About to do my keyboard repair program for 2017 MacBook Pro. Anything to look for? Do they replace the entire top case?

[NovemberWhiskey]

Has anyone who has done the warranty repair for faulty keyboards had any tips or tricks I should look for?

My primary concern is damage to my MacBook Pro while they perform the service.

Do you recommend bringing it in to a local store, or sending it in via mail. Are there any differences in service detail?

Do they replace the whole top case including the battery?

 

[chrfr]

Has anyone who has done the warranty repair for faulty keyboards had any tips or tricks I should look for?

My primary concern is damage to my MacBook Pro while they perform the service.

Do you recommend bringing it in to a local store, or sending it in via mail. Are there any differences in service detail?

Do they replace the whole top case including the battery?

Yes, the entire top case including the battery is replaced. There's no difference in the end result if you have it done in-store or ship it in.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Yes, the entire top case including the battery is replaced. There's no difference in the end result if you have it done in-store or ship it in.

I brought my 2017 15” MBP to the store and they shipped it away for the repair. Took about a week, and it was shipped to my house so I didn’t have to go back to the store to retrieve it.

 

[icanhazmac]

Enjoy, last time they "lost" mine for about 3-4 days. Only got answers after emailing Timmy.

 

[flyersgl]

I dropped mine off at the store on a Thursday evening and got it back first thing Tuesday morning via fed ex to my home.

 

[Christopher Kim]

No tips really, pretty straightforward. Length of time depends on which Apple Store you drop it off at (if you do in-store) and whether they do this repair on-site or off-site. I did at a large Toronto Apple Store, dropped off on Fri morning, got back on Sunday.

Yes, you get a whole new top case, so new battery, speakers, keyboard, trackpad, etc.

Would make sure you do the typical backups, turn off "Find My Mac", etc. I got my computer back as-is (all files, user profiles, etc.), and so should you, but should have a good Time Machine / CCC backup just in case something happens during the repair.

 

[profcutter]

Dropped my wife’s off on a Saturday at 1, it was ready at 4. Just back everything up before you go.

 

[mrt.plt]

It totally depends on the person working on your MacBook. You might have an amazing experience, or in rare cases, you might have to wait a long time. They once tried to hand me a computer that wouldn't turn on. Once they messed up the Touch ID sensor and once they installed a top bar with dents on it.
Just don't forget that they reset the computer so make sure to back up everything.

 

[cmaier]

It totally depends on the person working on your MacBook. You might have an amazing experience, or in rare cases, you might have to wait a long time. They once tried to hand me a computer that wouldn't turn on. Once they messed up the Touch ID sensor and once they installed a top bar with dents on it.
Just don't forget that they reset the computer so make sure to back up everything.

They don’t reset the computer unless something else is going on (e.g. they need to replace the motherboard for some reason).

Back up anyway, but in all likelihood you will get your machine back with everything still on it. (Good idea to make sure the guest account is turned on and either password-less or you tell them the password. Though in my experience they didn’t need it for this particular repair, which I had done twice.)