JackClark

So my 2010 Macbook started panicking a while ago, think Windows blue screen of death but prettier. Online checks suggest a hardware fault, oh no! Booked a Genius appointment and took it to the Apple store, was my usual charming self which resulted in a £480 bill for a new motherboard being reduced to zero, yes, zero.

The only bummer is it'll take a week, but no biggie I have my eight year old iMac to use, it's as good as the day I bought it.

Total cost of ownership people, can't state it enough.

dpb

Jack the way you spout on they should have paid you

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

There is no way apple would put a new motherboard in a 4 year old laptop as a goodwill gesture. They stick to the 1 year warranty unless you argue your case.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

And £480 for a motherboard? Who are you trying to con?

jonc

A Macbook fails catastrophically after only 4 years, you just can't get the quality these days no matter how much you pay . My 2006 IBM ThinkPad T60 upgraded with SSD and running Windows 7 still going strong, it just works!

Ant

It's a logic board a bit different to a PC motherboard

We'll played jack there good outcome.

Just fixed my MacBook 2010 last night too. Needed a new sata cable. Had to ordered from L.A and it arrived in 4 days

dpb

You need go 6 thousand miles for a cable, quite amazing

JackClark

This was a known manufacturing defect, they stated six years from purchase due to EU law. So there is a way.

JackClark

I honestly would have paid it, my MacBook is still a rocket ship and a pleasure to work on. The last of the matte screens as well.

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

Same here, but mines a T61P, put a samsung pro SSD in and maxxed the RAM to a wopping 4GB its still adequate after all this time

JackClark

I did the SSD upgrade earlier this year, big difference in any machine.

I'd do this 8 year old iMac but it's 32bit only and maxed at a whopping 2GB, adequate like yours but I need more than adequate.

JackClark

I definitely got the quality I paid for, quality location to take it to, quality service, zero cost. Blazing fast Macbook for the last four years and no doubt for the next four years as well.

You enjoy your IBM, I enjoyed the two I've owned but just couldn't go back to Windows or Ubuntu, too much work too much hassle.

tony de wonderful

They probably felt bad for taking so much money off you over the years.

mart360

That says you owe £482 for the part/ repair.

Show us the bit the takes off the £482, and then we know you got it for free..

Mart

JackClark

That's all I have Mart, you'll just have to believe me, maybe when I pick it up there'll be another receipt, otherwise you're welcome to come round in a month and go through my bank statements, I'll even make you a cup of tea.

Aaron1978

iTrader: (12)

So, unless you knew about the above, they would have (and probably have others already) let you pay £480 for a known defect?

Seems to me they didn't want to rock the boat of letting their loyal customers pay for their mistakes

JackClark

No, I did know about the defect and have known about it for a good while. I mentioned the Kernel Panic and had the report on screen. The first thing the young man did after seeing it was GPU based was run a special test just for this fault. He told me about it.

He went straight to his manager for authorisation of a FOC repair, then checked stock and that was it. His notes that I signed on his iPad mentioned EU Law and six years, I didn't take a photo.

I was fully prepared to pay £400 when I walked in, probably would have paid the £500 but would also have been tempted to upgrade to a new MacBook, but £2,500 is a lot of pennies right now especially when I want a new iPad.

Aaron1978

iTrader: (12)

So to sum things up, Apple did something they're required to do by Law, and you actually charmed no one

Ant

Not quite I was sat at home when I ordered it .......

People in the uk wanted £80 I paid £26.

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

That's what I meant by arguing your case, years ago apple had fantastic customer service but now they will turn away someone who has a faulty product 366 days after buying it unless they know their rights!

JackClark

I've never had a hardware problem that wasn't covered beyond warranty. My Time Capsule was very old when it was replaced.

I didn't argue my case, I walked in with an error on screen and walked out happy. I could have argued my case, but didn't need to.

JackClark

Wouldn't it be great if every computer company did everything they were required to do. I definitely charmed him, there were all sorts in there that day, it's a popular place.

Aaron1978

iTrader: (12)

You're very strange Jack, you do actually believe your own stories, even when you contradict yourself and it's there in English. As you were

Ant

jack word of advice when the swapped my logic board they didn't flash my original serial number to the board it gave me some right problems with iMessage and authentication of stuff.

took me a few hours to find and the apple serialiser tool, can only be used once on the motherboard but if you do need it and i can send it you

JackClark

Great tip, cheers. I'll bring it up when I collect it.

JackClark

Apple called today to let me know it will be fixed much sooner than expected, quite likely tomorrow, more great service.

Can't wait to get it back, the 32bit iMac is fine but 32bit has had it's day, I miss my work horse.

jonc

So the final bill:
Motherboard: £24.00
Apple Labour: £378.00
Vat: £80.40
Total:£482.40

Nice!

JackClark

Don't forget the 100 miles worth of Diesel and my time.

dpb

I'm surprised you don't live over shop

Markyscoob

To be fair to them, they make a point about being honest. My Wife's iPhone4S toasted it's Wifi a couple of months ago. I did all the research but when I called Apple, they suggested that as it was over one, but under two I go to the shop directly as there was a 2 year EU warranty rather than Apple's own.

That's the law and they advised me clearly and correctly. Can't fault that at all.

The shop did a quick test and offered a replacement phone FOC and no problem at all. I used the credit against a new 5S but even then they looked up the values against local and internet trade in deals for me in the shop.

Couldn't have been more honest, open and fair.