Hinge Cracked :(

[Unprocessed1]

After having a wobbly screen for a few months and admittedly a poor hinge, the hinge finally decided to let go and broke, as seen from the pictures. The corner on the side of the broken hinge also very slightly bent after getting caught on the bottom half of the laptop, or at least appears to have (I thought it was going to just snap off). It also scratched up the far left corner of the keyboard where the screen is now scrapping the keyboard.

The hinge is clearly messed up. I'm going to the Genius Bar tomorrow.
Is apple going to replace this for free? I'm still covered under apple care. I worked all summer to buy their $2500 laptop, and I'm not giving them an extra $800 to fix their own defect.

Any tips on things to say and how to approach this?

 

[iGuardian]

They should replace it free. I don't see why not.

 

[sammy2066]

They'll probably not fix it under AppleCare. Maybe work overtime for the $800?

http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/macbook-air-hinge-defect-not-covered-by-apples-warranty/

I apologize for the sarcasm, but Apple should be ashamed of a $2500 laptop's hinge breaking and not covering it under warranty.

 

[Unprocessed1]

I saw on previous threads from Jan, Feb, March that Apple always claimed it was the owner's fault and were charging $800 to fix it. Has Apple changed their policy then recently?

 

[spacecadet610]

happened to me last week. I am still under warranty.

brought it to the Apple store (Boston Boylston) and they fixed it for free the same day.

 

[Unprocessed1]

happened to me last week. I am still under warranty.

brought it to the Apple store (Boston Boylston) and they fixed it for free the same day.

That's good to hear. I was reading through some threads/sites and it seems like Apple has admitted the hinge problem is their fault.

I have two days left at school, so I'll see what the Genius Bar here will do. Luckily, If they refuse to fix it, I can still try the Apple store near my house.

 

[r6girl]

That's good to hear. I was reading through some threads/sites and it seems like Apple has admitted the hinge problem is their fault.

Sorry to hear about your hinge problem. Is this a Rev. B MBA?

Please update us on what happens when you bring it in for repair!

 

[Unprocessed1]

Sorry to hear about your hinge problem. Is this a Rev. B MBA?

Please update us on what happens when you bring it in for repair!

It's a Rev A, got it last summer.

 

[HLdan]

Care to explain what happened to the rear corner of your Air? Looks dented and damaged. It's very close to the broken hinge. Apple may take that into account.

 

[Unprocessed1]

Care to explain what happened to the rear corner of your Air? Looks dented and damaged. It's very close to the broken hinge. Apple may take that into account.

Never dropped it or anything, but the hinge was scraping the other side for quite some time, and i guess it bent it. There are also some nasty scratches where it scraped along the bottom.

The scarping was a normal occurrence, I thought it would work itself out, but then came the crack.

 

[HLdan]

Never dropped it or anything, but the hinge was scraping the other side for quite some time, and i guess it bent it. There are also some nasty scratches where it scraped along the bottom.

The scarping was a normal occurrence, I thought it would work itself out, but then came the crack.

Oh, okay well after your visit to Apple let us know how things work out. I have an Air Rev B and I've seen a few of these posts about the hinge and I'm getting concerned.

 

[Unprocessed1]

Oh, okay well after your visit to Apple let us know how things work out. I have an Air Rev B and I've seen a few of these posts about the hinge and I'm getting concerned.

I'm thinking whether or not they fix it, I'm going to sell it on ebay and settle for a new macbook. I love the air, and ssd, but playing movies is painful, and the machine is apparently too delicate for everyday college use (i probably open and close the screen 10-20 times a day). I heard the Rev B hinge is sturdier yet still could have problems.

On a side note, with the broken hinge but the Air working fine otherwise, how much do you guys think my 64 GB, SSD Air can fetch on ebay (assuming they refuse to fix it)?

 

[GeekGirl*]

Ouch that looks like you dropped it .

 

[Eric5273]

On a side note, with the broken hinge but the Air working fine otherwise, how much do you guys think my 64 GB, SSD Air can fetch on ebay (assuming they refuse to fix it)?

Well, MacMall is selling brand new Rev.A 1.8/64 GB SSD models on clearance for $1299, which I think is also the price Apple charges for refurbished models. So you probably won't get very much for it. Maybe $500?

 

[Unprocessed1]

Well, MacMall is selling brand new Rev.A 1.8/64 GB SSD models on clearance for $1299, which I think is also the price Apple charges for refurbished models. So you probably won't get very much for it. Maybe $500?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Macbook-Air-...286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:13|39:1|240:1318

That one sold a few weeks ago and is in worse shape than mine. I think I'd get more than $500 though, the SSD would be almost that itself w/o the Air.

 

[Unprocessed1]

Went to the Apple Store. They said it was accidental and offered to fix it for $700-800.

Looks like I have to sell it, and cut my losses, or continue to use it (since it works perfectly if the screen is at 90 degrees)

 

[u49aa2]

Went to the Apple Store. They said it was accidental and offered to fix it for $700-800.

Looks like I have to sell it, and cut my losses, or continue to use it (since it works perfectly if the screen is at 90 degrees)

That's sucks! i really do not think it is fair. The more i hear these stories the less respect i have for apple and the more i become paranoid about my UMBP.

Good luck selling it or using it

 

[HLdan]

That's sucks! i really do not think it is fair. The more i hear these stories the less respect i have for apple and the more i become paranoid about my UMBP.

Good luck selling it or using it

It's not always as black and white as you are seeing it. I mentioned earlier that the dent on the OP's MBA is right next to the broken hinge, I mentioned that Apple may take that into account as physical damage. Just because Apple is a giant billion dollar company doesn't make them the bad guy because they won't honor physical damage.
I do believe the OP when he said he didn't drop it but we can only go by what he says since we are not there watching what's really happening to his MBA on a daily basis. Apple can't watch him either so they have to make that determination, it's a business.

 

[Eric5273]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Macbook-Air-...286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:13|39:1|240:1318

That one sold a few weeks ago and is in worse shape than mine. I think I'd get more than $500 though, the SSD would be almost that itself w/o the Air.

I didn't realize you were in Australia. I was talking about US $.

 

[gooddeal]

It's not always as black and white as you are seeing it. I mentioned earlier that the dent on the OP's MBA is right next to the broken hinge...

Yeb, I will be amazed if Apple doesn't care about that dent. Tmobile charged me $100 (out of warranty fee) to replace a two weeks old Wing w/ screen problem. The phone looks brand new and doesn't even have a scratch.

 

[Scottsdale]

Was the dent caused by the broken hinge?

 

[dbell]

Those pits on the dent tell me it was dropped.

 

[gcmexico]

That's sucks! i really do not think it is fair. The more i hear these stories the less respect i have for apple and the more i become paranoid about my UMBP.

Good luck selling it or using it

*
how is this Apple's fault!! poster admitted mistreating his Air...look at the dent next to the hinge...I don't buy the faulty hinge at all...misuse leads to breaks that's it..

 

[Unprocessed1]

I'm not blaming Apple. I'm honestly kind of glad to sell the Air and get a MacBook, I just hope I get enough for it to be able to come close to the price of a MacBook. The Rev A is a good machine for daily use, but I can't even watch movie on itunes without it stuttering. The Air is still completely functional, and if one is careful with the hinge, or gets it replaced there shouldn't be much of an issue. I dropped the Air at a distance of probably no more than 12 inches landing on a soft material almost a year ago and it caused a small and almost unrecogniable dent, but the hinge was absolutely fine until recently, so other factors also were probably at hand. The dent expanded following the cracked hinge, especially after it got caught on the edge of the keyboard.


The thing about the old macbooks is that (despite being ugly) the casing was very strong. I've seen several people drop them before and not even blink an eye. I think if a macbook air feel off a desk rather than 4-5 inches, it wouldn't survive. There are downsides to using aluminum, including pricey replacements.

 

[Scottsdale]

You are going to lose a ton of money on that. Sorry to hear that. It's wrong if Apple isn't covering this when it isn't the MBA owner's fault. You hadn't dropped it or anything right? Do you honestly feel you never did anything to break it? That is wrong. I am sorry to hear this. I thought Apple was covering this. Have you tried at a few Apple Stores? Seems like it would be worth getting a second opinion. The rev A MBA refurbished only costs $1299 from Apple, so ridiculous they would do this and charge that much.

Best wishes getting a bunch from that when/if you sell it. This is really disappointing that Apple is not living up to its obligations. I have read about this several times now. Sucks!

Glad you're getting the MacBook you want anyways. The unibody MB is really an amazing little machine. It is better than the rev A MBA in every way, and will play video without overheating or stuttering. Good luck.

EDIT: just read that you had dropped. But honestly, it doesn't sound like that did anything to it to cause hinge damage. Apple will do anything it can to get out of its obligations. I have read so many horror stories lately about problems with MBAs like lines on the majority of the displays, hinges breaking too easily from a defective design/material, and extremely malleable aluminum that allows terrible damage from minor bumps. SAD SAD SAD.

I am so sorry to read this that Apple is denying its obligations. Apple should get into the insurance business, as it obviously is good at denying "claims."