Insurance Options... Cancelling TEP

[ghostyroasty]

I've been looking into cancelling Sprint's TEP, and going with Squaretrade... As of now, there is no Evo lte option when I choose a device... Just all other phones... I didn't know if this would make a difference. Are there other reputable companies?? I'd rather not go through BB as I've read some horror stories. I take great care of my phones, but I've had a couple hardware failures that warranted replacements.

 

[Quis89]

Whats wrong with TEP? Are the other options cheaper?

 

[ImmaSlave4U]

Whats wrong with TEP? Are the other options cheaper?

Monthly rate is set to increase to $11, deductible increases to $150 for EVO LTE and similar priced devices. I'll probably stick with it, though...other options like Best Buy don't insure lost or stolen phones, and have been known to be other-than-hassle-free.

 

[errbin]

I went with Best Buy's insurance

 

[Paul627g]

Yep gonna stick with it even with the rate increase. I've used mine enough times to pay for itself a few times over. Never once had a situation where I had to pay the $100 replacement fee so everything has been free of charge which is nice.

Some people don't believe in having it as money thrown away but when the event arises where you have a hardware failure and they replace your device free, it pays right there for a year or better of TEP costs.

 

[elshagon]

What is the manufacturer warranty on these phones? If they're covered for one year and you pay with American Express extending it a year would it make since to just drop the overpriced TEP insurance?

 

[Paul627g]

They are covered for one year but you have to think about normally a week or possibly more turn around time you could be without your device while its being shipped and fixed.

Warranty coverages are about what you expect from any electronics these days.. Hardware failures, (doesn't cover screen cracks/shattered), USB port failure's which are common are covered usually unless its a solder joint that has been broken, causing the problem in which they fault that of the consumer for abuse. TEP is about the same coverages, they do cover a single break/crack up to 1 inch in length. Used to cover screen breakage no matter how bad but that was soon dismissed as many people purposely took advantage of that to get either a full replacement or a new screen due to a small crack(s) of their own doing from being mistreated.

Plus hope that whatever your sending it in for HTC or whatever manufacture doesn't decide they don't want to cover it. I have seen that happen from Samsung and it burned up a 2 weeks of time and the customer wasn't made aware of Sammy's decision not to fix the device until it was sent back with an enclosed explanation.

Ultimately its your choice but I feel its worth the TEP for normally a 2-3 day turn around or sooner on replacements and your made aware immediately if they are going to do it for free under TEP or if its going to cost you the replacement fee.

 

[bhawkfan31]

It isn't just to replace the phone. The insurance covers work.done on the.phones by sprint techs. I had bb 9630. Techs worked on it every three weeks minimum. Never paid a dime. I'm staying with TEP.

 

[Paul627g]

It isn't just to replace the phone. The insurance covers work.done on the.phones by sprint techs. I had bb 9630. Techs worked on it every three weeks minimum. Never paid a dime. I'm staying with TEP.

Exactly... Aside from the hardware replacement/parts it covers the tech's time which any local 3rd party dealer would nail you with the normal hourly rate or ballooned price on commonly fixed items.

Tell you the truth, items that aren't covered under the normal TEP requiring the replacement fee I have turned around and fixed myself with little trouble. I've replaced full screens, keyboards, speakers, buttons on my old BB's and Epic 4g. These devices are made to be easily assembled and fixed with very little skill needed aside from a small set of screw drivers and/or security torx drivers. Parts for just about anything can be readily found/available all over the internet with YouTube videos and more to guide you through every step of the process.

 

[BigPuddin]

If there is a screen crack, do you just pat the deductible?

 

[Paul627g]

If there is a screen crack, do you just pat the deductible?

I'm not positive if the same "TEP" rules are applied across the board for other carriers but Asurion via Sprint states they will cover up to one crack/1 inch in length which doesn't cover about 99% of the cracks these days...

Otherwise you have to pay the replacement fee of $100 or $150 for the screen to be replaced.

 

[sjcdal]

OR...No Tep, no insurance at all, and Sprint replaced my daughters screen on OG Evo for $35 while she waited.

 

[decke003]

I plan on getting "item insurance" through my homeowner insurance provider. It looks to about $50 for a year of coverage with no deductable.

 

[Vysse]

Honestly when you consider that sprint will replace your phone free if they cannot find that you caused whatever issue your having when you have TEP I don't see any reason not to have it.

Sent from an alternate universe where I'm using my new Evo LTE that isn't held in customs.

 

[Paul627g]

OR...No Tep, no insurance at all, and Sprint replaced my daughters screen on OG Evo for $35 while she waited.

That maybe the case for the OG Evo, trust me you bust a screen on a newer device and that $35 won't make a dent in the cost of the screen.

Reason I say this is you Google a replacement screen for the EVO 4g and they average about $30-$35, so that fits the bill.. Average price on newer phones is well over $100 or better.

Of course that type of $35 replacement fee is also at the discretion of the store/tech and their policies. I wouldn't expect the same treatment in all Sprint repair locations.

 

[cgardnervt]

Sprint does do a good job. I remember my Sprint Palm Pre- had a broken power button in Boston while i was down there. So I brought it to the corp store and they took it in for free. I was able to pick up my Pre- within an hour and they got it working for me. In fact I still have the phone today! Just no longer activated. So 2 thumbs up to Sprint for the service.

 

[Paul627g]

I plan on getting "item insurance" through my homeowner insurance provider. It looks to about $50 for a year of coverage with no deductable.

This I would be interested in hearing more about over the long term. Since normally any time you make a claim on your insurance regardless of auto/home it normally starts to put you in the negative which come renewal time of your insurance (quarterly/6 mth/yearly) you will see an increase in your cost. Granted most insurance companies won't nail you on the first claim but multiple claims in a year or so will usually cause this to happen.

Just not sure if its work driving up the overall price of my car/home insurance over a string of bad luck with my smartphone from insurance claims.

Thoughts?

 

[elshagon]

I understand why there's the need for insurance, but at some point the cost exceeds the benefit. It's $528 for TEP for my wife and I over the 2 year period. That's a lot of money and doesn't even include the $150 deductible if needed. At some point you just take your chances.

 

[Paul627g]

I understand why there's the need for insurance, but at some point the cost exceeds the benefit. It's $528 for TEP for my wife and I over the 2 year period. That's a lot of money and doesn't even include the $150 deductible if needed. At some point you just take your chances.

I agree on the cost.. Its one of those your burned if you do, burned if you don't situations...

For me, since I happen to have had my share of bad luck over the last few years its paid off. I've had my old BB replaced with refurb 2 times, a Palm Pixie replaced, gone through about 5 refurbed Epic 4g's for various reasons along with in store repairs and 1 NS4G replaced. So for me its been a win win situation. YMMV

 

[errbin]

I understand why there's the need for insurance, but at some point the cost exceeds the benefit. It's $528 for TEP for my wife and I over the 2 year period. That's a lot of money and doesn't even include the $150 deductible if needed. At some point you just take your chances.

My wife super bad with phones breaking,wetting, and losing them

I wince sometimes the way she treats her phone