More than 75% of students must repair and replace damaged tech devices during the school year

ATLANTA (August 19, 2015) – Protect Your Bubble, a nationwide protection provider that helps protect the things that matter most to people, today released results of a Back To School and Tech Damage survey that shows 77% of students have to repair or replace some type of technology during the school year. Additionally, 30% of students must repair or replace a smartphone and laptop at a combined cost of $911.

The online survey was presented to more than 550 students across the country, and it showed that while 73% of the time damage happens during the school year, a whopping 86% of students continue to use the device even after it is damaged. 40% said they eventually repair or replace it but not immediately.

Protect Your Bubble designed the survey to identify just how often students damage their technology at school, and the costs often associated with repair or replacement compared to having a protection plan. “Students use a multitude of devices for both classwork and extracurricular activities, which mirrors the fact that we are all constantly connected to our devices today,” said Stacey Vogler, U.S. Managing Director for Protect Your Bubble. “Nearly a third of participants are damaging items that could cost close to $1000 to repair or replace, but an annual protection plan for both items would cost roughly $135 to cover the items during the school year.”     

Survey participants said they encounter physical damage 62% of the time compared with device malfunction (17%) and water damage (15%). While only 4% of participants said someone else causes the damage, 45% said they’re very selective with others whom they allow to use their devices. 

Over the course of a school year, which items do students and parents have to repair or replace?
1. Smartphone: 23.3%
2. E-Reader: 9.3%
3. External hard drive: 9.3%
4. Laptop: 7.0%
5. Tablet: 7.0%
6. Portable charger: 5.8%
7. Digital camera: 5.8%
8. Music player: 4.7%
9. Wifi hotspot: 2.3%
10. GoPro: 2.3%
How are students using their technology at school? 47% said they use technology either for social media, gaming or extracurricular activities, while 44% said they actually use it for in-class work or homework.

Protect Your Bubble provides protection plans on devices which covers damage from drops, liquid spills and malfunction, and items are replaced by the next day. Device plans start at $5.99 per month, and the more devices protected, the more people can save.