Apple replaced my iMac

[zoffdino]

They replaced my out of warranty iMac

Bought an iMac G5 17" in 2005, just before they came out with the Intel ones. Didn't have AppleCare with it.

Fast forward to 2009, the iMac got so dirty that it would shut down after 15 minutes due to the heat built up (those G5s sure run hot). Took it the Apple store, they said it needed a new power supply, which costed ~$50 so I agreed to replace it. A few days later, they called and said the logic board needed replacement, which would cost $1100. I asked for the iMac back, but they gave me somebody else's computer. Promptly asked me to return and offered to fix my computer for free. After a week waiting for parts, they called and offered me a 2009 iMac 20".

I was only expecting an iTunes gift card for the mix-up, something like $20 for the hassle. $50 would be generous, but never expected a new iMac. I'm now an Apple customer for life.

 

[jji7skyline]

My warranty for my iMac ran out today

 

[bushman4]

Apple will never forget the people that made them! We've seen this time and time again.
The customer is what's most important at Apple.

 

[Lancer]

Apple will never forget the people that made them! We've seen this time and time again.
The customer is what's most important at Apple.

ITA, It was cost Apple if they giveaway the occasional iMac, knowing that customer will come back for more. Even if it's unlikely they'll never need Apple care again in the future.

 

[mcpix]

As someone previously mentioned, it's not just about getting your computer repaired, Applecare also includes support. While I've only used it a couple of times, I was very glad to have it.

 

[henry72]

That's just amazing! I can say NO company in the world would do this to their customers

Really cool story

 

[KoG506]

My iPhone 3GS warranty ended in Nov. 2011. Long story short, apple replaced my 3GS few times after the warranty ended free. I have until October till the 90 days warranty ends for replacement iPhones. Hopefully the phone breaks again and apple replace my phone with a 4 or 4S lol. But I doubt it.

I also just bought 27" iMac a week ago, did not buy AppleCare. My question is, my iMac warranty ends sometime in July 2013. If I wait till July 2013 and buy AppleCare before warranty ends, will the warranty end in July 2015? Does matter (in terms of having longer warranty coverage) if I buy AppleCare now or wait till my current warranty about to end?

 

[forty2j]

I also just bought 27" iMac a week ago, did not buy AppleCare. My question is, my iMac warranty ends sometime in July 2013. If I wait till July 2013 and buy AppleCare before warranty ends, will the warranty end in July 2015? Does matter (in terms of having longer warranty coverage) if I buy AppleCare now or wait till my current warranty about to end?

AppleCare extends the warranty to a total of 3 years from the Mac's purchase date. The reasons to buy it early are:
- If you buy it simultaneously with your Mac, through Apple, then it's already attached without you taking an extra step
- You have the money now, but you might forget to buy it or you might not have the money later
- You want phone support from Apple, which only lasts 90 days from the Mac's purchase date

The reason to buy it later is that you can often find it discounted from somewhere else than Apple directly. Then you just type the code into Apple's support website to attach it.

 

[Chippy99]

I don't mean to sound like a party pooper, but I fail to see how this service is any more than you would expect???

You have a product covered by extended warranty. This means the seller can at its discretion repair or replace your broken computer. They figured it was less hassle to them to replace it rather than repair it, so they gave you a new one.

I really don't see why this is such "great service". It's merely them fulfilling their obligations under the contract you have paid for.

Good service would be if they gave you a new one, when you DID NOT have an Apple Care contract. And to be honest, after only 18 months even that would not be so incredible.

----------

That's just amazing! I can say NO company in the world would do this to their customers

Really cool story

What utter tripe.

A guy I know bought a TV from Amazon and the TV broke after about 15 months of use. He had no extended warranty and was pretty upset because it was a high-end, expensive TV. I told him to call Amazon and see what they would do, because in my view 15 months is not a reasonable time to expect a TV to last.

The upshot is that without too much pushing or shoving, Amazon sent him a full refund, even though the TV was 15 months old.

Amazing story? Well yes and no. The law in the UK obligates sellers to provide goods of "satisfactory quality" and knowing the law, Amazon figured rather then risk being sued, they'd just give him his money back.

This is not "marvellous service". It's called doing the right thing.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/lcd-...s-old-has-2-patches-dead-pixels-what-now.html

EDIT: I found the Amazon case I was referring to. I see it was 14 months old, not 15, but same principle applies.

 

[Swordylove]

^ Agreed. And to me, Amazon > Apple in terms of customer service. If I had the choice here in my country, I would rather buy Apple stuffs from there than directly from Apple.

 

[iMarvin]

Just got apple care for my iMac because of this thread and the screen issue thread, got a 2011 27".

 

[harcosparky]

A few years back I had almost the same experience.

From that time on .....
Always iMac
Always Apple Care

 

[saberahul]

And then there are those who cry to the Apple people with stupid issues. Personally, I like their service. They are professional people and are very generous - I just feel that with added sales - they will become less helpful.

Bought my Mac june 2011 - had a dead pixel (just one) around october 2011. Took to Apple store for HDD problem and when the genius saw the dead pixel, he offered to give me a brand new display for free

 

[ancelrick]

Well I didn't mean it like that. I would buy the current iMac if there wasn't so much speculation about new ones coming out shortly. Just saying maybe they are so easy to just go ahead and say "Here you go, brand new one on us" is because they know there is new hardware coming.

silly, the people on the phones (or retail store) don't know. really.

I don't known why they don't know. You'd think the more people you told, the better the secret is kept.

 

[Josh Kahane]

Just took my 27" 2010 iMac into my local Apple store(Chapelfield, Norwich, UK) yesterday.

I've had it for almost two years and I have Apple Care through till christmas 2013). Several issues, fans spinning up too fast, dead pixels, yellow tinted screen, optical drives won't take discs from time to time.

They've taken it in and ran tests and I've been told they are going to replace the display, optical drive and hard drive and hopefully can fix the fan issue (which I'm sure they will).

Any ideas how long it takes for stores to get parts in then fix something like this? Only I need it back asap for work but figured I had to take it in at some point. I have asked in store and over the phone and all I get it 5-7 days.

Whats your experience?

 

[flynz4]

Just took my 27" 2010 iMac into my local Apple store(Chapelfield, Norwich, UK) yesterday.

I've had it for almost two years and I have Apple Care through till christmas 2013). Several issues, fans spinning up too fast, dead pixels, yellow tinted screen, optical drives won't take discs from time to time.

They've taken it in and ran tests and I've been told they are going to replace the display, optical drive and hard drive and hopefully can fix the fan issue (which I'm sure they will).

Any ideas how long it takes for stores to get parts in then fix something like this? Only I need it back asap for work but figured I had to take it in at some point. I have asked in store and over the phone and all I get it 5-7 days.

Whats your experience?

I just had my screen replace in Portland Ore (Wash Sq store)... It took 2 days to get the new screen in stock, I then dropped off the iMac to the store and it too them 1 day to swap the display. $606 covered under AppleCare.

/Jim

 

[children]

I'm sort of disappointed now that my 24" iMac never had a problem during the three year Applecare period.

also a reason to keep buying Apple

 

[scruby]

Wow that's simply amazing

They replaced my 13' MPB screen also because i had 1 dead pixel lucky for me i was still within the 1 year warranty as i don't have apple care.

 

[Josh Kahane]

I just had my screen replace in Portland Ore (Wash Sq store)... It took 2 days to get the new screen in stock, I then dropped off the iMac to the store and it too them 1 day to swap the display. $606 covered under AppleCare.

/Jim

Fingers crossed I get it back by the end of the week then!

In the past I have more or less had nothing but brilliant experiences with Apple support. Just a month ago I took my Macbook in and they replaced it because it was cracking, I've had brand new iPhone and iPad replacements too as well as other computer replacements way back. Just all round good service, they want you to be happy.

 

[marzer]

Even if I never had an opportunity to exercise Applecare I'd still get it on future computer purchases. It's a good deal for the $$. But I have had reason to use it over the years and was very glad o have it.

My 2009 iMac is ready to be picked up after having the LCD replaced twice. The screen was getting shadows in the corner, took it in and got it replaced. The first replacement had discoloration problems, took it back, no hassle assured me they'd replace it again. I'm glad I had the warranty and have been very pleased with the considerate service Apple provided in getting it repaired to my liking.

Beside this machine I've only had to use it on two other computer out of 8 over the last 12 years.

 

[Ajay Pherwani]

I made my first jump into the Apple world 3 years ago when I purchased the fastest iMac available at the time (24" Early 2008 3.06 GHz Dual Core). I don't normally buy extended warranties but also bought Apple Care. Although I work in IT and can google problems with the best of them, the thought that I could call Apple for the next 3 years with questions was appealing to me. About 18 months into my using my new Mac I noticed a slight discoloration on the left side of my screen, so I called Apple. They were unable to fix it over the phone and advised me to take it into the Apple Store. Since I live about an hour from the nearest Apple Store I elected to take my Mac to an authorized repair center (btw, they are no longer authorized). They couldn't find anything wrong. Since I was approaching the end of my warranty, I packed up my Mac and took it to the Apple Store last week. I made my appointment online but still had to wait about 30min for somebody to look at my Mac... It was incredibly busy there. The support guy documented my story and could see the discoloration right away. They wanted to test and evaluate the problem and asked if they could keep it for a few days so I went on home. Yesterday, the Apple Store called and asked if they could just replace my iMac. The repair cost had exceeded the value of the original iMac because they would have needed to replace the logic board, cpu, lcd, and power supply. They offered to move all my data but since I have a Time Machine drive I told them not to worry about it. I walked in Apple Store yesterday... It was, again, incredibly busy, and was handed my new iMac along with my old Hard Drive. (I has some boot camp data on it, so they just pulled it out of the old iMac and let me take it home). Needless to say, I'm still a bit stunned, but a very happy customer because they just handed me a new 27" 3.1 GHz Intel Core i5 iMac.

I don't know if my story is unique or not... but I'm an Apple Customer for life now.

[doublepost=1472365513][/doublepost]My case was totally opposite. It is open since 19th July 2016.
1. Initially they replaced keyboard, mouse and harddisk.
2. I asked them to run detailed diagnostics as 3 part failure is serious, maybe others are also faulty. They did this twice and said ALL IS OK.
3. When they delivered the iMac back, the screen had a flicker on first reboot.
4. Now it was sent back to them to repair.
5. They claim some cleaning had to be done!!! All is OK. And the diagnostics confirm the same!
6. These were the same diagnostics that could not detect the screen flicker earlier.
7. As Apple is a giant, i had to accept their high handed approach.
8. When they returned the iMac to my house, no power cable.
9. When i called for it, they sent a burnt second-hand cable, covered with paint and filth.
10. Now when i am asking for my original cable they are asking me to prove it was delivered to them (their agency picked it up from my house)!!!
11. The agency / reseller who i dealt with was "Maple", a so-called PREMIUM Apple reseller.
I have started a FB post named "SCREWED BY APPLE"!!! What else can one do?

 

[iMcLovin]

I agree that Apple customer service is great. But anything else would be a problem and life is still easier with a PC box.

Because:
1.the fact that so many, including myself have replaced or sent their iMac in for repair proves there's a lot of faulty machines out there.

2. iMacs are soldered machines which means if there's something wrong there's absolutely nothing you can do yourself. If I have a work machine I need to be confident that it can be fixed swiftly. With a PC you can replace the faulty part yourself the same day. If it's a professional machine I'd rather pay that price than wait a week for Apple.

3. If you live in a country like myself where there's no Apple Store, you need to give your machine to a reseller which then send it to who knows and all you can do is wait and hope that it won't take long. But you have no clue if it takes 1 or 4 weeks or where your machine is in the world. Not a good solution if you need to make money on that machine.

 

[hulk2012]

Update 27.07.2016 - after decline by another manager in the other day and a call to Apple Care i finally got my voice heard. Advice i got from Apple was that if authorized reseller is no longer in business - the consumer law moves back to manufacturer. And on this principle I got my iMac left at local Apple Store and now waiting to get repaired..