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Applecare say no
- Thread starter macangie
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i did push it, eventually they agreed to let me get a second opinion, didnt help as second place backed up the first, smoke is liquid damage, the first place was an apple store, took less than 5 minutes for them to say oh we are not touching that, nicotine is a biohazard and wont let staff anywhere near it, second place, apple authorised at least looked at it but then said needs new logic board, wait for permission from apple to say go ahead but they came back and said the same, no go due to liquid damage. Don't know if there is anything more i can do
Sadly it doesn't sound like there is anything more to do. I quit smoking cigarettes years ago and while I tend to smoke a cigar from time to time, I do it outside. Looks like you are stuck with a dead computer... I would recommend that you stop smoking around your devices if you want support though, many places are starting to come down on smokers like that.
Have you ever seen the inside of a computer that has been in a smokers house? Do a google search and you'll understand why they won't work on the computer.
The last AASP that I worked at wouldn't work on them either and classified them as a biohazard.
Worse look at an airplane. In the bad old days when people smoked on planes there many more pressurization problems. The reason, tobacco smoke goo jamming up the pressure regulation system. It was like molasses and had to be removed regularly from the outflow valves. Nasty stuff.
Googled it...
I understand why they classify it as a biohazard
I understand why they classify it as a biohazard
I'm with the others. Don't smoke near your computer if you expect others to put their nose and fingers in it.
It is a biohazard.
It is a biohazard.
Damn, I should've taken everyone's word for it.
I don't even want to think about the poor computers in my grandmother's house.
i only smoked for a limited time near the lappy, then smoked outside, saw the inside of the machine and it was basically a few marks inside the casing, i can imagine if a very heavy smoker then maybe yes a layer of goo, but in this case that doesnt apply
Damn near every time I contacted the owner of a computer with this kind of damage they would say the same thing. "I only smoked near it a few times!"
I smoke too but never indoor or anywhere near my computer. It sucks that Apple doesn't fix it but you got to understand that Apple is protecting its employees. Regardless how many you smoked near the machine, as long as they see it then it will be considered as liquid damage/biohazard.
We choose to smoke and take the consequences.
You said that the second place is an Apple authorized repairer. Although they should have the same standard, it is likely they want business so they 'touched' the computer. I am unsure what is considered liquid damage because it is known that humid places will trigger the sensor. Maybe the smoke also triggered the sensors so they are saying it's a liquid damage?
I remember seeing threads here saying that Apple refuses to repair his MBP because he's been smoking and there is clear indication inside.
Imagine what its doing to your lungs, if its doing that to a computer???
I never heard of a warranty being voided from smoking, but I can understand it. Smoking does build up on computer internals.
I never heard of a warranty being voided from smoking, but I can understand it. Smoking does build up on computer internals.
A long time ago I was looking at an Amiga computer that I wanted to buy from this guy and he even let me take it home for a test run. I got the computer home and took a real good look at the computer, it looked yellow. I could had sworn the model of the Amiga was white, so I just ran my finger over the case of the computer. The area where I wiped turned white, the guy must had been a serious chain smoker. Needless to say I said thanks, but no thanks even though it was a good price. I could just imagine what the inside of the computer looked like. 
This is exactly why it's considered liquid damage. Tar build up is a nasty thing.
If you still have Applecare coverage, you can contact Apple and request a partial refund.
AppleCare is a crapshoot in most cases anyway, as are all extended warranties. Peace of mind carries more weight with AppleCare because Apple has a history of going the extra mile for a lot of people when there are problems (but YMMV for that, as you've just found out.)
So, for you, given the significant hit to peace of mind you've just taken as a result of your experience, I probably wouldn't bother with AppleCare in the future. If protection is that important to you, there are better options out there that will cover you for accidental damage (AppleCare does not), but you'd have to look around a bit and find one that's available where you live.
So, for you, given the significant hit to peace of mind you've just taken as a result of your experience, I probably wouldn't bother with AppleCare in the future. If protection is that important to you, there are better options out there that will cover you for accidental damage (AppleCare does not), but you'd have to look around a bit and find one that's available where you live.
Square trade.
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If you're not tied down to MacOS than i would suggest a Dell XPS? or the HP spectre?