var json_comments = new Array("
\"user-pic\"
BoomerFive
December 16, 2008 2:06 PM
Moderate | Flag for review

Where are the images?

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Michael Belisle
December 16, 2008 8:32 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@BoomerFive: Here, in a thread at MacRumors. Also, according to the thread, he already emailed Steve Jobs and ended up getting a new laptop by asking to speak to Customer Relations.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
pmcpa2
December 16, 2008 2:10 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Apple:
Give the guy a refund for his Apple care and cut him loose. 4 iPods? I have customers that use them as coasters, and they don't die! Sounds like things break for upgrade reasons.

The Water Damaged Display can happen because you placed something cold (not wet) on the top of the closed display during transport. This creates condensation inside the unit creating water damage. I've seen this quite a few times.

The Ladybug issue, weird, doubt it came from the factory, don't think the OP could do it.

Reply
5 replies
\"user-pic\"
Illiterati
December 16, 2008 10:23 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@pmcpa2: I've got 3 dead iPods tossed in a drawer as I type this. They are now are worth no more than, say, coasters. They just up and died. Trust me, they die. Hence, I will no longer buy iPods. Only cheapo $20 flash players for me from here on out.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Eyebrows McGee (now with double the baby!)
December 16, 2008 4:04 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@pmcpa2: \"The Ladybug issue, weird, doubt it came from the factory, don't think the OP could do it.\"

Obviously he did it to solve his aphid problem.

Oh, wait ....

Reply
\"user-pic\"
dorastandpipe
December 16, 2008 9:05 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Eyebrows McGee:

I can speak from experience, LADYBUGS ARE HELL!!!

Every fall they infest my parents house. They are coming in for the winter to hibernate and are seeking a warm place to do it. It would make sense that if this guys house gets infested with ladybugs every year they would get into his computer. I am not sh*tting you. They can get into the tiniest crevices.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Cocotte
December 16, 2008 3:37 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@pmcpa2: My iPod needed to be repaired 4 times in a year and a half. Finally gave up and bought a Zune (which I like better, fwiw).

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Ajh
December 17, 2008 7:31 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Cocotte: Same exact thing happened to me. My zune has a crack in the screen that I don't have a clue how it occurred and it still plays perfectly. I've dropped it, sat on it, left it out in the car all weekend, dropped it more...and it's still working.

I treated my ipod like glass and it had to be repaired 3 times before I said screw it and got the Zune.

The iBook I had was much more reliable, but that was back in 2000. Since then, I've heard more and more strange issues with apple's products.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Craig
December 17, 2008 5:32 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Ajh: Obviously any product is going to have QC issues in some percentage of its production run and the customers who experience those issues are the ones you're going to hear from. (Given the number of iPods in circulation the number of complaints you hear is very, very small in comparison to other products.) I've owned a half dozen iPods since they were first available and never had a problem that wasn't related to my own stupidity. And in two cases Apple replaced a broken iPod with a refurb when they didn't have to.

Apple may not be perfect but they do enough things right that they earned my loyalty and respect years ago.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
homerjay wants Boston Legal back!
December 16, 2008 2:11 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Imagine how this would have read had he not had the luxury of OSX's on-the-fly spell checking.

Reply
7 replies
\"user-pic\"
girlleastlikelyto
December 16, 2008 10:10 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@homerjay wants Boston Legal back!: Poor fella. People who are insecure about their writing skills often hyper-formalize their language, which leads to unfortunate giveaways, like the misuse of \"prerogative\" and \"assailant.\"

I haven't been reading Consumerist long enough to know if they've already done it, but a concise writing guide for people with customer service problems would probably be helpful for a lot of people.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
homerjay wants Boston Legal back!
December 17, 2008 12:24 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@girlleastlikelyto:My guess is that people tend to write these things off the cuff without putting in the effort to ensure accuracy. Throwing in big words makes one sounds smart. Unfortunately, SOUNDING smart and being smart are very different- especially when the words are used incorrectly.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
EyeHeartPie
December 16, 2008 4:02 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@homerjay wants Boston Legal back!: Would spell checking catch something like typing \"there\" instead of \"their\"?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
snowburnt
December 16, 2008 3:15 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@homerjay wants Boston Legal back!: If only that would solve the OP's linguistics issues, that's just the tip of this iceberge...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
badhatharry
December 16, 2008 10:09 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@snowburnt: This guy writes like Tracy Jordan speaks.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
bagumpity
December 16, 2008 4:26 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@snowburnt: I don't see anything wrong there. That's how they spell it down the Ye Olde English Iceberge Shoppe.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Caprica Six
December 16, 2008 4:52 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@bagumpity: it's like saying r@Rick Reimundez: I love it!


They had twelve sacks so they ran sack races
And they fell on their backs and they fell on their faces
The ladybugs 12
At the ladybugs' picnic

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
reefer
December 16, 2008 2:14 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I know you said we'd eat him alive but seriously... you went from a g4 powerbook, somehow got it replaced to a newer macbook, and now have some odd issues and are attempting to get another mbp? Something seems fishy.

I have dealt with Apple atleast a few times a week for the past 6 years and have never even received a rude look from them.

good luck?

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
trujunglist
December 16, 2008 6:06 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@reefer:

I've been using Apples for 21 years and I agree that it is extremely odd that he would have so many issues. Possible? Yes. Probable? No. Getting a Macbook Pro for your Powerbook? WTF... which model did he get? The PBs have been gone for a long time now...

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Ouze
December 16, 2008 2:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

this story need pics. It needs them so bad.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
starrion
December 16, 2008 2:19 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Water damage then bug infestation.


Wow. Talk about any excuse in the book.


\"I'm sorry sir, we can't fix your macbook due to Famine. Have a nice day and thanks for calling Apple.\"

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
OldElvis
December 16, 2008 9:01 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@starrion: Of course, Famine is considered and \"Act of God\" isn't it?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
failurate
December 16, 2008 2:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Probably not clever enough for Consumerist standards, but I think the opposite of a Fanboy is a Hater.

Reply
5 replies
\"user-pic\"
rorschachex
December 16, 2008 4:15 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@failurate: I believe the appropriate antonym to Fanboy would be 'intelligent consumer.' I have nothing against Apple, but seriously, when you become a fanboy, you let yourself become subjected to sub-par quality products and less-than-desirable service by forgoing logic and reason...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
katylostherart
December 16, 2008 8:55 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@rorschachex: oh yeah cuz reason is always behind american consumption.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
ndonahue
December 16, 2008 2:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

More info please... Beyond the images, let's have some dates of purchase and replacement. One machine and one ipod purchased over a 10 year relationship sounds like this guy got a good deal.

OP -- It might be time to recognize that you're not exactly a profitable customer to Apple. If you get anything back from Apple for free, expect it to be an X200 and a Zune.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Erik Bagby
December 16, 2008 2:21 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Finding insects inside electronics is not as uncommon as one might think. I worked in a TV/VCR repair shop in the 1990's, and you would think we were on an episode of the TV show \"Verminators\" with what some customers brought in.

Roaches were most common, as they like warm, dry places with tight spaces. VCR's were a roach heaven. They get in there, do their business and leave their waste all over the boards, causing short circuits and corrosion. Sometimes they wander into switching power supplies and zap themselves when they cross the high voltage and usually blow the supply in the process. But not just roaches, spiders, crickets, and yes ladybugs were found.

Often times the customer would come back and we would have to play psychologist in dealing with them. You don't want to be as crass as Apple and accuse someone of living in a bug haven, so you'd have to explain that you performed an intense \"cleaning\" (which was true). sometimes though the damage was too extensive to make repair cost effective.

It is very possible that the bugs could have entered the machine through the cooling vents or openings and mated there and started a colony. Believe it or not some manufacturers' warranties actually stipulate that damage from \"insect infestation\" is not covered. It could also be considered an act of God or environmental abuse.

It is very possible that this did in fact happen.

Reply
4 replies
\"user-pic\"
Jim Topoleski
December 16, 2008 2:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Erik Bagby: Yeah I was going to say I highly doubt they made it in durring manufacturing and likely snuck in through a vent at the guys house. People just dont realize how easily even BIG bugs can sneak in through things.

And yes Apple considered bug infestation as a non-warrantee repair akin to water damage.

That being said, I have NO problems with Apple Care. They just went in for over 3/4ths the cost of a non-warrantee Macbook Pro repair last week, cutting our cost from 400 to 100 dollars because I explained nicely to them the situation surrounding the repair.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
LMAO-SteveDave loves this guy->★
December 16, 2008 2:32 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Erik Bagby: All the houses on my street have lady bugs living in the walls. They usually pop out inside the houses when it warms up, but it's only a few dozen a year at the most, and you usually never see them until they die in a light fixture, but when my one neighbor first moved in, he removed some dry wall and found thousands. They don't harm anybody, and I kind of like them. But yeah, they do love to snuggle up to electronics when they are flying around.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
alysbrangwin
December 16, 2008 2:26 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Erik Bagby: I think I'm going to be sick now. Gross!

The worst insurance claim I saw when I worked in a computer store was also thoroughly disgusting but did not involve bugs. A guy's roommate was drunk, and the owner of the computer wasn't there. His roommate came in, vomited on the computer, and somehow defecated on the case of the laptop. The computer was ruled a total loss. It was nasty.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
snowburnt
December 16, 2008 2:31 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@alysbrangwin: That happened to a couple of my friends in college. One guy would get wasted and decide to pee in clever places and one of his favorites was on my friend's printer. It was great when the guy had a 50 page paper he'd planned to print out the next day.

Another one of my friends was always suspicious of his roommate's drinking habits, so he'd cover his computer nightly with a tarp.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
snowburnt
December 16, 2008 2:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

That's funny, based on the commercials I would have figured that a lady bug infestation in a mac would have been a style \"feature\". That's an idea...make different mac books and iMacs with various cute insect infestations. one has butterflies, one has ladybugs...it's the butterfliBook!

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
solareclipse2
December 16, 2008 2:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

It's the same with computers. When I was doing PC repair all the time the first thing I'd have to do is open up the case and take a dust buster or something to the inside because you'd never know what has found its way into the case.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Ajh
December 17, 2008 7:36 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@solareclipse2:

True story:
\"Okay Okay Ryan I'll put your new video card in.\" And I opened the tower and looked inside.

\"After you get that nasty dead-how the hell did you get a full grown grasshopper in there...yuck!!\"

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
NotChoinski
December 16, 2008 2:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

My DOS has fleas: 15 years ago several computers were next to the office air conditioner, which had a family of pigeons nesting on the other side. Almost on cue, all three computers released a swarm of tiny red (fleas?) in the middle of the day. It was like a cheesy horror flick.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
bengarland
December 16, 2008 2:39 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I was going to say, \"I don't think prerogative means what you think it means\" and then I realized that this idiot can't even formulate complete sentences nor use possessive adjectives properly. And I thought Sarah Palin was bad...

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
badhatharry
December 16, 2008 10:18 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@bengarland: Read the MacRumours thread:

[forums.macrumors.com]

He says that he's a journalist.

And not to blame the consumer, if his story is true then it's deplorable customer service, but on a personal level he sounds like a douche.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Rick Reimundez
December 16, 2008 2:42 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9,
10, 11, 12.... ladybugs... in a ladybug laptop.

Reply
4 replies
\"user-pic\"
Dethzilla
December 16, 2008 8:21 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Rick Reimundez:


Now let's try it in roman Numerals...


IIIIIIVIVVIVIIVIIIIXXXIXII...ladybugs in a ladybug laptopppppppppp.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Preyfar
December 16, 2008 8:37 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Dethzilla: You put those ladybugs inside your spacebar yourself, on purpose.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
EyeHeartPie
December 16, 2008 4:07 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Rick Reimundez: Ah ah ah ah!!!

*lightning crashes*

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
jwm1314
December 16, 2008 2:44 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I've owned one PowerBook (nearly 4 years now, no problems) and 4 iPods (over the past 6 years) and haven't had any problems beyond batteries dying out.


I do feel for this guy and the unlucky shaft he's gotten. Keep up the good fight, and if all else fails, email sjobs@apple.com (no joke).

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
mac-phisto
December 16, 2008 4:50 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@jwm1314: see, i would consider batteries dying every year & a half a pretty big problem. they really shouldn't be burning out that fast - even with constant use. liions are designed to have ~1000 charging cycle lifespans. you'd have to be running the battery dead & charging it every 14 hours to kill it that quick.

but i doubt you were, in which case it's a flaw in design.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
OmniZero
December 16, 2008 2:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Someone help me understand how Apple always can use \"water damage\" as an excuse for not repairing something? I'm worried that my computer will be seen as having water damage because of the humidity in the air or condensation of some kind. I have an iMac and if they try to pull that on me, I will DARE them to cause water damage through spilling something on it. You'd have to deliberately do it to an iMac.

Reply
5 replies
\"user-pic\"
digitalgimpus
December 16, 2008 7:35 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@OmniZero: There are water sensors in most electronics (those little dots behind the battery of cell phones). They exist in many places in laptops as well. All the tech has to do is look for the red one to find water damage.

They don't respond easily to humidity, even long term. In worked in an indoor pool for a while (insanely humid due to broken dehumidifier). Never had an issue.

Problem is most people treat electronics like crap and spill their beverage on it (extremely common). Let it dry, clean it... and claim it stopped working when trying to get it repaired/replaced.

Little do they know those little stickers tell a different story than \"it just didn't turn on one morning\".

That said, you can see water damage. The mineral content in water leaves watermarks. Corrosion is also plentiful. The stickers are just a good benchmark.

Reality is most of the time... it really is water damage. People really shouldn't drink next to electronics. But reality is people do it all the time. If not every time.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Jim Topoleski
December 16, 2008 3:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@OmniZero: There is certainly a difference between humidity, and water damage. Its actually quite visible as you can actually SEE the corrosion damage water damage can cause, especially if the machine is on.

that being said you do realize all computers in their warranties put a humidity range where the computer should be operated in, and will void the warranty if you do not follow this. That is why they make specially designed computers for high humidity and extreme environments .

Reply
\"user-pic\"
snowburnt
December 16, 2008 3:11 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@OmniZero: it's like with cell phones. Cell phone batteries have this strip that is supposed to change color if they've been water damaged. Even though I do my damnedest to keep them away from water, a month after I've owned them the water indicator goes off.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
OmniZero
December 16, 2008 3:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@snowburnt: Yeah sweat from your hand probably causes that. It seems like warranties are now being voided if you use the product normally. What's the point anymore?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
aerick79
December 16, 2008 3:02 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@OmniZero: Yeah i saw that show. OMG! How can people live like that? That is the question of the day.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Pylon83
December 16, 2008 2:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I agree with those above that this guy seems like he's just looking for constant upgrades. He's figured out how to get a MacBook Pro, a $2k computer, for free years after his first purchase. Now that he's been shut down, he's angry. I used to work at CompUSA, and we had employees that did stuff like this under the replacement plan warranties. One would buy a laptop, and just before the warranty was up, he's remove the case, touch jumper cables attached to a car battery to the motherboard to fry it, but it back together, take it to the tech shop where they'd determine it was fried. Brand new, current model laptop handed to him.
Further, as said above, it's far from impossible that that OP caused, at least indirectly, the bug infestation. The bugs didn't necessary crawl into the laptop full-grown. If he lives in filth, it's not entirely out of the question that he has bugs.
Finally, reading this did make my head hurt.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Parting
December 16, 2008 4:29 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Pylon83: It's also possible that infestation happened during transport... Things I've seen running from people's luggage in the airport *shudder*.

It's no different for any article in transit.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
kreatre2009
December 16, 2008 2:51 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I feel sorry for this guy but, bugs in your computer are not covered under warranty. The warranty specifically excludes insect infestation. It doesn't really matter how they got there.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
funnymonkey
December 16, 2008 3:02 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I would love some more details, specifically dates. Then, I would love to know how the OP got a laptop replaced with a newer and much more expensive version. However, I would prefer it if someone interviewed him or something and then wrote the story. It is my perogotive that I can't read more of what he writes about.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Parting
December 16, 2008 4:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@mynameisrita: I also want photos, lots of photos of this infestation!

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
jc364
December 16, 2008 3:06 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Ladybugs are a pain, and they can find their way into almost anywhere. They actually swarmed the last apartment I lived in, and I have heard stories of them clogging air vents and whatnot. I really don't doubt their ability to find their way into a computer.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
rworne
December 16, 2008 3:10 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Why not get a copy of the pictures and bring them to the local college. The local entymologist should be able to identify the type of ladybug and where it might come from. If it is a species native to - say Taiwan - then the consumer has a better case.

There are many species of this type of insect.

Additionally, it is possible the ladybugs (as adults) did not get in there - the larvae are quite small and soft-bodied and will likely look for a secure place to pupate.

Reply
6 replies
\"user-pic\"
oneandone
December 16, 2008 10:21 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@rworne: I used to work for a professor of entomology specializing in rainforest butterflies - but he got a lot of interesting packages from people who wanted something identified. I have no idea what was in them, but there was always a big pile of small boxes waiting for him whenever he got back from Costa Rica.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
CountryJustice
December 16, 2008 5:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@rworne: \"the local entymologist\" made me laugh.

\"Where you off to with that Mason jar, Billy?\"
\"Down to see ol' Bugman Carruthers. I got a critter what needs identifyin'!\"

Reply
\"user-pic\"
TVarmy
December 17, 2008 5:29 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@CountryJustice: My mom goes there from time to time to get a Master Gardener or entomologist for advice, so people do that. But I love the way you put it. Sounds like a Fallout 3 quest.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
crashfrog
December 16, 2008 6:26 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@CountryJustice: Lol, yeah, that's funny, but it's funny because its true - your state's public university system keeps an extension entomologist (not etymologist, those are the word guys) in basically every town to identify insects for farmers.

But \"Bugman Carruthers\" is a pretty good name for a band, though.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
rworne
December 17, 2008 11:59 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@crashfrog:
That's what happens when I type words without looking them up first and relying on my old crusty memory.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
snowburnt
December 16, 2008 3:12 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@rworne: Were you actually able to read this guy's post? If he talks anything like he types I don't think any professor will be able to stand talking to him for more that 2 minutes.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
xipander
December 16, 2008 3:13 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Back when I worked at HP. If we found any bugs inside a laptop it was declared a bio-hazard and we weren't allowed to repair it. They would sometimes give you a discount rate on purchasing a new laptopt if it was still well within warrenty. Or if you had the accidental damage warrenty we just threw it away and gave you a new one.


On a side note, I never saw one with ladybugs though. I've seen roaches a few times, and they're just nasty. I had one that when I opend the lcd around 30 or so baby spiders just scattered everyware. I also used to get ones from soldiers home on r&r from iraq/afganistan with computer problems and you'd open it up and could pour enough sand out of it to fill a glass. But those we usually just gave a good cleaning to and tried to use what parts we could salvage and replace the bad ones as a courtesy. which btw, if you need something repaird quick at HP, tell them you're being deployed in about 3days after the day they should have recieved it.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
aheggs
December 16, 2008 3:23 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I feel lucky that I've pretty much never had problems with an Apple product (knock on wood). It sucks that this happened to you, but it is a bit curious how often you are asking for replacements, though I know this situation is different.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
ElizabethD
December 16, 2008 3:26 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Is this the White Stripes edition of Consumerist? (today's color scheme)

But anyway. Those lady bugs get in ANYWHERE. I don't know how, seeing as their bodies are comparatively large. We've had swarms of them in the fall. I normally like lady bugs in my garden but not in the house thanks.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
WillG
December 16, 2008 3:31 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

So,

First it's water damage then it magically becomes a pest control problem?

Soulds well past fishy on apples part to me, I want to see the pix...

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Jim Topoleski
December 16, 2008 5:01 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@WillG: Having done a number of AppleCare issues with them where it was found to be non-warranty issues, Apple if VERY good at providing pictures and explanations. They even provided me with 30 high res pics for insurance purposes when I asked them outlining EXACTLY where the damage was.

More than once they have basically showed me why staffmembers who where claiming opposite where lying go so far as to bring actual Cupertino engineers who designed things on the phone for me so I could reasonable come back and have evidence the person lied to us at which point they begrudgingly admit they lied.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
drdom
December 16, 2008 3:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Something just doesn't seem right with this story. As a complete aside, the Ladybugs are probably Japanese Beetles, which were prolific this last summer, and look like Ladybugs. That hardly matters though. Something is missing from this picture.

Although I am a big Apple supporter, I wouldn't hesitate to call them to task if they had it coming. But the way they run the PB service depot, it's highly unlikely the techs invented the bugs or the water damage, or any other issue. It's a pretty tightly controlled operation.

Based solely on the facts presently on the table, I would have to side with Apple. More or additional information could change my mind.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Parting
December 16, 2008 4:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@drdom: Side with Apple, you're a real fanboy, aren't you? I can believe in water damage or bug infestation. But 2 in the same time? And bug infestation wasn't mentioned in first quote for repair? Either they mixed units together, or I want whatever these techs smoke!

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
IchabodCrane
December 16, 2008 3:41 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

-
I'm willing to bet we're talking about Asian ladybugs here. Wait, it's not what you're thinking! A few years ago during the organic gardening fad, ladybugs were hyped as natural pesticide. So in order to meet demand, ladybugs from Asia were imported. Asian ladybugs are more orange in color then the American version and Asian ladybugs taste extremely bitter to the American predators. This has led to a population explosion of Asian Ladybugs. Every fall here in Virginia this is a big nusance as the Asian ladybugs seak warm shelter when it starts to get cold. These little buggers can squeeze into the smallest crack/gap and before you know it you've got a window blind covered with ladybugs. Asian ladybugs who bite and leave a permanent orange stain when squished. The only thing you can do is vacuum them up and re-caulk. This is not a result of poor house keeping as cockroaches in the laptop would be, but a result of introducing alien species.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
failurate
December 16, 2008 9:11 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@IchabodCrane: Several years ago we had this problem in Southern Illinois. Walls inside and out were just covered in the critters. The population seems to have come down quite a bit, but they are still a nuisance.

That said, the OP appears to be looking for something for nothing and his Macs for free.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
dcarrington01
December 16, 2008 3:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Maybe they are responsible for the Copy and Paste feature. He could sell them as an add on to iPhone owners and buy a new machine!

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
zentex
December 16, 2008 3:59 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

ladybugs are supposed to be good luck? or is so much good luck actually bad luck?

Reply
","","","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
Vhalkyrie
December 16, 2008 4:18 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Bummer. However, my experience with Apple has been nothing but positive. My TiBook is a near indestructable tank. It once fell out of my car and bounced on the concrete floor. You can imagine my horror - it was like watching it fall in slow motion - Nooooo! The frame was dented and the CDROM drive needed to be replaced (I replaced it with a DVD upgrade). That was it. When the logic board failed, it was replaced by Apple care. They even replaced my dented frame without me asking them to - I was shocked. They didn't flinch or hassle me about the 'surprise DVD' upgrade either.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
December 16, 2008 4:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Ummm just a quick note regarding the bright spot in the middle of the screen. My wife's Macbook had the same issue... until I walked behind the unit. Turns out the little mac logo on the back of the screen was letting enough light through to make a difference on the screen if the back of the screen was facing a window or other bright light source.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
failurate
December 16, 2008 9:40 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@HermanCarmark: That fits his description perfectly, as the screen gets darker, the spot in the middle gets brighter... Very funny!

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
SynMonger
December 16, 2008 4:26 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

When I used to do phone tech support several years ago, there was a list of charges that were not included in normal depot warranty repair. One of them was... wait for it...

Bug Infestation - $50

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
Suulia
December 16, 2008 4:32 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

\"Massive and irreparable water damage\" is all that really needs to be said here. Notice that the OP didn't mention or refute that little gem there?

Anyway, here's an aside. Before working at Comcast, I worked at Applecare, and I took notebook repair calls.

I talked to one guy who told me his loaned his notebook to his roommate and that when he got it back it wouldn't boot up. I set up the RMA and the customer called back a week later to check on it. Well, I checked the pictures and told him that it didn't work because the case was filled water and when opened, smelled heavily of chlorine. His roommate must have dropped the computer into the pool. Poor guy.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Applekid
December 16, 2008 4:51 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Everyone knows Macs attract the ladies. In this case, though, ladybugs.


I have a PC so I can only attract sick cats.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
DeloresPompeii
December 16, 2008 4:51 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

IF apple keeps playing hardball, notify the CDC, USDA, and FCC that you've received electronics that were infested with foreign insects from Apple. I bet that'll get some attention.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
mannyv
December 16, 2008 4:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

How did the ladybugs get into the laptop?

Looking at the macbook pro, the only entrypoint would be the express card slot. Was the guy working in his garden and left the MBP out?

There are lots of details that are missing. If the laptop worked then failed after a few months, it's unlikely the ladybugs were shipped from the factory. The odor of cooking bugs would have sent him to the genius bar pretty much immediately, especially given the heat put out by the core/core2 duos.

So, if they didn't come from the factory, it could have been at the user's location. Given that people enjoy bringing their laptops outside, that's not out of the realm of possibility.

Lastly, the ladybugs may have crawled into the macbook pro at the service center. That's a low-probability event as well. It's unusual to see one ladybug in an office, much less a lot of them.

I guess pictures would help!

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
December 16, 2008 5:26 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Although I will admit that this is one of the better stories, this is by no means an exclusive nightmare story regarding Apple service. As a reluctant third-party Apple Service Representative, I could clog this blog with horror stories of Apple's inept and unbelievable (but true) service \"mysteries\". The problem being I wouldn't get any work done - I'd be busy writing all the time. Although their telephone support is among the best in the industry, that's where their effort stops. Apple makes little or no effort to resolve difficult service issues with their machines, save sending you another machine (rarely I might add). They make it very clear to their clients by their actions that they are interested in selling machines, not servicing them. If you want to get a laptop that you can get serviced easily & professionally, get a Dell.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
FooSchnickens - Full of SCAR
December 16, 2008 5:39 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Oh sweet baby jesus, it's they're.... THEY'RE

*grammar nazi rage*

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
TheGuinnessTooth
December 16, 2008 6:04 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I had a lady bug infestation in my old apartment, and they would swarm all over my Powerbook. I think this guy is on to something. I bet Apple make their top of the line notebooks with some sort of Lady Bug pheromone just to for this reason. I'm sure there is a line someone in their warranty agreement that damages caused by Lady Bugs are not covered under any circumstances.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
FuryOfFirestorm
December 16, 2008 6:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

That's one computer bug MacAfee can't handle!

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Valhawk
December 16, 2008 8:03 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

So Apple acts like an asshole to someone. How is this new.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
admiral_stabbin
December 16, 2008 8:16 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I'd love to see pics too.


Unless those ladybugs were well toasted (read: crispy), I highly doubt they were in a MacBook Pro that had ever been turned on. The heat on the bottom of the one I use gets uncomfortably hot. I can only imagine how hot things are inside of the extremely tight (and extremely hot) notebook.


As for the multiple iPod replacements...from my experience (which spans the entire lifecycle of the iPod)...they die. Most of the ones I've witnessed the demise of never left a climate-controlled office environment. They've suffered from design faults (e.g. 1st gen iPod firewire connector separates from the logic board), to hard drives that have an MTBF of about 100 hours.


The premium you pay to use Apple equipment should NOT be perceived as inclusive of quality. You pay the premium to use the equipment that is perceived to be cool. Cool and quality are not synonymous.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
maztec
December 16, 2008 8:24 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Uhm, wow. Y'know . . . .

First, the white splotch on the monitor? That is called bruising. It is caused by pressure being applied to the monitor lid. Either when cleaning or otherwise. Yes, I had Apple refuse to fix a laptop screen, with stuck pixels, because it also had bruising. They ended up replacing it for other reasons (it was shocking me during use), but, can't say they replaced it for ladybugs...

They also report water inside it? Putting two and two together, it sounds like something heavy and cold was placed on top of the monitor - which bruised the LCD and caused condensation inside the laptop.

But, really, this guy has a LOT of problems. In fact, an excessive amount of problems. I am utterly dumbfounded by how many problems he seems to have.

As for the ladybugs, it is entirely possible one got in, laid eggs, and they hatched.

Reply
2 replies
\"user-pic\"
TechnoDestructo
December 16, 2008 8:38 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@maztec: And what would they have been eating in there?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
maztec
December 17, 2008 4:46 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@TechnoDestructo: The casings of their eggs, most bugs eat those. Who knwos *shrug*

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
December 16, 2008 8:39 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I find it curious that he never actually denies any water damage. I find it incredible that this guy is so upset, according to his story he has only ever purchased 2 Apple products (A powerbook and an ipod) and has had both replaced multiple times. Either this guys has extremely bad luck with technology or he is an extremely experienced complainer.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
valtr0n
December 16, 2008 8:44 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Someone needs to learn the proper usage of their, there, and they're...

\"Sam loves his Apple products, but their blaming him for the big ladybugs inside his Macbook Pro?\"

Come on, I expect more from the Consumerist.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
TrevorYYC
December 16, 2008 8:56 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I had a similar experience with Apple years ago that was just strange.


The machine in question had problems with its keyboard and here is the sordid affair that followed.


First go around Apple claimed the machine arrived with a damaged LCD but they refuse to provide pictures, this came as a total suprise to me and I refused the repair and told them to return it.


Box shows up, no damaged LCD. Apple admits there had to have been a mistake and I send it back again and Apple resolves the keyboard issue by replacing the battery.


Uhh... thanks.


Send it back again,


Apple calls me and claims the machine had a milkshake poured on it, which evidently evaded their detection on its previous two vists. Again I refuse the repair and tell them to send it back.


Not suprisingly the machine had not a trace of a milkshake or any other liquid.


Call apple again and they firmly hold the line on the milkshake story and refuse to give me an email address where I might send them photos of the undamaged machine.


Call apple yet again and their final offer is to replace the keyboard at a reduced price, I tell apple to drop dead and I buy a Compaq.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
OprahBabb
December 16, 2008 9:31 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Was it just me or was some of that story hard to follow.
holding the picture further away from my face....that sucks about your computer bro. Take their advice: clean it up and email Steve. It works.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Alex Hall
December 16, 2008 9:38 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

This sounds very similar to a thread on Macrumors, very similar to what was detailed here:

[forums.macrumors.com]

Reply
1 replies
","","","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
Corporate-Shill
December 16, 2008 11:37 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

What is the gestation period of a ladybug larva? Yea, that is what I thought. Nope the bugs were not a factory injection.


Where did the bugs come from? A momma bug laid the eggs in the laptop at some point in the OP's residence? Doubtful as the growing youngsters did not have any source of nutrients. Which is why the factory is not a likely source as well.


What is the life span of adult ladybugs? If the bugs are alive and moving, the bugs could only have been present for X number of days. And the lap top has been held by the repair center for how many of those X days?


See, it is realitively easy to prove the bugs were not present at the time the computer was made. More importantly it is just as easy to prove the bugs could have been present only a short period of time.


I blame the repair center or the OP. Pick one of the two. But don't blame the manufacturing site. And if the OP does enough song and dance with the dates the OP can prove he/she is not at fault as well.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Matt 'Trej' B
December 17, 2008 12:51 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Oh no.... they won't give you a 3rd new computer in a totally different generation... and they made you mad on the phone. Darn.

Lesson to be learned here, don't push a good thing (2 free laptops) don't be rude to the people who decide if you get a free laptop back or a broken laptop filled with bugs. Intelligence and people skills prevail.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Luke Nye
December 17, 2008 4:34 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

If this is true that it's that easy to get upgrades on your computers I may have to look into that. It seems to me though that all of those things are just made up. Plus, if they were giving him free upgrades all of that time, why suddenly decide that they wanted to screw him? I honestly don't believe that the people at apple service are that invested in their jobs to fake bug and water damage to screw him.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
waleeper
December 17, 2008 4:51 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

We had those silly ladybugs at our house, actually I think they call them asian ladybugs, they are more orange than red. They are purvasive and would burrow under the window sills. They are very good at getting into things. There are plenty of holes in my MacBook large enough for those little buggers to get in.

I agree with the posters here, no-one is that unlucky. His account is probably already flagged at AppleCare and I agreed that they gave him the replacement more due to mishandling his complaint than any merit to his original claim.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
West Coast Secessionist
December 17, 2008 10:56 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Yeah I'm sure the ladybugs were put in at the factory and have been living in your macbook for the past 2 years or whatever, feeding off your hard drive. Have you noticed bytes disappearing? WTF. Also, in my opinion once you get a FREE REPLACEMENT you are done. Even if that machine starts bleeding like it's possessed...if it lasted longer than your ORIGINAL computer's warranty would have, you have no room to bitch. Yet you admit you got 2 FREE REPLACEMENTS (not to mention the ipods) already. Go buy another computer already you cheap bastard.

What exactly is the OP's theory for how the ladybugs got there if he's so sure it didn't happen on his watch?

PS: My iPod from 2003 still works great.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
metalmarious
December 17, 2008 6:37 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I guess my Ipod Touch will be my first and last apple product.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
December 17, 2008 8:13 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Apple's service policies and procedures really can be abysmal for customers at times, but when I worked there I could spot BSers like this a mile away. Based on my experience with these kinds of cases, I'd be willing to bet money that to get some of these upgrades he has complained to Customer Relations or other higher-ups with exaggerations (or even complete lies) about his experiences with Apple service. Apple does not just give away new machines unless you really do deserve one (and there is specific criteria for this), or unless you are a complete pain in the @$$ and will not shut up any other way.

Word to the not-so-wise: stains from liquids do not magically appear on internal components, and saying you do not know how they possibly could have gotten there does nothing to alter the fact that somehow, at some point, liquid entered the laptop as a result of some person's direct action (spilling) or negligence (leaving the computer in a place where it is subject to accidental liquid damage). The warranty covers neither.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Steven Irish
December 18, 2008 3:12 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

pics... or it didn't happen.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Schmeg Peg
December 22, 2008 8:04 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

I know you said he's no Hemingway, but he could have at least used some punctuation. Parsing those sentences is a nightmare.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Jonathan Butcher
December 29, 2008 6:53 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

I've had that happen to more than one clock radio.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Cym19
April 7, 2011 7:35 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Bottom line: They're going to take care of him (again). With most other retailers he would've been SOL the first time. Sometimes as a consumer, you have to put your foot down and get ugly - person-to-person communications can break down, and require cooler heads to prevail. However, once the company capitulates, apologizes and does what you've asked them to do, you can afford to be gracious, so \"want list\" item #2 needs to go. He's finally spoken with someone who took care of him. We live in an imperfect world full of imperfect people, and some of them shouldn't be in customer service. But, asking that \"someone who matters the company\" give you a formal apology sounds like you just want to rub someone's face in it - soothing a ruffled ego. Don't be a sore winner. Maintaining a positive attitude and having a little empathy will get you a lot further when someone is in a position to make things easier or harder for you.

Reply
");