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What The Geek
July 7, 2009 4:32 PM
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Well, if he does have to get a replacement for the mobo somewhere down the line, chances are he can get it for significantly less than $1300. That's outrageous.

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azureice
July 14, 2009 8:06 PM
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@What The Geek: Are you kidding? It's apple. Expect to pay a lot.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 4:36 PM
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But he did spill snapple on the macbook, right? So his warranty be void at that either way. I don't see why the faulty fan and the voided warranty have anything to do with each other (answer= they don't).

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7 replies
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gryklin
July 8, 2009 3:31 AM
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@ShyamasriPera2: OP here. Because I was told once the top assembly would be replaced, my warranty would be reinstated so long as the machine passed diagnostics. And the reason it didn't is because one fan didn't spin up and the CPU was overheating - and the reason the fan wasn't spinning up was because the tech didn't seat the cable in the motherboard all the way. So they jumped to the next logical conclusion, which I probably would've too - there was further liquid damage. However, upon a full diagnostic checkup after my quick fix, they should've realized their mistake and admitted to it.

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Charles Duffy
July 7, 2009 5:02 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: AIUI (and IANAL), it's illegal to void a warranty for something which doesn't actually cause damage to the warranted item.

The federal minimum standards for full warranties are waived if the warrantor can show that the problem associated with a warranted consumer product was caused by damage while in the possession of the consumer, or by unreasonable use, including a failure to provide reasonable and necessary maintenance.

Actual liquid damage would fall into the above provision -- but since replacing a jumper fixed the problem, there was clearly no liquid damage to the motherboard within the above provisions.

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madog
July 7, 2009 7:16 PM
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@Charles Duffy: It's too easy with computers though. Apple could claim corrosion from the liquid damage caused a failure (say, a year after the spill, which does happen), or even claim that by opening up the machine without proper anti-static precautions the user had damaged the machine in some way.

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Jim Topoleski
July 7, 2009 5:22 PM
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@Charles Duffy: give it a few weeks.

Liquid damage, especially liquids other than water will ALWAYS damage a motherboard. ALWAYS. It may work forever, it may die tomorrow, but it IS very much damaged.

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mmmsoap
July 7, 2009 10:18 PM
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@Jim Topoleski:

Liquid damage, especially liquids other than water will ALWAYS damage a motherboard. ALWAYS. It may work forever, it may die tomorrow, but it IS very much damaged.

By what standard do you consider something \"damaged\"? Seriously, if it \"works forever\", wouldn't that be an indication that it's not damaged? I'll concede that liquids can cause unseen damages, but in the vast majority of cases, once things are dry (and everything still works) you're pretty much in the clear.

Also, I don't get at all that Apple is claiming that the liquids damaged the logic board (because, in all likelihood, they probably didn't if the techs didn't think it was a problem earlier). The concern is that he voided his warranty by working on the laptop himself, fixing something Apple should have fixed. It's a fair point, although whether it's enough to grant him his warranty back is another story.

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Paul Carr
July 7, 2009 8:40 PM
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@Jim Topoleski: That is not even remotely true... liquids do not inherently damage any electronics. It is only if they cause a short. If you discharged everything you could put your mobo on the bottom of a pool and so long as it was completely dry (inside and out) by the time it was turned on it would be no worse for wear. The problem is that certain liquids (water) can cause electrical shorts. Hence it is perfectly safe to submerge electronics in non-conductive liquids.

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Coles_Law
July 7, 2009 10:12 PM
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@Paul Carr: Corrosion is also a concern. Even pure DI water will cause corrosion in many of the metals present. I'd go with non-conductive, non-oxidizing liquids to be safe, and I can't think of any.

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Verucalise (Est.February2008)
July 7, 2009 6:35 PM
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@Jim Topoleski: I spilled 1/2 a cup of coffee on my laptop.... 3 years ago. It still works great. Just made sure I dried it out completely before putting the battery back in and such.

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superberg
July 7, 2009 9:09 PM
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@verucalise-T minus 16 days:

So you were lucky. I've dropped a cell phone in the sink before, and I dried it out. It continued to work.

This doesn't change the fact that liquid of any kind can damage electronics. It's not just moisture. Other particles in the liquid can, over time, lead to corrosion.

Anecdotal evidence does not an argument make, particularly when there is voluminous evidence to the contrary.

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The Cheat
July 7, 2009 5:49 PM
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The way I have interpreted the rules and laws regarding warranty repair is that anyone can repairn or modify a device as long as the device is put back together properly and the repair/modification does not break the device.

This has been my experience both on the consumer end and the service end of a repair.

This is a case of the repair tech doing a lousy job of closing the machine back up and the shop blaming the tech's mistake on the liquid damage. Apparently the tech didn't feel like opening the laptop back up and reseating the cable.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 5:06 PM
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@Charles Duffy: Liquid on a logic board will cause damage; it might just not be obvious right now, but liquid + electrical parts != good.

The whole fan thing is a non issue... it's got nothing to do with the warranty being voided afaik.

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DreamTheEndless: Death's little brother
July 7, 2009 10:19 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: I read this as:
1. OP spilled a small amount (\"a bit\") of Snapple on the keyboard of his laptop, damaging the keyboard.
2. OP brought the laptop in for repair of the keyboard knowing full well that he would have to pay for the keyboard and the service because the damage was caused by him spilling Snapple.
3. If only the keyboard was the only thing that was damaged and the customer was paying apple for a brand new keyboard that was to be installed by apple, then the machine would still qualify for the full warranty. (3 years with Applecare.)
4. While apple was replacing the damaged keyboard, they inadvertently partially unplugged one of the fans.
5. When it was discovered that the fan was not working, the Apple tech declared that it must have been water damage that caused the fan that was working before he opened it to stop working after he opened it and that therefore:
5a. the customer needed a new motherboard
5b. the cost of the new motherboard and the repair would not be covered by the warranty.
6. By demonstrating that the Apple tech was incorrect in his claim of water damage to the laptop, the OP voided his warranty by opening the laptop to plug the fan plug back in.
(I know I'm filling some details here, but I'm pretty sure I'm filling in the right ones.)

So - the catch 22 described in the title:
If the OP had not opened his laptop to show that the Apple tech made a mistake, his laptop would be declared \"Out of warranty\" (for the imaginary water damage); if the OP had opened the laptop to show that there was no water damage, the laptop would be declared \"Out of warranty\" because the customer opened it.

I'm not sure why some of you are trying to pick on the OP on this one - nothing he did sounds unreasonable to me.

On a different note, I've opened up all 3 MBPs I've owned for hard drive upgrades multiple times.

As far as I know, Apple's official stance is: if the work was performed by someone not authorized by apple, the warranty itself was still in place so long as that work didn't actually cause any damage.

I would escalate this issue to someone a little higher up the food chain. There should be no problem with your warranty.

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FaustianSlip
July 8, 2009 7:55 PM
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@DreamTheEndless: The part I don't understand is why he told Apple what he was doing. Why not just go home, crack open the computer, plug the fan back in and keep on trucking? If he goes back for other repairs or whatever, tell them he got it repaired at a different Apple-certified dealer or that \"it just started working again\" or whatever the case might be. They can't prove otherwise if the computer's working as intended.

Without trying to blame the OP, it does seem that he sort of backed himself into this particular corner mostly because he wanted to \"prove\" to them that he was right and they were wrong. Better to just say, \"Well, I guess I'll take it home and think it over,\" then try the fix privately, so there's no proof one way or the other regarding the warranty.

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mmmsoap
July 10, 2009 2:55 PM
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@FaustianSlip:

The part I don't understand is why he told Apple what he was doing.

On most laptops, there's a seal over the cover so that when you open it, you break the seal, thus voiding the warranty. Even if he didn't tell Apple about it now, any future tech who worked on his machine would have had to declare it out-of-warranty...probably better that he deal with it now while he can deal with people who know the situation.

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Anonymous
July 10, 2009 6:20 PM
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@mmmsoap:

Since when on \"most\" laptops there is a \"seal\"??? I have personally opened at least 50 Mac laptops going back over 10 yrs and have never seen a seal. Add to that another dozen PCs. Never, not one, ever.

And I have upgraded drives in my two most recent, 15\" PowerBook and 15\" MacBook Pro, In both cases I had to take them in for warranty repair and I told them it had a bigger hard drive, they noted that in the repair doc, but it did not effect my warranty.

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DreamTheEndless: Death's little brother
July 8, 2009 8:47 PM
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@FaustianSlip: Well, I guess we could say you're right on that one, but it always bugs me when lying is the right thing to do...

But still, yes, if he had just not told them afterwards, the warranty thing would not have been an issue.

It still doesn't seem unreasonable to want to let them know about their mistake.

I still say he should escalate the warranty issue up the food chain.

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FaustianSlip
July 9, 2009 7:18 AM
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@DreamTheEndless: Who said he should lie? He could have, of course, if it came to that, but the odds of them directly saying later on, \"Wait... wasn't this cable unplugged earlier?\" are basically zero. My point was more that it was penny wise and pound foolish to march into the store and tell the Genius he'd already established to be a jerk, \"Hey, I just opened the computer up, and you screwed up- it was a cable that wasn't plugged in.\" He knew the guy was a rules Nazi, he knew the guy was probably going to brush him off, and he announced the screw up in front of other people at the Genius Bar, which wasn't likely to get a great reaction from the \"Genius\" in question. I can understand the desire to go back and say, \"Nyah, nyah, fixed it myself,\" but in terms of his warranty coverage, it was a terrible move. Even if the Apple guy was inclined to bend the rules a little (unlikely, assuming the OP told things as they happened), there's very, very little wiggle room for him to do so now that everyone at the Genius bar heard that the OP cracked open the computer and started poking around, which on a lot of models automatically kills the warranty, even if the Snapple thing didn't. I used to work at an Apple store, and our Geniuses would try to cut customers slack if there was room to do so, but that's pretty hard to do if there are a bunch of customers and employees around who heard him say that he just opened up his computer. That eliminates any kind of polite fiction that they could have had, and if the Genius says, \"Oh, well, don't worry about it,\" then anyone at the bar with an out-of-warranty problem has room to start demanding special treatment, too.

Personally, I would have gone home, opened the computer, plugged the cable back in and moved on. If other problems arise, go back to the store or an authorized Apple repair place and have them check out the machine. If they ask whether he opened the machine, then yeah, probably better to fib his way out of it (or bite the bullet, tell the truth and take his lumps), but the odds are against them asking, unless there was a gouge out of the case or something. But don't volunteer the information that you opened it up when you know that that probably voided your extended warranty. That's just cutting off your nose to spite your face, IMHO.

The OP might as well try escalating the issue, but I don't think he's going to get far, because he's now had two things happen that, at least in theory, should have voided his warranty. He spilled something on/in the machine (huge no-no) and he then opened the laptop up and started doing things inside. Apple might take pity on him and cut him a break, but unfortunately, I think he's going to have an uphill battle.

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acknight
July 7, 2009 4:38 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: That's what I was thinking - weren't they saying that the Snapple spill had already voided the warranty?

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 4:42 PM
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@acknight: Yep, that's what I'm thinking; but somehow he thinks that he should get it for free (because they didn't connect a fan? huh?)

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qwickone
July 7, 2009 4:57 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: He doesn't want anything for free, he just wants his warranty reinstated. I'm not sure what the situation with the spill is though since he paid to replace the part that was actually damaged by the spill. Can he still have the warranty in that case?

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ludwigk
July 7, 2009 6:24 PM
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@qwickone: He should have a 90 day repair warranty, which only covers the repair itself. Because of that, this should have been covered since it was basically a looper repair (original repair not done correctly).

If, for instance, his optical drive failed after the mobo replacement, that would not be covered under warranty because that was not part of the repair.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 5:00 PM
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@qwickone: sure he does :) What do you think will happen if they re-instate the warranty and the board fails? Sorry, he who spilled the snapple should just suck it up.

If he replaces the board, then he should have his warranty re-instated; it's basically a new notebook at that point.

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axiomatic
July 7, 2009 7:11 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: It puts the Snapple on it's skin or it gets the hose again.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 4:36 PM
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And I need more coffee... (not on my keyboard).

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Kris McAllister
July 7, 2009 4:37 PM
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As much as I like working with Macs this is why I will never own one. For $1240, you could get a really nice PC. Proprietary parts lead to trouble down the line.
.

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11 replies
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Jim Topoleski
July 7, 2009 5:28 PM
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@Kris McAllister: ALL laptops are proprietary boards.

That has to be the dumbest comment I have ever read as a reason not to buy a Apple laptop over say a Dell.

ALL PC MANUFACTURERS USE PROPRIETARY PARTS. You cant just stick a new motherboard into a old Dell case. Sure if you hacked it up maybe, but the board was manufactured FOR Dell.

The only way you can have a non proprietary system is to build your own. Thats it. Any mention of ANY manufacture nullifies your statement because they ALL use proprietary parts.

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Mr_Human
July 7, 2009 6:33 PM
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@Jim Topoleski: That's only true if you're still talking about laptops -- I'm not sure you are since you also talk about building your own rig. The fact is, you CAN update motherboards on (most, I guess) Dell and probably many of the other PC makers. I kn ow I have. Dell doesn't make its own motherboard. And I'm pretty sure HP doesn't.

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Jim Topoleski
July 7, 2009 7:56 PM
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@Mr_Human: No you cant. We have over 1500 of them. They make it utterly impossible to go and buy a off the shelf motherboard from a third party manufacturer and get it to fit into the case without hacking SOMETHING up to do it.

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morlo
July 7, 2009 5:40 PM
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@Jim Topoleski: \"Proprietary\" just means super-low-cost-with-extra-crappiness. The only problem with replacing the board is fit.

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TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave
July 7, 2009 4:57 PM
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@Kris McAllister: What about Dell and Compaq? Dell says screw you to ATX specifications, meaning you can re-use the cases/motherboards, and both Dell and Compaq use proprietary PSU's.

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DJRanmaS
July 10, 2009 7:16 AM
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@DayWeSpilledThePaint_GitEmSteveDave: They used to use proprietary PSU. But lately, use can use off the shelf PSUs, but some Dells now do not.

@Jim Topoleski: That means you're not installing the parts properly.

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Daedalus454
July 7, 2009 5:41 PM
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@TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave: I know that was true in the past, but all the recent Dell systems I've looked at appeared to be ATX standard layouts with standard power supplies. I didn't compare screw hole locations, but all the high-end cases I've used have multiple stud locations to accommodate a variety of mobos.

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TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave
July 7, 2009 6:44 PM
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@Daedalus454: The Dells I have seen and been using have the Mobo's on trays that slide into the case. It could have changed since then, I admit it. I don't know if Compaq/HP has switched as well.

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Ratty
July 7, 2009 7:40 PM
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@TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave: I have 2 Dell desktops at home, and I've been able to swap out every single component between both of them (XPS 410). One is using an Antec Earthwatts PSU. They're not proprietary. Dell hasn't used proprietary hardware in desktops in a while.

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Jim Topoleski
July 7, 2009 8:00 PM
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@Ratty: A PSU is not a part you would call proprietary.

My PowerMac G3 used a regular PC PSU to replace its fried one. Tower macs can do the same.

We are talking about taking a motherboard from newegg, and having it fit a Dell without having to cut anything, drill new mounting holes, and not having to make fit ANY of the original Dells cards.

It CANT be done, Dell specifically designs their cases around their motherboards now.

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Ratty
July 7, 2009 8:59 PM
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@Jim Topoleski: The motherboards are ATX standard in the XPS line. it CAN be done. I like my case and will do it when i feel the need to upgrade.

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HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H.
July 7, 2009 8:10 PM
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@Jim Topoleski: Actually, Dell's XPS line has used ATX standard parts top to bottom for a couple of years now. Not so sure about their business lines.

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TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave
July 7, 2009 7:54 PM
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@Ratty: As I said, it was my prior experience, with the Dells I have seen, which I admit, are a little old. I am glad they have switched over. Still doesn't help that I have some nice Dell cases, and no mobo's to put in them.

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einstoch
July 7, 2009 5:00 PM
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@Kris McAllister: You know, I'll give you 1000 dollars. if you can find a laptop for that much, you can keep the laptop and the rest of the money.

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Hobz
July 7, 2009 6:18 PM
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@OMG! Conies!: Really? What if I find 2 for that much? Can I keep them and your gran?

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esd2020
July 7, 2009 4:51 PM
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@Kris McAllister: A replacement system board for my Thinkpad T61 lists for $1,600. And that's just the board, not the installation.

There's no such thing as an industry standard laptop system board. They're all proprietary.

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dosdelon
July 7, 2009 4:44 PM
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@Kris McAllister: I'll never buy anything made by Apple in large part because of all their proprietary parts.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 4:46 PM
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@dosdelon: Most notebooks use proprietary parts...

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HunterZ
July 7, 2009 4:51 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: Exactly. The argument certainly applies to desktops but not so much to laptops.

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TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave
July 7, 2009 4:43 PM
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@Kris McAllister: You should make some commercials that show that point.

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Thanatos
July 7, 2009 4:39 PM
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That my friend is why you never claim to have opened a under warranty laptop, just claim it magically started working again.

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6 replies
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Tankueray
July 8, 2009 1:55 AM
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@Thanatos: I would've unseated the jumper again, put it back together, went back to the store and insisted on the genius opening it in front of me. Then I would've said, \"isn't that supposed to be connected to something?\" Watched him plug it in and work and see if that wouldn't have voided the warranty.

But I void warranties all the time... (typing on hackintosh netbook with extra RAM and 500GB HDD = instant void.) Bought iPhone 3gs last week, jailbroken and unlocked yesterday. I even have the tshirt to prove it.

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eddieck
July 8, 2009 4:47 PM
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@Tankueray: I doubt the Genius would open it in front of you. For starters, they've got their tools (screwdrivers, suction cups for glass screens, etc.) in the back as well as their ESD wrist straps. And they may not be allowed to do that.

If you really want that done I'd recommend taking it to a smaller local AASP (authorized service provider). Their work is covered under the warranty and they are essentially the same as an Apple Store - only with more personalized and faster (typically overnight) service. For comparison, my Apple Store took a week to return my iMac and it still wasn't fixed. My local AASP returned it on the next business day, and they had to order the part. (For some reason, and I don't know if this is still true, AASPs can receive in-stock parts overnight while Apple Stores have to wait a few days.)

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TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave
July 7, 2009 4:45 PM
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@Thanatos: I must agree. Unless you break a seal, why should you tell them? The only way they should know is if they did not reseat the jumper on purpose.

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ludwigk
July 7, 2009 6:31 PM
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@Jim Topoleski: It depends on the invasiveness of the replacement. On an iBook, or 1st gen MacBook Pro, replacing the HDD can void your warranty. On a 1st gen MacBook it was customer installable.

Apple goes back and forth on this [I believe] because they'll make things accessible if they can, but won't go out of the way to design it in.

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Zclyh3
July 7, 2009 4:40 PM
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He clearly violated the terms and conditions of the warranty. He's lucky that his laptop even works. I mean it's one thing if the laptop did in fact, stopped working from faulty equipment. It's another thing to take advantage of the system when it was the user's fault for causing the problem.

I'd say just get a new logic board himself it it fails again through eBay and repair the laptop himself. What does he have to lose? Warranty is already gone.

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Corporate_guy
July 7, 2009 7:15 PM
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@Zclyh3: I think you misunderstand. It sounds like spills are not covered. So he paid 320 dollars to have the problems from the spill fixed and for the laptop to be returned back to a status in which it will be warrantied.

The problem is that the tech working on it loosened a cable for a fan when he was doing the 320 dollar job. So Apple claims that the fan must have stopped working from the same water damage. So they said it will cost 1300 dollars to fix. The customer opened it and found out it was a loose cable. Which means Apple shouldn't have voided the warranty on the motherboard.

Apple was using the incident of the fan not working as evidence of water damage, when it turns out their own tech caused the problem.

The laptop still works because the water didn't get below the keyboard and thus the laptop is not water damaged.

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Zclyh3
July 7, 2009 7:28 PM
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@Corporate_guy:

Oops. My bad. Thanks for clarifying.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 4:44 PM
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Can we change this \"Because of an Apple technician's mistake\" ? It's not the techs mistake.

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4 replies
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TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave
July 7, 2009 5:07 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: But it is. After a repair, isn't the warranty still valid? Otherwise, why get it repaired by an authorized dealer/repair facility?

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 5:15 PM
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@TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave: exactly, the article says that to reinstate the warranty he'll have to replace the logic board.

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thnkwhatyouthnk
July 7, 2009 4:49 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: It's not? Who didn't seat the cable correctly after the first repair then?

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 4:51 PM
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@thnkwhatyouthnk: That's not the reason why the warranty is voided though. Even if the fan was connected properly, then he'd still have 0 warranty.

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katstermonster
July 7, 2009 4:54 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: I dunno...if the technician hadn't disconnected the cable, they wouldn't have thought it needed a replacement. It's unclear whether the voided-warranty claim came about simply because of that, though. Obviously he had to send it in for other stuff, they may have already known about/learned about the water damage anyway.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 4:56 PM
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@katstermonster: well, they had to replace the keyboard due to a snapple spill....

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thnkwhatyouthnk
July 7, 2009 5:05 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: They were going to charge $1300 for a logic board that they said would fix his fan issue. The fan issue was instead fixed by fully plugging in the cable. That's one hell of a pricey mistake.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 5:08 PM
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@thnkwhatyouthnk: Nope, the mistake is spilling the snapple. The $1300 is for a new logic board that wasn't soaked in sugar water...

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thnkwhatyouthnk
July 7, 2009 5:19 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: \"soaked in sugar water...\"

I'm sure we can all agree that if it was soaked, fully plugging in the cable would've been the least of his problems with the computer.

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Eric1285
July 7, 2009 4:44 PM
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I thought your Apple warranty was only void if you opened up your laptop and damaged it. Does this mean that anyone who upgraded the hard drive in their previous generation MBP has voided their warranty?

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5 replies
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chiieddy
July 7, 2009 4:59 PM
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@Eric1285: When I was at the Apple Store this past weekend they told me if I upgraded my Hard Drive I would void my warranty.

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Jim Topoleski
July 7, 2009 5:31 PM
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@chiieddy: they where wrong. Memory and Hard Drive are exempt from voiding it, BUT if you where to replace them, then they themselves would not be covered under it.

So say you replace your hard drive and it dies? You cant have that repaired under AppleCare.

But if it was the original hard drive and it died? Then its covered.

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TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave
July 7, 2009 5:09 PM
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@chiieddy: If they tell you how to do it in the manual, it's OK to do. I do believe, however, that if the installed part causes a problem, and it isn't an apple part, then THAT isn't covered.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 5:03 PM
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@chiieddy: I dunno, [www.apple.com] it excludes \"modifications\" but I didn't see anything saying it would void the warranty (note: I skimmed it).

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 4:45 PM
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@Eric1285: I don't think so; I think they're fine with HD + RAM upgrades. Besides \"They say [I] voided my warranty because of the liquid damage to the logic board.\" .... so it's the liquid damage, not the act of opening the macbook pro that voided the warranty.

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John Anderson
July 7, 2009 4:45 PM
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That my friend is why you NEVER, EVER, EVER buy AppleCare. I've owned 3 Macs, and each has AppleCare. And each time, regardless of what is in need of repair, they ALWAYS try to weasel out of it. I've had 2 MacBooks that magically had liquid damage that went away after I escalated the issue or brought it to a different Apple store.

Get a third party warranty from someone like square trade that includes accidental damage coverage and save yourself a lot of heartache.

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Chris Knight
July 8, 2009 12:24 AM
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@John Anderson: There is a better solution. Get AppleCare, and then take it to an Apple Authorized repair company like MacMedic. Apple Authorized repair companies have the opposite attitude of Apple and the misnamed geniuses at the Apple Stores. Apple loses money each time they do a repair, and Apple Authorized service companies make money each time they do a repair. Who do you think is more highly motivated to help you?

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MauriceCallidice
July 7, 2009 6:13 PM
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@John Anderson: When my Powerbook G4's hard drive (Toshiba 80GB) died after 1.5 years, AppleCare not only replaced the drive, but also replaced my slightly warped upper case and screen bezel at no charge. Free express shipping between PA and TX included.

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AdvocatesDevil
July 7, 2009 9:03 PM
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@MauriceCallidice: I had a PowerBook logic board problem about 2 years after my AppleCare expired... they fixed the problem, replaced the aging keyboard, and the screen bezel at no charge anyway. I know it's always possible someone had a bad experience with ANY company, but I never believe anyone who says Apple tried to weasel out of fixing a problem. Anyone who claims this probably did something that clearly wasn't covered, like spilling a beverage all over the keyboard, and is trying to weasel a replacement!

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Trai_Dep
July 7, 2009 5:49 PM
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@John Anderson: I've not only had Macs repaired under AppleCare, but I've had Macs repaired (power supply replaced - gratis!) outside of warrantee. For free.
From reading Consumerist, it's hard enough getting Dell, HP, or Gateway to fix their computers even when under warrantee, even when it's painfully obvious that it's their fault. I can't imagine them doing anything close to what I've found Apple to do, both with me and w/ my Mac-owning friends.
That's above and beyond being able to walk into any Apple store and get excellent advice, also free. Even one-on-one.

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sqlrob
July 7, 2009 5:19 PM
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@John Anderson:
I've brought 4 Macs in 5 times, and have *never* had them try to weasel out of it.

Of course, that many failures in and of itself is an issue.

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dave_coder
July 7, 2009 4:56 PM
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@John Anderson: Except this guy admits that he spilt Snapple on the laptop...

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 4:50 PM
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@John Anderson: Not my experience at all, we got an imac replaced same day after it started to exhibit problems... notebooks have been repaired or replaced without issue, etc. Note: this is at a research lab, so not sure if that makes a difference. (Personally I can't afford a nice mac :D)

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sir_pantsalot
July 7, 2009 4:45 PM
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I was under the impression that Apple under no circumstances ever makes mistakes. They in fact shat gold and mailed it to their customers.

I don't believe you and your lies Consumerist.

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4 replies
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DefineStatutory
July 7, 2009 5:28 PM
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@sir_pantsalot:


I love that there are people who will know that's sarcasm, and chuckle; and another set of people who will read it and pound their fist on their desk, saying \"damn right!\".

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thnkwhatyouthnk
July 7, 2009 5:07 PM
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@sir_pantsalot: Judging by some of the comments here, there's a good number of Consumerist readers who have drank that kool-aid.

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thnkwhatyouthnk
July 7, 2009 4:47 PM
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Yes, the warranty was already voided because of the Snapple spill. I'm pretty sure the actual problem is that they tried to charge him for a $1300 repair when the real problem was just an unseated cable. I wish I could get paid like that for such a repair!

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dave_coder
July 7, 2009 4:57 PM
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@thnkwhatyouthnk: No they probably found damage on the logic board. Just because it's not causing a obvious problem today doesn't mean it won't go tomorrow.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 4:52 PM
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@thnkwhatyouthnk: Maybe; I'm pretty sure the thought behind replacing the logic board is that due to the spill it most likely will exhibit problems in the future. And getting a new logic board will also get his warranty back...

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thnkwhatyouthnk
July 7, 2009 5:01 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: I certainly won't argue that something could happen down the road. However, they said the logic board was the reason the fan wasn't working, which was not the case obviously.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 5:13 PM
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@thnkwhatyouthnk: I agree with you that the fan not working was simply because it wasn't connected; but all of that has nothing to do with the water (snapple juice) spill... View it from apple's perspective:

1) notebook is brought in for repair because snapple was spilled on it
2) keyboard has to replaced because of that
3) it's reasonable to assume that if the keyboard was already dead, that liquid got to the mobo (none of us know unless we actually see the mobo)
4) to get full warranty, you need to replace the mobo.

Here's a thought, if he just waits till it breaks, then get the mobo replaced; I'm sure they warranty their work for some time. If his mobo doesn't break, then no problem; if it does, then he has to pay for it either way.

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thnkwhatyouthnk
July 7, 2009 5:17 PM
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@ShyamasriPera2: Agreed. He should just wait until the logic board actually breaks. If it doesn't break though, then all I'm saying is that this is a $1300 mistake on Apple's behalf.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 5:20 PM
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@thnkwhatyouthnk: Hehe, agree with you expect for the last part of the last sentence.

Anyhow, I feel like some apple juice now.

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tailstoo
July 7, 2009 4:53 PM
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I fixed my own MacBook Pro when I dumped coffee into it about 2 years ago. Still runs great to this day (I even upgraded the hard drive while I had it opened... the older ones were a pain to take apart).

The only time I had Apple service one of my computers, they put the unit back together wrong and the CD door would not open (a 2001 iBook).

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Manchego
July 7, 2009 4:56 PM
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Escalate the problem to the next level of support, if they cant help tell them you want to talk to the other department that fixes problems for people. It might take a while to get there but be polite and persistent and you will eventually get though to this department of fixers that actually have power to fix things and make customers happy even when its outside the standard.
Example, I got an original iPhone from a friend, it was not working something like one week out of 1 year warranty, called up sorry cant get apple care to get it fixed/replaced for free, call back was persistent eventually got that other department and they signed me up.

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 4:58 PM
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@Manchego: Well, you were lucky; they were under no obligation to do that for you... you weren't the original purchaser, nor was it still within year 1. But obviously the cost of the apple care plan probably covered the repair anyways...

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The_Lost_Art_of_Sears_Customer_Service
July 7, 2009 5:06 PM
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His word against Apple's. He's not going to win this fight.


Side note: I once spilled an entire glass of milk onto my ThinkPad (thanks, sausage fingers). I figured it was over: ballgame for the ol' P0rnBox. I drained out the Garelick Farms goodness, did a genuinely half-a$$ job mopping up the keyboard/innards as best I could, and let it sit for a day to dry out and think about what it had done.


That was 5 years ago. To this day, it still works every time I fire it up. I used it daily for years after this happened, too. So thank you IBM, for making a superior (and more expensive) product. Just too bad you aren't making 'em any more.

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White Guy
July 7, 2009 5:09 PM
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Those Apple geniuses are fun to deal with. I took my Macbook into the apple store to have it fixed and was told my hard drive was dead, there where water damages on the board, the warranty was now void, and I would have to pay Apple for a new hard drive. I even took it to a second Apple store and was told the same thing. I took it home, reformatted the drive, and now it works perfect.

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shifuimam
July 7, 2009 5:11 PM
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Wouldn't it be nice if Apple just got into the 21st century and offered an accidental damage warranty option like every other major PC manufacturer (Dell, HP, Lenovo - even Acer and Asus have this option)? Then, when you accidentally spill something on your laptop, your accidental damage coverage covers the cost. Totally worth the $200-$400 extra expense to get the warranty in the first place.

Instead, all Apple can bother to offer on their already-overpriced hardware is an overpriced so-called extended warranty that doesn't even give you a next business day, onsite repair option (again, Dell, HP, and Lenovo all offer this as a warranty option, even to home/small office purchases).

Should I also mention that Apple doesn't offer phone service past ninety days unless you buy AppleCare - and even then, your phone service is limited to three years? I was able to call HP/Compaq with a hardware question on an ancient Pentium II Presario desktop, and they helped me without hesitation.

If I'm spending $1200-$2500 on machine, I expect better warranty and technical support options. Get with it, Apple.

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splatula
December 9, 2009 3:00 PM
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As a repair center tech for Apple, Lenovo and Acer, I can tell you all a little more about how things work.
First off, his warranty is voided, and cannot be reinstated for any reason.
The reason is he spilled snapple on the keyboard, and even though the keyboard was replaced out of warranty (ie he paid for it) he had it repaired at an Apple site, as opposed to an Apple Authorized site. An Apple authorized site would likely have replaced the topcase and been done with the whole thing, but Apple will mark that system as toast if they are doing their jobs right. There is NO WAY to tell the full extent of damage from liquid spills, that stuff can get into areas you cannot see.
Sometimes a system can be fully immersed and come out with flying colours, and sometimes a tiny speck of moisture will bring a system to its knees. There could be moisture soaked into the cables that won't corrode them for a couple years. The liquid you spill in there is important too... coke, water and coffee are just nasty. Milk, doesn't seem as bad for some reason. Soda pop and coffee are the absolute worst due to the high sugar content.
Total replacement warranties are a moron tax, for people who can't take care of their stuff, that's why they charge so much for it. If someone else damages your unit, they are responsible and should have to pay.
From the tech's perspective, if the system was overheating in a situation like that, then yes, the first thing you would replace would be the logic board, you wouldn't automatically assume you fudged-up on a cable. SO the local shop should have reconnected the cable free of charge, as they screwed up, however they could not know it was that cable without opening the unit out of warranty for overheating, which costs labour.
Companies are constantly being defrauded by customers looking for free stuff. It is not a companies responsibility to shield you from your stupidity, if you void the warranty it is for a reason. You cannot get it back by replacing parts that may or may not hold the issue. A warranty is issued on a product, and Applecare is priced, so that the warranty will pay for the replacement of a full set of parts for that one unit. If you have had three logic boards replaced, well, you've just become more expensive than your warranty. Often when this happens, a well aimed complaint will get you a new unit.
With ay spill be smart. Turn off the machine, put it onto the closest edge of the spill, and as soon as you can, get it to a repair center for cleaning, or clean it yourself. All components need to be removed and cleaned.

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suneohair
July 8, 2009 12:14 AM
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First to the OP. Email sjobs@apple.com, explain your situation and you will get a response. Not from Steve, but one of the Executive Care folks. They will take care of you if your claims are legit.

@shifuimam:

Sure, the option would be nice to have next day onsite repair and more warranty options. However, Apple would not gain much in doing so. Dell and the others do way more volume than Apple. I will concede they have been selling more lately and it will continue to increase, so we may see more options in the future. I can see how they may not want to change anything though, because they are selling at record numbers and they are topping customer service performance ratings: [bits.blogs.nytimes.com]

In regards to phone support, yes, phone support is limited to 90 days. You do have the option to pay for phone support without buying AppleCare however. If you buy AppleCare you get 3 years. But you are not limited to three years, you can buy phone support. Typically this is for software issues though, if you have something that is a genuine hardware issue they will support you. This has been my experience at least.

In regards to the service turn around. I have had good luck, if it is a user replaceable part it comes next day. With a next day return label for the broken one. If we are talking big time repair, I go to my local authorized repair center.

And back to the accidental damage, while Apple may not offer it but I get coverage through my Renter's Insurance. For $216 a year all my computers are covered (2 laptops and a desktop), it actually has other articles as well (cameras, TVs, game consoles, etc). This covers any damage and has a $0 deductible. This to me seems to be a better option. Even if Apple offered it, I would still go through my Renter's as it is more affordable when you consider the breadth of coverage and the length of coverage (presumably, as is the case with Dell, the warranty would have a time limit.)

I am not going to touch the rest of your post.

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coolkiwilivin
July 8, 2009 3:44 PM
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@suneohair: Thanks for an interesting and thoughtful response. I totally disagree with you but appreciate the thoughtfulness. You are correct the PC vendors do a huge amount of more business than mac but this issue is why Macs are problematic. They want to act like Business class machines but they do things like this that show they aren't ready for the work world. Yes you're homeowners policy covers your computers but with my Dell warranty, my son threw up in my laptop. I called tech support and the next day I had a new motherboard, keyboard and power buttons installed where I wanted it installed I think they met met at my office. In addition I didn't have to deal with the hassle of my insurance.

Your price for coverage is slightly more expensive that what you pay for a accidental coverage when you buy the system. When it comes to a laptop I would never buy a mac until they get a real warranty.

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balls187
July 7, 2009 11:53 PM
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@shifuimam: Well, buy a Dell, Lenovo or HP and STFU.

Seriously, you can buy 3rd party accidental damage warranties.

Why should Apple have to eat the cost of fixing John Q. Shitwipe for spilling his snapple?

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DefineStatutory
July 7, 2009 5:30 PM
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@shifuimam:
Better tech support? They're Geniuses man...Geniuses. What more can you possibly want?

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ShyamasriPera2
July 7, 2009 5:21 PM
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@thnkwhatyouthnk: well that was some 'artistic freedom' on my part... but I understand why no company would provide warranty on a part that most likely had liquid spilled on it.

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Brontide
July 7, 2009 5:23 PM
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The warranty was void at the moment the water damage occurred.

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2 replies
July 7, 2009 5:30 PM
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FSOA (FromSubby'sOwnAdmission): \"they tell me that the only way they can reinstate my warranty is by sending in the laptop because I opened it and tampered with the laptop.\"

Sounds reasonable to me.
Hell in terms of warranties this sounds ABOVE AND BEYOND reasonable.
I mean, they ARE offering to fully REINSTATE the warranty. They just need to confirm the state of the lappy. That he didn't mod/screw with anything other than what he said he did (push the jumper back in), which is 100% reasonable considering subby spilled Snapple on it, and also opened it up.

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Brent Newland
July 8, 2009 1:27 AM
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@Coop: I agree. If it really is working, he should have no problem sending it in to have them verify that it is working properly to reinstate the warranty.

@Coop: His warranty was voided by liquid damage, regardless of what it affected. IT does sound to me like they are going above and beyond.

Let's take this situation sideways. Say you work for an insurance company. A client comes in and says they got in a car wreck and needs to file a claim. You tell him that since he was driving dunk and crashed his car, it's not covered. So you cancel his claim. He calls back and says his car is fine, and asks you to reinstate his policy. Would you do it without seeing the car first?

Point here is he voided his warranty, and they are offering to reinstate it if they can inspect it to make sure it's working. If he doesn't want to do that, then there's probably another issue going on, some other damage that he wants them to pay for in a few months.

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coren
July 7, 2009 7:37 PM
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@Coop: It's not reasonable, as the tech has no idea what was or wasn't done, and Apple's warranty isn't voided by opening the laptop, per se, as there are certain things they allow you to do

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taking_this_easy
July 7, 2009 5:35 PM
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ha... my $1300 Dell XPS M1330 came with 4 years warranty and accidental damage... accidentally spilled water on the keyboard and broke the hinge... both covered...

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4 replies
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Solidgun
July 7, 2009 6:40 PM
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@taking_this_easy: Yes, because your XPS is so cool and very powerful. I bet it boots up in 14 seconds ready to use. It doesn't?


I guess I could be really cheap and buy a Dell....or pay for the quality and OS that works faster.

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shifuimam
July 7, 2009 10:45 PM
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@Solidgun: Yet Apple won't stand behind their so-called \"quality\" (hint: they use the same internal components as everyone else) with a decent warranty? Brilliant.

It doesn't matter how well-made your machine is. Spilling liquid on it can kill it. Accidental damage warranties mean you don't have to pay an exorbitant fee to fix it.

I'm sure it'll be a cold day in hell before Apple ever offers such a farfetched thing as accidental damage coverage.

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Ratty
July 7, 2009 9:00 PM
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@y2julio: That too... it makes a 2.5 year old desktop boot in under 20 seconds. And my newer laptop is fast fast fast.

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Ratty
July 7, 2009 7:45 PM
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@Solidgun: The XPS M1330 is a fantastic little thing and well worth the money.

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moozicmon
July 7, 2009 5:38 PM
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My experience with apple \"geniuses\" has been nothing but problems. I have yet to meet one that could tell me something I didn't already know. On that same note, I have yet to meet one that could identify the real source of the problem. My favorite example, two hours waiting for them to \"fix\" my ir reciever. Turns out they had disabled it while testing the graphics card. Or one \"genius\" saying the Applecare is transferable if your computer is stolen, while the another says I'm outta luck. GAH!

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ludwigk
July 7, 2009 6:45 PM
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@moozicmon: Those are bad geniuses. It happens in all professions.

AppleCare is NOT transferable or returnable, but you can get a pro-rated refund under certain circumstances, such as theft.

This is actually a tricky question because Geniuses learn about the policy and coverage that AppleCare grants, but often NOT the policy of the agreement itself. This needs to be done through the applecare team, which is not the same as applecare support agents/geniuses.

I guarantee that I could tell you things you didn't know (no guaranteed that it would be useful or relevant to you!), but I was without doubt an exceptionally knowledgeable genius back in the day.

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katstermonster
July 7, 2009 5:47 PM
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@undefined: @TheyCallMeStacey_GitEmSteveDave: Yeah, I think you're right...the way it's worded is really bizarre, but it sounds like they'll honor his warranty for future repairs AFTER he pays to get the logic board replaced. They're saying the warranty was only voided on that part, and after it's replaced, he can get it repaired. Huh. Makes more sense now.

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1 replies
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coren
July 7, 2009 7:34 PM
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@katstermonster: Basically: replace the stuff that's damaged and we'll cover it again because then it's in the condition it should be. That'd be their argument I'd think

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noisebar
July 7, 2009 5:48 PM
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Apple's customer service is funny. I talked to them 3 times to eventually get my defected battery replaced. It really depends on who you talk to. Forget about the \"geniuses\". They are more like idiots. Talk to the call center directly.

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balls187
July 7, 2009 11:55 PM
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@noisebar: Well, I don't agree with the sweeping generalizations, but it is does really depend on who you talk to.

I usually send my laptop in with my girlfriend. I've found that the Apple Geniuses are much more receptive to helping an attractive girl, than they are a repulsive troll.

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dieman
July 7, 2009 5:53 PM
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Easy fix: get insurance from your homeowners insurance for your laptop. I think I pay $18 a year for $5k in coverage for multiple devices.

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strells
July 7, 2009 5:58 PM
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Lesson: Never, and I mean never, have any beverages anywhere near your computer. Why is this so difficult for people to understand and follow?

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shockwaver
July 7, 2009 6:56 PM
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@strells: Because, occasionally, people need to work for extended periods of time near a computer, and that includes occasionally having an urge for a drink of water.

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vladthepaler
July 7, 2009 6:07 PM
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I'd expect a liquid spillage to void a warranty. It's surprising that the fan problem was so badly misdiagnosed, though.

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gryklin
July 8, 2009 3:39 AM
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@vladthepaler: Exactly. The fact the store can't admit to their mistake, and the fact they were so close to wrongly charging a customer over a grand for a TINY mistake is ludicrous. If I were the manager I would've offered a customer free things just to keep them happy.

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flyromeo3
July 7, 2009 6:19 PM
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hang on...this dope had a snapple drink right next to his laptop.
Snapple drink spills onto laptop. Sends to apple to fix, and they tell them water damage voids warranty.


So lets see,...user spills drink on laptop, expects company to fix laptop due to water damage ( which voids warranty ) then states problem was with wire not properly connected.
Ever thought that perhaps there is more damage than what the eye can see.


Regardlesss or not, your an idiot. Your better off dropping it in the pool.

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Craig Woods
July 7, 2009 6:33 PM
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Spilling the beverage is not the point... if you have damage unrelated to your problem when you send it in to Applecare, they will insist on fixing all of it. My laptop's battery stopped accepting a charge, but because I had dinged the case a year earlier, they would not fix anything under Applecare.

On the plus side, they will refund a pro-rated amount of your Applecare if you cancel. And third party repair shops are usually quite reasonable. If you do have Apple fix, a lot of times you can talk them down, and they will reinstate your Applecare.

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icruise
July 7, 2009 6:47 PM
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I agree that not liking proprietary parts is a nonsensical reason to avoid Macs. Macs these days are not that different from PCs (in fact, they essentially are PCs and can even run Windows natively). There's really not much of a difference between Mac laptops and high-end PC laptops. People making price comparisons always seem to compare Macs with rickety low-end PCs for shock value, but Apple doesn't even try to service the very low end of the market. If you really choose comparable models, Apple comes out pretty well.

The main difference is the software. I just love Mac OS X. It's joy to use. I've never said that about any version of Windows, and I doubt I ever will.

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HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H.
July 7, 2009 8:09 PM
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@icruise:

\"I agree that not liking proprietary parts is a nonsensical reason to avoid Macs. Macs these days are not that different from PCs (in fact, they essentially are PCs and can even run Windows natively).\"

Try shoving a standard ATX motherboard into a Mac Pro.

\"There's really not much of a difference between Mac laptops and high-end PC laptops. People making price comparisons always seem to compare Macs with rickety low-end PCs for shock value, but Apple doesn't even try to service the very low end of the market.\"

Bull. I can get a Lenovo IdeaPad with the same screen size, same processor, comparable graphics card, etc. as a MacBook Pro for several hundred dollars less. That's simply the fact of the matter.

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cheviot
July 7, 2009 7:28 PM
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Guys, you're all pretty much missing the point. The guy spilled liquid on his laptop. This voids the warranty until he pays an Apple Authorized Repair Center to do the repair, at which point the whole unit comes back under warranty protection.

So, he spilled Snapple, he payed the $300 for the new top cover assembly. His warranty should have been reinstated at this point, but because the technician thought he had reconnected the fan properly when he had not, he noted that the motherboard was bad when it was not.

Apple, however, has no way of knowing that what the technician said isn't correct. They can't just reinstate the warranty saying all the spill damage was repaired, because as far as they know the laptop is still broken and if they reinstated the warranty they could be liable later for repairs on the still-broken laptop. To make sure that doesn't happen they want to inspect the laptop to make sure it's working before they reinstate the warranty.

It's that simple.

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gryklin
July 8, 2009 3:37 AM
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@cheviot: Actually I inquired about this with the Genius bar, the tech, and the manager. All of them told me even if they ran the diagnostics for a few days nonstop, and it all came back green...

my warranty would not be reinstated unless I paid $1340.

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Skater009
July 7, 2009 7:33 PM
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DO NOT GET SERVICE AT AN APPLE RETAIL STORE EVER

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coren
July 7, 2009 7:38 PM
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I think the OP is getting mixed messages - is it the liquid that voided his warranty, or him fixing the technician's mistake?

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jeremy77
July 7, 2009 8:05 PM
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Apple's knowledge-base entries are clear on this: only parts damaged by liquid are not covered by warranty; it does not void warranty on the rest of the machine. Your tech should have ran Apple diagnostics before replacing the keyboard assembly to verify that nothing else was damaged because it doesn't make any sense to replace your keyboard assembly if the logic board is faulty as well. If your fan was damaged due to liquid (as they claim) this would have showed up during the initial diagnostics scan without question. Since they either didn't do it or it passed before working on it, they have to prove that liquid actually damaged the logic board by the presence of a stain or residue. You are also well within your rights to open up the machine without voiding the warranty. Obviously, anything you break while doing it won't be covered. Have your tech read the Liquid Submersion Indicator knowledge-base entry. I repair Apple machines under warranty at a University, so that's how I know this...

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AdvocatesDevil
July 7, 2009 9:06 PM
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Um, how much is a \"little bit\" in your world? If it was enough that you have to replace the case, that was a heck of a lot of drink!!!! When I spill a \"little bit\" of a drink, I clean it up and all is well in my world. Sounds like someone is fibbing a bit to try to weasel some free repairs!

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LatherRinseRepeat
July 7, 2009 10:18 PM
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Get a Thinkpad. The chassis/keyboard has built-in outlets to handle liquid spills.

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FLConsumer
July 8, 2009 12:05 AM
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@LatherRinseRepeat: That's almost my thought on this. The only systems we use in my office are Lenovo Thinkpads and MacBook Pros. It'd be nice if Apple would find a way to create liquid channels the way Lenovo has. It shouldn't be all that difficult with the way the Unibody MBPs are constructed.

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Chase Teschendorf
July 8, 2009 1:38 AM
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Apple Customer Service sucks. I really hate dealing with them, and they always come up with a reason that your unit isn't under warranty. Your iPod has a small scratch... ABUSE! They always have some unreasonable excuse to void your warranty.

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Anonymous
July 8, 2009 2:26 AM
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From what I know this is what I believe apple policy is (coming from a friend of mine who is a genius at 5th Avenue): 1st the Smith Haven should not have done the first repair to begin with. Any type of liquid damage voids the warranty and must be done via Depot Repair at $1240 for a MacBook Pro 15/17\", no matter how much damage their is. Secondly opening up an Apple notebook in and of its self does not void the warranty. Installing user installable parts do not void warranty as long as they do not cause damage. Finally a fan in an Apple notebook is NOT a user installable part and that is why it is no longer covered not to mention and residual liquid damage. Further what is not being noticed here is the fact that this store tried to go above and beyond to begin with and did a repair their really not supposed to and tried to save the customer money. As for the seeded cable, from personal experience i can say that a cable can look seeded when it is not and the tech might have believed it was seeded and that is why he stated it must of been the liquid.

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Matt Simpson
July 8, 2009 2:40 AM
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This story really makes no sense. His chain of events makes no sense. Obviously he went in and was deceitful about the problem, knowing full well he'd voided his warranty with the liquid damage. Thus, he signed off on the repairs for $320 to his keyboard and such, before they ever opened up the computer.

$1240 is the price of repair for any \"totaled\" computer that reaches Apple (3 major components or more and they outsource the repair and your cost is $1240). However, the problem here is that they likely have evidence of the snapple damage to the logic board, and while the loose cable IS an issue, it was not the problem that they found in all likelihood. They probably have photographic evidence of sticky liquid on the logic board, specifically the part that does not face the customer side of the genius bar. Chances of a sugar-based liquid not destroying the indicator strips, not causing corrosion (assuming he didn't take it out and clean it off), and not actually damaging the functional aspect of the logic board are slim.

Now if he had gone ahead with the $1240 in repairs, he would not have paid for the other $320, as it would have been included in that \"totaled\" state. Why this is even a STORY is beyond me. Apple didn't screw this guy at all! What an effin' chump!

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gryklin
July 8, 2009 3:32 AM
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@Matt Simpson: Hi Matt, this is the OP, Gennadiy. The amount of Snapple spilled onto the keyboard was inconsequential, just enough to damage the keyboard. If you check iFixIts site, you'll see the top assembly is completely protected on the underside with thick black plastic from the rest of the circuitry. There is literally no way the fan circuitry could've been damaged by liquid, that coupled with the fact that it started working fine and the idle temperature was literally halved by my work, which Apple would've charged me almost $1,500 for... the Apple store is 100% at fault for their mistake.

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NotYou007
July 8, 2009 3:15 AM
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I will never understand why anyone eats or drinks around their laptops. I own an Asus net book and you will never catch me eating or drinking anything near it.


If you own a laptop or net book DO NOT EAT or DRINK ANYTHING while using it. If you must eat or drink fluids, place the food or drink on a table that forces you to walk away from where the laptop or net book is.

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gryklin
July 8, 2009 3:35 AM
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It was an honest mistake. Anyway, with my old Dell if I ever spilled anything on the keyboard, they would overnight me a new keyboard, free of charge, and it would take less than a minute to pop it out a new one in. AND there was accidental coverage included in my extra warranty. This is something Apple seriously needs to consider. Making money at the cost of the consumer's happiness with the brand is not a smart move.

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Joseph Chang
July 8, 2009 4:34 AM
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lol that isn't that bad.

a friend spit Apple Juice on my MacBook Unibody (b4 the pro one came out).

To replace all the parts that got damaged it would have cost my friend $2200.

So now she has that machine and I am typing this from my MacBook Pro 13\".

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Joseph Chang
July 8, 2009 4:35 AM
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@Joseph Chang:

*split* not spit =.=;

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Joseph Chang
July 8, 2009 4:55 AM
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@Joseph Chang:

spilt

god dammit I need sleep

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MightyCow
July 8, 2009 4:52 AM
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I have a laptop rider on my renter's insurance. I use my laptop a lot, so it's absolutely worth the $100 a year to cover against coffee spills, use damage, and breaking.

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89macrunner
July 8, 2009 5:08 AM
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bhahahha.. this guy has nothing on me.

I spilled hot chocolate ALL over my late 2008 MBP. It was completely fried. Logic board was DEAD.

So instead of being an idiot and telling apple what I did.

I took the computer apart and cleaned every piece thoroughly with alcohol. Once it was all cleaned and put back together I took it to the apple store..

I got there and said oh man.. my computer won't turn on! I don't know what to do!.

So they replaced my logic board. I even fried both sticks of ram I had (aftermarket 4GB set) and they replaced that with apple certified RAM.

I now have a 100% working MBP..well the keyboard doesn't glow anymore, but who cares!

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randombob
July 8, 2009 2:16 PM
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Is it just me, am I reading it wrong? What I read in this post is that Apple is telling the guy that they will reinstate the warranty if he sends it in, presumably to be checked out.

What's the big f'ing deal then? That's not an unreasonable request; you spilt snapple over the thing, and then had issues that could have been (and could still be) related, and the only way they can check it out would be to, um, check it out.

That's what I'm getting from the beginning of that last paragraph.

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kevjohn
July 8, 2009 3:04 PM
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Spilled Snapple on his Apple, and now his warranty is crapple.

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John Bautista Virata
July 8, 2009 3:43 PM
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waterproof keyboards have been available for years on Windows notebooks such as Lenovo and Systemax. Apple needs to copy this technology and make it available on its notebooks. Apple finally added SD card slots to the MBP, so in a few years, they might add waterproof keyboards.

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kgmoome
July 8, 2009 10:42 PM
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I'm pretty sure there isn't a way for Apple to find out that the computer has been opened by you. There are stickers that say \"void if removed\" for that.

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