Sprint details AppleCare+ plan, damaged device categories
updated 07:25 pm EDT, Thu October 13, 2011
Sprint to introduce green, yellow, red categories
A Sprint rep wrote in to Engadget detailing new changes to repair procedures. Since ending the Total Equipment Protection plans, damaged iPhone 4S units will fall into one of three categories. They include green, yellow and red and will be assigned after a diagnosis.
Green repairs include minor damage, but not cracked screens. They will be handled for free within the first year for all customers and within two years for those who bought AppleCare+. Yellow applies to more serious but repairable damage, with the cost being $49 to those with AppleCare+ and $199 to non-subscribers. Only two such repairs fall under the AppleCare+ program.
The red category is for handsets that are completely unusable. They will be replaced and shipped to Apple, and the cost of a new handset needs to be covered.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2010
Red is rip-off
You paid a premium for the Applecare+ policy. There should be no case where you pay the cost of a new handset.
In addition to get the new handset you not only pay the cost of the new handset, BUT, you turn the old handset over to Apple via Sprint. So you pay the cost of the new handset, and you give them the old one.
Wouldn't it just be better to buy the new handset, and then sell the old one to someone online. That helps defray the expense of the new handset. And there are always folks looking for even extremely damaged iPhones. If you pay for the cost of a new handset under RED, will they extend the worthless in that case Applecare+ since it was essentially unused.
I would hope they offer a discount for the new handset that is substantial. Under the old policy they would do a swap for a refurbished unit not covered under warranty for $199. So the current RED seems out of line as it was reported.