As a mac newbie what should I do -- please help

[xingstar]

I ordered my imac i7 on 11/15 from macmall and received on 12/04. I had flickering issue when I turned on the imac first time. Since then it only happened once when I put my work laptop beside imac.

Anyway, looks like imac might have graphic card related issue according to today's news. Should I just call macmall to get it replaced? If so, it will start another 14 days return period won't it? Or should I just bring this imac to local apple store to get it replaced? Will they say it is macmall's responsibility to replace imac since I ordered from them? What if I cannot reproduce this issue (I am pretty sure I cannot since it happens so sparsely) at apple store?

Please give me best suggestion of dealing this issue and sorry for so many questions. Thanks in advance!

xingstar

 

[Hellhammer]

You have to take it to MacMall because the reseller is responsible for returns or replacements during the 14-day period. After that it's about warranty and then you can take it to wherever you want

 

[xingstar]

Thanks for the response. Since apple store is close to my home, should i just take it to apple store after 14-day-period because that's more convenient than pack everything and go to ups to ship to macmall? Would I have to reproduce the flickering issue at apple store to convince them to give me a replacement? As I said, it is going to be hard to reproduce because it happened only twice (please refer to my original post).

Thanks,
xingstar

 

[GimmeSlack12]

The Apple Store will only offer to fix the iMac on warranty (free). But no matter what, you cannot get a replacement iMac from the Apple Store (unless you have AppleCare). Replacements have to be done through MacMall.

If your iMac is not flickering bad then maybe wait it out closer to the year warranty of the machine being up and then take it to get repaired by Apple (or buy AppleCare).

 

[xingstar]

Thanks. If so, I can buy Apple Care now and get imac replaced at apple store, right?

Yes, the flickering issue isn't too bad however do not want to take the chance. Really hope apple can fix this issue.

Thanks,
xingstar

 

[GimmeSlack12]

Thanks. If so, I can buy Apple Care now and get imac replaced at apple store, right?

Yes, the flickering issue isn't too bad however do not want to take the chance. Really hope apple can fix this issue.

Thanks,
xingstar

You can buy AppleCare whenever you want, now, or a year from now.

 

[xingstar]

GimmeSlack12,

I think your point is if I do not buy apple care now, I can only get my imac fixed not replaced at apple store after 14-day-period purchased from reseller (macmall). However if I buy apple care now, I can get it replaced at apple store even though I bought it from macmall.

If I did not misunderstand your answer, this option definitely is better than packing everything up and drive to UPS/Fedex and wait for another month or so for the new one. Plus I can open it at apple store to check the machine. Please clarify. Thanks a lot!

xingstar

 

[powerbook911]

You might ask your Apple store, I know you wouldn't want to haul it down there without knowing. You might ask though.

 

[Hellhammer]

Apple Store WON'T replace it straight away because you didn't buy it from them and they'd likely fix it instead. If you want to get it REPLACED straight away then you have to get it to MacMall.

AppleCare (warranty) is universal but the 14-day return time is only valid at the store where you bought it. Buying the 3-year AppleCare won't affect on this

 

[xingstar]

So no matter what I cannot replace my imac from local apple store and instead can only do it through macmall within 14 days? I have doubt that macmall will be responsible for anything after 14 days, is it true? If so, I am screwed if I want to get a replacement. Please clarify.

Thanks,
xingstar

 

[ljonesj]

when i ordered my mac mini from mac mall they sent a return address sticker or what ever it is. It says the following product cannot be returned for any reason and it gives a list of manufactures and one of them is apple it says to get it fixed or warranty replacement contact the manufacture of the product.

 

[skye12]

I'd just take it to an Apple store and let them deal with it under warranty.
They might wind up replacing it anyway.

It's not cheap or worth the hassle of shipping it back imo.

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

Put your laptop next to it again. If it flickers, take both computers into the Apple Store and show them what's happening. If it doesn't, then I wouldn't worry about it for now. You've got a full year of warranty on the entire machine, so you don't need to worry about buying AppleCare right away. You can do that anytime before the initial 1-year period ends.

If it's really bothering you, though, and you feel you MUST get it looked at immediately, take it to the Apple Store. Don't tell them you bought it from MacMall (I doubt they would ask you where you bought it, anyway).

 

[Hellhammer]

So no matter what I cannot replace my imac from local apple store and instead can only do it through macmall within 14 days? I have doubt that macmall will be responsible for anything after 14 days, is it true? If so, I am screwed if I want to get a replacement. Please clarify.

Thanks,
xingstar

MacMall is responsible of taking back a return within 14 days or offer a replacement if the good is defective. Return/replacement differs from warranty repair. If you take it to Apple Store it'll be dealt as a repair done inside warranty so it's unlikely they'll fix it immediately and they'll likely ask you to contact MacMall because you're inside the returning time.

Return is no-questions-asked but if you want to get it fixed through Apple Store it'll be done as a normal repair which might take from an hour to several weeks.

You can't buy something from BestBuy and return it to Amazon and get your money back...

I hope you got my point

 

[DesignerOnMac]

Thanks for the response. Since apple store is close to my home, should i just take it to apple store after 14-day-period because that's more convenient than pack everything and go to ups to ship to macmall? Would I have to reproduce the flickering issue at apple store to convince them to give me a replacement? As I said, it is going to be hard to reproduce because it happened only twice (please refer to my original post).

Thanks,
xingstar

In the time it took you to write these posts, I would have called MacMall to get the correct info, and then call the Apple Store. I assume you bought from macmall for a discount on your computer. Sounds like it would have been better if you had spent a few dollars more and bought at the Apple Store since it is so close to you.

Anyway, if your going to buy Apple Care buy it from LA computing, they have the cheapest price for Apple Care.

Hope things work out for you.

 

[xingstar]

MacMall is responsible of taking back a return within 14 days or offer a replacement if the good is defective. Return/replacement differs from warranty repair. If you take it to Apple Store it'll be dealt as a repair done inside warranty so it's unlikely they'll fix it immediately and they'll likely ask you to contact MacMall because you're inside the returning time.

Return is no-questions-asked but if you want to get it fixed through Apple Store it'll be done as a normal repair which might take from an hour to several weeks.

You can't buy something from BestBuy and return it to Amazon and get your money back...

I hope you got my point

Yes, I got your point however I do not want to RETURN it, I am going to REPLACE it. I think after 14 days, I can get replacement from local apple store even I do not have AppleCare (please correct me if I am wrong). My main point is to avoid hauling this beast to UPS and mail it to macmall hoping the replacement will be free of defects. If local apple store can do it, why not.

I will call both Apple and macmall to confirm it.

Thanks,
xingstar

 

[xingstar]

In the time it took you to write these posts, I would have called MacMall to get the correct info, and then call the Apple Store. I assume you bought from macmall for a discount on your computer. Sounds like it would have been better if you had spent a few dollars more and bought at the Apple Store since it is so close to you.

Anyway, if your going to buy Apple Care buy it from LA computing, they have the cheapest price for Apple Care.

Hope things work out for you.

Thank you for the advice. BTW, local apple store did not have i7 the time I bought it. Since I was going to order it online anyway, I ordered from macmall.

Thanks,
xingstar

 

[xingstar]

Put your laptop next to it again. If it flickers, take both computers into the Apple Store and show them what's happening. If it doesn't, then I wouldn't worry about it for now. You've got a full year of warranty on the entire machine, so you don't need to worry about buying AppleCare right away. You can do that anytime before the initial 1-year period ends.

If it's really bothering you, though, and you feel you MUST get it looked at immediately, take it to the Apple Store. Don't tell them you bought it from MacMall (I doubt they would ask you where you bought it, anyway).

Hmmmm...the problem is I cannot reproduce it even I put my work laptop next to imac again. I hope I can convince them to give me a replacement at apple store. Thank you for your suggestion.....

Thanks,
xingstar

 

[Hellhammer]

Yes, I got your point however I do not want to RETURN it, I am going to REPLACE it. I think after 14 days, I can get replacement from local apple store even I do not have AppleCare (please correct me if I am wrong). My main point is to avoid hauling this beast to UPS and mail it to macmall hoping the replacement will be free of defects. If local apple store can do it, why not.

I will call both Apple and macmall to confirm it.

Thanks,
xingstar

Return & replace, same thing. You didn't get my point. Apple may not replace it, they will likely repair it because they don't have to replace it. MacMall has to replace it though because you want so.

If you want to get this sorted, stop asking it from here and do something for it. Apple and neither do MacMall read these forums and contact you if you got a defective one. You have to call them and ask how to deal with this.

Try Apple Store first but don't tell them that you bought it from MacMall. Ask are they going to REPLACE it or REPAIR it. None of us can foresee what are they going to tell you.