Could my replacement be a recycled machine?

[thedon1]

I bought a standard base 21.5 imac and because i ordered a battery charger it became a custom.

I was told by apple that due to the battery charger it's now a custom and it has to come from China. The only thing that's actually custom about it is that they put the rechargable batteries in the keyboard and mouse.

I had the dreaded yellow screen problem.

I phoned Apple yesterday and was told a replacement would be sent out as top priority. Got an e-mail from UPS telling me it's going to be here on Thursday.


So do you reckon apple got a new imac and just put some rechargable batteries in there or do you think they are just sending me a former return?

Also the mac i received, the mac os disc was really scratched up, didn't even work. is it normal for them to recycle other parts?

 

[aristobrat]

If your replacement comes in a brown, generic box instead of the white retail box, then it's refurbed. I'm not talking about the shipping box, but the actual product box. You are talking about returning one and getting another one? I didn't catch that part in your OP.

Depending on how Apple packs an order, it may be custom or not. I ordered a stock MacBook Air once, and also bought a stock DVI video cable with it. They put the DVI video cable in the same box as the MacBook Air, and considered it a "custom order".... even though everything about it was stock.

 

[TheBritishBloke]

Why were you given a replacement? You haven't given us the whole story.

 

[thedon1]

Sorry, i ammended my first post. I got the yellow screen on the first mac, same with the scratched disc.

Just wondering if i should be ready for dissapointment when it comes to thursdays replacement.

The guy told me to send everything back, mouse, keyboard etc.

 

[bigmikeyp]

If you purchased a new Mac, then you should receive an exchange for another new Mac.

Likewise, if you purchased a refurb Mac, then you should receive a refurb Mac (as they become available)

 

[thedon1]

But some people on these boards have theorized that apple are recycling yellow imacs that have been sent back and are just sending them to other people.

 

[peapody]

Why were you given a replacement? You haven't given us the whole story.

Don't see why he would need to "complete the story" as it was a simple question...but what do I know.

 

[Btom]

But some people on these boards have theorized that apple are recycling yellow imacs that have been sent back and are just sending them to other people.

You are actually in perfectly placed to find a clue (or not) on getting a "recycled" product. Do you remember how did your unit look like when you got it? How was the plastic wrap attached? Did you see any scratches on the body? Any fingerprints on the glass screen? Untidy cable(s)? Whatever else comes in the box looks like being pushed in? Any dust particles on the plastic bags? Some basic CSI stuff...

Now, look for the same things on the replacement unit.

The Idea of using recycled units for replacement come from a surprisingly large number of people getting worse replacement units, than the returned ones, sometimes many times in a row, while many people were reporting receiving flawless units the first time over (did you notice no quotation around flawless?). It simply doesn't make statistical sense.

Tom B.

 

[Btom]

Why were you given a replacement? You haven't given us the whole story.

...
I had the dreaded yellow screen problem.
...

Tom B.

 

[KyleKlink]

But some people on these boards have theorized that apple are recycling yellow imacs that have been sent back and are just sending them to other people.

Im willing to bet that some of the machines being returned for yellow tint issues are actually perfectly fine (yes, I am implying that some people are just plain insane over this yellow tint issue, and their brain is making them see yellow when it's not even there). Im sure Apple is selling these machines as refurbs. Why wouldn't they?

 

[thedon1]

You are actually in perfectly placed to find a clue (or not) on getting a "recycled" product. Do you remember how did your unit look like when you got it? How was the plastic wrap attached? Did you see any scratches on the body? Any fingerprints on the glass screen? Untidy cable(s)? Whatever else comes in the box looks like being pushed in? Any dust particles on the plastic bags? Some basic CSI stuff...

Now, look for the same things on the replacement unit.

The Idea of using recycled units for replacement come from a surprisingly large number of people getting worse replacement units, than the returned ones, sometimes many times in a row, while many people were reporting receiving flawless units the first time over (did you notice no quotation around flawless?). It simply doesn't make statistical sense.

Tom B.

The first one seemed very nicely packed, i didn't notice anything odd but it was my first imac and due to the excitement i wasn't paying much attention.

When this replacement comes tomorrow i will have a proper look and reply here.

 

[moocat]

im in the same situation as you - I ordered the battery charger (stupid thing to do in hindsight). I returned one for whistling, yellowscreen, slight backlight probs and I got a replacement that was much worse and the accessories were the same. In fact, Im not convinced it wasnt the same iMac but the screen had been tinkered with. It was packaged poorly and the plastic covering on everything was dishelved. The cord was also unwound. Needless to say, I've sent that back in as well. I am terrified that they will do the same thing again. I just want a working machine

 

[nobias]

My first 27" had a bent stand so I sent for a replacement.
2nd was extremely yellow.
3rd was packaged very poorly... It had yellowing and also scratches.

I suspect they are sending out recycled machines as new.

If you buy new you should get a new replacement.

 

[moocat]

My first 27" had a bent stand so I sent for a replacement.
2nd was extremely yellow.
3rd was packaged very poorly... It had yellowing and also scratches.

I suspect they are sending out recycled machines as new.

If you buy new you should get a new replacement.

Agreed. I wish I wasn't so tied down to the OS at this point. I feel insulted by what they sent me as an exchange. Never had trouble like this with The macbook pro...
are you getting a fourth?

 

[nobias]

Agreed. I wish I wasn't so tied down to the OS at this point. I feel insulted by what they sent me as an exchange. Never had trouble like this with The macbook pro...
are you getting a fourth?

If I ever get the return labels in my email...
The most annoying thing is I have to wipe the HD every time, which is a 4-5 hour ordeal. Then I pack it up nicely (which is more than they did for me) and drag it to the FedEx store personally - so that the replacement will be "released"

I'm not being picky, or anal, or over-entitled as many would have you believe. I've received 3 systems that were unusable.

I am on the verge of doing a full return, getting a decked out 17"mbp, and getting the 27" cinema display... at least that way it will be easier to swap the displays at the stores.

This entire process takes about a week to turn around... and I've been through it three times.
I've been unable to use my my iMac which I paid for on my CC statement over 3 weeks ago.

 

[thedon1]

So my replacement arrived today.

They send out the replacement before they had even received my first imac.

Looked at the packaging closely, the white Styrofoam was a bit damaged, had little bits chipped off. The mouse packet looked like it had been opened previously. The plastic sticky thing on the box of the battery charger was open and had dirt on the adhesive side. This definitely looked used, the battery charger at least.

The actual computer seemed OK, was wrapped up just as well as the previous one.

Loaded it up and while i think there may be some slightly warmer areas on the screen, it's way better than the first one had. In general use i can't tell anythings wrong, only if i really do yellow testes and stuff can i see anything, and even then it's not so bad. I'm gonna keep this one.

I feel this may have been a return from someone else but not sure for what reason. There's no dog whistle, DVD drive works etc.

It came from Holland by the way. first one came from china

 

[moocat]

That is a shame that you received used stuff but I am glad to hear that it is in good/tolerable condition. Mine has been in transit for 2 days now and they still havent shipped off my replacement. You would think theyd be faster after screwing up so badly twice...

 

[thedon1]

That is a shame that you received used stuff but I am glad to hear that it is in good/tolerable condition. Mine has been in transit for 2 days now and they still havent shipped off my replacement. You would think theyd be faster after screwing up so badly twice...

Yeah weird they are taking so long with yours. I phoned on monday, they dispatched on the same day, picked mines up yesterday and my replacement was here today.

They should offer you some compensation or something.


One thing i have noticed about my mouse, the glass on the left side of the mouse slightly overlaps the actual mouse underneath, i didn't notice this on my previous mouse. This isn't normal right?

 

[moocat]

One thing i have noticed about my mouse, the glass on the left side of the mouse slightly overlaps the actual mouse underneath, i didn't notice this on my previous mouse. This isn't normal right?

Definitely not normal, but not such a big deal in comparison to what youve been through, eh? Hopefully they can replace just that part if its necessary

I dropped my iMac off at Fedex myself so maybe that is why they havent dispatched it. The first customer service guy I called on this return told me to call and update them with tracking info when it has been shipped... The second guy I talked to when I followed the first guys advice acted like I was a complete idiot for calling back with the tracking info. Go figure.

 

[nobias]

Moocat, hopefully we will get good systems.
Don't worry, you will get an email eventually that says order submitted, later shipped. This will be at the same email add. as the original order and will reference the same order number.

 

[moocat]

Moocat, hopefully we will get good systems.
Don't worry, you will get an email eventually that says order submitted, later shipped. This will be at the same email add. as the original order and will reference the same order number.

Thanks for the encouragement. I do realize this is the case. Just hoping they dont send me what they did last time - seriously thr only way to describe it would be "scratch and dent". I dont even think Dell would lump it in that category. Well, third times a charm...