<p>“I’ve told DS that the phone is not Flat Stanley from elementary school”</p>
<p>I just spit out my coffee, thank you…</p>
<p>
LOL - is that a real place (I’m a PC)</p>
<p>
double LOL</p>
<p>Not sure where the Macbooks go for R&R, swimcatsmom, but I do know that since D will be home by the time it’s cured, I told her to have it sent back to the local Apple store rather than to our home–I’m concerned it may get further damaged from all the shipping back and forth, and I want them to prove it’s working before we take custody again. On the bright side, D called to say goodnight and was reading a novel in bed (amazing what that absence of the internet can do)–that was an actual call I was happy to get.</p>
<p>Let us know if it goes to India–I believe that’s where my friend’s D’s Macbooks were repeatedly sent. I agree that you should go to the Apple Store & try it out BEFORE you bring it home so you’re sure it’s working as expected. It took several attempts before my friend’s D was able to get a good fix of her laptop.</p>
<p>You can now take your computer to a Best Buy for Apple repairs…if, like me, you live in a benighted part of the world that doesn’t <em>have</em> Apple Geniuses on tap.</p>
<p>Apple Care does NOT cover “liquid damage” of any kind (spilled coffee, soda, beer, other - don’t ask), which we learned the hard way. Liquid damage negates the Apple warranty - had to replace S’s 6-mo old computer with new computer. [College</a> Student Insurance (CSI)](<a href=“http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/]College”>http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/) will cover any kind of liquid damage. It also covered repairs when S left the new 4-wk old replacement computer on the floor & someone stepped on it. If you have a student like mine, you should definately look into CSI.</p>
<p>Now if only CSI covered the cell phone that he dropped in a lake while climbing a tree …</p>
<p>The vision of his climbing a tree that happened to hang over a lake will stay with me for a while . . .</p>
<p>Our CC insurance covers many things purchased with it for 90 days, no Qs asked. D lost sunglasses when they plopped overboard & got swept away from the ocean. She received full refund so she could repurchase. S put his retainers in his pocket & ran it through the washer & dryer–full refund received!</p>
<p>The insurance is on two of our CCs–one from Charles Schwab & the other from AmEx Costco. Handy to have, especially if something happens to a recently acquired item (even if kiddo loses it or it is stolen or broken).</p>
<p>Wow HIMom, that is amazing coverage. What is the annual fee for the AmEx?</p>
<p>AmEx Costco card is FREE if you are a Costco member. Best of all, you get a 4% rebate for gas, 3% for restaurants, 2% for travel, and 1% for everything else. They also provide some protection for car rentals & other issues. Charles Schwab was also free & also provides the same as above + travel insurance. When I got that card, it also gave 2% back on all purchases (no longer offer this 2%, but still honor it for those of us who got the card).</p>
<p>@VeryHappy: this is my S’s 3rd phone this year. He “lost” #1 last May, fell on #2 on the ski slopes in Dec, and dropped #3 in a lake in Feb.</p>
<p>He also paid with his own $$ to replace #3, having exhausted insurance claims with #1 & #2.</p>
<p>We unfortunately just received one of those dreaded texts. Large tornado heading to campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Thankfully, son is deep in the bowels of the computer lab, working on a big project. No power or internet, but at least, he’s safe.</p>
<p>We have thus far been lucky enough to get old phones from loved ones to tide us over when we had phones break/lost/stolen before we were entitled to new ones. Generally this only occurs about once every 1.5 years between the 4 of us, so we cound our blessings.</p>
<p>Montegut, glad your S is safe. Must be stressful for him not having power & internet, but am sure his school will help keep the kids as comfortable as possible & keep them properly provisioned with light, water, food & necessities.</p>
<p>Among the 6 of us, no one has ever outright lost or flushed a phone. (knock on wood) 
Phones just die of old age…</p>
<p>Among the four of us, we have probably collectively lost about half a dozen phones. All of them were lost by the same family member. :mad:</p>
<p>Montegut, your “large tornado heading my way” may be tied with the “just got robbed at gunpoint in Ecuador” call for the worst phone calls on this thread!</p>
<p>I dunno, I contributed the “kid robbed in Ecuador” story and I think the tornado could have been more terrifying. I didn’t know about the robbery until it was over and done. Parents could watch the tornado real time. I get uptight just thinking about that one.</p>
<p>Maybe this should be on the bragging thread, but DS went through 4 phones (including a new but now defunct Droid) last fall. I’m thinking that may be a record.</p>
<p>No one here has flushed a phone, but apparently I flushed the car keys this week at a restaurant…they just disappeared and that is the only thing any one can think could have happened. The expensive kind with the chip inside to activate the passive aggressive theft deterrent system.</p>
<p>Actually the kid in jail in China was one of the toughest posts I’ve read (pretty sure it was this thread); glad his parents helped him get back & transition in the US.</p>