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So Apple offers absolutely no option to send in your iMac for repair?

B

burningrave101

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 4, 2008
384
0
I was checking into possibly getting a replacement for my iMac which I purchased from MacMall due to the screen showing the yellowing tint issue somewhat across the lower half of the screen and because of me being from a third party reseller Apple isn't wanting to send me a new unit like I would be able to get if I had ordered from Apple directly. The Apple rep I've been speaking to has been working hard to see what he can do for me though and the engineers are saying my best bet of getting the issue resolved with the screen is to have them replace it with one they can check to make sure doesn't exhibit the yellowing issue.

And I was alright with that option of just getting it repaired until I found out from the rep that the only way to get any repairs on iMac is to take it to an Apple store and the problem with that being the closest Apple Store to me is over 2 hours away in a city that I almost never go in the direction of. After my experience with a MacBook Pro and getting an issue on it repaired I thought if I were ever to have any issues with my iMac I could just have them send me a prepaid label and box and send it in without any issue but obviously not. I think that's ridiculous you have to go to an Apple Store just to get service on a product under warranty, especially after only having it three weeks. If I had known this I probably would of second guessed my purchase a little bit since it makes it out to be a pain any time I would have any issue with my iMac.

Anyone else run into this situation of buying an Apple iMac and living a long ways from any Apple Store?
 
old-wiz said:
Right! You may save money on the purchase, but getting a problem fixed is another matter.
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Those discounts they offer are mail-in rebates which can take up to months to arrive. I would NEVER buy from MacMall. Saving a hundred isn't worth the bad customer service and other problems they have
 
banya95 said:
WOW, sucks to be them. 4 hours a day wasted.
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Well, nobody's gonna commute that far to work unless they are making $$$$. Back to the topic at hand, the OP shouldn't complain, some people don't have Apple stores in their state or country. If I could get something fixed or taken care of by just walking into the store I would drive 2 hours without thinking about it, because my stuff is important to me.
 
I said the distance was over 2 hours but to be exact after pulling up Google Maps the distance would be roughly ~131 miles with an estimated time of 3 hours 6 minutes driving. It's also in the complete opposite direction of the cities I normally go to so this would be a trip for no other reason than to get my screen replaced on my iMac. And then if I get home with it and I'm not satisfied with the replacement or something else goes wrong with it then it's another long trip again. It would cost me twice as much in gas money than it would just for me to pay to ship it myself to an Apple service center.
 
You just need to talk to a different Applecare rep. I have an Apple Store 10 minutes from me, but I don't have time to hassle with waiting on a Genius appointment.
I call Apple, explain my problem, and they send me a box via next day air.
I pack my problem equipment and call the courier for pickup.
It goes back to Apple by next day air.
Apple then takes a day or two to make repairs and ships it back, again, by next day air.
Apple pays all shipping, I get my stuff fixed, and I don't have to lug anything to the Apple Store.
 
I'm 131 miles from the nearest applestore - a technician came to the house with all the necessary parts and fixed my iMac in person. Talk to a different rep.
 
djc6 said:
I'm 131 miles from the nearest applestore - a technician came to the house with all the necessary parts and fixed my iMac in person. Talk to a different rep.
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Dude, you're in 29stumps. You're officially in the middle of nowhere, you and a bunch of joshua trees. Lonely drive.. Cant' believe it's only 131 for you!

(If you're in the service, thanks for your service.)
 
old-wiz said:
Glad I don't shop at MacMall; getting service is always a hassle with 3rd party dealers.
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If you buy from an approved reseller (and nobody else should be selling Macs brand new!), then you should take it back to them. Part of the reseller contract with Apple is that they must have the ability to do repairs themselves as an approved repair center OR send the machine to an approved repair center. You don't have to go through Apple or an Apple Store, you can also take a faulty Mac to any approved repair center if you don't want to go back to where you bought it.
 
burningrave101 said:
this would be a trip for no other reason than to get my screen replaced on my iMac. And then if I get home with it and I'm not satisfied with the replacement or something else goes wrong with it then it's another long trip again. It would cost me twice as much in gas money than it would just for me to pay to ship it myself to an Apple service center.
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131 miles ? i guess its a good reason if you are getting the screen fixed , if you really want it to be fixed , and , i'm sure that they test any repaired mac in store before you get it back , especially with new iMac's
i would even drive further to get my little Mac's fixed if they had a problem
and would not even think about the petrol money
 
This is why I only buy Apple products from Apple directly, either at the Apple Store or online. A few more dollars up front but service is better.

Say what you want about the service should be the same, but in my experience there is more they can do if you purchase directly from them.
 
well I was planning on purchasing a i5 from mac connection, but now I'm beginning to wonder if the $250 saved is worth the (potential) additional hassle. There are a few apple stores where I live.
 
BATTLE BORN said:
well I was planning on purchasing a i5 from mac connection, but now I'm beginning to wonder if the $250 saved is worth the (potential) additional hassle. There are a few apple stores where I live.
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It's a viable question. On a machine you know is likely to come fine, saving might be worth it. However, we've all seen the many problems of the new iMacs.

You might also consider Amazon, if you want to save a bit. They would take it back or ship you out exchanges for $0 if they get the other one back in 30 days. Of course, they'll have to get them in stock to do this. ha-ha.
 
fa8362 said:
I'd take my own advice if I were you. 2 hours is nothing.
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Do you commute for 4 hours a day? Do you know anyone that does? Day in, day out, day in, day out, day in, day... you see where I'm going with this?

It drives you slowly insane. 4 hours is A LOT everyday. For a trip to the Applestore, not quite so painful, but if I was having to commute for 4 hours a day I'd simply move. I commute 2 hours a day (1 hour both ways) and believe me, I could do a whole lot with that extra time.

Anyway, to the OP I'd look at AppleCare (as reply #2 mentions) or learn to live with the yellow tint (mind you I have no idea how bad/terrible it is). Chances are you'll have more repairs later on that will make the AppleCare worth it.
 
fa8362 said:
I'd take my own advice if I were you. 2 hours is nothing.
Click to expand...

GimmeSlack12 said:
Do you commute for 4 hours a day? Do you know anyone that does? Day in, day out, day in, day out, day in, day... you see where I'm going with this?

It drives you slowly insane. 4 hours is A LOT everyday. For a trip to the Applestore, not quite so painful, but if I was having to commute for 4 hours a day I'd simply move. I commute 2 hours a day (1 hour both ways) and believe me, I could do a whole lot with that extra time.

Anyway, to the OP I'd look at AppleCare (as reply #2 mentions) or learn to live with the yellow tint (mind you I have no idea how bad/terrible it is). Chances are you'll have more repairs later on that will make the AppleCare worth it.
Click to expand...

I can tell you just by reading fa8362's post, that he hasn't worked a day in his life.

You see, we all have to work for a living and can't have mommy and daddy fix our iphone for us.
 
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