MacBook Air 13-inch Scuff Marks

[shootingrubber]

After reading speekez's thread about the scuff marks on his MBA 11" I decided to check my 13-inch MBA for the same thing. Titled at an angle my MBA has similar sort of scuff marks.

Attached image shows the scuff marks.

Anyways, I decided to call Apple to see what they could do for me. After being tossed around on the phone for 1.5 hours they finally put a replacement order through.

Through the process I was given lots of misinformation. Because of all this misinformation and my time wasted one the lady said she was going to send me a free Speck hard shell case for the 13-inch MBA. Fine, didn't know these hadn't come out yet when I was on the phone, so I didn't say anything about it. She sent me the Speck hard shell case for the previous MBA. After this I was transferred to another person, yet again, and this guy processed the return on the MBA. Finally realized that I was going to be without a computer, for essentially, at least another 1.5 weeks. I was not happy about this, so the guy said he would refund my credit card in the amount of $50.

After getting off the phone I realized there were no Speck hard shell cases for the new MBA's. I talked to someone and he went through all of the other cases and bags for the 13-inch MBA. He started talking about messenger bags, but all of the one's on the Apple site did not appeal to me. I told him they should get Timbuk2 messenger bags. He told me that he had never heard of those and he asked me how much one of those bags were. I told him $100. He said ok, let me refund your credit card in the amount of $100, so you can go buy the Timbuk2 bag.

I was really surprised and was not expecting this. Basically I get $150 back on my credit card and a brand new MBA.

Anyways, that's my story for the day.

 

[teski]

These things are mobile computers, not pieces of art! This type of thing could happen from regular use, and it's not yours was fresh out of the box. Glad they took care of you though!

 

[shootingrubber]

These things are mobile computers, not pieces of art! This type of thing could happen from regular use, and it's not yours was fresh out of the box. Glad they took care of you though!

You should see how I keep all my mobile computers

 

[Zackmd1]

You should see how I keep all my mobile computers

My 13inch has the same "scuff" marks. There more like chips in the aluminum. This does not surprise me considering these machines are carved from a single block of aluminum which is a soft metal so things happen! The carving process will never be perfect.

 

[teski]

My 13inch has the same "scuff" marks. There more like chips in the aluminum. This does not surprise me considering these machines are carved from a single block of aluminum which is a soft metal so things happen! The carving process will never be perfect.

I'd rather have those little chips than send an otherwise great MBA back to have it replaced by one with a screen problem, creaking, or some other issue.

 

[Zackmd1]

I'd rather have those little chips than send an otherwise great MBA back to have it replaced by one with a screen problem, creaking, or some other issue.

Exactly! My air does creak sometimes but this because Im either picking it up from the thinnest part or because its cold (close to winter where I live) and I boot it up.

 

[shootingrubber]

I'd rather have those little chips than send an otherwise great MBA back to have it replaced by one with a screen problem, creaking, or some other issue.

I'd rather have none of those things at all. If I am paying $1500 for a computer it should be perfect. I don't compromise.

 

[teski]

I'd rather have none of those things at all. If I am paying $1500 for a computer it should be perfect. I don't compromise.

Nothing is ever perfect

 

[Hellishness]

I'd rather have none of those things at all. If I am paying $1500 for a computer it should be perfect. I don't compromise.

I agree. I've had 5 iPhone 4's and did any of them have really major problems? Yea, like one. Were the other's just my feeling of paying $600 for a phone, it should be perfect? Pretty much.

 

[robby818]

Nothing is ever perfect

So true. Simply due to the machining process, each case will have slight imperfections. Just examine the case under various angles of light and you can see through the anodization and see small imperfections. Personally, I could care less about stuff like scuff marks on the case, but bright or stuck pixels drive me nuts. Fortunately, the PPI count is getting so high on displays like on the MBA, it is getting harder and harder to see those stuck pixels.

 

[shootingrubber]

I agree. I've had 5 iPhone 4's and did any of them have really major problems? Yea, like one. Were the other's just my feeling of paying $600 for a phone, it should be perfect? Pretty much.

Exactly. There shouldn't be anything wrong when I'm paying this much for a product.

So true. Simply due to the machining process, each case will have slight imperfections. Just examine the case under various angles of light and you can see through the anodization and see small imperfections. Personally, I could care less about stuff like scuff marks on the case, but bright or stuck pixels drive me nuts. Fortunately, the PPI count is getting so high on displays like on the MBA, it is getting harder and harder to see those stuck pixels.

Why shouldn't it be perfect? If you buy a new car would you still drive it off the lot if you noticed a dent on the car? Of course not. Why should it be any different with a computer?

 

[robby818]

Exactly. There shouldn't be anything wrong when I'm paying this much for a product.

Why shouldn't it be perfect? If you buy a new car would you still drive it off the lot if you noticed a dent on the car? Of course not. Why should it be any different with a computer?

Because no car or computer is perfect, even when brand new. There are subtle differences in each MacBook Air case. It's machined aluminum, they are not all going to be the same. I'm not singling you out, but on these forums you read about people are doing 3-5 returns trying to get a "perfect" machine. At a certain point it seems unreasonable to do so many returns for relatively minor issues, esp. when the issue is not a true defect.

 

[speekez]

Hmm. Glad my post inspired you to call Apple and ask for a replacement. I would have done the same for those marks. We are entitled to a defect free product.

That said, not sure how I feel about your milking Apple for $100 messenger bags and such. In fact, I think it's sort of lame. I know they offered it, but asking them to credit you for more expensive fancy bags and such is going too far. Maybe you feel it is compensation for lost time, and if this was your second or third time returning the unit, I'd probably feel different. I guess we'll just have to disagree.

All I asked of Apple is to give me what I ordered. No more, no less. When people start calling them up and demanding all these extras, I think it makes them all the more unwilling to address and resolve cosmetic issues such as ours.

 

[Compile 'em all]

Because no car or computer is perfect, even when brand new. There are subtle differences in each MacBook Air case. It's machined aluminum, they are not all going to be the same.

Speaking of perfection, Apple would pretty much disagree with you. These aren't a used-look pair of denim or a Rick Owens tee where imperfections are "expected" and are "part of the manufacturing process" . If I buy an Apple product, I expect it to be perfect.

 

[johnnymg]

Reading your post makes me weep for the future...................

 

[TPadden]

Reading your post makes me weep for the future...................

Yep - He wants the precious. Always he is looking for it. And the precious is wanting to go back to him... But we mustn't let him have it. ......

 

[shootingrubber]

Hmm. Glad my post inspired you to call Apple and ask for a replacement. I would have done the same for those marks. We are entitled to a defect free product.

That said, not sure how I feel about your milking Apple for $100 messenger bags and such. In fact, I think it's sort of lame. I know they offered it, but asking them to credit you for more expensive fancy bags and such is going too far. Maybe you feel it is compensation for lost time, and if this was your second or third time returning the unit, I'd probably feel different. I guess we'll just have to disagree.

All I asked of Apple is to give me what I ordered. No more, no less. When people start calling them up and demanding all these extras, I think it makes them all the more unwilling to address and resolve cosmetic issues such as ours.

First of all, Apple offered those things to me. All I wanted was a replacement MacBook Air. The lady on the phone offered to send me the free Speck case. I called back because she sent a case for the old MacBook Air. I did not milk anything. The guy on the phone offered the $100 refund -- I did not ask for it.