Limit on "water Damage" replacement iPhones?

[Ashton_Durkhun]

A couple months ago I had an iPhone replaced due to water damage (off contract, $199 replacement in-store) I've almost had it happen again thanks to a clumsy friend (thankfully it bounced off, just scratching the bezel instead of taking a plunge) and wondered if this replacement phone would be replaced again if it gets damaged (for the $199)

In short: how many times can you get a phone replaced @ $199 before apple says "sorry, you have to buy a new phone at-cost" (or off eBay)

[RF9]

Yes, they will do it again. I think I have read some place that there is a 6 replacement limit per person to prevent abuse, but I'm not sure where I read that or if it's actually true. I've been google searching for the last half hour trying to find the answer and have found nothing about limits. Even then, the Apple store employees have a lot of discretion and as long as you're honest, nice, and forthcoming with your issue, they can even sometimes waive the $199 or replace even if there is a limit. But let's assume you show up and say "I dropped it in water again, can I pay for an out of warranty replacement" they will do that.

They know you have a 2 year contract and are up a creek if you destroy your phone. The purpose of this is to keep you as a customer until you have that carrier upgrade discount in which they hope you'll buy a new one and become a repeat customer.

I would highly recommend AppleCare+ the next time you buy an iPhone (assuming you buy new from a carrier or from Apple.) It gets you up to 2 replacements for $50, then you pay the full out of warranty replacement cost of $199 after that. I intended to do that when I got the 4S but it wasn't offered at purchase and I forgot to do it within the grace period Apple offered at the time.

[Ashton_Durkhun]

Sounds like a good deal, how much extra is the "+" version? iirc Applecare is $50 or $100 I think...

[PatrickGSR94]

We got AppleCare when we got our phones in December 2009, and my wife's was replaced for free, zero dollars, when the PCB supporting the sync port pins broke off. Not sure if the Apple Store dude was just giving us a break or what.