We have never been one for add on warranty plans and the like. But with our sons, cell phone damage and accidents were of sufficient frequency that with the last phone purchase we got insurance through the cell phone provider.

#2 Son bought an unlocked (therefore at full price) phone in 2015 and last month, the phone suffered water damage, making unusable.
Start the claim process. $75.00 deductible, and the insurance company offers a 2013 model, worth less than $200.00. With the deductible, original phone cost, and amount of insurance paid over the last 24 months, the net value received via insurance was about 1/3 of the total cash outlay. While you think that you're protecting value of your investment,thee insurance is only covering a technically equivalent product, hence the offer of the older phone.

Unsatisfied, we went back to the cell phone provider and stated our case for something better or different. Their first reaction is that they don't deal with this issue, the insurance company does. We politely disagreed, asking for a supervisor/management type. Sympathetic, but hold to the line that insurance replaces technically equivalent, not necessarily value equivalent. They did offer to help us work through the claim process. The cell phone store contacted the insurance company to discuss. Through this effort, the deductible was waived, and the phone offered and accepted was a 2017 model (android) at rough value of $200.00. We accepted, possible we could have pressed harder and gotten a little more in value, but don't think we would get to totally restored. When the phone gets here, we'll see.

We'll cancel the insurance next month. Knowing now how the process works, it ain't worth the effort.

Didn't mention the cell provider, the cell phone store reported that this insurance provider works with all the cell phone companies.

quote:

Originally posted by BGULL:
Didn't mention the cell provider, the cell phone store reported that this insurance provider works with all the cell phone companies.

The cell carrier is not all that important, but which insurance company is it?

No need to worry about liability / slander etc. if you're speaking facts. Much like Consumer Reports, a bad review, naming names, is OK if factual. The information might be useful to others, in terms of which insurance company to avoid.

A better option; let the kid replace their own cell phone if it gets damaged or go without.
I've found that approach to almost anything to be much more effective.

Yeah. cell phone insurance is a giant crock.

All insurance, on every depreciating asset, has a break even point. If you break your phone a week after you got it, insurance is clearly worth it. And always, if you care enough, read the fine print. The company I've used sends a refurbished phone of the exact same model as the one you currently own.

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:
A better option; let the kid replace their own cell phone if it gets damaged or go without.
I've found that approach to almost anything to be much more effective.

My son did buy the original phone, and he did buy a lesser phone while traveling, until he returned home. WE just pay for the service/insurance for the time being(#1 son pays us, so they stay under the grandfathered data plan). #2 will also start paying when he returns to the states after studying abroad.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by BGULL:
Didn't mention the cell provider, the cell phone store reported that this insurance provider works with all the cell phone companies.

The cell carrier is not all that important, but which insurance company is it?

No need to worry about liability / slander etc. if you're speaking facts. Much like Consumer Reports, a bad review, naming names, is OK if factual. The information might be useful to others, in terms of which insurance company to avoid.

I'm not sure which insurance carrier, that detail wasn't critical to me since everyone else dealt with that. I only got involved when we went to the carrier (ATT), as the main owner of the overall account, then they did all the talking contact with the insurance carrier.

Im stuck with iphones. They are the least shitty smart phones for my needs.

The damn things are expensive enough to make it worth it. Ive had two of them replaced. Im writing this on a beat up refurb that refuses to die.

Of course I may have just jinxed it.

Let me guess, Asurion?

VZW just sent me an email about their "new" plan that covers me "no matter what".

Yeah, let me tell you where you can put that Verizon.

RMD

Hah, I feel your pain. When I got my first smartphone, I looked at insurance. I figured if I was going to lay down $700 or so on a phone I could easily drop, I should have some coverage. Then I looked at the plans available and changed my mind. It was $15 a month for insurance with a $250 deductible, and like you said, they would only be protecting an "equivalent" phone. I figure the break even point was something like 9 months if you factor in depreciation. No thanks.

Statistically insurance companies always need to make more from you than they pay out over the long run, but I think that is ridiculous.

I've used the insurance a couple of times without the pain that you're describing, BUT...

It's always going to be a refurbished phone. I've yet to get one that was 100%. Generally it was the Bluetooth radio that was fubar. I had a really hard time with Android phones lasting anymore than about 18 months. Seemed every one I had started acting wonky at 18 months. Very replacement looked good, connected to the network fine, but couldn't even begin to connect to any of my Bluetooth devices. The last time I threw up my hands and went with the Apple offering. After a full 3 1/2 years, it still functions perfectly. I haven't run into any issues getting it to update the iOS or anything. I will say the battery seems to be showing it's age, but hey it still stay charged for 3 days, so I'm good. There won't be anymore insurance on my next one.

If you buy a refurbed or used phone to begin with, you save $100-200 per phone. After you do that 2 or 3 times, you have saved enough money to set aside to "self-insure."

Using this method of self insuring, I've saved $15 a month over the past 10 years, or roughly $1800 dollars on insurance costs, yet still being able to replace 2 or 3 phones that have broken or gotten lost.

Some are better than others.

A better plan is to not trade in your old phone. That's your insurance.

Keep your old phone as instant back up insurance.

Broke my iphone 6 plus (lawnmower), only lost a week of stuff when i restored the last backup to my old iphone 6. i buy my phones direct from apple and never used insurance. i'm generally good to my phones.

AppleCare for iPhones is pretty good.

My first iPhone, a 3GS, started to get a crack in the bezel, took it to Apple Store and walked out with a brand new 3GS.

I believe most carriers use assurion.

I had a very unpleasant experience with them about 8 years ago. I've refused to be scammed into the cell phone insurance racket again.

Verizon felt bad about assurion screwing me over...and actually did make things right after the fact.

quote:

Yeah, let me tell you where you can put that Verizon.

Can you feel it now?

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:
Let me guess, Asurion?

VZW just sent me an email about their "new" plan that covers me "no matter what".

Yeah, let me tell you where you can put that Verizon.

RMD

Yeah, bunch of useless bull. After a couple of years of having that insurance on my wife's iPhone she cracked her screen. Let's see if insurance will cover it. Sure. For an $80 deductible. How about you blow me.

Not busting on you, but a lesson we ALL need to start to learn... Read the Fucking Contract.

I'm getting very good at it at work, and it has me much more interested in my personal ones when the sales guy puts it in front of me.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
AppleCare for iPhones is pretty good.

My first iPhone, a 3GS, started to get a crack in the bezel, took it to Apple Store and walked out with a brand new 3GS.

I dropped my $1k IPhone off my motorcycle and apple replaced it for a total cost of $100. I was satisfied and would use it again.