Bent optical drive on my Macbook Pro. Is it covered by the warranty ?

[titatom]

Hi all,

My Macbook pro's case is bent just over the optical drive to the point I cannot insert any discs anymore, which is a big problem in my case as I use it a lot...

It has not been damaged by me, it didnt fall from my desk, i really dont understand how this could happen.
If I wanted to do this myself I probably would need a sharp tool and apply a lot of pressure...

I uploaded a photo for y'all to see and give your opinion. As you may notice, "the upper part" is not bent, it's really only the case...

http://titatom.webuda.com/images/macbook.jpg

My macbook is under applecare until septembre 2011, do you think this is covered ?

Thank you !

 

[davids8477]

Hi all,

My Macbook pro's case is bent just over the optical drive to the point I cannot insert any discs anymore, which is a big problem in my case as I use it a lot...

It has not been damaged by me, it didnt fall from my desk, i really dont understand how this could happen.
If I wanted to do this myself I probably would need a sharp tool and apply a lot of pressure...

I uploaded a photo for y'all to see and give your opinion. As you may notice, "the upper part" is not bent, it's really only the case...

http://titatom.webuda.com/images/macbook.jpg

My macbook is under applecare until septembre 2011, do you think this is covered ?

Thank you !

Almost certain it will not be - sorry

 

[mulo]

ask nicely and they will give you a new one, thats the way it usually goes.

 

[terzinator]

well, it doesn't really look like a "manufacturing defect" but not sure how it could have happened without the top being bent.

Can't hurt to bring it to an Apple store and see what they say. Can you otherwise try to put something in there, like a piece of 1/8" or 3/16" hardwood or something, to coax it back into shape?

 

[titatom]

Almost certain it will not be - sorry

Thank you for your awnser though I was hoping for a better one

This is clearly a fabrication defect...maybe the heat in that area softened the plastic and it bent naturally...

Do you think there is a way to negotiate with apple ? Do they even make that part anymore ? Maybe they could give away a external drive ?


I also tried bending it back but it is ver difficult and I do not want to damage my computer even more...

 

[titatom]

ask nicely and they will give you a new one, thats the way it usually goes.

I really doubt that...although I would love it...

My macbook pro is the model just before the unibody refresh !

 

[OneMike]

That actually doesn't look so bad for a self fix.

I'd take it to the store first and try.

What did you try bending it back with.

 

[titatom]

That actually doesn't look so bad for a self fix.

I'd take it to the store first and try.

What did you try bending it back with.

I tried with a flat screwdriver but the plastic is quite resistent...

I'm going to take your advice and take it to the Apple Store in Montreal see what they say though my hopes aren't big .. !

I'll keep you guys posted on the advancements !


Thanks to all for your responses !

 

[Ieo]

If it's plastic, it wouldn't bend like that w/o heat involved more than likely....it would just snap. Also, in order for a drop or something user-error related to cause that sort of damage, the palm-guard area would be damaged also.

Don't try to bend it back, you'll just end up cracking it. Take it to the apple store and more than likely if you play the game they'll fix or replace it.

More than likely it was caused by being placed next to something very hot, but there's no scorching/bubbling, so I bet you could get apple to take responsibility for it.

Just don't go yelling and pointing fingers unless it's a last resort...it's best to act desperate/distraught. Maybe cry a little or give them some story about how your late grandmother gave it to you as a gift from her deathbed....

 

[iZero]

Never know what can happen with the right attitude when it comes to Apple and repairs. They usually want to make things right. They are smart enough to realize that the little things they do to help a customer out, even if they "shouldn't" do it, can make the customer want to do business exclusively with Apple. Not saying they will or won't do anything, but your chances are much higher if you approach it kindly, and ask the right things the right way. I've only ever experienced one argument in my local Apple store, and that was because some idiot went in there hot headed and screaming at the employee assisting them. They got turned away immediately without being assisted, where had they been calm and nice, they may have been even though their problem was nothing to do with anything Apple covered. On the other side, once my wife went in because her earbud speakers weren't working, we didn't have another set/external speaker/another computer at that time, to test the port, so she took her MBP in. Turned out the port was fine, but the headphones were dead. They weren't even Apple brand, but she bought a copy of Snow Leopard that day, and they gave her a set of earbud headphones. She didn't ask, they just pulled them from the shelf and put them in her bag. Being polite can go a long way in the Apple store. And it worked. I will never do business with another company or store, when it comes to my computer needs. Even if I can get the same thing a little cheaper. It's worth it to me.

(I realize earbuds are a whole other ball of wax, I'm just saying sometimes they do far more than they are obligated to do, simply because of your attitude.)

 

[paulrbeers]

If Apple doesn't want to fix it, I would take a dremel to it, and "cut out" the part that dipps down the furthest.

 

[titatom]

Never know what can happen with the right attitude when it comes to Apple and repairs. They usually want to make things right. They are smart enough to realize that the little things they do to help a customer out, even if they "shouldn't" do it, can make the customer want to do business exclusively with Apple. Not saying they will or won't do anything, but your chances are much higher if you approach it kindly, and ask the right things the right way. I've only ever experienced one argument in my local Apple store, and that was because some idiot went in there hot headed and screaming at the employee assisting them. They got turned away immediately without being assisted, where had they been calm and nice, they may have been even though their problem was nothing to do with anything Apple covered. On the other side, once my wife went in because her earbud speakers weren't working, we didn't have another set/external speaker/another computer at that time, to test the port, so she took her MBP in. Turned out the port was fine, but the headphones were dead. They weren't even Apple brand, but she bought a copy of Snow Leopard that day, and they gave her a set of earbud headphones. She didn't ask, they just pulled them from the shelf and put them in her bag. Being polite can go a long way in the Apple store. And it worked. I will never do business with another company or store, when it comes to my computer needs. Even if I can get the same thing a little cheaper. It's worth it to me.

(I realize earbuds are a whole other ball of wax, I'm just saying sometimes they do far more than they are obligated to do, simply because of your attitude.)

I wasn't planing on going in there guns blazing ! I agree with you that by being courteous the Geniuses are more likely to be helpful...quite normal really !

I will be kind and I'm sure they'll at least fix it !

...and I as well, even with this slight problem, will only do business with Apple, sure is a standard in the film industry (in which I work)...but still the best computers around imo !

 

[titatom]

If Apple doesn't want to fix it, I would take a dremel to it, and "cut out" the part that dipps down the furthest.

I would probably be cheaper to replace the whole lower part of the case...I checked on ebay and they go for around 200+ $...

 

[iZero]

I wasn't planing on going in there guns blazing ! I agree with you that by being courteous the Geniuses are more likely to be helpful...quite normal really !

Oh! I wasn't trying to imply that you were going to be a jerk or something

 

[koruki]

having owned a preunibody MBP, I can say these bends happen all over the place but not without a drop, even off the side of the bed onto soft carpet will cause twists and bend on the preunibody's case

 

[titatom]

Oh! I wasn't trying to imply that you were going to be a jerk or something

Oh, I didn't understand your comment that way either ! I'm sure you're someone nice !

having owned a preunibody MBP, I can say these bends happen all over the place but not without a drop, even off the side of the bed onto soft carpet will cause twists and bend on the preunibody's case

Wouldn't the upper part of the case be damaged as well...I mean, the part that is bent is a hard place to get to !

 

[titatom]

So I went to the Apple Store today and the Genius was surprised at first with my problem as it was the first time he saw that...After a couple of minutes speaking and the usual "accidental damage is not covered" speech, he went in the back of the store and came back with my optical drive repaired and working ))

Another happy customer !

Thanks for y'alls advice and responses !

 

[iZero]

Great!! So happy to hear you got it fixed!!!

 

[HBOC]

see that is awesome! I agree that Apple goes SO FAR BEYOND what they need to for customers. May "cost" them in present time, but they gain many repeat customers for life, and word of mouth is stronger than any advertisement campaigns.

 

[Ccrew]

This is clearly a fabrication defect...maybe the heat in that area softened the plastic and it bent naturally...

Ran for a while and and just went boom.. Yeah, fabrication defect alright. Be happy they replaced it.

 

[titatom]

Ran for a while and and just went boom.. Yeah, fabrication defect alright. Be happy they replaced it.

might be...

I doubt they replaced the case though, he came back after only a few minutes, he probably just used the right tool and clipped it back in...

i'm just grateful for good customer service and a working optical drive !

 

[barebackbadger8]

So I went to the Apple Store today and the Genius was surprised at first with my problem as it was the first time he saw that...After a couple of minutes speaking and the usual "accidental damage is not covered" speech, he went in the back of the store and came back with my optical drive repaired and working ))

Another happy customer !

Thanks for y'alls advice and responses !

did they replace the bottom half of the macbook? or just the optical drive?

 

[HBOC]

did they replace the bottom half of the macbook? or just the optical drive?

I am assuming the lowercase.

 

[titatom]

I am assuming the lowercase.

Lower case has same daily use scratches as before...thus same lowercase

 

[Jaimi]

haha, plastic. Heat. You guys are funny. That's aluminum right there. this was dropped or hit by something, just not where you think it was. Look at the picture, the impact is over to the far left.
How do I know? I have one exactly like this, hit near the same spot. I'm glad they fixed it for you. Likely they just bent it back, like I did.