Exactly. Nearly all companies whose products have "known issues" cover those specific issues regardless of the warranty. Apple should not be any different. This is the age of the internet, and Appple must remember that people were buying their products before they were "cool" based on customer service and reliability.
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Apple Refuses to Replace Swollen Battery
- Thread starter jon31rm
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Exactly. Nearly all companies whose products have "known issues" cover those specific issues regardless of the warranty. Apple should not be any different. This is the age of the internet, and Appple must remember that people were buying their products before they were "cool" based on customer service and reliability.
LOL this is probably the dumbest thing I have ever read in my life.
Sure the computer isn't under warranty, but have you ever heard of customer service/customer support?
I don't think the OP would be complaining if his hard drive failed, or if his screen broke. The fact is this is a battery that has SWELLED. Batteries should not be swelling. period.
It is a safety issue and something Apple should own up to or take care of. Just saying its "normal" is total bull. i would be like, "i don't see the other macbooks with bulging batteries"
what im saying is that being Apple, I wouldnt expect them to do anything. People think Apple treats its customers well...I've only seen them treat its customers like sh**
You, sir, are an idiot.
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2...tisfaction-up-despite-struggling-industry.ars
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/02/18/apple_leads_2009_customer_satisfaction_survey.html
Apple tries very hard to please a very wide ranging array of people and succeeds brilliantly.
-d
UPDATE
Thanks for the support and advice.
Anyone saying that Apple isn't obligated to fix anything wrong with an out of warranty computer, I don't disagree. Like I said, I wouldn't be upset if they decided not to replace a normal, somewhat expected problem due to aged hardware or normal to heavy use.
But a battery with 31 load cycles in just a little over a year swelling up and being told that it's normal... and on top of that, Apple just recalled however many batteries for the exact same symptoms just a while back, so I don't think it's unreasonable to expect good customer service. Anyone that does find that unreasonable is drinking the Kool-Aid.
Anyway, my mom made an appointment and took it into the Apple store, and they were kind enough to give her a replacement battery. Maybe they were more sympathetic than the AppleCare folks on the phone because they got to see just how swollen the battery actually was (it was fat, see pics).
So much thanks to the geniuses at Southpoint in Durham NC for making mom happy.
Thanks for the support and advice.
Anyone saying that Apple isn't obligated to fix anything wrong with an out of warranty computer, I don't disagree. Like I said, I wouldn't be upset if they decided not to replace a normal, somewhat expected problem due to aged hardware or normal to heavy use.
But a battery with 31 load cycles in just a little over a year swelling up and being told that it's normal... and on top of that, Apple just recalled however many batteries for the exact same symptoms just a while back, so I don't think it's unreasonable to expect good customer service. Anyone that does find that unreasonable is drinking the Kool-Aid.
Anyway, my mom made an appointment and took it into the Apple store, and they were kind enough to give her a replacement battery. Maybe they were more sympathetic than the AppleCare folks on the phone because they got to see just how swollen the battery actually was (it was fat, see pics).
So much thanks to the geniuses at Southpoint in Durham NC for making mom happy.
Awesome news man...glad everything got sorted/taken care of as it should have from the outset.
Read this blog entry, along with the articles it uses to backup its point. Now tell me whether this information, along with the fact that your battery has been through only 31 charge cycles within an 18 month period shows any fault on the part of Apple? It doesn't. And the fact that the computer is no longer warrantied against any manufacturing defect (if this issue was considered a defect), you have no ground to stand on. Kudos to Apple for providing exception customer service skills and replacing said battery. Next time: learn how to maintain a Lithium-Ion Polymer battery or man up, and buy a new one.
That's good news. But people saying that a battery shouldn't swell is basically saying batteries have no defect rate and are always perfect which is pretty ignorant as saying a swelling batter is normal. Things can go bad, sure this one is going bad and safety is at risk but it's still defected.
This is why AppleCare is there. It prevents any sort of headaches from trying to argue with Apple and people here in the forum arguing Apple should or shouldn't replace it.
I think Apple is #1 in CS or near the top and people like to take advantage of that fact but when Apple says no, they get all angry.
This is why AppleCare is there. It prevents any sort of headaches from trying to argue with Apple and people here in the forum arguing Apple should or shouldn't replace it.
I think Apple is #1 in CS or near the top and people like to take advantage of that fact but when Apple says no, they get all angry.
They should have replaced it no matter what, because a swollen battery can be dangerous! And they made it so they are responsible for it being safe
It really depends on the person at the other end of the phone. Some are really helpful, and some are idiots...
Once when I sent off my iMac for a DVD drive repair they lost it halfway up the country lol but it turns out it wasn't Apple who lost it it was the courier...
It really depends on the person at the other end of the phone. Some are really helpful, and some are idiots...
Once when I sent off my iMac for a DVD drive repair they lost it halfway up the country lol but it turns out it wasn't Apple who lost it it was the courier...
"Man up"?
This is Apple. A company that didn't even want to put two buttons on their mice lest they confuse their users. And yet you expect every MacBook user to be an expert on Lithium Ion batteries and their optimum charging cycles?
I doubt the majority of MacBook users even know what kind of battery is in their Macs; let alone the ideal charging cycle.
It's a weird world if Apple replaces iPhones if they have miniscule cracks in the cases 1 or 2mm in length, but have no problem with pressure building up inside a laptop battery causing it to swell dangerously, lift the laptop off the desk and/or cause the device itself to stop functioning normally due to no other negligence on the part of the user than trying to charge their laptop?
Where do Apple inform the customer of this charging regime? Where is the warning that if they don't rigidly adhere to this charging regime, the battery may swell up, cause the machine to stop functioning normally, and potentially the battery to explode?
That's a fair point. The cracks from the iPhone was a manufacturing flaw and it's something Apple can control and fix which it looks like they did. Apple can't control what happens to the battery. Sure we all would expect the battery to last the whole life of the computer of more than a year but it can't be guaranteed. Apple's manufacturing process isn't the cause of the swelling so they can't guarantee a free replacement but they try their best and people take that for granted sometimes.
I don't think (at least I hope!) that people don't expect a battery to last forever.
But, they do have a right to expect that the battery will ultimately fail, safely. I really don't accept a bulging battery is doing that.
If these batteries require a little TLC in order to expire without bulging (or exploding), fair enough. But Apple must make that information perfectly clear to every user. If coffee cups must have a "hot liquid" warning, if plastic bags must have a "do not ingest" warning, then surely a laptop should have "requires specific charging regime, or may explode" warning.
I had exactly the same situation, battery failed out of warranty by swelling to the point my trackpad button stopped working and the laptop wouldn't sit flat on the desk. Called the AppleCare line and was told to Foxtrot Oscar. Complained a lot and got given a £25 voucher as a 'token of good faith'. Yeah, right.
Went into Apple store with the battery, handed it over to the Genius and asked him to figure out what was wrong with it. He put it down on the counter and spun it like a top. Instant replacement.
Not sure on the law in the US but in the UK there's the Sales of Goods Act which states that there is a responsibility on the supplier (note, supplier not manufacturer) to replace a product if it fails within a reasonable length of time not exceeding six years because of a fault present at time of manufacture. Batteries do not tend to go bad and swell for no reason (i.e. it wasn't made properly) and Apple have already set a reasonable period by recalling certain batteries with the same symptoms within three years of purchase so they really haven't got a leg to stand on.
Personally if you have an Apple store anywhere near you I'd go in and see what they say. I'd also check your local legislation and maybe take in this as well:
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/pdf/msds_lg_liion.pdf
It's the first aid section you want as any exposure to the stuff in an li-ion pack is not pleasent and is a clear safety concern. Also print out their own recall instructions and symptoms and be prepared to really dig in and defend your case. Just stay polite and point out the (very real) safety concerns of a compromised Li-ion pack as well as the existing recall stuff.
Don't backpedal.
Now you're saying people should expect them to treat people bad because they have a history doing so.
Before you said people were at fault for expecting them to replace something that broke due to Apple defects out of warranty.
If you guys think that apple care sucks try to get an swollen battery replaced from nokia, they say it's your fault that you used doggy chargers or that a lighting storm did it at least I left the damn battery at their recycle box, I hope it blows up
So apple ain't that bad. I hope my battery doesn't get swollen
at least I left the damn battery at their recycle box, I hope it blows upSo apple ain't that bad. I hope my battery doesn't get swollen
Battery
Applecare rates batteries for one year of use, who care if they didn't replace his battery. How would you like it if you paid for Applecare and I didn't and got things covered for free. You would be extremely upset. Grow up nay sayers. A battery with 31 cycles within 17 months never go any use. I blame that kid who didn't use his battery correctly. People who try to get batteries for free upset me because they should have paid for the applecare and didn't. I have paid thousands in APP. After the warranty expires you as the consumer are responsible for your hardware.
BTW swollen batteries are NOT safety issues within Apple. There is no acid/juice/leakage. They are gel/paste packs in side a plastic casing.
Applecare rates batteries for one year of use, who care if they didn't replace his battery. How would you like it if you paid for Applecare and I didn't and got things covered for free. You would be extremely upset. Grow up nay sayers. A battery with 31 cycles within 17 months never go any use. I blame that kid who didn't use his battery correctly. People who try to get batteries for free upset me because they should have paid for the applecare and didn't. I have paid thousands in APP. After the warranty expires you as the consumer are responsible for your hardware.
BTW swollen batteries are NOT safety issues within Apple. There is no acid/juice/leakage. They are gel/paste packs in side a plastic casing.
A low cycle count doesn't mean it's a healthy battery. When it is just plugged in, the battery could overcharge. Sometimes the adhesive on the thermal resistor inside lets go over time, loses contact with the battery cell its attached to and doesn't cut off the charging.
Cycling the battery by draining it completely and recharging it fully is part of maintenance and the procedure is in the user guide. Not that anyone takes time to read it. Too many other fun programs to play with.
Cycling the battery by draining it completely and recharging it fully is part of maintenance and the procedure is in the user guide. Not that anyone takes time to read it. Too many other fun programs to play with.
That's a strange attitude. You want swollen batteries to NOT be covered, because you've paid for Applecare and hate the thought of people getting free fixes? I have to say, that sounds incredibly petty. It sounds like you want other people to be inconvenienced, just to justify your own purchase.
They treated me like ****
My jaw dropped...
apple sucks ive spent 10,000 dollars on apple products and when one blows up in my lap they say sorry heres a new one. Good bye.
My jaw dropped...