Shoppers clamouring for last minute Christmas deals on the latest smartphones should beware of ‘inappropriate extended-warranties’, according to one Northants businessman.

AppleSparks Owner Neil Barker believes many extended warranties are failing smartphone customers’ needs

Neil Barker, owner of ‘AppleSparks’, a Wellingborough-based shop specialising in iPhone, iPad, iPod and iTouch repairs, explains:

“We see between 30-50 devices a week, many of which have been dropped or damaged by water.

“Our experience is that warranties are being increasingly pushed by major retailers when people buy new phones at Christmas, but more often than not they don’t offer the service people need.

“Some provide a replacement phone, but the majority of our customers desperately want to save their personal data – including music, video, pictures and telephone numbers.
“Additionally many policies don’t pay out for accidental damage or multiple claims, and often feature high excesses and lengthy repair turnaround times.”

‘Damage to iPhone and Android devices has cost UK smartphone owners £1.2bn since 2007’

Neil’s comments follow new research out this month from SquareTrade, which shows damage to iPhone and Android devices has cost UK smartphone owners £1.2bn since 2007.

The research also found 23% of users have accidently damaged their handset in the last 12 months, and that UK smartphone owners were nearly 10 times more likely to suffer from accidental damage than loss or theft.

According to the study 48% of smartphone accidents occur around the home, with the top five most common accidents being:
Neil adds:

1. Smartphone fell out of someone’s hands (26%)
2. Smartphone fell off a lap when standing up (15%)
3. Smartphone immersed in a liquid (14%) (toilet, bathtub, swimming pool)
4. Liquid spilled onto smartphone (10%)
5. Smartphone was knocked off a table (9%) /fell out of a pocket (9%)

23% of users have accidently damaged their handset in the last 12 months

“Clearly, as smartphones become lighter and thinner they offer a greater chance of being accidentally damaged. It is important that anyone buying a new device carefully weighs up the options on how they should protect or repair their phone in a way which best suits them.”

Contact Applesparks on Tel: 01933 674772 / www.applesparks.com