13 month old mb magsafe exploded. what to do? what to do?

[vultureparade]

If you have Applecare there is absolutely no reason why Apple shouldn't replace their complete failure of a power adapter. If they tell you you have to pay for it you should raise hell.

If you don't have Applecare, there still isn't much reason why Apple shouldn't replace it. Tell them it almost got you killed. Tell them your dog burst into flame.

But this is another good example of why you should get Applecare on these laptops. It's not that big of an investment and you're covered for three years.

 

[phuong]

what the hell. i went to the apple store at my school (Concordia U) - the guy said i had to pay $99 for it since it's out of warranty. i refused and am calling apple support right now. they transfered me back and forth, i've been waiting for the transfer for almost an hour now

 

[phuong]

ahh, after over an hour just when i was about to hang up, a lady picked it up and... transfered me again. i talked to a specialist for about 40 minutes and he's sending me a new unit, which should arrive next Tuesday - i guess that's because today's Friday.
anyways, i'm still a happy customer so far.

 

[The Flashing Fi]

what the hell. i went to the apple store at my school (Concordia U) - the guy said i had to pay $99 for it since it's out of warranty. i refused and am calling apple support right now. they transfered me back and forth, i've been waiting for the transfer for almost an hour now

Yeah, that's BS that they wanted you to pay 99 bucks for a replacement. Out of warranty or not, it's a safety hazard on Apple's part and you could have sued them and started up a class action lawsuit against them. I'm very surprised that Apple hasn't recalled the units yet and hurried up with a replacement. All it takes is for someone to leave their computer hooked up to the magsafe over night or when they're away, and boom, house on fire, and it would all be Apple's fault.

 

[deadpixels]

Yeah, that's BS that they wanted you to pay 99 bucks for a replacement. Out of warranty or not, it's a safety hazard on Apple's part and you could have sued them and started up a class action lawsuit against them. I'm very surprised that Apple hasn't recalled the units yet and hurried up with a replacement. All it takes is for someone to leave their computer hooked up to the magsafe over night or when they're away, and boom, house on fire, and it would all be Apple's fault.

life's boring without a little bit of risk, don't you think?

 

[phuong]

life's boring without a little bit of risk, don't you think?

that is why things like bungy jumping, sky diving and rollercoaster exist - people can experience (and enjoy?) the risks without having to suffer the consequences
but that's another story.

 

[The Flashing Fi]

life's boring without a little bit of risk, don't you think?

LOL!

The OP might want to get home insurance if he doesn't already.

 

[taybo20]

Any word on a new, updated power unit?

 

[reubs]

Finally noticed that my MacBook adapter is fraying at the connector. I'm going to call Apple tomorrow and hopefully get a free replacement sent out. I'll keep folks posted. It's an original Macbook bought in August of 06, so it's just under 15 months old. I'll be livid if they don't replace this.

 

[DaLurker]

I had a MBP power adapter where I could see bare cord around the adapter itself. I took it in and they exchanged it without even looking at the warranty for my MBP (didn't bring that with me).

If you guys see bare wires on your power adapter, please for everyone's safety bring it in asap!

 

[reubs]

On the phone with Apple now, and the rep said they can't replace it for me (bought in Aug. 06) even though it's a common problem. However, they'd be happy to send me a new one. I'm waiting to talk to a supervisor. Not looking good for Apple in this my first CSR experience.

 

[72930]

On the phone with Apple now, and the rep said they can't replace it for me (bought in Aug. 06) even though it's a common problem. However, they'd be happy to send me a new one. I'm waiting to talk to a supervisor. Not looking good for Apple in this my first CSR experience.

Phone your local store, hopefully they'll give you a new one on the spot like they did for me...

 

[e12a]

if that doesnt work, walk in to your nearest apple store, and ask the manager for a new power brick while holding the damaged one in plain sight for other customers to see. If he refuses, raise a stink.

 

[reubs]

Phone your local store, hopefully they'll give you a new one on the spot like they did for me...

That's the problem. I don't have a local store. The nearest one is about two hours away, and I'm not sure I'll find that block of time any time soon. However, if the conversation with the supervisor doesn't go well I may be on my way to one of the retail stores anyway.

(fingers crossed)

 

[portent]

Report it to the CPSC (if you're in the US) or the appropriate safety agency in your country.

http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html

 

[celebrian23]

I've had this happen twice (last time was on thursday) and i wish they would go back to the old, safer design

 

[sturigdson]

it is the AC adapter of the macbook (core duo, not core 2 duo) which i bought for my gf last year. it suddenly exploded right at its neck (where it connects to the laptop. the laptop is fine - although it was excessively hot when this happened. i tried to plug my mbp's magsafe in, and it also worked fine.

how should i tell apple about this? the machine is 13-month old. i didnt buy apple care.

Well, you could take it to the store and see if they'll replace it. They might. Frankly, so many of these things are going down [my own included] that it seems there's a pretty significant design flaw.

But think about it like this: if they don't replace it, what are you going to do? You'll have to power the computer somehow in order to use it, and magsafe is the only way to power it, and apple is the only company that makes magsafe power supplies. You can keep using your MBP supply, maybe, but...

you're gonna have to get a new MB supply one way or another eventually...

 

[reubs]

Appears to be handled. Spoke to someone (probably a supervisor), and they are sending one out this week. I had to give them a CC # to insure they get the old one back, but that's fine. We'll just see if I get charged for the new one down the road.

 

[loafer]

twice for me

I've also had the power adapter fray - twice.


The first time was last July - the magsafe end frayed, so I replaced it.


Last week on Sunday, I notice fraying once again - this time on the adapter end!!!!!

I brought it into the apple store, but they had no adapters in stock (awaiting shipments of the new adapter) - so I am picking up the new one tommorow.

Here is the picture of the adapter end fraying

 

[kbonney]

ridiculous

so mine is beginning to do this as well. on the magsafe side. but the wires are not exposed yet, although i have to twist the cord around until i get a connection and the light turns on. i am nervous to ever unplug my macbook because what if i cannot get it to connect when i try to change it again?!?! ahhh. i tried bringing just the chord into my apple store and they said i had to make a genius bar appt. and bring in my laptop. how did some of you have such ease in getting a new one? i guess i will call tomorrow and if that doesnt work i will have to go to the store again next week. ugh....

 

[Wild-Bill]

Apple still hasn't fixed this???

Put down the damn iPhone Steve and google "Quality Control". Jeeze.

 

[hohohong]

I know before SR MBP, the adapter is the bigger bulk power brick. Then, they changed to smaller one like MB. I heard there are problem with that.

Did apple change it back to the bigger bulk power brick? Or is it the MB size adapter?

 

[killerwhack]

Look at the plastic

The plastic housing for the connector looks "beat up" to me. I imagine that cable has been dragged, twisted, pinched and bent in every way possible.

Apple could have specified some kind of stiffener on the cable where it enters the connector but that would make it more difficult to manage at the laptop.

I would say to treat electric cords with mroe respect & care.

 

[GavinTing]

so mine is beginning to do this as well. on the magsafe side. but the wires are not exposed yet, although i have to twist the cord around until i get a connection and the light turns on. i am nervous to ever unplug my macbook because what if i cannot get it to connect when i try to change it again?!?! ahhh. i tried bringing just the chord into my apple store and they said i had to make a genius bar appt. and bring in my laptop. how did some of you have such ease in getting a new one? i guess i will call tomorrow and if that doesnt work i will have to go to the store again next week. ugh....

email sjobs@apple.com

 

[unixfool]

The plastic housing for the connector looks "beat up" to me. I imagine that cable has been dragged, twisted, pinched and bent in every way possible.

Apple could have specified some kind of stiffener on the cable where it enters the connector but that would make it more difficult to manage at the laptop.

I would say to treat electric cords with mroe respect & care.

I've got a crack in mine at the magsafe connection. As soon as my wife returns my camera (she's visiting relatives), I'll post pics. Mine definitely doesn't have any 'beat up" look and hasn't been dragged, twisted, pinched and bent in every way possible.

People forget that these are portable devices and that parts that are constantly disconnected will have far more wear/tear than a desktop's power plug...Apple definitely could've made these pieces more robust. This is ridiculous and if I have to pay money out of my pocket for this, this WILL be my last apple purchase. Can you imagine having to purchase one of these every year because they've a design flaw that they won't fix???