Can I Purchase Apple Care + at Verizon?

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my iPhone 5 this Friday. I ordered it in my corporate store on launch day (around 4PM). I currently have an iPhone 4 and have the insurance through Verizon that covers everything. As a matter of fact, they just sent me a new iPhone 4 because my home key kept messing up. Anyway, it's expensive and I want to switch to the Apple Care Plus plan. According to the Apple site, I have 30 days to purchase upon receipt of my phone but I have to bring it to an apple store for inspection in order to do so. The closest Apple store to me is 6 hours away! Can I do this at a Verizon store since I purchased the phone from them? If so, is the cost the same? Thanks for any answers.

On another note, I ordered this on my daughter's line as she had an upgrade. I transferred the upgrade to my line BEFORE I placed the order. My order email says her number is the one getting the phone. I called support and they said that it's not a problem. I just need to call them to switch things over BEFORE I insert the SIM card and activate the phone. They can do it immediately on their end. Is this what others are experiencing as well?

Accepted answers

Verizon_Support

Hi NanaSioux,

I know that the purchase of Apple Care can get confusing. I have included the details we receive from Apple for their product as well as the link to Apple's site where the details are available. I hope I've sent you this with enough time to get it added without the store visit.

Option 1: Day of shipment to 5th day of shipment customers can call Apple at AppleCare Fallout Support Hotline at 877-202-4738 to have AppleCare added. The support is only available from 8:00am to 8:00pm CT.

Option 2: 6th day of shipment to 30th day of shipment customer MUST go to an Apple store to have AppleCare added for a manual inspection of the device.

The details are also available on http://bit.ly/IJGov. Let us know if you have any other questions we can assist with.

Thank you,

MariaC_VZW

Please follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

All comments

BDA

You can call apple and order it over the phone as long as you are far enough away from store. I ordered for my two 4s and I live about 4 hours from a store.

gina7239

The plus they need to see your phone to prove there is no damage. Maybe you could go to the Verizon store and have them call apple to tell them there is no damage and buy it through apple over the phone by calling the apple store directly. Only the regular apple care you can buy without proof of no damage.

gina7239

The sim is programmed for your daughters line. You might need a new card.

gina7239

Vzw has there own insurance for everything so I don't think you can buy it there. There insurance is for the life of the phone not just 2yrs. Includes lost too.

sirguynate805

You can buy Apple Care+ at a Verizon store, Only at the time of purchase.

I purchased Apple Care + when I purchased my phones in store on the 21st.

Apple Care + is not available on VZW online.

rocket_girl

I purchased it at Apple. When Verizon asked me --in store -- if I wanted insurance, I said "no, I am going to get Applecare" and they did NOT offer to sell it to me. As far as I know, you cannot get applecare in a carrier store - only from Apple.

You have to make an appointment at the Apple Genius bar and take your phone in (so they can eyeball it). You have to puy it withn xx days of buying a new phone, so check the apple website to be sure. Very easy.

BDA

That's good they are offering it at the VZW store. Apple does not need to see the phone as long as its within 30 days. I don't live any where near an apple store and I bought my 4s and called Apple 10 days later and ordered it over the phone, no problems.

rocket_girl

As far as I know, they are NOT offering Applecare at the VZW store.

Apple DOES need to see the phone if you live 15 min from an Apple store. Not sure what the distance limit might be - expect it to be somewhat variable. Very good thing they did not make you drive 8 hrs round trip. That would be nuts.

I wonder if carrier stores sell Applecare when there is no Apple store nearby? Hmm...

Verizon_Support

NanaSioux

I went with Square Trade instead. Special price right now of $124 for 3 years of total coverage. Only a $49 deductible and 4 claims are allowed.

Rusty48

Would it be fair to say - if the value of those 4 or less claims does not - in the opinion of Square Trade - exceed the value of your phone?

VALUE OF YOUR COVERAGE

The total value of your Care Plan is in most cases equal to the purchase price
of your item. For every valid claim filed against your item for which we
provide repair services, the total value of your coverage is reduced by the
cost of the repair services rendered. In the event a valid claim is filed with
us and repair costs are estimated to exceed the current value of your Care Plan
- the balance of your Care Plan value will be offered instead.