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Apple quality control

M

mzbe

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 31, 2012
25
7
Today I received my 4th rMBP. I had returned 3 and reordered, this has been going on for more than a month now.

Prior rMBPs had big display problems (LG screens), which is why I returned them.
This one had a good display (surprisingly: LG), but ...:

The packaging had smudge marks inside, the keyboard likewise, and the outer casing has rust colored scratch marks (which will not come off, it's not just dirt). Also a deep scratch across the Apple logo.

This is disgusting (and would reduce the resale value significantly). Looks like a 10 year old rusty car, not like a brand new premium laptop.
Judge for yourself:
2u6imwo.jpg


My theory: This is a refurb unit, which is why they applied higher quality standards to re-certify the functional components like the display. Great progress there, I hope the same standards will make it into the primary assembly and quality control procedures.
Now, while bringing the electronics in good shape, the handling of the case and accessories during that procedure was done with pitchforks while eating pizza (paw prints on the keys).

What's silly: I bought one of those keyboard protectors and a sticker to put on the back to keep the machine in pristine condition. Oh, the irony!!!
Hmmm ... Right now I am so angry with Apple that I will just consider that $60 a write off, as I am not going to put in another order for the current gen rMBP, for sure.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
5 rMBPs and I've yet to get a decent screen and/or chassis. My first was just as scratched/scuffed as yours. It absolutely looked used or like it slid across the factory floor and into the box.

Waiting on Executive Relations response and then I'm done with this model.
 
I can understand the repeating of exchanges gets frustrating. We expect quality and perfection, that's why we are buying Apple products and paying extra in the first place.

I've just got my first unit two days ago, I too was afraid of going through many exchanges and but have not found any issues so far with this unit. I have a week 31. What week is yours?
 
Ouch I got a perfect samsung display on my first try, this machine is a beast and Im yet to see a flaw lol.
 
pgiguere1 said:
No, it's a close-up picture of the screen.

The Apple logo is a reflection of the back of his iPad, which he used to take the picture, hence the black Apple.

;)
Click to expand...

I'm gonna take your word for it. I couldn't for the life of me figure out which angle that was taken from..
 
retinarob said:
I'm gonna take your word for it. I couldn't for the life of me figure out which angle that was taken from..
Click to expand...

By "reflection", I didn't mean a natural one. Otherwise the iPad's camera would be visible in the picture. It's actually Photo Booth filming the iPad and displaying it on the rMBP's screen. You don't see the iPad's camera on screen because the rMBP's webcam is located lower than the iPad's. Judging by the aspect ratio, the image also appears to be cropped, possibly so that you don't see OP's face in the reflection of Photobooth's reflection of the iPad's camera. All you see is the Apple logo.

;)
 
Apple QC has been notoriously bad for a while now. All you can keep doing is exchanging till you get a good one.

Or if you live in the UK, keep going until the pathetic customer service guys tell you enough is enough, and your left with the option of keeping an expensive turd or returning for a refund, before going through the whole order process again.
 
pgiguere1 said:
By "reflection", I didn't mean a natural one. Otherwise the iPad's camera would be visible in the picture. It's actually Photo Booth filming the iPad and displaying it on the rMBP's screen. You don't see the iPad's camera on screen because the rMBP's webcam is located lower than the iPad's. Judging by the aspect ratio, the image also appears to be cropped, possibly so that you don't see OP's face in the reflection of Photobooth's reflection of the iPad's camera. All you see is the Apple logo.

;)
Click to expand...

is that really the only way to get that picture? or are you pulling my leg?
 
I went through two retina Macbooks. The first had dust behind the display and the second had dents and scratches ALL OVER the body. I got them to replace the second one, but before the third one shipped out, I just called them back and said "**** it, I'm done" and got my refund. Very unhappy with my recent experiences with Apple.
 
knarzie said:
Just clocked your signature striker. That is a lot of bad luck!
Click to expand...

Sadly theres a limit to what can be in a signature, otherwise it would be pages long.

Took 4 iMac returns before I got a good screen. 2 iPhone 4's died on me, iPhone 4S screen died on me, 2 iPod touch 4th gen screens actually fell off because the adhesive was applied so poorly. Even my original 1st gen iPad has half a yellow screen, but as it was bought on eBay I had to live with it.

Basically, Apple suck at attaching LCD panels to panes of glass.
 
klover said:
5 rMBPs and I've yet to get a decent screen and/or chassis. My first was just as scratched/scuffed as yours. It absolutely looked used or like it slid across the factory floor and into the box.

Waiting on Executive Relations response and then I'm done with this model.
Click to expand...

I'm kind of curious what other problems you encountered. There are some extremely valid ones listed, then the forum has a couple troll threads with people trying to induce image persistence on their displays.

striker33 said:
Basically, Apple suck at attaching LCD panels to panes of glass.
Click to expand...

I call that more of a design flaw. There will always be some amount of sample variation in manufacturing. Their intended design needs to be something where Foxconn can turn out completed units within spec at the required volume levels. If the design tolerances are tighter than can be managed at the assembly level, that is a problem. Of course consistency in manufacturing matters too, yet there are many ways
 
do all you people complaining about screen quality own Pioneer Kuros and Sharp Elites?

all of you must otherwise you likely own an hdtv with imperfections much worse than that of the retina display.

these uniformity issues wont end til the industry moves to oled.
 
I call complete and total BS on this post. The photo is not of a RMBP - it's of an iPad. The OP says there is a scratch across the Apple logo - well the scratch in the picture is across a dark Apple logo. How can this be a reflection? A reflection of what, a scratched iPad? LOL

Nice try.

----------
pgiguere1 said:
It's actually Photo Booth filming the iPad and displaying it on the rMBP's screen. You don't see the iPad's camera on screen because the rMBP's webcam is located lower than the iPad's. Judging by the aspect ratio, the image also appears to be cropped, possibly so that you don't see OP's face in the reflection of Photobooth's reflection of the iPad's camera. All you see is the Apple logo.
Click to expand...

So you just confirmed what I said earlier… this is a picture of the back of an iPad! The iPad took a photograph of the RMBP's screen while displaying an image on the screen of the back of the iPad using the RMBP's FaceTime camera. So again, the picture is of the back of an iPad, not a Retina MBP!
 
max pl said:
do all you people complaining about screen quality own Pioneer Kuros and Sharp Elites?

all of you must otherwise you likely own an hdtv with imperfections much worse than that of the retina display.

these uniformity issues wont end til the industry moves to oled.
Click to expand...

I complain and I own a Kuro which, incidentally, suffers from the purple blotch issue. Display technology is such that consistent yields are difficult but that can be offset with proper QA.
 
thekev said:
I'm kind of curious what other problems you encountered. There are some extremely valid ones listed, then the forum has a couple troll threads with people trying to induce image persistence on their displays.
Click to expand...

Most of the five panels had acceptable levels of backlight bleed (mostly on left-hand side) but all had distracting tint and very poor brightness uniformity. I'm reasonable in my expectations of a product that is produced in these quantities but Apple's IPS vendors seems to be passing a lot of B-grade panels to them.
 
AZREOSpecialist said:
So you just confirmed what I said earlier… this is a picture of the back of an iPad! The iPad took a photograph of the RMBP's screen while displaying an image on the screen of the back of the iPad using the RMBP's FaceTime camera. So again, the picture is of the back of an iPad, not a Retina MBP!
Click to expand...

I was just kidding... This is not an iPad, an iPad isn't even that wide.
 
pgiguere1 said:
I was just kidding... This is not an iPad, an iPad isn't even that wide.
Click to expand...

So please explain why the Apple logo in the OP's photo is black (like an iPad) when the logo on the RMBP is white? How is the OP's photo not of an iPad again?

To the OP - really? You find it amusing to post photos of your scratched-up iPad to a bogus thread about your defective RMBP? Get some friends.
 
AZREOSpecialist said:
So please explain why the Apple logo in the OP's photo is black (like an iPad) when the logo on the RMBP is white? How is the OP's photo not of an iPad again?

To the OP - really? You find it amusing to post photos of your scratched-up iPad to a bogus thread about your defective RMBP? Get some friends.
Click to expand...

I just told you, an iPad in portrait mode is not that wide.

It looks black because the screen is off and the glossy layer of transparent plastic in the logo is reflecting something dark.

This is a picture of my MBA with a similar effect:

7158079177_0fff253677_z_d.jpg


It's not as dark because it's reflecting my ceiling which is white but you get the idea.
 
You're complaining about two small nicks when you plan on placing some stickers on the back.


Just use the damn thing.
 
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