The Fusion Drive on my iMac 2019 died

[mj_]

Do you have any actual evidence to support this claim?

Other than the fact that every single generation MacBook Pro since 2011 except for the 2012 non-Retina model had some sort of serious if not fatal flaw you mean? Either way, that's not my point. My point is this: Apple's entire notebook line-up is built in a way that it has become very expensive if not impossible to fix, which is why an extended warranty can pay for itself should something break after the first year of warranty. Say, for example, your Touch Bar breaks after two years. This is not an issue that has affected a sizeable number of people, but it can still happen. Unfortunately, the Touch Bar is part of the top case assembly, which means you are looking at repair costs of more than $700. That's all I'm trying to say.

[doublepost=1555684183][/doublepost]

I can understand the personal choice of wanting peace of mind. However, an extended warranty, including AppleCare, is not worth it in a strict business sense. I heard from an actuary who said that for the price that Apple charges for AppleCare, you could cover all the electronics in your house, including accidental damage, and whoever sold you the extended warranty would still be giddy about making all that money off of you. I'm sure it offers a peace of mind, and if this is something that's important to you, then by all means. I think the better course of action is to charge it on a credit card that offers extended warranty as a benefit to its members.

Yes, that makes perfect sense if you live in the US or Canada. Because over here banks tend to include extended warranties as well as other insurance options (travel insurance, baggage insurance, rental car insurance, etc.) as benefits and enticements for their customers. However, I can assure you for that this is not the case in other countries. For example, it is fairly uncommon in Europe and only available on the more expensive credit card options (think AMEX Gold or Platinum) so YMMV.

 

[Abbas]

An opportunity has come up to return this iMac and for an extra $1,000 upgrade to the iMac Pro base model. The iMac Pro is a little over a year old so it doesn't have warranty but for $1000, I'm getting a CPU upgrade from i5 to Xeon, Radeon 580X to Vega, and 2TB Fusion to 1TB SSD. I had already bought RAM for iMac so that doesn't count.

Should I go for the iMac Pro?

 

[vir2l2k]

So, 18 days after purchasing the new top-model 27-inch iMac that the Apple Store stocks, the Fusion Drive on my Mac just died. I walked into the office today and the iMac was displaying a folder with a question mark on it.

Took it back to the Apple Store and they replaced it with a new iMac with identical specs but I'm wondering if was just unlucky or if I should return this replacement and do a BTO with 512GB SSD. I was perfectly happy with the performance of the iMac.

it‘s not a top model with fusion drive lol

 

[ZipZap]

I have had only one fusion issue. It decoupled during the install of an Apple update. Took the unit into the store (a PIA) and they recouped it.

 

[Glockworkorange]

So, 18 days after purchasing the new top-model 27-inch iMac that the Apple Store stocks, the Fusion Drive on my Mac just died. I walked into the office today and the iMac was displaying a folder with a question mark on it.

Took it back to the Apple Store and they replaced it with a new iMac with identical specs but I'm wondering if was just unlucky or if I should return this replacement and do a BTO with 512GB SSD. I was perfectly happy with the performance of the iMac.

If you can switch it up for the SSD, go with that and hang drives off if needed.
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it‘s not a top model with fusion drive lol

It is if he bought it in the Apple Store.
[doublepost=1555775654][/doublepost]

An opportunity has come up to return this iMac and for an extra $1,000 upgrade to the iMac Pro base model. The iMac Pro is a little over a year old so it doesn't have warranty but for $1000, I'm getting a CPU upgrade from i5 to Xeon, Radeon 580X to Vega, and 2TB Fusion to 1TB SSD. I had already bought RAM for iMac so that doesn't count.

Should I go for the iMac Pro?

YES

 

[AlexMaximus]

An opportunity has come up to return this iMac and for an extra $1,000 upgrade to the iMac Pro base model. The iMac Pro is a little over a year old so it doesn't have warranty but for $1000, I'm getting a CPU upgrade from i5 to Xeon, Radeon 580X to Vega, and 2TB Fusion to 1TB SSD. I had already bought RAM for iMac so that doesn't count.

Should I go for the iMac Pro?

If you can trust the source where the iMac Pro comes from, I would absolutely go full iMac Pro.

 

[Abbas]

Thanks.

Picked up the iMac Pro today and even though the seller bought it 13 months ago, it is an almost new condition- the stickers on the Apple Logo and base are still on. He said he only used it for a couple of weeks and it looks like that was the case. Taking my iMac back to the Apple Store tomorrow to return it.

 

[AZhappyjack]

So, 18 days after purchasing the new top-model 27-inch iMac that the Apple Store stocks, the Fusion Drive on my Mac just died. I walked into the office today and the iMac was displaying a folder with a question mark on it.

Took it back to the Apple Store and they replaced it with a new iMac with identical specs but I'm wondering if was just unlucky or if I should return this replacement and do a BTO with 512GB SSD. I was perfectly happy with the performance of the iMac.

Do you really believe that any "top-model" computer uses a spinning drive? That simply does not make sense.

 

[Abbas]

Do you really believe that any "top-model" computer uses a spinning drive? That simply does not make sense.

Doesn't matter what I believe in or not. Just stating facts here that it is Apple's top-of-the-line model you can buy at a store.

 

[Bob of Northallerton]

So, 18 days after purchasing the new top-model 27-inch iMac that the Apple Store stocks, the Fusion Drive on my Mac just died. I walked into the office today and the iMac was displaying a folder with a question mark on it.

Took it back to the Apple Store and they replaced it with a new iMac with identical specs but I'm wondering if was just unlucky or if I should return this replacement and do a BTO with 512GB SSD. I was perfectly happy with the performance of the iMac.

[doublepost=1555877331][/doublepost]Similar to my 2019, 27 inch iMac. Purchased on a Tuesday, The Fusion Drive Failed on the Friday. A Folder with a question mark. I received a full refund (of course) but I have now lost confidence in a Fusion Drive and do not feel much like forking out the extra for an SSD Drive. Has the Apple quality failed or are we two just unlucky?

 

[petsk]

In EU you get a 2-year guarantee for all goods so there is no point at all in getting Apple Care here.

Apple Care buyers are fooling themselves.

 

[Bob of Northallerton]

So, 18 days after purchasing the new top-model 27-inch iMac that the Apple Store stocks, the Fusion Drive on my Mac just died. I walked into the office today and the iMac was displaying a folder with a question mark on it.

Took it back to the Apple Store and they replaced it with a new iMac with identical specs but I'm wondering if was just unlucky or if I should return this replacement and do a BTO with 512GB SSD. I was perfectly happy with the performance of the iMac.

[doublepost=1555877680][/doublepost]Similar to my 2019, 27 inch iMac. Purchased on a Tuesday, The Fusion Drive Failed on the Friday. A Folder with a question mark. I received a full refund (of course) but I have now lost confidence in a Fusion Drive and do not feel much like forking out the extra for an SSD Drive. Has the Apple quality failed or are we two just unlucky?

 

[Abbas]

[doublepost=1555877680][/doublepost]Similar to my 2019, 27 inch iMac. Purchased on a Tuesday, The Fusion Drive Failed on the Friday. A Folder with a question mark. I received a full refund (of course) but I have now lost confidence in a Fusion Drive and do not feel much like forking out the extra for an SSD Drive. Has the Apple quality failed or are we two just unlucky?

I'd say they've gotten a bunch of bad hard drives from whichever supplier they're using. IO've returned mine and gotten a used iMac Pro - hoping it lasts me a few years.

 

[mj_]

In EU you get a 2-year guarantee for all goods so there is no point at all in getting Apple Care here.

Apple Care buyers are fooling themselves.

That is simply not true. You get two years of seller warranty with a reversal of evidence after six months. In other words: during the first six months the law assumes a preexistence of a defect whereas after six months it is your burden to prove a preexisting condition in order to make any claims. Which is impossible with most things, so that alleged "two year warranty" that Europeans love to brag about sounds great on paper but is more often than not worthless in the real world. Also, you get a seller warranty, not a manufacturer warranty, which is also a huge difference.

That said it is true that many manufacturers now give a complimentary two year manufacturer warranty on their products. It is, however, not something the law mandates, which is why others such as Apple, Lenovo, or Dell simply don't care and prefer to upsell you their own insurance and/or warranty extensions products.

 

[petsk]

That is simply not true.

Yes, it is true. I recently had a Apple Watch replaced just days before the 2 year period. Apple swapped the orginal watch for a series 3 for free when bluetooth failed on the old one.

There’s a reason why Apple products cost more in EU and the 2 year EU guarantee may have something to do with it.

Also the Consumer Centres are pretty strong across EU and they help consumers if you run into problems with a seller who doesn’t want to fix your failing products within the 2 year period.

 

[mj_]

Yes, it is true.

No, it's not true. At least not in the way you're selling it

First of all: yes, there is a two-year guarantee against faulty goods for all goods sold in the European Union, see among others here. However, as I have stated before there are two catches: First, the claims are made against the seller and not the manufacturer, and second the law also states that the burden of proof reverses after six months:

However, the likelihood of getting such a refund is dramatically reduced after just six months. The reason is that for six months after the purchase, it is up to the retailer to show that a fault on an item is down to the actions or misuse of the buyer, rather than an inherent fault in the product.

After six months, the burden of proof switches to the buyer and it is they who must then show a fault is due to some inherent problem, something that can be almost impossible in all but the most straightforward cases.

Source: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1677034/Two-year-warranty-EU-law.html

The fact that Apple acts differently in some countries does not mean that you have a legal right to receive a brand-new Apple Watch after 23 months of use. Some EU countries have local laws that dictate different behavior but as a general rule of thumb you're screwed after six months. In other words: the fact that Apple gave you a brand-new Apple Watch just a few days before the 2-years period does not mean you have a legal right to it. It simply means that Apple was very accommodating and fair in your case but there is no law that dictates they have to be. They could just as well have asked you to prove that the failed Bluetooth module was a preexisting condition and already defective at the time of purchase.

Oh, and one more thing: the reason why Apple products are more expensive in Europe is not only due to these consumer rights but also a) a much higher sales tax (between 16 and 23%), and b) additional fees that some/most countries impose on computers. But we digress. According to the profile OP lives in Dubai so discussin European consumer laws and comparing them to the US is kinda pointless

 

[SaSaSushi]

I can understand the personal choice of wanting peace of mind. However, an extended warranty, including AppleCare, is not worth it in a strict business sense. I heard from an actuary who said that for the price that Apple charges for AppleCare, you could cover all the electronics in your house, including accidental damage, and whoever sold you the extended warranty would still be giddy about making all that money off of you. I'm sure it offers a peace of mind, and if this is something that's important to you, then by all means. I think the better course of action is to charge it on a credit card that offers extended warranty as a benefit to its members.

The only Mac I ever had without AppleCare was my first one back in 2006 and it had a logic board failure shortly after the one year warranty ended which I ended up going out of pocket to replace for $550. I've purchased AppleCare and used it multiple times for all three iMacs I've owned since. I had LCD panel replacements (over $800 out of warranty) in all three. My Late 2009 had terrible gradient issues, My Late 2013 iMac had smudges (dust?). My current 2017 iMac's panel was replaced last year when a dead insect ended up between the glass and the display. I had the HDD component of the Fusion drive in my Late 2013 iMac replaced when it failed. I get the standard AppleCare, not AppleCare+. I don't need the damage coverage. I paid $88 for an unopened package from a third party seller on Amazon.

Apple's service is also excellent, at least here in Japan. Couriers come to the house to pick up the machine with specially-designed shipping containers and overnight it to the service center in Tokyo and back.

I will never get a Mac without AppleCare again.

 

[294307]

No, it's not true. At least not in the way you're selling it

First of all: yes, there is a two-year guarantee against faulty goods for all goods sold in the European Union, see among others here. However, as I have stated before there are two catches: First, the claims are made against the seller and not the manufacturer, and second the law also states that the burden of proof reverses after six months:


Source: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1677034/Two-year-warranty-EU-law.html

The fact that Apple acts differently in some countries does not mean that you have a legal right to receive a brand-new Apple Watch after 23 months of use. Some EU countries have local laws that dictate different behavior but as a general rule of thumb you're screwed after six months. In other words: the fact that Apple gave you a brand-new Apple Watch just a few days before the 2-years period does not mean you have a legal right to it. It simply means that Apple was very accommodating and fair in your case but there is no law that dictates they have to be. They could just as well have asked you to prove that the failed Bluetooth module was a preexisting condition and already defective at the time of purchase.

Oh, and one more thing: the reason why Apple products are more expensive in Europe is not only due to these consumer rights but also a) a much higher sales tax (between 16 and 23%), and b) additional fees that some/most countries impose on computers. But we digress. According to the profile OP lives in Dubai so discussin European consumer laws and comparing them to the US is kinda pointless

You are quoting a third party source that covers the law as it applies in the UK. How long the burden of proof rests on the retailer depends on local statue. For example, Slovenia requires retailers to prove the non-existence of a fault for the first year, not just the first six months.

What retailers are entitled to do after the burden of proof reverts to the consumer is to ask for evidence that the fault is likely to have been caused by a manufacturer fault or other issue for which the retailer is responsible. What you would need to do in this case is get an expert opinion from a technician. Let's say a retailer went full-on-arsehole and refused to accept the opinion of the independent expert. Well, a court would only need to be satisfied on a balance of probabilities in the case of a consumer law claim, because it falls under the realm of civil law.

In the case of consumer law claims with products bought from Apple directly, they would ask you to get your Mac checked by an Apple Authorised Service Provider who will certify whether or not the issue exists and if there is any accidental damage that might have caused it. They won't charge you for checking your machine unless you are actually paying for the repair, because Apple always requires these service providers to submit written and visual evidence of any claims before they can undertake a repair and get paid by Apple, whether or not it is done under the Apple Limited Warranty, AppleCare Protection Plan, AppleCare+ or under consumer rights law.

Apple actually makes it very easy to submit consumer law claims in EU countries. I was even asked by the AppleCare advisor if I wanted to make a consumer law claim after I had reported a second fault with my 2015 iMac display. And this is where the law starts to differ greatly from country-to-country.

In the UK, we can demand the retailer for a replacement if the same fault reappears shortly after the first repair. If they can't do that (e.g. if the model is no longer available), they have to either provide an equivalent model or a refund, at the consumer's discretion. And before you even contemplate it – this legal right has existed since October 2015 so it has nothing to do with Brexit! (...which I support, by the way)

The reality is, most retailers here don't want the hassle of dealing with angry customers with faulty products by turning around and just refusing to do anything, so it is not as terribly difficult as you suggest it is to get retailers to comply. You may need to quote your rights, but this is usually enough to compel them. It is actually not so common here for a retailer to tell you to find an expert opinion.