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Apple using old parts to repair...

TorbenGDK

TorbenGDK

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 18, 2016
3
0
So right now, there's a principal lawsuit going on in Denmark where a customer after having won over Apple in the consumer court, is being sued by Apple for not accepting that they repaired his "new" phone with old parts...

Now I'm in the same pickle. My MBP 2011 has been running without issues for all these years, then back in the beginning of 2016 I had the first issue with the horisontal stripes at boot up, eventually leading to the machine freezing.

I handed it in under extended service because this is a known issue by Apple. Apparently it's the graphics card that is messed up and since it's stuck in the logic board they replace the board completely.

But... I got it back after only 2 days, which I find curiously impressive considering we are talking about 5 year old spare parts. Today I put back in the 2nd ram block and fire it up. I get the 3 beeps.

I do the whole hardware test thing with both blocks in the functional ram port. Nothing wrong with either of them. Then I put them both in and I get the three beeps.

Mind you, this is one and a half day after they replaced the logic board. I can only conclude that they actually gave me an old board.

Is there any way to find out if I indeed received a used spare part as a "repair"?

Anyways, will be going back into the store either today or monday. I'm pretty disappointed.
 
Yes... I found out... thing is, Danish consumer laws trumph Apples service rules all the way. So actually they are by law not allowed to call it new or "like new", when it isn't.
 
I would expect them to have parts that arent broken to begin with...
 
The issue is that they don't have new parts to use. They've long stopped manufacturing the 2011 logic board, so they can only repair defective boards and then use them for repairs. I'm not making excuses for apple, just pointing out what they do.
 
TorbenGDK said:
I would expect them to have parts that arent broken to begin with...
Click to expand...

Apple uses refurbished Logic Boards, the stark reality is that they will be more prone to premature failure. Anyone with experience with complex electronic systems knows this to be a fact...

Nor do I think for one second, Apple stands alone with this shoddy practice.

Q-6
 
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Just like EVERY OTHER computer manufacturer, Apple uses refurbished parts to repair computers under warranty. The warranty info clearly states that. I repair computers for my job, I can't tell you how many parts I get in that say "refurbished" on the tag on the static bag, from ALL manufacturers (Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo). Consider the environmental impact of just tossing the failed part in the bin, and the economic impact on the company.

Where did Apple say they were using a new or like-new part to repair the computer? The US warranty says Apple uses "new or previously used parts that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability". While the reliability part may be in question, you received back a computer with the same specifications as you gave them, right? That's Apple's obligation under the warranty, at least in the US.
 
I'm not really seeing a problem, I don't recall them ever promising to use "new" parts.
 
maflynn said:
The issue is that they don't have new parts to use. They've long stopped manufacturing the 2011 logic board, so they can only repair defective boards and then use them for repairs. I'm not making excuses for apple, just pointing out what they do.
Click to expand...
Well bad to be them. Give the OP a new MBP then.
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therealseebs said:
I'm not really seeing a problem, I don't recall them ever promising to use "new" parts.
Click to expand...
The thing is that consumer laws differ in different countries.

For example in my country of origin consumer might require the producer, importer, retailer or service centre to use new parts for the repair no matter what if he decides so under consumer laws. Although by default it's not required so very few know and even fewer use this.

Comparing my country of origin and OP's, I would subjectively expect his to have even more strict consumer laws.
 
Last edited:
maflynn said:
The issue is that they don't have new parts to use. They've long stopped manufacturing the 2011 logic board, so they can only repair defective boards and then use them for repairs. I'm not making excuses for apple, just pointing out what they do.
Click to expand...

Fair point, but Apple is known for doing this with machines which are still in production as well.
If danish (and maybe other country's) law really requires using new parts, they should start storing parts before they stop production.
 
hallux said:
Just like EVERY OTHER computer manufacturer, Apple uses refurbished parts to repair computers under warranty. The warranty info clearly states that. I repair computers for my job, I can't tell you how many parts I get in that say "refurbished" on the tag on the static bag, from ALL manufacturers (Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo). Consider the environmental impact of just tossing the failed part in the bin, and the economic impact on the company.

Where did Apple say they were using a new or like-new part to repair the computer? The US warranty says Apple uses "new or previously used parts that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability". While the reliability part may be in question, you received back a computer with the same specifications as you gave them, right? That's Apple's obligation under the warranty, at least in the US.
Click to expand...

Absolutely not surprised, like all Apple is meeting it`s legal obligations, equally it`s poor albeit widespread practise. In my experience complex electronic boards that have been refurbished/reworked are 7-10 more prone to failure when stressed.

Personally speaking, none of my notebooks have ever incurred a board failure. As I use my notebooks for work purpose should such an event occur I would, if in warranty have it repaired, equally I would gift that machine to family or friends, replacing the notebook with a new model as reliability is paramount to me.

Q-6
 
tryrtryrtryrt said:
Well bad to be them. Give the OP a new MBP then.
Click to expand...
I don't disagree with you, I think Apple screwed up royally with the 2011 repair program. The failing dGPU is such that its not a question of if it will fail but when and given that this affects all buyers of that machine, Apple should have done a trade in program.
 
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hallux said:
Just like EVERY OTHER computer manufacturer, Apple uses refurbished parts to repair computers under warranty. The warranty info clearly states that. I repair computers for my job, I can't tell you how many parts I get in that say "refurbished" on the tag on the static bag, from ALL manufacturers (Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo). Consider the environmental impact of just tossing the failed part in the bin, and the economic impact on the company.

Where did Apple say they were using a new or like-new part to repair the computer? The US warranty says Apple uses "new or previously used parts that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability". While the reliability part may be in question, you received back a computer with the same specifications as you gave them, right? That's Apple's obligation under the warranty, at least in the US.
Click to expand...
US laws are not the rule for the rest of the world. Imagine having a defective engine on your car, and not having the option of a brand new one after just 5 years. Its patetic.
 
It’s In their terms and conditions right there in black and white when you sign up for applecare or agree to any sort of repair. Not sure how you can argue against that.

It’s helped me before with a dodgy iPad they just gave me a refurbished unit and I was in and out in 5 minutes no waiting for a repair just a refurbished unit that looked like new!!
 
It's a 2011 MacBook. Apple has no legal obligations at all.

You paid them to fix your computer. Since you have to pay for all the cost, you expect them to fix it at the lowest possible cost. Using an older part will reduce the cost. You could have insisted on getting only new parts, and Apple could have told either "sorry, we have no new parts", or "sorry, but the new part costs this much more".

However, you have some warranty on repairs. So you can take your MacBook to the store, let them check your RAM slots, and let them check if they are both working. If they gave you a replacement motherboard, whether new or old doesn't matter, the RAM slots must work. And it sometimes is hard to plug in RAM properly, someone with more experience may just plug in your RAM and it works.
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Wowereit said:
Fair point, but Apple is known for doing this with machines which are still in production as well.
If danish (and maybe other country's) law really requires using new parts, they should start storing parts before they stop production.
Click to expand...
Your MacBook is seven years old.
 
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