I AmThe Goon Who Stole Christmas, Or Dropped It, At Any Rate
December 28, 2018 1:34 PM
DOT Jr's primary gift this year was a brand-spanking new iPad 9.7 (6th gen, model A1893). Today, I took him out to hunt Pokemon with Pokemon Go and I promptly dropped the thing and shattered the screen. WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Obvious things you will ask that I will answer in advance and that many of you will ignore anyway for reasons beyond understanding:
-No, we don't have AppleCare. (Not sure this would have qualified anyway, but since we do not have it, it hardly matters.) Yes, I know this is dumb. I feel terrible already. please shut up.
-Yes, we live near an Apple Store. Yes, I looked it up on their site. They seem to list the replacement screen cost as around 150% the cost we paid for the unit.
-Yes, I think I could probably repair it myself with one of those kits. But how do I know I am getting a decent one? I want to make sure the thumbprint ID feature still works.
Obvious things you will ask that I will answer in advance and that many of you will ignore anyway for reasons beyond understanding:
-No, we don't have AppleCare. (Not sure this would have qualified anyway, but since we do not have it, it hardly matters.) Yes, I know this is dumb. I feel terrible already. please shut up.
-Yes, we live near an Apple Store. Yes, I looked it up on their site. They seem to list the replacement screen cost as around 150% the cost we paid for the unit.
-Yes, I think I could probably repair it myself with one of those kits. But how do I know I am getting a decent one? I want to make sure the thumbprint ID feature still works.
No need to feel dumb, assuming you bought the hardware recently you can still buy applecare:
On preview: Oops, that was the Asia link. The answer above is probably more useful.
posted by mosst at 1:45 PM on December 28, 2018
You can purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan anytime within the one-year limited warranty period. Your eligibility for coverage under the AppleCare Protection Plan starts from your hardware purchase date.(and yes, applecare would cover this as one of the two accidental damage incidents which would include a $49 fee but otherwise cover the screen.)
On preview: Oops, that was the Asia link. The answer above is probably more useful.
posted by mosst at 1:45 PM on December 28, 2018
Did you buy it with a credit card? Some of the fancier cards have insurance for the first ~90-120 days after a purchase. They usually call it "purchase protection", so that's your search term.
posted by caek at 1:54 PM on December 28, 2018
posted by caek at 1:54 PM on December 28, 2018
Oh I totally feel for you - and you are NOT dumb (for dropping it or not getting AppleCare), I promise.
Other answers above are good for addressing the “how fix” issue. For after fixing, you may wish to look into getting an Otterbox or similar rugged case if this is a unit which will be used for Pokémon-ing or other “active” use.
posted by kellygrape at 1:59 PM on December 28, 2018
Other answers above are good for addressing the “how fix” issue. For after fixing, you may wish to look into getting an Otterbox or similar rugged case if this is a unit which will be used for Pokémon-ing or other “active” use.
posted by kellygrape at 1:59 PM on December 28, 2018
There ought to be lots of services nearby that do screen replacement that aren't Apple. It'll be more expensive then getting a kit and doing it yourself but less expensive than having it done by Apple, assuming that the AppleCare thing doesn't work.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:09 PM on December 28, 2018
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:09 PM on December 28, 2018
Just as a note regarding repair if the AppleCare+ doesn't work out: iPads are pain-in-the-ass beasts to fix -- replacement costs are high because touch screens are fiddly as hell and because replacement screens and components are super expensive. Margins are pretty bad even for Apple, let alone third-party repair shops. And Apple does NOT make it easy to get decent components for third-party repair; there have been crackdowns recently on component resales, and shoddy components are kinda the norm. eBay is probably the worst, but everybody's kinda selling crap.
I'm not sure where you're located, but if time is not of the essence and your budget allows, you can do mail-in repairs via this shop. I can vouch for their work, and they use quality components. Not sure what they'd charge you, but they will give you a free quote. (If you are in NYC, go there immediately, because they're great.)
posted by halation at 2:19 PM on December 28, 2018
I'm not sure where you're located, but if time is not of the essence and your budget allows, you can do mail-in repairs via this shop. I can vouch for their work, and they use quality components. Not sure what they'd charge you, but they will give you a free quote. (If you are in NYC, go there immediately, because they're great.)
posted by halation at 2:19 PM on December 28, 2018
Search Groupon for electronics repair in your area. It is worth it to take it to someone who does screen replacements professionally.
My husband is an avid tech guy who tinkers with all kinds of stuff, but one thing he refuses to attempt are screen replacements on mobile devices. It's hard to do, you need special tools including heat guns etc because things are glued into place, the risk of ruining the device is high, and the savings compared to hiring someone else to do it isn't all that big, especially if you get a deal through Groupon or similar.
And once it's fixed, get your son a screen protector and an otterbox case. I drop my phone every dang day and my iphone 6 is still pristine after four years.
posted by beandip at 2:25 PM on December 28, 2018
My husband is an avid tech guy who tinkers with all kinds of stuff, but one thing he refuses to attempt are screen replacements on mobile devices. It's hard to do, you need special tools including heat guns etc because things are glued into place, the risk of ruining the device is high, and the savings compared to hiring someone else to do it isn't all that big, especially if you get a deal through Groupon or similar.
And once it's fixed, get your son a screen protector and an otterbox case. I drop my phone every dang day and my iphone 6 is still pristine after four years.
posted by beandip at 2:25 PM on December 28, 2018
Once you get the screen replaced, I highly recommend putting on a ballistic glass screen protector. I've put the ones from Tech Armor on several ipads & none of those screens have cracked despite getting dropped many times. (The ones that didn't have screen protectors all eventually cracked.)
posted by belladonna at 2:51 PM on December 28, 2018
posted by belladonna at 2:51 PM on December 28, 2018
The last time I looked up those replacement kits all the warnings about how you would almost definitely tear off the wi-fi antenna, which apparently is made of butterfly wing membranes, really scared me off. I like DIYing repairs to broken stuff but I have always been happy (well, not really, but ykwim) to take busted iPads to that energetic dude at the mall kiosk who'll put in a new screen for $150. It's probably more now. And they usually come back with some "character" -- a corner that pops out a little, a "sticky" home button, some glue on the casing. But the repairs have always held up pretty well!
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:06 PM on December 28, 2018
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:06 PM on December 28, 2018
halation for the win! I've added AppleCare for just $3.49 a month and after waiting a day or two, I will submit for the $49 screen repair. Thanks for the help. It's terrific this was an option.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:34 PM on December 28, 2018
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:34 PM on December 28, 2018
I would like to +1 halaton for the recommendation of Rossmann Repair in NYC (mail in repairs too.) I had a similar issue with my son who managed to damage an item ON THE WAY HOME from the store. For reasons, I dropped it off on 1st Ave and was able to pick it up later that day. It was as if the issue never happened.
posted by AugustWest at 5:24 PM on December 28, 2018
posted by AugustWest at 5:24 PM on December 28, 2018
Thirding an Otterbox, once you've (hopefully!) gotten the iPad repaired. They're pricey, but they're absolutely worth it. I would argue that they're essential, even. Mine has saved my phone probably hundreds of times, no exaggeration (I am not a graceful person).
Yes, they make your device significantly bulkier. Don't let that bother you – you'll get used to it. iDevices are fragile little things. They're going to get broken, unless you're exceptionally careful with them.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 4:18 AM on December 29, 2018
Yes, they make your device significantly bulkier. Don't let that bother you – you'll get used to it. iDevices are fragile little things. They're going to get broken, unless you're exceptionally careful with them.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 4:18 AM on December 29, 2018
And just to comfort you, two out oft the three iPads in our house hold have cracked screens, and no it was not our child but both times my husband.
posted by 15L06 at 2:20 PM on December 29, 2018
posted by 15L06 at 2:20 PM on December 29, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by halation at 1:44 PM on December 28, 2018