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Apple's Self Service Repair Store Now Taking Orders for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

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Apple is now accepting orders through its Self Service Repair Store website for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, as per its announcement on Monday.

Apple-Self-Service-Mac-Repair-August-2022.jpg

The online store briefly became unavailable on Tuesday morning while the website was updated to reflect the expansion of Apple's Self Service Repair program to Macs.

Owners of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with chips from the M1 family are now able to obtain repair manuals and genuine Apple parts and tools via the store. There are no manuals or parts available for Macs with the M2 chip or desktop Macs yet.

Apple launched Self Service Repair for the iPhone earlier this year for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13. For the Mac, the program works the same as with the iPhone, obligating customers to first review the repair manual before visiting the Self Service Repair Store to order parts and tools.

Self Service Repair for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro offers more than a dozen different repair types for each model, including the display, top case with battery, and trackpad, with more to come in the future, according to Apple.

Apple will offer rental kits for $49 for customers who do not want to purchase tools for a single repair, providing them with access to a tool kit for one week with free shipping. Customers can send replaced parts back to Apple for refurbishment and recycling, often receiving credit for their repair purchase in the process.

The program currently only operates in the United States, but Apple says it will be expanding to Europe later this year. Apple also plans to make repair parts and manuals available for additional Apple silicon Mac models later this year.

Article Link: Apple's Self Service Repair Store Now Taking Orders for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/08/23/self-service-repair-program-macs/
Last edited:
Moka Akashiya said:
What is the price of M1 battery?
Click to expand...
Right now, it's not showing the 'Battery Only Pricing' for the Top Case Part but the total Exchange Rate. Assuming this will be available later on, the Battery Pricing is usually $149.25 (The same as what our AASP pays to get it). Add the toolkit rental for $49 and you're basically at the exact cost the Apple Stores charges for the battery service.

If you're trying to avoid the cost of the toolkit, you'll need the following at a minimum:
  • Pentalobe screwdriver
  • Torx T3
  • Torx T5
  • Torx T8
  • 3 mm hex nut driver
  • Torx security (1IPR) bit (or iPhone Security Screw bit)
  • Black Stick
  • Suction Cups for pulling off the Bottom Case (be careful not to bend it open)
  • ESD Tweezers, ESD Mat, ESD Wrist Strap, basic ESD precautions, etc... Don't touch anything if you don't know what ESD is
 
Last edited:
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TMRJIJ said:
Right now, it's not showing the 'Battery Only Pricing' for the Top Case Part but the total Exchange Rate. Assuming this will be available later on, the Battery Pricing is usually $149.25 (The same as what our AASP pays to get it). Add the toolkit rental for $49 and you're basically at the exact cost the Apple Stores charges for the battery service.
Click to expand...

The fact that you can't buy just the battery now tells me you'll never be able to. Which is ridiculous since its the only "disposable" part of the computer.
 
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jarman92 said:
The fact that you can't buy just the battery now tells me you'll never be able to. Which is ridiculous since its the only "disposable" part of the computer.
Click to expand...
The battery is only replaceable directly on the newer Air model from what I've seen online. It's a whole top case replacement on the Pro (at a cheaper price).
 
OS X Dude said:
The battery is only replaceable directly on the newer Air model from what I've seen online. It's a whole top case replacement on the Pro (at a cheaper price).
Click to expand...

The M1 Pro/Max MacBook batteries are secured with pull tabs, so they obviously took the time to make them removable. Not sure why they would bother if they're gonna make people buy half the computer just to get a new battery.

Edit: Just noticed that when you hover over "Important information," the popup says a replacement battery will be available in the future.
 
I have mixed feelings about this scheme. On the one hand it's great to get access to repair guides and materials, but on the other hand Apple has priced everything at a level to discourage people from DIY repairs.

If I was being cynical these self-repair programmes feel to be more about heading off right to repair legislation than helping people.

One use case though might be giving the option to DIY when Apple refuses repair or a battery replacement for some reason (usually BS). I have had that happen to me once and know of others who have had to take to an independent shop.

The battery/top case thing continues to baffle me - my 2015 15 inch MBP was part of the battery recall and I was looking forward to the new top case that apparently was a standard part of the battery replacement service. It came back to me with a new battery but old top case, so I suspect when it suits (like in a mass recall at Apple's expense) Apple is happy for the top case to stay.

I also replaced a screen on that 2015 15 inch MBP with one from eBay and it really wasn't all that difficult when following the iFixit instructions when using the right screwdrivers.
 
playtech1 said:
The battery/top case thing continues to baffle me - my 2015 15 inch MBP was part of the battery recall and I was looking forward to the new top case that apparently was a standard part of the battery replacement service. It came back to me with a new battery but old top case, so I suspect when it suits (like in a mass recall at Apple's expense) Apple is happy for the top case to stay.
Click to expand...
Don't see how that's even possible. We cannot order the battery by itself for MacBook Pros. There is no such MBP Battery Part in the Inventory, only 'Top Case with Battery.' Apple Stores and AASPs are not allowed to pry it off of the Top Case whatsoever.
 
I have a 2020 Intel MBA. There was a fault with the keyboard backlight. I waited for 23 months (things come with a 2-year warranty here) and then complained.

I was hoping, like when I got a new battery for my 2013 MBP, that I'd get a new keyboard, trackpad and battery. However, with my MBA they somehow gave me a nice new keyboard and trackpad (with fully working backlight) but, on checking, my battery wasn't changed. So no freebiie battery for me.
 
It says you must order the exact configuration of your original device but I wonder - if you're replacing the entire logic board and want to upgrade, say RAM but keeping the same CPU/GPU options, what would prevent that? Software lockout during the mandatory pairing process afterwards?
 
TMRJIJ said:
Don't see how that's even possible. We cannot order the battery by itself for MacBook Pros. There is no such MBP Battery Part in the Inventory, only 'Top Case with Battery.' Apple Stores and AASPs are not allowed to pry it off of the Top Case whatsoever.
Click to expand...

They’re planning to have a standalone battery available at a later date.
 
playtech1 said:
I have to enter a serial number - so not quite that easy. Really I would have hoped an article reporting on this would have given a few examples comparing the apple repair price and the parts price.
Click to expand...
You don’t have to enter a serial, you can just search by model.
 
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jarman92 said:
They’re planning to have a standalone battery available at a later date.
Click to expand...
Not for the vintage 2015 models. The OP said Apple removed the battery from the Top Case on an MBP (15-inch, Mid 2015) during service, which is very unlikely.

Not sure what you mean by stand-alone battery. I work at an ASP, there are No MacBook Pros (post-2012) currently that have ‘standalone batteries’ that can be ordered. A Top Case with Battery is to be ordered at the Battery Only Pricing fee.
 
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I'm just going off of this from the self service site:


Screenshot 2022-08-23 at 3.07.46 PM.png


But I highly doubt that they'll make batteries for older MacBooks available, if for no other reason than they're a nightmare to get out.
 
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TMRJIJ said:
Right now, it's not showing the 'Battery Only Pricing' for the Top Case Part but the total Exchange Rate. Assuming this will be available later on, the Battery Pricing is usually $149.25 (The same as what our AASP pays to get it). Add the toolkit rental for $49 and you're basically at the exact cost the Apple Stores charges for the battery service.

If you're trying to avoid the cost of the toolkit, you'll need the following at a minimum:
  • Pentalobe screwdriver
  • Torx T3
  • Torx T5
  • Torx T8
  • 3 mm hex nut driver
  • Torx security (1IPR) bit (or iPhone Security Screw bit)
  • Black Stick
  • Suction Cups for pulling off the Bottom Case (be careful not to bend it open)
  • ESD Tweezers, ESD Mat, ESD Wrist Strap, basic ESD precautions, etc... Don't touch anything if you don't know what ESD is
Click to expand...
Tools that most self respecting humans already own most of....
 
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TMRJIJ said:
Don't see how that's even possible. We cannot order the battery by itself for MacBook Pros. There is no such MBP Battery Part in the Inventory, only 'Top Case with Battery.' Apple Stores and AASPs are not allowed to pry it off of the Top Case whatsoever.
Click to expand...
I seem to recall the tracking had it sent to Europe (Poland IIRC - I'm in the UK) so it wasn't done in-store. I suspect because they were doing so many they figured out a way to do it more cheaply.
 
playtech1 said:
I have mixed feelings about this scheme. On the one hand it's great to get access to repair guides and materials, but on the other hand Apple has priced everything at a level to discourage people from DIY repairs.

If I was being cynical these self-repair programmes feel to be more about heading off right to repair legislation than helping people.
Click to expand...
You nailed it. With the crazy pricing here it’s basically “we’re gonna make it so expensive to diy, you’re going to wish you just dropped it off at the Genius Bar”

Even with my BMW, I can pay crazy parts prices at the dealer and still save lots of money doing my own maintenance.
 
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