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Had to buy whole HDD carrier through Apple just for the screws

W

Whaditis

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 18, 2010
137
6
Called Apple and asked if I could get replacements screws for one of my hdd carriers. Since I have AppleCare, the Apple rep on the phone assured me that since they don't have replacement screws separately to give me that they'll just replace my whole hdd carrier.

Once I arrived at the Apple store to pick up my hdd carrier as AppleCare instructed me to, the part was there and for a moment I was pleased.

As soon as they brought the part, I gave them my old hdd carrier but to my surprise I was told that the hdd carrier is not covered by AppleCare. At that point I asked if I could just purchase the screws and keep my original carrier but they could not do that so I ended up buying the carrier since I needed the drive bay filled. They ended keeping my old carrier even though I had to pay for a new one.

Lesson to be learned, just because AppleCare assured me that it was covered, it was not the case once I picked up the part at the store.

just wondering if anyone has had to do this. Looks like i'll have to find a place that has these screws.

On a side note, the Apple Genius kept insisting that I should not be touching any parts inside the computer but I kept telling them that it is not a Mac Book Pro that we're talking about here but a Mac Pro desktop that has User Serviceable parts..

A little disappointed I have to admit.
 
I dont see how or why the screws should be covered in the event that they are lost, stripped, or damaged by the customer.
 
Yea i agree, I guess my point was that all I wanted to get were the screws without having to buy a whole new carrier while having to give them my old one. I didnt realize it would be so expensive and I figured they might be able to just to send my a couple of screws.

When I talked to Apple, they said it was no problem and that they'll just give me a new carrier. I think the lack of communication and mixed message is what I was kind of surprised with along with the Genius limited knowledge with the Mac Pro and kept referring to the Mac Book Pro.

I'll have to find a place where I can get a few of these in case I ever need them again.
 
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Looking at my receipt it came to $55.00 but because I had AppleCare they apparently gave me a break and reduced it to $18.00. Plus I had to give back my original carrier or else they would not release it to me.


I think we need to find a better and cheaper way to get replacement parts because Apple parts are pricey.


The carrier trays for the Octo and Quad core 09's are the same I believe.
 
Thanks wonderspark. These don't seem to have the rubber grommet, I suppose I can replace the old grommets on these screws for the harddrive carrier?
 
Sure. the part #922-8899

Call Apple up with this part # and see if you can get it for what I did, it's worth a try.

Got the part from Sherway Gardens store in Toronto.

Btw, if you do go to Apple, even if you buy the hdd carrier, they will request your old one in return.
 
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It seems each location is a bit different in how they deal with the customer.

I would prefer more consistency with their service.

Do not bring in your whole Mac Pro, they ask me to do the same and I flat out told them it's too big and if I could just bring in my hdd carrier with my applecare # and they finally agreed.


Call Sherway gardens location at 416 646 8489, at least they will hopefully be able to help you since they already ordered that part. They might just charge you what they charged me so 18 bucks is not too bad.

I noticed on a side note that the staff was not used to or interested in dealing with any matters as they pertain to the desktop Mac Pro, but they are more than happy to help you with your iphone or ipad.
 
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mseth said:
Is the first one correct? Shows different model number. As for the second one shipping seems to come to $32.

Just called Apple store in Yorkdale and they told me that they can't tell me the price or anything, I have to book an appointment with a genius and bring my computer in. THIS IS A GIANT (relative to all other products) and HEAVY AS :eek: machine to take in just for a hard drive tray. Acquiring apple parts is a PAIN!

I can't go in for an appointment because I do not have Apple Care and even if I did, they really want me to bring a GIANT and HEAVY as :eek: TOWER into the store?
Click to expand...
Good point... first one says G5, which may or may not be the same. I didn't ever have a G5, but I know they look the same. I'd skip the first one, and get the second one, or try to get a "Genius" to give one up for $18. I think it's ridiculous that you can't just get the screws and grommet thing, but then again, we're talking about "don't touch the insides" Apple, haha!
 
This is the "other side" of Apple's sweet customer service. It's awesome if you have broken stuff and want it replaced for nothing via AppleCare. It's crap if you know anything about hardware, and just need a part.
 
I hear you, one of the most painful things is trying to get replacement parts at Apple for small things like screws for the hard drive carrier.

At least, I tried to break the mold as much as I could with the Sherway location so that would be your best option since they already dealt with me earlier this evening. Call them tomorrow with the part # I gave you and tell them someone has already picked up an hdd carrier Friday evening.

They should order one over the phone and in a couple of days they'll call you when it arrives. If you can get it for what I did and go locally this way you save a lot on shipping and keeps your price down.

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wonderspark said:
This is the "other side" of Apple's sweet customer service. It's awesome if you have broken stuff and want it replaced for nothing via AppleCare. It's crap if you know anything about hardware, and just need a part.
Click to expand...

still is not easy as I have AppleCare and they did not want initially to deal with it but took a lot of persistency on my end.

Agreed, difficult to get parts.
 
Whaditis said:
Btw, if you do go to Apple, even if you buy the hdd carrier, they will request your old one in return.
Click to expand...

You do not know that. All Apple stores are different. Just because it happened to you does not mean that it is standard practice and that it will happen to others.

mseth said:
Hopefully I can grab one for $18, considering the amount of money I paid for the machine.

P.S. If you're wondering why I don't have them in the first place that's because I purchased the machine and about a year ago installed 3 SSDs inside and left the standard 640GB HDD untouched. Sold the 3 trays because I thought I was never going to use them.
Click to expand...

Why should the overall cost of the machine have anything to do with the cost of the HDD tray? That same trays that you sold because you didn't think you would need them any more.
 
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I bet they'll charge that $55 if you don't give them an old one. However, some people are just lucky, and perhaps you'll get the whole thing completely free!

(Computer geek boys give hot girls free stuff all the time. :p)
 
brand said:
You do not know that. All Apple stores are different. Just because it happened to you does not mean that it is standard practice and that it will happen to others.



Why should the overall cost of the machine have anything to do with the cost of the HDD tray? That same trays that you sold because you didn't think you would need them any more.
Click to expand...




Ok, then I should not mention that then. Anything else you would like to enlighten us with?

Your contribution to this thread has been noted.

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wonderspark said:
I bet they'll charge that $55 if you don't give them an old one. However, some people are just lucky, and perhaps you'll get the whole thing completely free!

(Computer geek boys give hot girls free stuff all the time. :p)
Click to expand...



Exactly
 
mseth said:
No offence, but you do not need to be mean.

And anyways, I can't return the old ones because I no longer have them, if they want they can have my owc mount pro's
Click to expand...

I don't see how I am being mean for bringing to light that you think Apple should replace the HDD carriers for a cheap price because you sold the ones the you originally received. I guess you could use the money that you made from the carries that you sold to offset the cost of the new ones and it would equal out.
 
It could be that you are not mean but only that you had a bad day.

Tomorrow will be better.
 
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