Beware of Apple refusing to repair under warranty

[jaxstate]

Hey dude, you should just give up trying to get most people on here to see your point of view. They will defend Apple to their death, as if Apple gave 2 ***** about them.

glace though the first few pages. almost everyone one of them was the same thing over and over again.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/apple_care.html
compared to apple havine deny and deny over and over again. huge diffence there.

me 1 you 0

 

[janey]

the results here. They cover both reliability and satisfaction with repairs and technical support. (Registration required.)

http://www.bugmenot.com/view/pcmag.com No registration required.

 

[janey]

Hey dude, you should just give up trying to get most people on here to see your point of view. They will defend Apple to their death, as if Apple gave 2 ***** about them.

This has nothing to do with Apple as a company. What the OP described is standard policy for most manufacturers, hence I see no need in bitching about how Apple sucks or Dell sucks or whatever.

 

[Tan from London]

If the dent is so bad, then the malfunction should have occured a lot earlier almost straight away. With the situation at the moment its like having a major component of your automobile engine malfunctioning within warranty but the manufacturer stating they are not responsible as the slight dent in the passenger door has caused the problem!

I do not wish anyone to go through the same problem as me but it is distressing as I rely on my laptop so much. The laptop was in my laptop case when the catch broke and it fell as I was taking it out of my car - I am disabled with mobility problems and was unable to stop it from hitting the ground - the ground clearance was very small anyway so it was not a major fall. Anyway, I checked it thoroughly and it has worked fine – if there was fault or the damage bad enough that I could close the cover, I would not have hesitated to get it repaired under insurance as I am fully covered.

 

[janey]

that analogy isn't exactly quite right, but oh well.
apple rarely changes their stance, so like i said, your best bet is to get it repaired and get AppleCare refunded. sometimes problems don't show up until a while later (my first laptop did that with the power cable).

if it's any suggestion at all, the iBooks/MacBooks are supposed to be a lot more durable than the MBP/PowerBooks, if you want to just sell off the computer and get a new one.

 

[Applespider]

If the dent is so bad, then the malfunction should have occured a lot earlier almost straight away. With the situation at the moment its like having a major component of your automobile engine malfunctioning within warranty but the manufacturer stating they are not responsible as the slight dent in the passenger door has caused the problem!

I suspect they will argue that the drop may have caused the damage since there's no way to know how much the insides got jarred and if anything became misaligned/got cracked etc which worked for a while but perhaps with a sudden move/minor bump, it was enough to then knock it out. Probably comparable to your car breaking down but with a dent in the bonnet rather than the door where it may (but may not have affected the engine)

I'd give your insurance company a call and see what they say. Tell them that the drop was a couple of months ago but that Apple are saying that it's because of the drop and hopefully, you'll be able to get it fixed

 

[hulugu]

no I not but just look at these boards. Apple denies more warrenty claim that most. I hear more complains about apple denying claims than any one else really.

Dell is for example is very willing to fix there laptop. For them to deny it you pretty has to be really crystal clear that you did accedental. Damaage case will not be enough to do it. Physica damage to the part in quesion yeah they deny it but that crystal clear. If any doute is involved they cover it unwarrenty.

Samne with gate way. They covered stuff for me that I knew had a good chance was accedental damage cause by me. but it was crystal clear. They just fix it and this is accross mulitple computer.

Apple has a history of it. Just search these boards.


And come on look at the picture. That damage does look any more than a scrap that could of been cause by veritcal rubbing against the contret wall. of setting it down on concret poorly.

Apple is required to PROVE that the accedental damage cause it. if they can not prove it with out a shadow of a doute they are supposed to fix it. If there is a feeling that it was cause by the user they just deny it. even if it has no relationship to the problem

These boards are not the best way to prove that Apple denies a majority of warrenty repairs; aside from a few, how many people report everything was easily fixed and is in tip-top shape? Search Dell's site and I'm sure you'll see similar complaints.

Tan,

One of the things that surprises me is how random Apple (and others) are about warrenty repair. I had buggered the Titanium case all to hell (and it was me) and Apple replaced it, dents scratches and all. And yet, they won't work on yours? Call Apple back and then politely work your way up the food chain, sometimes you just have to talk to the right person. If they won't fix it, ask for AppleCare money back, and let them know how disappointed you are. Then, call your insurance company.

Wish you the best luck and let us know what happens.

 

[SC68Cal]

true but apple is among the worse of the computer companies out there to deny warrenty repairs. They will voild it more easily than most companies. that antoher hard fact.

So why did they get good ratings in Consumer Reports magazine?

I hate to say it, but you did drop the laptop. If you read your warranty, it doesn't cover user abuse/error.

 

[hulugu]

Hey dude, you should just give up trying to get most people on here to see your point of view. They will defend Apple to their death, as if Apple gave 2 ***** about them.

Glad to see you have such a useful comment. Oh wait, you don't you just scream 'zealot' in some fashion. Message boards do not accurately reflect the actual state of any situation, and many people have had great luck with Apple, including myself, but do not start a thread proclaiming such. This is human.

 

[AlBDamned]

If the dent is so bad, then the malfunction should have occured a lot earlier almost straight away. With the situation at the moment its like having a major component of your automobile engine malfunctioning within warranty but the manufacturer stating they are not responsible as the slight dent in the passenger door has caused the problem!

I do not wish anyone to go through the same problem as me but it is distressing as I rely on my laptop so much. The laptop was in my laptop case when the catch broke and it fell as I was taking it out of my car - I am disabled with mobility problems and was unable to stop it from hitting the ground - the ground clearance was very small anyway so it was not a major fall. Anyway, I checked it thoroughly and it has worked fine – if there was fault or the damage bad enough that I could close the cover, I would not have hesitated to get it repaired under insurance as I am fully covered.

I can empathize with you on this but from those pics the PB took quite a nasty fall. Certainly, an Apple repair tech would look at this and shirk from any responsibility pretty quickly. But you can't honestly expect them to repair it unless it was from goodwill.

When I dropped my PowerBook, it was fine for a week before the HDD died but without doubt I couldn't blame Apple or the hardware for failing. For you it's a bum deal because it was a straight accident (dropping it), but chances are it could have screwed a component that then took a while to fail. If the machine is still working then that's cool (I've grown quite fond of the damage to mine once I got a new HDD), but if it is screwed or will cost you a fair amount, then use your insurance (that's what it's there for). Just please - make sure you triple check your policy first.

 

[jaxstate]

Many people have had bad luck with apple, so what's your point.

Glad to see you have such a useful comment. Oh wait, you don't you just scream 'zealot' in some fashion. Message boards do not accurately reflect the actual state of any situation, and many people have had great luck with Apple, including myself, but do not start a thread proclaiming such. This is human.

 

[Mord]

Unfortunately it's not exactly a tiny ass dent as the case is slightly warped (re: applespider's post above yours).
Depending on how it was dropped there could be some internal damage, I could see that happening..

aluminium is soft, a small drop could cause that, their really is nothing damageable in the area and i've dropped my ibook from heights which would cause far more internal damage from shock than that.

 

[Tan from London]

Does anyone have any idea what cost I am looking at getting this repaired or what is involved? If it is too expensive and I need a new laptop I think I will switch to a PC laptop, they are far cheaper and i cannot afford another 17 inch Apple laptop.

 

[SC68Cal]

Apple described this damage as extensive!!! And honestly that's all there is!

Okay....?

When I switch on the laptop now (with the mains), the screen does not come on but there is a humming sound, maybe the fan.

Doesn't that qualify as extensive damage??

 

[AlBDamned]

Does anyone have any idea what cost I am looking at getting this repaired or what is involved? If it is too expensive and I need a new laptop I think I will switch to a PC laptop, they are far cheaper and i cannot afford another 17 inch Apple laptop.

As said before - insurance.

The case is about £200, maybe more.

http://www.tcsmacs.com know their stuff repairing Macs, but I'd try calling your insurance first.

 

[Tan from London]

To SC68Cal

When the laptop stopped charging I still had about 20% of battery charge left. I called Apple tech and the guy went through so many different things, hold this butoon and press this and that etc and then the screen stopped working. prior to that, the laptop was working but not charging. The "tech guy" at the other end of the phone did not really know what he was doing kept going away to ask others. It was the usual Call Center I think .

 

[SC68Cal]

Okay, well here's how I see it from my end:

You called Apple Tech support, really hoping for them to just roll over and give you a brand new laptop for something that you did to it, that is IIRC explicitly not covered under AppleCare.

Did you tell him that it wasn't charging and you had very little battery life to work with? Those of us who fix computers and provide the compatability layer between aggrivated users and broken equipment, while we are very knowledgeable and try to make every call result in a fixed machine and a relieved user, remember that sometimes we're not right there, so we can't take into account everything.

I'm sure that you could have basically said to them "Look, it's not working right, I don't think it'll last through this tech call, could you perhaps do me a favor and give me a case number so that at least maybe I could send it to you guys to take a look at?"

 

[Tan from London]

Very easy for someone to say I wanted a new laptop.. I am not stupid and I know this is not pssible and was not expecting any such offer. If I was so way inclined I would damage the laptop beyond repair and claim on the insurance - politeness and rules of forum prevent me from saying exactly what I think of your comment.

Anyway, i did mention to the Tech person I had very little battery life left as I was concerned the number of times I had to keep restarting. The indication given was that this might be an error that can be corrected over the phone.

All Apple had to do was to give me a phoen call and explain the situation but instead sent me an email which i responded to immediately and then they stated I never contacted them. I can prove I called by the time of receiving their email requesting me to call and my long call to them (proof by telephone bill). What I cannot understand having explained th eproblem so extensively, they wanted me to repeat it again.

I have owned many Apple computers from new and have had problems which were dealt with (Apple has my complete record). There will always be die-hard mac users who will never admit the company can do any wrong as if they owe them something. I still prefer Mac to Pc's, I still think they are the best computers around by far but I would not feel the need to want to defend them just because they are Apple and nothing bad should ever be said about them...

 

[SC68Cal]

politeness and rules of forum prevent me from saying exactly what I think of your comment.

Well excuse me for living.

I'm done posting here. Have fun butterfingers.

 

[janey]

aluminium is soft, a small drop could cause that, their really is nothing damageable in the area and i've dropped my ibook from heights which would cause far more internal damage from shock than that.

there isn't? most laptops (obviously) don't leave too much space free between the casing and the internal components, and they also don't have much free space in general either.

iBooks are different, as the casing doesn't dent to the extent that it could potentially jar any internal components. Hell, it doesn't even dent.

 

[zap2]

So your broke it can you think you should get a free replacement? Yea right!

That said i open my Mini up for a ram upgrade, broke then AP support, and forgot to replug the fan in, took it back and they plugged it in, heard the fan and said "want a new one?" i said yes and BAM i got a brand new mini, after i had broken the first one! But that was when it was one day old, so take it for what its worth(and there were not sign i hurt it!)

 

[janey]

That said i open my Mini up for a ram upgrade, broke then AP support, and forgot to replug the fan in, took it back and they plugged it in, heard the fan and said "want a new one?" i said yes and BAM i got a brand new mini, after i had broken the first one! But that was when it was one day old, so take it for what its worth(and there were not sign i hurt it!)

Well the folks at Apple told me that opening the mini doesn't void the applecare, bt they wouldn't cover any damage resulting from improper ram installation...

 

[Mord]

there isn't? most laptops (obviously) don't leave too much space free between the casing and the internal components, and they also don't have much free space in general either.

iBooks are different, as the casing doesn't dent to the extent that it could potentially jar any internal components. Hell, it doesn't even dent.

thats where the battery plugs in, i've been in albooks before and in that cavity lies only a couple of cables. therefor the only damage possible would be from the shock through the thing, and as my previous ibook comment indicated the dent would be a hell of allot bigger if the drop was large enough to damage it in that way.

 

[Tan from London]

Let this be a lesson to all. Look after your laptops with extreme care and have it insured against accidental damage. Fortunately mine is insured but I still think the problem has nothing to do with the fall it had.

I think people out there who think I did this to get a replacement laptop are exactly those who will actually not think twice about doing it themselves - it is simply dishonest and fraud and repurcussions will come back to them in one way or another - for them to make this suggestion in the circumstances of my case simply illustrates their way of thinking. My laptop is not very old and I was just thinking the power supply connector needed replacing.

To avoid scrapes along the front and rear of my car bumper I have placed a strong rubber strip around the edges which has helped. I wondered if such protection might be available for laptops arond the edges. if not I will adapt a set to fit mine (when I get it working again). Once I have done this, I will place a photo on the forum to show people. The rubber strip will be quite small but will cushion a fall - the g4 laptops are quite slippery.

 

[kalisphoenix]

That really stinks, man. I hope everything works out for you.