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Cody Dawg · Oct 25, 2006, 07:29 AM

Hello Everyone:

I was wondering, how many of you/us have had a Mac or Apple item completely replaced under AppleCare warranty?

For the second time in about 10 years Apple is replacing my/our PowerBook. The first time was because a new rev A 550Mhz Titanium PowerBook had the hinges snap right in half at the bezel of the display.

This time it's because the PowerBook has been sent in a 3 times over 2 months and they can't figure out what's wrong with it and they don't want to pay more money trying to repair it and just want to replace it outright. They offered this about a month ago and I declined because I'm attached to my PowerBook but now it looks like the only thing to do and though I appreciate Apple's gesture, I just wish my PowerBook could have been repaired. It was only 1 year old. They said that they will no longer repair it but will replace it instead.

I just wondered how many times Apple has done this for others? The Apple executive said it's very common with Apple to do this. Is she right?

I know that this was a great gesture on Apple's behalf, but I actually wanted to keep my PowerBook for sentimental reasons so although I'm grateful, I just wish it was fixed instead.

Peter · Oct 25, 2006, 09:52 AM

Its not common, but not totally unheard of.
It's usually very hard to convince apple to give you an entire new machine, I'd be happy with it Cody

Cody Dawg · Oct 25, 2006, 10:02 AM

I am happy, Peter, and I think a great deal of Apple for making the gesture.

I just think that Apple must be the only company who does such a thing? I told Apple to give me a refurbished older machine because that would make me happy (even the same older refurbished model that I currently have would have been great) but she said: "We don't give old or used or refurbished machines to customers whose machines we are replacing."

A friend of mine recently had Dell replace her 1 year old Dell notebook and Dell sent her a refurbished unit.

And when I've had to have HP replace a printer they have sent refurbished units and not new.

So Apple must be the only company that has the practice of replacing used or old for brand new if necessary?

Peter · Oct 25, 2006, 10:04 AM

Hmm, depends on the cover really.
A friend of mine had problems with his Crapard Bell-- Packard Bell laptop. And PC World sent him a new laptop.
On the other hand he forked out almost $800 for 3 years warranty so..

Doofy · Oct 25, 2006, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I know that this was a great gesture on Apple's behalf, but I actually wanted to keep my PowerBook for sentimental reasons so although I'm grateful, I just wish it was fixed instead.

First rule: Don't attach any sentimental value to computers. They're produced by an industry where the average product lifespan is three weeks and which views your purchase as a commodity. Heck, it wouldn't surprise me if the internal business model of hardware companies treats your purchase as a sort of licence to use (same as software), rather than a hard purchase.

Get your hubby (or whoever) to buy stuff like diamond rings for sentimental attachment purposes. They last longer.

Doofy · Oct 25, 2006, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Peter

Hmm, depends on the cover really.
A friend of mine had problems with his Crapard Bell-- Packard Bell laptop. And PC World sent him a new laptop.
On the other hand he forked out almost $800 for 3 years warranty so..

They didn't do that with my Sony Vaio (from PC World, under a 5-year warranty). They kept sending the bloody thing back to Sony - it must have spent about a year of its five year life in a Belgian service centre.

Cody Dawg · Oct 25, 2006, 10:19 AM

Well, THAT is true: We have always had AppleCare on every single system. Every one of them.

itai195 · Oct 25, 2006, 10:36 AM

I haven't had them ever replace one of mine. I had an old PowerBook that had its motherboard, or whatever Apple likes to call it in a laptop, replaced twice and they did not replace the whole laptop.

Thanks for the AppleCare reminder. We got a Macbook this year and still need to get AppleCare for it. Never bought it for my desktop G5 though, it's still going more than 3 years later and has never needed a repair.

Cody Dawg · Oct 25, 2006, 10:39 AM

I honestly cannot think of a better investment than AppleCare, especially for a PowerBook/MacBook or iBook.

It's truly worth every dime.

Peter · Oct 25, 2006, 11:21 AM

I've bought it for two PowerBooks and a MacBook.
Never used it.
Ever.
*touch wood*

paul w · Oct 25, 2006, 11:34 AM

They replaced my iPod at the Palo Alto store. I guess the road trip through Death Valley got a little bumpy and the hard drive died. The Genius checked it and said "Yep it's dead alright" and gave me a new one.

My TiBook had its display, hard drive and logic board replaced by the end of its Apple Care period so it was LIKE new. Still works like a champ!