Exactly, that was my whole argument against his post. Perhaps I wasn't clear...
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Apple Refuses to Replace Swollen Battery
- Thread starter jon31rm
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Exactly, that was my whole argument against his post. Perhaps I wasn't clear...
Maybe if you talk dirty to your Macbook, perhaps set a raunchy desktop picture...
i never said a person did
I am saying you buy the extended warranty to cover against manufacturing defects
This is a manufacturing defect and since the OP did not buy the warranty to cover against this very scenario, Apple does not have to replace it
They do if this was part of the battery recall. And it was implied by you that the OP caused the battery to swell. Clearly.
true, but that would imply its a widescale issue
until then, they have no such obligation
Contact the press. Given the popularity of Apple and the image they have created for themselves, together with the recent battery problems that have been covered in the media, it might let your voice be heard.
OP,
Even though your battery is out of warranty, you better still fight to get this replaced. This is altogether a problem that stems from Apple, not you... as I have seen this happen way too often. There is no reason for you to spend more money on a new battery when the same thing could happen again... and again.
You need to get ahold of customer service. Explain to them that you have been an avid Apple user, and believe this could tarnish your relationship of purchasing future Apple products. Call technical support and ask for the number to customer service. I do not have it on me, or I would give it to you.
The other thing is (which should be the last alternative as this is a serious alternative) - to let someone know that is a Tier 1 Rep (supervisor) that you will be contacting the better business bureau about the matter. Apple sure as h*ll does not want that happening, so for something like this - I would make the call if they are not willing to help.
Jon, to make my long story short... contact a supervisor in customer service (not technical support), then if they will not replace this for free, let the supervisor know you are going to contact the BBB! >>http://www.bbb.org/
You are not at fault, and no matter if you are out of the 1 year warranty - a battery should NOT be doing this in the second year of usage!
goodluck,
CrackBookPro
Even though your battery is out of warranty, you better still fight to get this replaced. This is altogether a problem that stems from Apple, not you... as I have seen this happen way too often. There is no reason for you to spend more money on a new battery when the same thing could happen again... and again.
You need to get ahold of customer service. Explain to them that you have been an avid Apple user, and believe this could tarnish your relationship of purchasing future Apple products. Call technical support and ask for the number to customer service. I do not have it on me, or I would give it to you.
The other thing is (which should be the last alternative as this is a serious alternative) - to let someone know that is a Tier 1 Rep (supervisor) that you will be contacting the better business bureau about the matter. Apple sure as h*ll does not want that happening, so for something like this - I would make the call if they are not willing to help.
Jon, to make my long story short... contact a supervisor in customer service (not technical support), then if they will not replace this for free, let the supervisor know you are going to contact the BBB! >>http://www.bbb.org/
You are not at fault, and no matter if you are out of the 1 year warranty - a battery should NOT be doing this in the second year of usage!
goodluck,
CrackBookPro
I agree to a certain extent. If it were a random issue that wasn't common in so many other MacBooks, I would say my mom was out of luck because she did not purchase the extended warranty.
However, it is a common problem. To me, it appears to be a design flaw. Especially since the battery has been through only 31 charge cycles.
For now, the computer is running without a battery. Possibly permanently. My parents have four Apple computers in the house, and my dad isn't quite ready to give them any more of his business. $120 is worth more to Apple than customer loyalty, apparently.
I couldn't agree more. You DIDN'T purchase AppleCare, which covers precisely the types of problems that you're experiencing, and you expect apple to fix your computer free of charge. Unfortunately, you MISSED the recall deadline, and if Apple kept on extending the recalls for their products, then there would be no use for AppleCare. I would either suggest buying a new battery, or waiting till your battery explodes so you can just sue apple
holy..wow...that is just not safe.
if that were me, and got the same service as you, i would be in the face of every apple genius/moron in the store.
a swollen battery is at no fault yours, and even though you don't have apple care, should not be on the hook for a new one.
i would try to keep phoning Apple Care and just rip into them. this is a matter of personal safety
or..go to your local tv station? im from vancouver and our news station has things thing where sometimes consumers explain of their horrible customer service experience.
best of luck to you
if that were me, and got the same service as you, i would be in the face of every apple genius/moron in the store.
a swollen battery is at no fault yours, and even though you don't have apple care, should not be on the hook for a new one.
i would try to keep phoning Apple Care and just rip into them. this is a matter of personal safety
or..go to your local tv station? im from vancouver and our news station has things thing where sometimes consumers explain of their horrible customer service experience.
best of luck to you
I couldn't agree more. You DIDN'T purchase AppleCare, which covers precisely the types of problems that you're experiencing, and you expect apple to fix your computer free of charge. Unfortunately, you MISSED the recall deadline, and if Apple kept on extending the recalls for their products, then there would be no use for AppleCare. I would either suggest buying a new battery, or waiting till your battery explodes so you can just sue apple
First of all, I didn't miss a recall deadline. Our battery was not recalled, despite showing the same signs as those that were recalled.
Secondly, AppleCare covers normal issues that will eventually occur under normal conditions. A hard drive will eventually die. A motherboard will eventually die. A battery will eventually die. These things I would not expect Apple to cover out of warranty.
However, a battery that is at 98% original capacity, only recharged 31 times, swelling up as if it were about to pop out of the computer, and a potential safety hazard? This is not a normal condition, IMO.
If the battery were near the end of its life, I would still not expect it to swell up, but more importantly I wouldn't expect a replacement from Apple.
I agree.
There is a clear manufacturing defect with a battery that has swollen up. It's not just that the battery is past its lifetime.
A lipo battery usually swells up because it has been over discharged past a certain voltage. my guess is the lipo low voltage cut off may be defective.. anyone knows if it is built into the battery or macbook?
I've just had my swollen battery (2006 17" MBP) replaced FOC at the Trafford Centre UK AppleStore. No questions. Very helpful Genius.
I was already to quote safety issues etc, but no need. Don't take no for an answer!
I was already to quote safety issues etc, but no need. Don't take no for an answer!
actually battery swelling can be attributed to a number of factors. it is not necessarily a manufacturing defect. furthermore, apple does not guarantee their products will work forever, as with all technology, Mac parts have unpredictable life cycles and are prone to break down. that's why you buy an extended warranty. OP's battery lasted for atleast a year.
in short, it is OP's fault for not buying applecare
That last bit isn't necessarily true. It's not unreasonable to expect a >$1000 machine to last/work properly for more than a year. In fact, that's exactly why the EU passed consumer protection laws forcing a lot of electronic manufacturers to cover their goods for up to 2 years, regardless of the 1-year warranty specified.
unless i am mistaken his computer still works, its only his batter having issues. Batteries die, quite frequently I might ad.
Assuming his Coconut battery stats are correct, despite being 17mos old, the battery has only been though 31 charge cycles. The battery is part of the computer, so if the battery is malfunctioning, the computer is malfunctioning. That's the way the warranty would see it, and by cycle count, the battery is FAR under it's rated life. I've had numerous laptop batteries last 3+ years easy, never had one die/swell out early in it's life, Macs and Windows machines (Dell, HP, IBM).
That's completely unacceptable in my opinion, both in time and cycles, especially after all the massive recalls of LiPo batteries from a couple years ago. Sure, this issue may be independent of the recalls, but that shows that LiPo batteries when they start swelling can be extremely dangerous and is usually a result of poor manufacturing. Apple claims at least 300 cycles while maintaining >80% charge capacity for these older style (non built in like the new Pros).
If you read around in other swollen battery threads, as well as this one even, many many people have been able to get a swollen battery replaced despite a lack of AppleCare if the charge cycle count is under 300 cycles just by walking in to an Apple store and briefly speaking with a genius or by calling AppleCare and talking to Tier 1 support. This thread's OP seems like he got a bum couple of AppleCare reps, and unfortunately once a case is opened up for a customer, that's viewable to all the reps I believe. With that being the case, it'll be particularly difficult to get a replacement via phone support as they'll all see the denial from the first set of reps.
A swollen battery of that type is not going to be lethal or kill anybody unless they eat it.
For real.
However, that is still a ****ed up battery. It should be replaced, because it is a ****ed up battery. Batteries die all the time. They don't swell.
And newer batteries that swell don't kill people.
What is strange is that the genius took it upon himself to not want to give you one. It doesn't effect his bottom line if he does. To someone like me, it would, but to him, it doesn't. So why is he the one trying to screw you out of a battery?
For real.
However, that is still a ****ed up battery. It should be replaced, because it is a ****ed up battery. Batteries die all the time. They don't swell.
And newer batteries that swell don't kill people.
What is strange is that the genius took it upon himself to not want to give you one. It doesn't effect his bottom line if he does. To someone like me, it would, but to him, it doesn't. So why is he the one trying to screw you out of a battery?
Hmm, perhaps because there is no obligation to give out free batteries? If Apple starts doing that, let me know. I'd love a free iPhone 3gS too, you know, because my original ain't cutting it.
Sarcasm aside, it is so obnoxious to see people assume they're "being screwed" simply because they're not getting something for nothing.
-d
It's not getting something for nothing.
It's getting something in exchange for being given a defective product. It's how manufacturers with proper support networks stand behind their product.
Had his battery died and remained in its original physical form, free of defect, it would have been obnoxious to ask for a replacement. That was not the case here. Understanding the difference between the two situations is what separates you from everyone else.
I have a MacBook that didn't fall under the recall but it did develop a swollen battery. It took me a while to realize why the track pad button would sometimes not work right. Then I noticed the swollen battery. I was prepared to pay the $120 for the replacement battery but thought I would talk to the genius at the store about it. He didn't say a word other than asking me to sign a couple of documents. Mine is the 2nd generation MacBook.
So Apple is giving away free batteries but I don't think that have started giving out free iPhones.
I would say that it is true that Apple doesn't have to give him a new battery but I wouldn't give up yet. If the OP is near a store it is worth a trip to talk to a genius there. Make an appointment online before you go.
PS. I hope your dad is happy with his new PC when he gets it.
So Apple is giving away free batteries but I don't think that have started giving out free iPhones.
I would say that it is true that Apple doesn't have to give him a new battery but I wouldn't give up yet. If the OP is near a store it is worth a trip to talk to a genius there. Make an appointment online before you go.
PS. I hope your dad is happy with his new PC when he gets it.
there was a service bulletin for this at one point but it was closed out on May 31, 2009. I had a battery replaced in a Core Duo MBP under this update.
http://www.apple.com/support/macbook_macbookpro/batteryupdate/
http://www.apple.com/support/macbook_macbookpro/batteryupdate/
got battery replaced
today I called apple support because of a swollen macbook battery, the macbook has 3 months left with apple care.
the guy on the phone explained that usually these defects are known to happen and are not included in normal warranty but he was unsure with regard to apple care and wanted to ask someone else from another department.
the other person called back and explained that this swollen battery is "normal" and not a defect (didn't believe her but didn't say a word), then she explained that she's offering to make an exception to replace it although i didn't notice any impact from the swollen battery.
now while reading through other posts, I also had the clicking problem on the macbook (pushing the trackpad button but it didn't click properly) and I'm happy that apple is going to replace that battery.
maybe the OP should explain again that he has problems with the trackpad button and the macbook is not standing exactly flat on the table but tipping because of the swollen battery that's the only impact that I described on the phone
today I called apple support because of a swollen macbook battery, the macbook has 3 months left with apple care.
the guy on the phone explained that usually these defects are known to happen and are not included in normal warranty but he was unsure with regard to apple care and wanted to ask someone else from another department.
the other person called back and explained that this swollen battery is "normal" and not a defect (didn't believe her but didn't say a word), then she explained that she's offering to make an exception to replace it although i didn't notice any impact from the swollen battery.
now while reading through other posts, I also had the clicking problem on the macbook (pushing the trackpad button but it didn't click properly) and I'm happy that apple is going to replace that battery.
maybe the OP should explain again that he has problems with the trackpad button and the macbook is not standing exactly flat on the table but tipping because of the swollen battery
that's the only impact that I described on the phoneI don't understand. The computer isn't under any sort of warranty...Apple shouldn't have to fix anything. It's your tough luck that you happened to get a product that had a defect you found out about AFTER the 1 year. Let this be a lesson to you = buy AppleCare on a notebook.
That's total ********.
It is not up to the customer to monitor press releases stating defects in the products they buy.