Genius Bar iPhone policies tightened to make AppleCare+ more attractive
By Daniel Eran Dilger October 11, 2011
After introducing a more comprehensive extended warranty option for iPhone buyers, Apple is reportedly curtailing liberal exchange policies in its retail stores to make the new option more attractive.
Last week, Apple introduced "AppleCare+" for iPhone buyers, a $99 replacement for its previous $69 extended warranty plan, but one that now covers up to two incidents of accidental damage. Previous plans did not cover accidental damage.
Under the terms of the new plan, users who experience factory defects or problems, like a premature battery failure or problem with their headphones, are covered for free for two years, while any accidental damage caused by the user is covered for the same two year term with a $49 deductible termed a "service fee."
Users also get two full years of free software support, although according to the AppleCare+ warranty contract, such free support excludes software described as beta, which would currently exclude iOS 5's Siri service.
Under the terms of the revised plan, Apple will now repair or replace an accidentally damaged device with a new or refurbished model at the $49 price of the service fee, something that would otherwise cost $200 outside of the warranty period.
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