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Banged up box

happypappy

happypappy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 23, 2008
178
88
Philadelphia
UPS delivered my new MacBook Pro yesterday and the delivery box was pretty messed up. Opened it up and even the MacBook’s retail box was dented in the corner. Seems like UPS tossed this around pretty bad during transit. I mean it had to have dropped directly on the corner pretty hard to crush the outside box AND the retail box.

The MacBook looks fine with no physical damage to the eye. But should I be worried that kind of handling could’ve damaged the machine in anyway?

Thanks!


***UPDATE***

Here is my thinking…

• Could the laptop be perfectly fine? Yes.

• Could there possibly be internal damage I’m not aware of? Yes.

I would hate to have something start going wrong with the machine 1yr from now and not be able to prove it was from damage that happened during delivery. Then I would be on the hook for any repair costs.

So after contacting Apple support, each specialist was 100% in agreement with my request for an exchange. They said they could do the exchange via shipping or at a local apple store. Luckily I live in walking distance from our apple store and they had my custom configuration in stock.

I went to the store with my damaged box and everything, and the staff was awesome. They too agreed they would’ve done the same thing and had it replaced immediately.

It was a super easy swap and I was done in less than 20min with my brand new MacBook again. (Also picked up the apple polishing cloth while I was at it ?)

#applerocks
 

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Last edited:
  • Sad
Reactions: bobcomer and robotica
It's probably not necessary, but I'd send it back and get one from a physical store. I picked mine up yesterday, and it was perfect in every way.
 
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happypappy said:
But should I be worried that kind of handling could’ve damaged the machine in anyway?
Click to expand...
Nope. The purpose of the box is to protect the computer. It's designed to absorb damage rather than pass it on. If you can't see damage to the MacBook it's fine.
 
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Reactions: hmorneau
I'd send it back.

I worry about this with mine because I was part of the DTK developer program and got a $500 coupon to use on any Apple product. I used it on my 14" MBP that is stuck in Shanghai. I don't know what happens to that credit if I have to return it and try again. Apple used to use FedEx almost exclusively and I never had any issues in decades of buying Macs (even on the developer program before they had a consumer store).

UPS is just not as good as FedEx. Even their websites - FedEx has a tracking box on the home page - it's the reason 95% of people go to that page. UPS makes you click a link to get to the tracking section.
 
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miamialley said:
So, if you picked up your brand new computer and they said it possibly has internal damage due to a drop, you’d be good with that?
Click to expand...
Who is they?

If my machine arrived by courier, and both the external and internal boxes were damaged, I'd inspect the machine for damage and if there is none I'd keep the machine and be happy. If anything is wrong inside the computer it should be apparent within the first year of use and covered by warranty.

Different situation–if I purchased a new computer at the store and it was brought out in a damaged box, I'd ask for a different computer.

The difference is that damaged packaging is to be expected during shipment. The purpose of the product's packaging is to protect the product. Much thought and care is put into packaging design.
 
Last edited:
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miamialley said:
Come on dude. The people who are selling you the computer. Apple Store, Best Buy, whomever. You wouldn’t take that computer.
Click to expand...
You think an Apple employee is going to hand you a boxed computer and say something like, "Here's your new Mac. It's possibly damaged inside the box because we just dropped it."?
 
chabig said:
You think an Apple employee is going to hand you a boxed computer and say something like, "Here's your new Mac. It's possibly damaged inside the box because we just dropped it."?
Click to expand...
You just want to argue. However you get an unopened new computer, you would accept what OP was presented with. Sheesh.
 
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chabig said:
Possible, yes. Likely, no.
Click to expand...
Problem is that if he keeps it, he will be all the time speculating if the device is really okay and at the end he will not like his macbook and in near future he will sell it. This is the way human mind thinks.
So for this price there is no debate about not sending it back.

Yesterday when I got mine 16” the first question what I told to delivery guy was: “I hope you were gentle to this box it is really expensive..” and he said: Yes, we had it in shelter. ??
 
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The shipping box on one was dented in at a corner. Then the same corner on the mac box was crushed a bit, but the lid seemed to have absorbed it as the main part of the packaging box looked normal.

The example in this thread does look worse.

I basically considered the boxes did their job and some damage is expected during shipping vs picking up at the store.

If the shock of the drop was a common issue for the hardware, they would have other sensors on the box, I would think.

Who knows what other abuse it might of experienced that is not visible on the box. It could of been dropped flat on the bottom with a loud slam and not show signs on the box.
 
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Lol some of the comments in this thread...this thing is made up of a chunk of aluminum. There are zero moving parts other than the fan inside of it. The forces required to damage anything inside the laptop would be insane. Even the retail box would have to look destroyed before there would be any physical damage done to the device.
 
fa8362 said:
It's probably not necessary, but I'd send it back and get one from a physical store. I picked mine up yesterday, and it was perfect in every way.
Click to expand...
You'd return the computer for a minor dent in the box that effects nothing?
 
***UPDATE***

Here is my thinking…

• Could the laptop be perfectly fine? Yes.

• Could there possibly be internal damage I’m not aware of? Yes.

I would hate to have something start going wrong with the machine 1yr from now and not be able to prove it was from damage that happened during delivery. Then I would be on the hook for any repair costs.

So after contacting Apple support, each specialist was 100% in agreement with my request for an exchange. They said they could do the exchange via shipping or at a local apple store. Luckily I live in walking distance from our apple store and they had my custom configuration in stock.

I went to the store with my damaged box and everything, and the staff was awesome. They too agreed they would’ve done the same thing and had it replaced immediately.

It was a super easy swap and I was done in less than 20min with my brand new MacBook again. (Also picked up the apple polishing cloth while I was at it ?)

#applerocks
 
  • Like
Reactions: DesertNomad, miamialley and mciarlo
My MacBook Pro was likely also abused during delivery and wouldn't work. If it powers on and there's no physical damage you're probably okay, but could always go to the store for a swap if you're nervous.

 
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