to be furious I said no to the extended warranty.

[recyclingbag]

My MacBook as issues. It's less than 2 years old.

I didn't buy the extended warranty and now am kicking myself as it could be £500 worth of repair.

Please tell me that, in the long term, they're a waste of money.

On average they are a waste of money.

According to an expert I was listening to on Radio 4 the other week, you made a 'good decision with a bad outcome' (as opposed to a bad decision).

What issues does it have?

The extended warranty might not be necessary, it really depends on what the problem is - if you've caused the issue yourself, it might have been worthwhile, but it's probably also covered under your house insurance.

If you didn't cause the issue, the Consumer Rights/Sale of Goods Acts will probably cover you anyway.

Do you know what's wrong? First step would be getting an independent report, if you don't. Apple can probably provide that for free, if you go into a Genius Bar with the Macbook.

Take it into Genius bar and see what is up first, before you start whingeing.

All my Apple products have lasted well over any extended warranty. Much longer than any Dell, Toshibas that I have ever purchased.

Thought I would ask this question on the off chance. Did you buy it from John Lewis? If so, they have 2 yr warranty as standard

Extended warranties are usually poor value - especially compared to, say, sticking some money in a savings account in case of trouble. I won't buy Apple anyway, they are way overpriced, and my Mum's experience has been very average.

Tell us exactly what is wrong.

Where did you buy it. I believe theres new rules meaning something has to be fit for purpose. Id take it back and argue that sometging costing this much should last longer than two years. You need the receipt. Extended warrenty isnt usually worth buying. I bought a camera from john lewis which decided to fail just within 3 years. No extended warranty but had receipt. They sent it to be mended at their cost. Still working 10 years plus later..

The thing is, if you have an extended warranty on everything you buy, so every computer, phone, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, GHD's, TV's, oven, Dyson, etc etc (I know not everyone has all these things but examples) you are shelling out a massive amount of money overall. It is better to hedge your bets and not, and reconcile it that you are spending the money you saved and are still quids in. I do try to go for things with 5 year warranties (Siemen's dishwashers, got my TV from John Lewis even though Samsung only give 1 year JL give 5, etc) and then just go with it.

Apple stuff is designed with planned obsolescence.

Anyway sales of good act. Anything breaks with me and a few years, I chase it and get a new one. Argos replaced my 2 year old dish washer for free even though it was sort of my fault as I ran it with the water turned off.

The apple store should fix it if it's under 2 years old. Don't quote me but I took my phone in and even though I didn't buy it from them and the retailer warranty was only one year, as it was under 2 years old Apple fixed it and I had to reclaim the cost from the retailer. They said that their goods warranty was 2 years.

It's a problem with the screen.

It might be a loose wire - in which case it's about £150 and probably cause by someone lifting it up by the screen (I'm looking at you DH).

But it also could be the graphics chip. In which case I will be cross because I would expect that to last a damn site longer than 18 months.

I had my previous MacBook for 7 years without any problems at all - hence not buying the warranty.

On balance I think they are a waste of money. Often the thing wrong isn't cover or there's some other get out clause. Still it's annoying if the repair costs that huge amount. You've just been unlucky. But it depends on how much it's worth and how much the extended warranty was. I think the five year ones are better value.

Look at it another way. If you'd paid for the extended warranty with the last one, how much would you have 'wasted' because you didn't need it in the 7 years as it had no faults?

I don't buy extended warranties because for the most part, they are not necessary and in some instances cost about as much as a replacement item. I am prepared to take a hit if I buy something that goes wrong after 12 months, but I still think that financially, over say a 10 year timespan, I've spent less by replacing an odd item than paying for extended warranties on everything.

If warranties were worth getting, shops wouldn't offer them.

If you didn't cause the issue isn't there a seven year European consumer rights law?

Ooh I'm going to quote that to the apple man.

Why do so many people accuse others of whingeing and whineing? This is a fair comment and TeenAndTween gave a great answer.

The only time I buy extended warranties is with washing machines its the only way the last over 5 years in this house

EU law states all electronic goods are covered for 2 years anyway - you'll need to insist to the store though as they probably won't have heard of it/will deny it.

europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/guarantees/index_en.htm

I was offered 'anything happens' type insurance when I bought my mobile phone. Within 5 days I'd put it through a boil wash.
It was extremely infuriating but I have never had an incident before so on balance I could have bought the phone 3 x over with what I have saved on the insurance.
I didn't even claim on my household due to the worry about premiums increasing.

Under the sale of goods act, which I guess is applicable here given when you bought it, it should last a reasonable time. There's obviously no definition of that for Mac books but as others have said up thread, under 2 years doesn't appear to be a reasonable time. I would expect Apple to repair it.

You don't need an extended warranty. Look at the Which? website. The law protects you. Retailers sell extended warranties (a) to make money and (b) because they don't want to have to deal with returns a year later. But they can't contract out of the protection the law gives to consumers. Contact them and insist on action. And they can't fob you off by sending you to the manufacturer either.

before you start whinging WTF? If she knows the repair cost she's clearly already been in, you plank.