Apple asked for $1000 to repair a $1300 laptop

PrayForDeath · Nov 20, 2012

It's a MacBook Pro 13" 2011, and it has liquid damage. A glass of water dropped on the table and the water reached the laptop, water didn't fall directly on top of the laptop.

I took it to the Apple store, and the technician took it to the back and studied it for 5 mins then came back and said the following parts need to be replaced:

Logic Board
Top Case
Display

The total ends up around $870, and after tax it's $1000!! (15% tax in Montreal.)

I took it to a local repair shop specialized in macs, and they couldn't fix it. They said the parts are beyond repair.

What should I do? It would be ridiculous to pay $1k to fix this laptop. Any suggestions?

p.s: I know about AppleCare+, and yes it would've been nice to have it, but this is not my laptop (my parents') and I wasn't around when they bought it to suggest AC+

dukebound85 · Nov 20, 2012

sell on CL and put funds towards a new one?

Naimfan · Nov 20, 2012

Either buy a new one or repair it . . .

GGJstudios · Nov 20, 2012

PrayForDeath said:
The total ends up around $870, and after tax it's $1000!! (15% tax in Montreal.)

I took it to a local repair shop specialized in macs, and they couldn't fix it. They said the parts are beyond repair.

Only you can decide if the cost of repair is worth it to you.

PrayForDeath said:
p.s: I know about AppleCare+, and yes it would've been nice to have it, but this is not my laptop (my parents') and I wasn't around when they bought it to suggest AC+

AppleCare+ provides some coverage for accidental damage, but is only available for the iPad and iPhone, not for Apple computers.

184550 · Nov 20, 2012

I'd buy a refurb MacBook. You can get a 'new' one for that kind of money.

DeusInvictus7 · Nov 20, 2012

PrayForDeath said:
p.s: I know about AppleCare+, and yes it would've been nice to have it, but this is not my laptop (my parents') and I wasn't around when they bought it to suggest AC+

This wouldn't have worked either way. AppleCare+ only applies to iPads and iPhones. Mac products only have the regular AppleCare option.

For the topic, I would suggest just putting that $1000 towards a new computer, or buy a used one second hand. There's no point putting that much money into a repair.

ISKOTB · Nov 20, 2012

You can sell it as is and add to the cash and get a new/refurb one or contact repair shops they got bunch on ebay.com maybe its less than :apple:

PrayForDeath said:
It's a MacBook Pro 13" 2011, and it has liquid damage. A glass of water dropped on the table and the water reached the laptop, water didn't fall directly on top of the laptop.

I took it to the Apple store, and the technician took it to the back and studied it for 5 mins then came back and said the following parts need to be replaced:

Logic Board
Top Case
Display

The total ends up around $870, and after tax it's $1000!! (15% tax in Montreal.)

I took it to a local repair shop specialized in macs, and they couldn't fix it. They said the parts are beyond repair.

What should I do? It would be ridiculous to pay $1k to fix this laptop. Any suggestions?

p.s: I know about AppleCare+, and yes it would've been nice to have it, but this is not my laptop (my parents') and I wasn't around when they bought it to suggest AC+

725032 · Nov 20, 2012

What would i do?

Not spill water on it in the first place.

It amazes me how little respect people give to expensive items.

PrayForDeath · Nov 20, 2012

GGJstudios said:
AppleCare+ provides some coverage for accidental damage, but is only available for the iPad and iPhone, not for Apple computers.

Oh wow, did not know that. So MacBook owners have no way to buy insurance against accidents?

NathanMuir said:
I'd buy a refurb MacBook. You can get a 'new' one for that kind of money.

Thanks, I will definitely consider this.

SiPi said:
What would i do?

Not spill water on it in the first place.

It amazes me how little respect people give to expensive items.

Thanks for the input, but this isn't really helping. It's not my laptop, and the damage is done.

GGJstudios · Nov 20, 2012

PrayForDeath said:
Oh wow, did not know that. So MacBook owners have no way to buy insurance against accidents?

Yes, you can buy insurance from an insurance company. There are a few companies that offer accident coverage for computers; just not Apple.

chrisperro · Nov 20, 2012

PrayForDeath said:
It's a MacBook Pro 13" 2011, and it has liquid damage. A glass of water dropped on the table and the water reached the laptop, water didn't fall directly on top of the laptop.

I took it to the Apple store, and the technician took it to the back and studied it for 5 mins then came back and said the following parts need to be replaced:

Logic Board
Top Case
Display

The total ends up around $870, and after tax it's $1000!! (15% tax in Montreal.)

I took it to a local repair shop specialized in macs, and they couldn't fix it. They said the parts are beyond repair.

What should I do? It would be ridiculous to pay $1k to fix this laptop. Any suggestions?

p.s: I know about AppleCare+, and yes it would've been nice to have it, but this is not my laptop (my parents') and I wasn't around when they bought it to suggest AC+

on ebay you can get around 300 or 350 for it, craigslist in montreal probably around 250,
your call

184550 · Nov 20, 2012

PrayForDeath said:
Oh wow, did not know that. So MacBook owners have no way to buy insurance against accidents?

Might be worth checking out if yours/ your parents home insurance/ renters insurance covers anything like this.

Squilly · Nov 20, 2012

GGJstudios said:
Yes, you can buy insurance from an insurance company. There are a few companies that offer accident coverage for computers; just not Apple.

Protect Your Bubble is one of them. Very well worth it. $10 a month (I think) and covers everything you could ever think of, including theft or losing it.

Ccrew · Nov 20, 2012

SiPi said:
What would i do?

Not spill water on it in the first place.

It amazes me how little respect people give to expensive items.

Accidents happen.

Doc750 · Nov 20, 2012

Buy a dell, on sale right now

Squilly · Nov 20, 2012

PrayForDeath said:
It's a MacBook Pro 13" 2011, and it has liquid damage. A glass of water dropped on the table and the water reached the laptop, water didn't fall directly on top of the laptop.

I took it to the Apple store, and the technician took it to the back and studied it for 5 mins then came back and said the following parts need to be replaced:

Logic Board
Top Case
Display

The total ends up around $870, and after tax it's $1000!! (15% tax in Montreal.)

I took it to a local repair shop specialized in macs, and they couldn't fix it. They said the parts are beyond repair.

What should I do? It would be ridiculous to pay $1k to fix this laptop. Any suggestions?

p.s: I know about AppleCare+, and yes it would've been nice to have it, but this is not my laptop (my parents') and I wasn't around when they bought it to suggest AC+

Check http://protectyourbubble.com. They might be able to help you out.

sectime · Nov 20, 2012

SiPi said:
What would i do?

Not spill water on it in the first place.

It amazes me how little respect people give to expensive items.

Most of us aren't a Jedi Knight like you clearly are

richnyc · Nov 20, 2012

NathanMuir said:
I'd buy a refurb MacBook. You can get a 'new' one for that kind of money.

What he said

Sorry

0dev · Nov 20, 2012

If your data is safe, get rid of the computer and buy a new one. A friend of mine did the same thing recently: £1,000 MBP, liquid damage, Apple wanted ~£900 to fix it. She's just getting a new one.

PrayForDeath · Nov 20, 2012

Yeah I think I'll sell it on ebay and get a refurbished MBA 13 for $940.

How much do you think I can get for it? I saw several completed auctions on ebay for $499, is that realistic?

725032 · Nov 20, 2012

sectime said:
Most of us aren't a Jedi Knight like you clearly are

Jedi knights are fictional... No need to be childish

Nyy8 · Nov 20, 2012

I wouldn't expect home owners Insurance to cover the entire thing. I know for a fact, ours we have to pay the first $1000 dollars, and they cover the rest. (Not useful here, since the thing is only worth 1,300)

Shaneuk · Nov 20, 2012

Naimfan said:
Either buy a new one or repair it . . .

Well done, Captain Obvious.

dukebound85 · Nov 20, 2012

GGJstudios said:
Yes, you can buy insurance from an insurance company. There are a few companies that offer accident coverage for computers; just not Apple.

OP, keep in mind that if you pay with a CC, you do have benefits, depending on your card that may or may not cover accidental damage/theft, etc

----------

Nyy8 said:
I wouldn't expect home owners Insurance to cover the entire thing. I know for a fact, ours we have to pay the first $1000 dollars, and they cover the rest. (Not useful here, since the thing is only worth 1,300)

and if you did this route, not only do you pay the deductible, but the act of filing a claim raises your premiums

whooleytoo · Nov 20, 2012

I'm curious how the display requires replacing; if a glass of water spilt near to the laptop and flowed across the desk it shouldn't have affected the display; unless maybe the display circuitry short-circuited and fried the display?

Apple asked for $1000 to repair a $1300 laptop

macrumors 6502

macrumors Core

Suspended

macrumors Westmere

Guest

macrumors 68020

macrumors 6502a

Guest

macrumors 6502

macrumors Westmere

macrumors 6502

Guest

macrumors 68020

macrumors 68020

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 68020

macrumors 6502a

macrumors regular

macrumors 68040

macrumors 6502

Guest

macrumors 6502a

macrumors regular

macrumors Core

macrumors 604

Our Staff