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Small short hairline scratch on screen from factory: Would you exchange it?

D

DeepSix

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 4, 2022
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M4 Pro model. When doing my flashlight test, I just discovered a small and short as in maybe 2-3mm long hairline scratch and it's only noticeable when sticking a flashlight to the centre of the screen. I tried to buff it out by cleaning it and it's definitely a scratch from the factory. How does this manage to pass QC?

It was here right out of the box. Would you exchange it? It's such a pain to pack everything up and exchange it and then have to fully set up, test, benchmark and inspect the new unit all over again. And you always take the chance of the new unit that you get to have other issues with the horrible quality control and variation from each unit.

Another issue I have is that the ESC key feels terrible when pressed on the left side compared to the rest of the keys.
 
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jlc1978 said:
Yes. You should expect a new machine not to have such a flaw, a you will always know it's there. In addition, such returngallow Apple to see if there is a QC or manufacturing issue if enough get returned.
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I bought it from Best Buy. I'm just worried I'll take it back and when they ask me what's wrong with it. When I say that there's a small 0.5 cm hairline scratch in the center of the screen. That they will think I'm crazy or think it's no big deal.
 
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DeepSix said:
I bought it from Best Buy. I'm just worried I'll take it back and when they ask me what's wrong with it. When I say that there's a small 2 cm hairline scratch in the center of the screen. That they will think I'm crazy or think it's no big deal.
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As long as it is the return window it should to be an issue, unless they claim you did the scratch. Personally, if it is not visible, I'd just return it and say you changed your mind.
 
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jlc1978 said:
As long as it is the return window it should to be an issue, unless they claim you did the scratch. Personally, if it is not visible, I'd just return it and say you changed your mind.
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Okay thanks. I'm using the laptop out of the house today. And I'm going to see if I can see it in bright sunlight without the flashlight. I checked again and it's not 2 cm it's more like 2-3mm.
 
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No, but I wouldn't even have bothered to check such miniscule things. I'm only interested in the functionality. Still, clearly visible damages, without flashlight or loupe, would concern me, but I suppose Apple's QC finds these, at least.
 
DeepSix said:
That they will think I'm crazy or think it's no big deal.
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Why worry about that, I am pretty sure the guys working there have to deal with much worse customers. It is an expensive piece of computer, so it is fine to be worried about it. If they don't think it is big deal, so what, at least you have tried and can say so if it becomes worse. As long as you don't intend to go completely Karen, they won't care.

If it a shallow surface scratch it is probably fine, but if it goes deeper it could quickly become worse.
 
DeepSix said:
Just want to get others opinions if they would just leave it and maybe I'm overreacting.
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There's this funny thing. My current MacBook Pro (M2 Max model) has the little bumps problem in the display. I got it fixed under warranty, but it's back. When I got it fixed the first time, I had been using the computer with the little bumps in the display for a while, got a brand new display. Suddenly it was flawless, but it didn't feel like "my computer" anymore. Now I have a couple of bumps in the display again, and I could get them fixed under warranty (AppleCare) but I don't, because I remember how I felt after the previous repair. It's weird, but if the scratch is small enough to not be an actual usability problem, it'll make it *your* computer. However, it having the problem out of the box, I'd get it replaced ASAP.
 
DeepSix said:
M4 Pro model. When doing my flashlight test, I just discovered a small and short as in maybe 2-3mm long hairline scratch and it's only noticeable when sticking a flashlight to the centre of the screen. I tried to buff it out by cleaning it and it's definitely a scratch from the factory. How does this manage to pass QC?

It was here right out of the box. Would you exchange it? It's such a pain to pack everything up and exchange it and then have to fully set up, test, benchmark and inspect the new unit all over again. And you always take the chance of the new unit that you get to have other issues with the horrible quality control and variation from each unit.

Another issue I have is that the ESC key feels terrible when pressed on the left side compared to the rest of the keys.
Click to expand...
It was a good flashlight....
It's human error or machine error. That's what got missed. Scratches are the new trend. I used to see cut wires on wired headphones, on AC power supplies.
Of course you have to replace it, it's a defect. What to ask, and more importantly, why? If you like this scratch, you are friends with it, you can keep the device :) It's hard work to open a branded box, put the charger, laptop and close it. And take it to the store. And why compare a new device if it's the same model? Do you think Apple will install Intel processor, Qualcomm Snapdragon ? ))))
That's a small problem. There are bigger problems. The screen tilts too smoothly or not smoothly. The keys are not flush! The height of the keys differs by a few microns - it's a disaster!
 
DeepSix said:
How does this manage to pass QC?
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Factory QC doesn’t put each machine through a thorough examination with a flashlight, ultrasound, 3d laser scan against the CAD files etc.

They check it powers up, boots, looks normal and move on.

If you can’t see it in normal use I’d ignore it. There’s every chance your exchange machine will be worse.

I had a small mark on the right bezel of my M1 Pro since purchase. I can see it but it doesn’t interfere with the display so I left it.

I need the machine for work and I’m not going to deal with weeks of screwing around for an exchange. Got things to do with the thing.

As someone said above they aren’t jewellery. They’re tools to do a job.

I have to laugh at threads like this sometimes. I have a dell on my desk at work and the power button is totally not level. Been like that since unboxing. But it works… more important things to worry about.

I don’t think any pc laptop I’ve ever owned or used would pass macrumors QC.

😂
 
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FWIW, my brand new M4 13 inch iPad Pro, purchased directly from Apple, has a small scuff mark in a corner of the screen (not the bezel but the screen itself) that was visible before I even turned it on the first time. I contacted Apple about my options because the nearest Apple Store is 3 hours away.

In the end, one alternative they offered was a $100 credit on the IPP if I chose to keep it. Because it was inconsequential to the functioning of the IPP and because all of the other alternatives were more of a hassle (and most involved being without my new IPP for a week or so until a replacement could be shipped), I ended up taking the $100 credit.

After 6 months, I have no regrets about my decision. I rarely notice the scuff and only when I'm not actually using the IPP. That said, had they not offered me the $100, I definitely WOULD have returned it. At what my IPP cost, I had a right to expect it to be perfect out of the box and so do you. Given that you also have an issue with the ESC key, I would definitely return it.
 
Superhai said:
Why worry about that, I am pretty sure the guys working there have to deal with much worse customers. It is an expensive piece of computer, so it is fine to be worried about it. If they don't think it is big deal, so what, at least you have tried and can say so if it becomes worse. As long as you don't intend to go completely Karen, they won't care.

If it a shallow surface scratch it is probably fine, but if it goes deeper it could quickly become worse.
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Agree. A deep scratch can turn into a cracked screen. Glass goes through thermal expansion and contraction. I would take it back.
 
Exchange it and file a complaint. Cheaper laptops don't come with this sort of damage in the screen.

These microscratches have been around since M-series. Poor QC.
 
At the end of the day it’s just going to come down to whether you can live with it. It’s brand new and shouldn’t have issues, so there’s nothing wrong with taking it back. I’d say just use it for a while in normal conditions and see what you can see.

I just got a new 65” 4KTV. My first big screen TV. I looked over the screen with a fine tooth comb and I found a place with like 4-6 stuck pixels, and then a second one. They were staring right at me and I hated it.

Then I sat on my couch 8 feet away and I couldn’t see it anymore. Even knowing where it is, I cannot see it at that distance. In the end I decided to keep it because I couldn’t be bothered to go through the hassle of dealing with a return/exchange over something I couldn’t see without looking at it from 3” away.

I also have the extended Costco warranty, so if the pixels ever get worse I can just deal with a return at that point.
 
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