Battery Replacement Cost - extra labor charge now?

[snap01]

I just had my battery replaced on my rMBP due to swelling (out of warranty). When I initially sent it in, they sent me a receipt listing $199 battery + $100 labor. The $100 labor charge wasn't mentioned to me and it isn't listed anywhere on the apple website (https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service shows a flat rate cost of $199)

I followed up on this and ultimately it was waived. I don't believe they ever intended to charge me the labor since the genius put in the notes to waive the charge from the beginning.

But I'm wondering, is charging additional labor standard for battery replacement now? When I picked it up, I mentioned the apple webpage stating a $200 flat rate and he (a different tech) just said it was likely out of date.

I think $200 is pretty costly but $300 seems excessive. So if you had your battery changed recently did you get charged labor?

 

[Resist]

Should have replaced the battery yourself. It's easy takes like 5 minutes.

 

[hallux]

Should have replaced the battery yourself. It's easy takes like 5 minutes.

Standard Apple replacement of a battery on a retina is to replace the entire topcase as the battery is glued in, requiring complete disassembly of the computer. For an experienced tech with the right tools, that's 30 minutes at best.

 

[Resist]

Standard Apple replacement of a battery on a retina is to replace the entire topcase as the battery is glued in, requiring complete disassembly of the computer.

So it's harder to replace than in a 2010 MacBook Pro?

 

[snap01]

Yeah the battery is glued in and difficult to remove. iFixit has a battery replacement kit for about $100 but it involves injecting some kind of adhesive remover to dissolve the glue. I didn't want the hassle of working with the chemicals nor having to dispose of them (and the swollen battery). I have stripped other rMBP completely to fix wine damage and didn't think it was worth the effort to save $100.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I have never heard of the $100 labor cost. Labor is supposed to be included in the cost of the repair.

 

[maplingstorie]

I just had my battery replaced on my rMBP due to swelling (out of warranty). When I initially sent it in, they sent me a receipt listing $199 battery + $100 labor. The $100 labor charge wasn't mentioned to me and it isn't listed anywhere on the apple website (https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service shows a flat rate cost of $199)

I followed up on this and ultimately it was waived. I don't believe they ever intended to charge me the labor since the genius put in the notes to waive the charge from the beginning.

But I'm wondering, is charging additional labor standard for battery replacement now? When I picked it up, I mentioned the apple webpage stating a $200 flat rate and he (a different tech) just said it was likely out of date.

I think $200 is pretty costly but $300 seems excessive. So if you had your battery changed recently did you get charged labor?

which MacBook Pro model is this?

 

[snap01]

It was the late 2013 15" retina MBP.

The charges on my email receipt were

S1586LL/A Labor Charge, PBG4/MBP15" $ 100.00 $ 100.00
S5954Z/A OOW Battery Replacement, MBP Retina 13/15, Flat Rate $ 199.00 $ 199.00
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I have never heard of the $100 labor cost. Labor is supposed to be included in the cost of the repair.

That was my understanding as well. It even says flat rate on the apple page. But I talked to various support people and none of them said the labor charge was in error.

 

[Mlrollin91]

It was the late 2013 15" retina MBP.

The charges on my email receipt were

S1586LL/A Labor Charge, PBG4/MBP15" $ 100.00 $ 100.00
S5954Z/A OOW Battery Replacement, MBP Retina 13/15, Flat Rate $ 199.00 $ 199.00
[doublepost=1499471151][/doublepost]

That was my understanding as well. It even says flat rate on the apple page. But I talked to various support people and none of them said the labor charge was in error.

I would call AppleCare and ask for Customer Relations. Something is definitely not right. There is no fine print about that at all.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

Darn Apple for glueing, soldering, locking, bolting, encasing, riveting, stapling and welding everything together now and using 20 different types of screws.

Slight exaggeration, but you get the point.

 

[rezenclowd3]

Yeah the battery is glued in and difficult to remove. iFixit has a battery replacement kit for about $100 but it involves injecting some kind of adhesive remover to dissolve the glue. I didn't want the hassle of working with the chemicals nor having to dispose of them (and the swollen battery). I have stripped other rMBP completely to fix wine damage and didn't think it was worth the effort to save $100.

Replacing a rMBP battery out of warranty and outside PSP/SP service should take less time than replacing a top case for an experienced tech. I've done both myself via a PSP and outside. Regardless, all costs of service/parts should be brought to your attention, and verbal approval (hopefully with documentation) is all that is needed to initiate a repair.

 

[snap01]

I would call AppleCare and ask for Customer Relations. Something is definitely not right. There is no fine print about that at all.

They waived the labor charge and I think they intended to do that from the very beginning. So really I'm just wondering why they added it and if anybody else has been charged.
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Replacing a rMBP battery out of warranty and outside PSP/SP service should take less time than replacing a top case for an experienced tech.

I thought the normal apple process for replacing the battery on the retina MBP was to replace the top case as well. So should take at least the same time no?

 

[Resist]

Darn Apple for glueing, soldering, locking, bolting, encasing, riveting, stapling and welding everything together now and using 20 different types of screws.

Apple is pushing me away with this sort of stuff! They've become nothing but a greedy corporation now. Remember when they used to say "It just works", their hardware, their software....not anymore. How are they any different from a PC now?

 

[KGB7]

It doesn't matter if the website is outdated, Apple has to owner what's advertised. Just like pricing of the soup on the shelf.