How to leverage AppleCare+ for a bigger payout

Before refreshing the next fleet of Apple devices, there’s one simple thing that school districts and businesses can do to significantly increase the value of their fleet: leverage AppleCare+.

Why use AppleCare+?

With AppleCare+, organizations can send damaged iPads to Apple and receive new-in-box replacements of the same generation device. This can be done twice a year per device. There’s no charge to organizations with $0 deductible plans since they’ve already paid for the service with their AppleCare+ contract.

Before refreshing a fleet, organizations should leverage their AppleCare+ plan and trade in all of their damaged devices. This can result in a significantly higher payout when trading in used devices.

Most buyback companies have a grading scale for used devices that takes deductions for things like scratches, dents and cracked screens. One buyback company recently quoted prices for a used iPad that ranged from $205 for a “Grade A” device in top condition, to $20 for a “Grade F” device with a broken screen or other components, a $185 difference.

When you multiply that by dozens or even hundreds of devices, it can add up to a significant financial loss.

We recently worked with one school district that refreshed almost 20,000 iPads. Before selling back the used devices, the district sent nearly 1,000 broken iPads into AppleCare+ for replacement. Those devices netted the district an additional $140,000 at trade-in value.

Tips for leveraging AppleCare+

If you plan to leverage AppleCare+ to replace broken iPad devices, here are some tips.

• Make sure you have AppleCare+ with no deductible. Plans with a $49 deductible are common, so ask your Apple team if the deductible can be waived when you purchase the service.
• To make it even easier, find an Apple Authorized Service Provider to manage the process. These providers are paid a per-device fee by Apple, making this service free to schools.
• Look for a buyback partner who will do this for you. Apple permits schools to make a one-time permanent transfer of their rights under the plan to a buyback company, which may pay a premium for devices that still are under AppleCare+.
• Act before your AppleCare+ plan ends. Once the plan expires, Apple can no longer exchange broken devices for new ones.

If you'd like to talk to someone at Second Life Mac, our team with over 75+ years of Apple expertise can assist with guiding you through the entire lifecycle of your Apple devices: contactus@secondlifemac.com