Did you insure your Droid?

[andoroid]

Getting mine on Tuesday, and I'm trying to decide if I want to sign up for the insurance or not. I've never broken or lost a cell phone. On the other hand, I've never owned a smartphone. Then again, if I don't break or lose it, that's $200 or so down the drain.

I've also considered Squaretrade, as I've heard good things, but I'm not sure if they're selling warranties for the Droid yet. I emailed them to ask, waiting to hear back.

[saeti]

I've had Verizon's $7.99 insurance on my phone for a very long time, but I heard that the deductible to get a replacement smartphone is up to $100 and I don't like that... might look into Best Buy's warranty since that's where I got my new phone from.

[mas90guru]

I've used Squaretrade in the past primarily because (for an added fee) they cover accidental damage such as water damage.

It appears the coverage is about $80 for two years (limit of $399 for loss claim). I believe this coverage runs along with the manufacturer's warranty so while they claim two years -- since I believe Droid has a 1 year warranty you're really buying one year extended protection.

http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/cellphone-landing3

[jeff98ny]

I probably will not buy the insurance, Its prob $10/mo + $100 deductable. So after a year, your already in it for $220. Rip off IMO.

[conroy]

I'm on a family plan and sort of using another line's upgrade credit as insurance; if something happens to my phone in the first year, i'll upgrade the other line's phone. Otherwise, I'll just wait a year to get a new phone for the other line, or until the other person gets antsy about getting a new phone
heh

[treydawg]

No because it's:

A.) A huge ripoff
B.) For people who are bad at math

[stnkyminky]

so hows 220 > 550 to replace the phone after you broke it?

[*verizonuser*]

So given this line of reasoning in the thread why don't all of you get rid of your home owners, car and medical insurance if you haven't used in in a really long time because it is obviously a rip off.

I get the insurance because I usually break or loose a phone at least once a year. To me it is more than worth it when I run the numbers.

[white_2kgt]

so hows 220 > 550 to replace the phone after you broke it?

exactly. I'm usually not an extended warranty guy but I knew that if I broke this thing I would replace it, and $10/mo is cheap insurance so I don't worry every time I take the phone into the woods with me or something. I got the BB plan, no deductible. Never lost a phone so I figured it was a good trade off.

-chad

[mankman]

No because it's:

A.) A huge ripoff
B.) For people who are bad at math

Yeah...I just love condescending idiots.

Let's see...I know there's a pretty damn good chance this phone is not going to last 2 years, probably an 80 percent chance it will need to be replaced before my contract is up and I can get a new one by extending my contract...just because I know my lifestyle.

Insurance costs $8 per month. So for 20 months, that's $160. Add a $50 deductable and that's $210. A new phone without contract will run you at least $500

Hmmm...the math seems pretty simple to me.

Hey...maybe you're one that babies your phone and never, ever drops it or ever puts it in harms way. Then that's cool...I see how it's a ripoff for YOU...doesn't mean it is for everybody. Every phone I've owned has been dropped scores of times...heck my Curve went into a lake. So to me the insurance is well worth it.

[bigman2]

I've had Verizon's $7.99 insurance on my phone for a very long time, but I heard that the deductible to get a replacement smartphone is up to $100 and I don't like that... might look into Best Buy's warranty since that's where I got my new phone from.

It's $80 (well, $79 really) for one, and Asurian (VZW's insurance carrier) covers water damage, loss, and theft, BBY's plan doesn't. BBY's also costs $10/mo, though I don't believe they have a deductible, but I would advice ANYONE to read the fine print BEFORE signing.

It makes sense, to me anyway, on a high end smartphone like the Droid. If you just had some cheap basic phone that was free with the service, I wouldn't worry about it. Odds are you could talk Verizon into giving you another one if anything happened to it.

[wooster019]

Yeah...I just love condescending idiots.

Let's see...I know there's a pretty damn good chance this phone is not going to last 2 years, probably an 80 percent chance it will need to be replaced before my contract is up and I can get a new one by extending my contract...just because I know my lifestyle.

Insurance costs $8 per month. So for 20 months, that's $160. Add a $50 deductable and that's $210. A new phone without contract will run you at least $500

Hmmm...the math seems pretty simple to me.

Hey...maybe you're one that babies your phone and never, ever drops it or ever puts it in harms way. Then that's cool...I see how it's a ripoff for YOU...doesn't mean it is for everybody. Every phone I've owned has been dropped scores of times...heck my Curve went into a lake. So to me the insurance is well worth it.

You should never really buy a phone full retail from Verizon/Best Buy. Within a month or two from release you should be able to buy just about ANY phone new for around $300 or so on eBay or craigslist. So you might want to take that into consideration with your number crunching

I baby my phones. I've never ruined a device (and I've had a good number of expensive phones - see sig). I don't know how much I've actually saved over the years not having insurance.

[treydawg]

Yeah...I just love condescending idiots.

Let's see...I know there's a pretty damn good chance this phone is not going to last 2 years, probably an 80 percent chance it will need to be replaced before my contract is up and I can get a new one by extending my contract...just because I know my lifestyle.

Insurance costs $8 per month. So for 20 months, that's $160. Add a $50 deductable and that's $210. A new phone without contract will run you at least $500

Hmmm...the math seems pretty simple to me.

Hey...maybe you're one that babies your phone and never, ever drops it or ever puts it in harms way. Then that's cool...I see how it's a ripoff for YOU...doesn't mean it is for everybody. Every phone I've owned has been dropped scores of times...heck my Curve went into a lake. So to me the insurance is well worth it.

eBay/Craigslist

You're welcome. Now thanks to this thread I'll probably lose my phone and or break it.

[Luxferro]

exactly. I'm usually not an extended warranty guy but I knew that if I broke this thing I would replace it, and $10/mo is cheap insurance so I don't worry every time I take the phone into the woods with me or something. I got the BB plan, no deductible. Never lost a phone so I figured it was a good trade off.

-chad

whats the odds you do break it? You gotta weight out the chances of you breaking it vs. the total cost of insurance if you get it. Insurance cost (total + deductable) vs. < 10-20% chance you break it, i'll take my chances

If you have a high % of breaking it, then go for insurance if you want. But I'd rather take my chances. After 1 year you can upgrade anyway. If it breaks in that time, just put a old phone temporarily on your account, or payup.

In my 10 years of being a cell phone user I've never broke my phone. I've been pushed in a pool with it in my pocket, instantly pulled the battery soon as i surfaced, took all apart and cleaned with rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush, dried it and it worked fine. I've broke an antenna, when phones had antenna's lol, and i just fixed it myself. But i'm a DIY kind of guy, so that is what works for me.

[white_2kgt]

whats the odds you do break it?

With this thing? Pretty high. I do a lot of off-roading so it's going to be exposed to dirt, water, and high shock's. As explained to me, if I can bring them the phone, they will fix it, no deductible. Figured that was a good option FOR ME. Everyone will have to make their own decisions.

-chad