iPad screen smashed...

[Nicebucket]

Not having the best start to my new year

Basically, I tripped and my iPad slipped and smashed.

Luckily, I'm covered by Apple Care plus which covers two incidents to accidental damage for a fee of £39. I called apple support and they said I would get a replacement iPad for £39 basically.


Now this is all great EXCEPT that the model I have (iPad mini 3) isn't sold anymore. They only have the 2 and the 4.

I'm very concerned I'll end up with one of those refurbished iPads and I REALLY don't want that.

Someone I know who worked for the Apple Store in NY said that in the US, since I have Apple care plus, they would not replace it for the refurbished one, they would give me the iPad 4. Any chance UK might be the same?

Has anyone been through something similar? Anyone on here works for apple and can help?

[Nicebucket]

I already know IWU for being so clumsy. But I would still appreciate some help!

[WickedTricksyFalse]

Why don't you want a refurbished ipad?

I ALWAYS buy refurbished ipads/macs from Apple (when I am visiting home in America). The refurbished products go through a much more stringent screening procedure than the "new-new" products, and most of the time, they haven't been used, either. They are open-box items from shops, display items, or items that were returned because someone didn't like the color, etc. The refurbished item will look new and will have been more thoroughly vetted than a new-new ipad.

My family is made up of computer engineers, and they have all explained this to me. I could buy new-new, but I choose to go refurbished every time. If they sold refurbished iphones, I would buy one of those each year as well.

[Nicebucket]

I've personally had bad experiences with refurbished items before.

Also, refurbished iPad 3 will have iOS 9 on an A7 processor- that will slow things down.

[Dipankrispaneven]

I've got a refurbished mini iPad, it's excellent.

[Mrswinkler]

Won't they just repair the screen?

[Hurr1cane]

Apple care sounds shit. It's only £40 to get a screen fixed here by an apple verified repair shop.

[WahhHelpMe]

£40 isn't so bad they wanted £200 when my screen smashed, not accidental I literally woke up to it smashed on the desk with only me in the room. In the end I paid £50 excess on home insurance

[tiggerkid]

There are small companies that replace iPad screens for a relatively inexpensive fee. My son dropped his old iPad last year smashing the screen to pieces. Apple doesn't sell that model anymore, so we had the screen replaced outside Apple. As far as I remember it cost us £35 or thereabouts. You can Google for replacing iPad screen. There are plenty of these companies about.

[DyslexicScientist]

Its almost like they make them out of glass and flimsy on purpose.

[Nicebucket]

Why should I pay £30-£50 to get someone to repair the screen when I can get apple to replace the product for £39?

And no, apple won't repair the screen because it's more expensive for them to do that as opposed to just replacing the iPad. I'd frankly rather have a new one anyway as opposed to getting this one fixed.

Anyway, thanks all

[Nicebucket]

WahhHelpMe- I agree, £39 is excellent if they can replace it. I'd just rather have a new iPad 4, as opposed to a refurbished iPad 3.

They charged you £200 because you probably didn't have apple care. If I didn't have apple care, I'd have paid the same for a replacement.

[InTheBox]

I'd just shell out to get it repaired from somewhere relatively cheap tbh. But having said that, when something similar happened to me Apple told me if the product is repaired by a non-Apple certified fixer then it voids the insurance policy.

[Frisk]

I trod on my laptop screen.
WHat do I do?

[19lottie82]

Hurr1cane. Any repairs that aren't done by Apple void any existing warranty.

[y0rkier0se]

If this happened all the time you'd get people buying cheaper, lower range apple products, taking out apple care, smashing them, then demanding the next one up. It does happen sometimes - a friend got an iPhone 5 replaced with a 5S but I imagine it will depend on their stock levels and all sorts. As much as you'd like a 4, you're only entitled to a like-for-like product. But ring them, and voice your concerns about the processor etc and see what they can do. You might be able to pay a little extra to get a new iPad 4.

[19lottie82]

OP any replacements WILL be a returned model, that's just the way it works I'm afraid. But you won't know the difference at all, honestly! And the same warranties are still in place.
And they can't downgrade your replacement. Any item supplied will be the same or a superior model.

[Leelu6]

I must be lucky, have dropped my full size iPad without a case on all sorts of surfaces and it hasn't smashed. Maybe the minis are more fragile.

[19lottie82]

Returned? Refurbed!

[myotherusernameisbetter]

I believe that in general, Apple do replace at the equivalent version, they won't give you a refurb. The 3 isn't available so they'll give you a 4.

[myotherusernameisbetter]

Can't you just call back Apple care and ask?

[WeAllHaveWings]

if it would not be practical or economically viable to perform a repair, to supply a replacement for the Covered Equipment with a new Apple-branded device or an Apple-branded device that is equivalent to new in performance and reliability

They are entitled to replace with a refurbished iPad which is equivalent to new in performance and reliability.

[Fluffy40]

If you're a bit clumsy, get a iPad case , like me

[JohnLuther]

I can't see what the problem is if they replaced your iPad with a refurbished Mini 3, I doubt that they'll give you a brand new Mini 4 and I think if they give you a Mini 4 it'll be refurbished.

[purplehazed]

Hurricane is that supplying the screen as well for £40? I've just been quoted £50 for supply and fit.

[Hurr1cane]

Yes that's screen and fit here.