance on my phones when I did have it (always need it when you don't tho). Mostly because
1) I treat it like a computer
2) I always have a sturdy case
3) my cases always have grip. I really dislike how all phones are so smooth, just feels like a drop waiting to happen.
4) if I am near water, i have it bagged or clutch my phone like an old lady and her pearls.

Sure Ive dropped my phones, but it is rare (see #3), and have never had a screen get damaged (see #2) or Im just lucky. Insurance in general is a profit maker for the company, which means for me, statistically, it will be a loser. If I add up the years of no issues, I have saved money for the first time I destroy a phone.

Is there anyone out there who just pays insurance no matter what?

 

[Nole Lou]

I guess I would think about it if I was paying $900 for a phone. I just always buy 1-2 generations behind, sometimes used, $150 - $250, and don't worry about it. I'm really not enough of a power user to need brand new phones, even though they look pretty cool. As long as it's "new to me" that's good enough.

 

[travnole]

My last iPhone lasted me 7 years.

No.

 

[seminoledq]

I used to get the geek squad protection plans for phones back when they actually covered things like cracked screens. The plans suck now compared to 4-5 years ago so I haven't paid for one in a while. I also don't get the newest phones. I finally got rid of my 4s about 6 months ago and got the SE. Does everything I need it too and the same size as the original iPhone 4 generation.

 

[Gonolz]

For responsible adults, it is a bad deal. For kids and irresponsible people, it can make sense. My 18 year-old nephew has broken 3 phones in the last year.

What about rental car insurance? This guy gets it:

 

[ohio#1nolefan]

No..
Even when my kids were younger(teen years) I never had it but my kids were more responsible than most kids. Since the plans have changed where you don't get a free phone when re-signing I definitely don't get it. I'll go to craigslist and buy a generation or 2 older. I've only cracked 1 screen and it was $75 to get fixed.

 

[nynole1]

I think you answered your own question. If you've never needed it, you could have saved all the money you would have paid for insurance. Then if you do break a phone, you could use that money.
I have the Pixel now but kept my Galaxy in the event I break this. But like you, I buy a good case and am very conscious of how I treat me phone.

 

[Bartdog]

Not from the carrier, but I have bought a plan from the maker. I'm bad about dropping things.

 

[cmanole]

Even with insurance you pay 200 for a new phone. All mine are insured but the other three of us are women so it's necessary...

 

[SoddyNole]

Yes for an iphone and no for a Samsung.

 

[NDallasRuss]

I do, but I'm pretty risk averse when it comes to stuff like that.

We upgrade every two years. Just got three Samsung Note 8's @ $960* per. I don't want something to happen and have to replace one of those out of pocket. It's $100 to replace with the insurance. Better safe than sorry.

*didn't pay retail. Verizon credits $25 per phone against the prorated cost. For the Note 8 the cost is $40/mo, minus the 25, so 15/ month. Plus they credited exchanging the old phones so we're really only paying like $5/month/phone.

 

[Gonolz]

I do, but I'm pretty risk averse when it comes to stuff like that.

We upgrade every two years. Just got three Samsung Note 8's @ $960* per. I don't want something to happen and have to replace one of those out of pocket. It's $100 to replace with the insurance. Better safe than sorry.

*didn't pay retail. Verizon credits $25 per phone against the prorated cost. For the Note 8 the cost is $40/mo, minus the 25, so 15/ month. Plus they credited exchanging the old phones so we're really only paying like $5/month/phone.

I'm shopping both phone and provider now. I see the $40/mth offer with Verizon. How did you get the $25/mth off? I'm paying $71/mth now with AT&T with an iphone 5 (4GB data + rollover, which is more than enough). Would like to upgrade, but paying $800-$1000, whether or not in a monthly payment, plus continuing to pay $70+ per mth seems too high.

 

[HulaNole]

Pfffft.

 

[csklad]

I tried the insurance out because I hate having a case on my phone. Basically, you get another phone but it is refurbished, not new. The first replacement I received after submitting a claim came quickly but the button made a clicking sound and seemed “loose” as if it wasn’t put together correctly. I complained and they immediately offered the next model up (I had a 6 and they offered 6s). I found the second replacement acceptable but from now on I’ll just pay the 75-100 to have to the sceeen fixed locally because that is all that was wrong with my original one.

 

[nynole1]

I tried the insurance out because I hate having a case on my phone. Basically, you get another phone but it is refurbished, not new. The first replacement I received after submitting a claim came quickly but the button made a clicking sound and seemed “loose” as if it wasn’t put together correctly. I complained and they immediately offered the next model up (I had a 6 and they offered 6s). I found the second replacement acceptable but from now on I’ll just pay the 75-100 to have to the sceeen fixed locally because that is all that was wrong with my original one.

I would never buy an iPhone,but I've heard that I'd you have the screen replaced not through Apple, you void the warranty on the phone.

 

[NDallasRuss]

I'm shopping both phone and provider now. I see the $40/mth offer with Verizon. How did you get the $25/mth off? I'm paying $71/mth now with AT&T with an iphone 5 (4GB data + rollover, which is more than enough). Would like to upgrade, but paying $800-$1000, whether or not in a monthly payment, plus continuing to pay $70+ per mth seems too high.

It's just been part of the deal with renewing our service with Verizon for another 2yr term. Looks like it may be specific to plans like the "More Everything Plan", with a minimum of like 6 or 10GB of data/month. I'm not positive. We're at 10GB/month.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

I would never buy an iPhone,but I've heard that I'd you have the screen replaced not through Apple, you void the warranty on the phone.

To the extent that the screen is damaged more than a few months after purchase, isn't the warranty period already over?

I suppose you'd lose out on things like a battery recall, which Apple recently had for the iPhone 6s

FYI in case this helps anyone - https://www.apple.com/support/iphone6s-unexpectedshutdown/

 

[ericram]

Yes, and it is probably a complete waste of money, but when phones go for $800+ it is better to be safe than sorry. I have had to replace my phone a few times. One thing to note, through Costco they offer a Square trade warranty that DOES NOT cover lost or stolen. This is the biggest thing I have insurance for. So, I use the one from Verizon.

 

[HilltopperNole]

When I realized it was still $150 to get a phone fixed even with insurance decided to drop it. I know it voids the warranty but it is so much easier and cheaper to just drop it off at the local place and have them fix it.

 

[GoNolesTX]

I do, but I'm pretty risk averse when it comes to stuff like that.

We upgrade every two years. Just got three Samsung Note 8's @ $960* per. I don't want something to happen and have to replace one of those out of pocket. It's $100 to replace with the insurance. Better safe than sorry.

*didn't pay retail. Verizon credits $25 per phone against the prorated cost. For the Note 8 the cost is $40/mo, minus the 25, so 15/ month. Plus they credited exchanging the old phones so we're really only paying like $5/month/phone.

This. A year ago, got the 7 Edge and within a month, dropped it while getting out of the truck. $100 and 24 hours later, brand new 7 Edge thru Asurion. I'll pay the $2-$3/month for that.

 

[jamnolfin]

Note 8 and 2 Iphone 7s are all insured. It's insurance, I haven't had to use it in years but just as soon as I'm uninsured something will happen

 

[TennNole17]

The deductibles are bullshit on these phone plans.

 

[OrlandNole]

I actually talked to a friend of mine, who manages a Verizon store, about this last night. Insurance is a high profit upsell. Percent of sales with insurance is a key metric for sales people.

 

[ericram]

I actually talked to a friend of mine, who manages a Verizon store, about this last night. Insurance is a high profit upsell. Percent of sales with insurance is a key metric for sales people.

I would think insurance as a whole is a great sales endeavor as we pay for something that might happen.

 

[NoleinDaQC]

If you finance the phone by adding the monthly payment to your bill get insurance for the first year. As you owe less on the phone to amount that is more comfortable to pay off if something happens......drop the insurance at that point.

 

[ColaNoles]

My smartest and most successful engineering professor once told me “never pay for insurance on something you can cover out of pocket”. And for those with irresponsible kids who need it, I strongly suggest taking it away and let them know they won’t get a replacement if broken... I promise they will become much more responsible. Buy them a flip phone if they say they need a phone in case of emergency