Furious at Apple..

[BigBeast]

I can't believe some of the posters on here, berating this guy because he had the audacity to return faulty goods and expect a replacement!

As I stated in my first post, customers deserve a reasonable time limit to return goods that they feel are faulty. You seem to have forgotten that:

1. This was his fifth replacement
2. He claims that Apple gave him a dented replacement with a herniated screen gasket
3. He drives 1.5 hours to the Apple store for said replacement, but does not think to open it up and check it himself before he leaves
4. That he "called Apple" to inform them of the problems with the dented replacement, waited an undisclosed period of time, and then returned on the very last day of his replacement period to get yet another replacement

If you believe all of the above to be true, I have a bridge to sell you.

I never said Apple is without fault in their products, nor did I say that customer should not be able to return faulty merchandise. What I did say however, is that the story of the OP doesn't make any sense, except when you consider all (or some) of his statements to be false.

It's their apple fan-girlism. It's kind of expected to be honest. They can't accept that the retina lineup is plagued with faulty hardware/manufacturing because they think apple is "perfect." When there far from it.

Do you think your lame attempt at name calling makes people believe that you are actually telling the truth? I did not ever say that Apple produces products without issues; the 1st gen Retina MBP had many display issues (which they continued to remedy even during the 1st gen timeline). What I have said, is that I don't believe your story of receiving replacement MBP that was dented and had a herniated display gasket. I did not support my hypothesis using nonsensical and/or nonlogical statements, as an "apple fan-girl" (your words, not mine) would do; rather, I used common friggin sense to come up with a conclusion that your story (in part, or in whole -- it doesn't really matter) is a fabrication.

 

[accountforit]

I feel sorry for the OP. We all know that Apple products are not cheap and mostly what we are all paying for is premium build quality. Otherwise, why are we buying Apple products?

Now, the only mistake I think the OP made was that he didn't push the issue of opening the last replacement in store. If you call Apple and have this type of issue, they actually recommend you bring the item to a store if possible to ensure you are happy before you leave with a new product.

I would call and speak to a supervisor about this.

 

[bigeasy_uk]

As I stated in my first post, customers deserve a reasonable time limit to return goods that they feel are faulty. You seem to have forgotten that:

1. This was his fifth replacement
2. He claims that Apple gave him a dented replacement with a herniated screen gasket
3. He drives 1.5 hours to the Apple store for said replacement, but does not think to open it up and check it himself before he leaves
4. That he "called Apple" to inform them of the problems with the dented replacement, waited an undisclosed period of time, and then returned on the very last day of his replacement period to get yet another replacement

If you believe all of the above to be true, I have a bridge to sell you.

I never said Apple is without fault in their products, nor did I say that customer should not be able to return faulty merchandise. What I did say however, is that the story of the OP doesn't make any sense, except when you consider all (or some) of his statements to be false.

I do believe all of the above, I didn't say he was sensible. We don't know his personal circumstances, he might not have been able to return the machine until that date. I can believe he had that many faulty machines in a row too, Apples quality control has gone downhill, many users on this forum have noticed it.

 

[melburstein]

This is the last macbook I will ever buy. I'm so done with apple, their quality assurance, and worst of all their store staff.

Wow! You've really had bad luck. I have faith that Apple will do right by you. I used Windows PCs for 20 years before my first MacBook Pro. In terms of quality and service Apple blows them all away.

 

[Septembersrain]

So after supposedly exchanging your MBP 4 times due to "various issues," you decided to pick up the 5 replacement and just walk out of the store without a care in the world? By the 5th replacement, 100% of customers would check every. single. inch. of their replacement, and scrutinize every small detail before they left the store. But you want me to believe that you didn't do exactly that AND that you received a dented MBP with the display starting to separate?? Riiiiiight.

I'm glad Apple denied you a return-- too many companies let customers get away with too much. Don't get me wrong-- I think consumers deserve a fair return period, but when companies constantly accept returns from customers that b*tch and make a scene when they're trying to return a pair of pants that they've worn multiple times over the course of a year, companies do a disservice to society-- they need to put their foot down and say "No. You don't get special privileges just because you feel no shame when making everybody else feel uncomfortable on your quest to getting what you want."

Also, you thought that calling Apple one day claiming that you received a dented MBP with a separating screen would allow you to wait until the last day of your exchange window, and expect Apple to have yet another new replacement for you?? Who raised you??

I felt that same way when I read the OP's experience. Today I got my 5s replaced due to a slight internal screen crack or dead pixel. It also rattled. I had three different people inspect the screen on top of doing so myself. I also rattled the phone and was pleasantly surprised to find no more incessant sounds emanating from within.

To be through that many devices... I'd have done a full return on the third before the 30 day return policy...

 

[Apple_Robert]

I feel sorry for the OP. We all know that Apple products are not cheap and mostly what we are all paying for is premium build quality. Otherwise, why are we buying Apple products?

Now, the only mistake I think the OP made was that he didn't push the issue of opening the last replacement in store. If you call Apple and have this type of issue, they actually recommend you bring the item to a store if possible to ensure you are happy before you leave with a new product.

I would call and speak to a supervisor about this.

I agree.

I think it is in bad form that so many in the thread are calling him a liar.

 

[Dovahkiing]

I do believe all of the above, I didn't say he was sensible. We don't know his personal circumstances, he might not have been able to return the machine until that date. I can believe he had that many faulty machines in a row too, Apples quality control has gone downhill, many users on this forum have noticed it.

This guy is saying that he got FIVE defective units in a row.

If true, he must be extraordinarily unlucky. Even if Apple QC was very poor, and say a certain production lot had 25% of all machines which were defective in some way, then his probability of getting five in a row was 0.25^5 or nearly 0.01%. Of course, I'm assuming random selection, but I think that's a fair assumption.

Saying 1 out of every 4 machines is defective in some way is a ridiculous estimate, so I'm betting the odds are even much lower.


IMO he's either a nitpicking idiot or a troll. But that's just me.

Edited to add -- Most normal people, especially someone upset that "this is [their] last apple product" would probably opt just return the computer and get their money back -- which the OP would have been eligible to do when they told him no for exchange #5. Again, this tale has dubious credibility.

 

[accountforit]

This guy is saying that he got FIVE defective units in a row.

If true, he must be extraordinarily unlucky. Even if Apple QC was very poor, and say a certain production lot had 25% of all machines which were defective in some way, then his probability of getting five in a row was 0.25^5 or nearly 0.01%. Of course, I'm assuming random selection, but I think that's a fair assumption.

Saying 1 out of every 4 machines is defective in some way is a ridiculous estimate, so I'm betting the odds are even much lower.


IMO he's either a nitpicking idiot or a troll. But that's just me.

Edited to add -- Most normal people, especially someone upset that "this is [their] last apple product" would probably opt just return the computer and get their money back -- which the OP would have been eligible to do when they told him no for exchange #5. Again, this tale has dubious credibility.

....and you were not present during any of his purchases or replacements. Who are you to judge? This stuff happens. This isn't the first time someone got numerous replacements do to various defects. He stated his experience which sounds like a horrible one so he doesn't need to be judged by some guy on the internet on top of it all. He has the right to voice his experience. You choose not to believe it which is your right. No need to judge.

 

[heisenberg123]

It's their apple fan-girlism. It's kind of expected to be honest. They can't accept that the retina lineup is plagued with faulty hardware/manufacturing because they think apple is "perfect." When there far from it. But no company is perfect. I've had multiple apple staff admit there were lots of issues with the retina lineup, its not just me saying it.

The reason I'm mad is that apple acknowledged that there was a defect but there making me go through the repair process. Normally I wouldn't care but I'm in college so its highly inconvenient to not have a laptop for a week.

I think the bashing comes from us not believing someone would lineup to get kicked in the nuts 5 times, you think by the 2 shot you come up with a plan B

 

[brdeveloper]

You're saying that after 4 replacements- all of which would be on file- Apple gave you the current MBP that you claim, with all of the cosmetic damage? Do you really think anyone will believe that? By the 5th replacement, I'm sure that they had a manager handle your situation, as well as cross every "t" and dot every "i," in an effort to make a "value customer" such a yourself happy. I do not for one second believe that you are being truthful in that regard.

Also, when did Apple stop allowing customers to open/inspect their purchased goods in the store? You're telling me that because Apple associates were busy (when are they ever just hanging around twirling their thumbs??), you couldn't open up the box and look for yourself??

You further support my hypothesis that you are lying, because anyone who has to drive an hour and a half to pick up their fifth replacement would absolutely make certain that the replacement they received was the epitome of perfection. I'm sorry, but I don't buy your story one bit.

Don't know about dents, because I just sent my rMBP for screen replacements for three times (and at my fourth screen I still don't have an uniformly colored display).

So, I tend to believe in shadow82x's report. Apple IS doing wrong in the rMBP area. I agree that the relation processing power x battery life is great, but they're unable to provide a really decent quality control.

----------

I think the bashing comes from us not believing someone would lineup to get kicked in the nuts 5 times, you think by the 2 shot you come up with a plan B

You're thinking as most people had an Apple Store nearby. If that was my case, I'd simply return my Mac, get my money back and I'd be fine.

 

[chevelleguy3]

I am a Mac IT guy and have ordered a little over 100 Retina MBP's over the past year or so. I personally set each of these up and have not came across any issues in any of them. Some of these had the LG screens, some had Samsung screens. I can't believe Apple is even taking returns/exchanges on "yellowing" display. Color profiles will vary depending on the manufacturer of the LCD, just calibrate your color profile and magically it's fixed. I mean you people might be the ones that would think they need to return a brand new car because of a fingerprint on the window.

Do I think that there is no defective Apple devices? Of course not. It happens, but it's not that common. The possibility of having 5 defective MBP's in a row, very slim. I'm glad Apple rejected the return/exchange. Yes, they should fix the issue, but it should not qualify as a return/exchange and neither should any of the other 4 that you had. If it has an issue, let Apple fix it and use it like a normal person would.

 

[brdeveloper]

I am a Mac IT guy and have ordered a little over 100 Retina MBP's over the past year or so. I personally set each of these up and have not came across any issues in any of them. Some of these had the LG screens, some had Samsung screens. I can't believe Apple is even taking returns/exchanges on "yellowing" display. Color profiles will vary depending on the manufacturer of the LCD, just calibrate your color profile and magically it's fixed. I mean you people might be the ones that would think they need to return a brand new car because of a fingerprint on the window.

Do I think that there is no defective Apple devices? Of course not. It happens, but it's not that common. The possibility of having 5 defective MBP's in a row, very slim. I'm glad Apple rejected the return/exchange. Yes, they should fix the issue, but it should not qualify as a return/exchange and neither should any of the other 4 that you had. If it has an issue, let Apple fix it and use it like a normal person would.

It IS common. I wonder if you're either color blind or an Apple employee. One of them you must be, cause after buying 100 rMBPs, at least one should have color uniformity problems. I had four screens on my rMBP. One had image retention and the next three had uneven yellowing. Yellowing is not the problem, the problem is non-uniformity. Basically the bottom area is yellowish and the top/right area is magentaish. This pattern happened rigorously this way on my 3 last screens. I presume either me or you is lying using basic knowledge on statistics.

 

[5to1]

I can believe someone could have had 5 defective machines in a row (given enough customers it will happen to someone, even with a very small defect rate).

However, I simply can't understand given 4 previous defective machines and a 1.5hr trip to exchange, why someone wouldn't immediately open and examine the machine. I've never once had any retailer tell me I couldn't open a product after purchase/exchange, let alone an Apple store which has people sitting there using it as their own lounge/office/play room (atleast that's how people seem to use all the ones I've been too:/). Given the prime real estate they often occupy, I'm astounded they don't tell people to get lost sometimes.

Moreover the described defect is so glaringly obvious to spot (let alone the fine tooth Combe I'd expect from someone who'd had 4 duds already) even a cursory glance should have noted it.

 

[mhdena]

If you're not in the U.S. Are you sure you're buying from Apple and not the fake Apple store like they have in China?

If you're in the U.S., stop using your Mac as a baseball bat and it wouldn't dent...

This is funny, I don't care who you are!

I saw that fake store, open for business like a real store

 

[shadow82x]

Some people are clearly not reading this topic. I had 5 replacements and EACH one was categorized as defective as an apple genius. (Not just me!) In fact my new one was too and they thought a repair would be more appropriate which I *am* fine with. But I can't say I'm too happy with the fact I don't have a computer for a week. So it's not just me saying this and thinking its defective personally. It makes half of the arguments on here invalid.

I actually spoke with someone on the online support chat and they said it seemed like the apple store didn't do things by the book after explaining the situation to them in great detail. They're hooking me up with a senior apple advisor via phone call tomorrow. I would be happy simply repairing this at this point, but I'll have to see what they say.

 

[cammyg123]

You're saying that after 4 replacements- all of which would be on file- Apple gave you the current MBP that you claim, with all of the cosmetic damage? Do you really think anyone will believe that? By the 5th replacement, I'm sure that they had a manager handle your situation, as well as cross every "t" and dot every "i," in an effort to make a "value customer" such a yourself happy. I do not for one second believe that you are being truthful in that regard.

Also, when did Apple stop allowing customers to open/inspect their purchased goods in the store? You're telling me that because Apple associates were busy (when are they ever just hanging around twirling their thumbs??), you couldn't open up the box and look for yourself??

You further support my hypothesis that you are lying, because anyone who has to drive an hour and a half to pick up their fifth replacement would absolutely make certain that the replacement they received was the epitome of perfection. I'm sorry, but I don't buy your story one bit.

Couldn't have said it better.

 

[shadow82x]

Couldn't have said it better.

...

Some people are clearly not reading this topic. I had 5 replacements and EACH one was categorized as defective as an apple genius. (Not just me!) In fact my new one was too and they thought a repair would be more appropriate which I *am* fine with. But I can't say I'm too happy with the fact I don't have a computer for a week. So it's not just me saying this and thinking its defective personally. It makes half of the arguments on here invalid.

I actually spoke with someone on the online support chat and they said it seemed like the apple store didn't do things by the book after explaining the situation to them in great detail. They're hooking me up with a senior apple advisor via phone call tomorrow. I would be happy simply repairing this at this point, but I'll have to see what they say.

 

[simonsi]

If true, he must be extraordinarily unlucky. Even if Apple QC was very poor, and say a certain production lot had 25% of all machines which were defective in some way, then his probability of getting five in a row was 0.25^5 or nearly 0.01%.

Big but here, say you are 2 orders of magnitude out, so his actual probability is 0.0001%, then multiply that up by the volume sold and you come up with a reasonable number (lets say 10,000,000 sold then there will be 0.000001x10,000,000=10 people will have received 5 faulty exchanges.

He just may be one of them.

BTW Apple let him down, if I was the store manager I'd have ensured the product was cosmetically accepted prior to him leaving the store...then everyone would have known where they were regarding dents n gaskets.

 

[Macral]

I went through 2 replacements on my 15" rMBP 2012 that I ordered online from Apple.
First one had IR and dents on the aluminum around keyboard area.
Second one had IR, creaky hinge, really tough to open, and the hinge pop-out about 3mm.
Third one was all perfect except the IR after just few days. I decided to keep it because I was tired of all those issues. And of course, I became dissappointed with Apple QC.
So I think it's quite possible what the OP's saying is true.

 

[bobcan]

Like The Big Lottery ..

Given the 'number games' above, and being kinda number-nerdy myself, I was just thinking that I have had 4x MBPs and 2x iMacs since Apr-06, and have had only one major issue with a MBP (that was well into my using it) and it WAS covered by Applecare and I got treated Royally.. Maybe not too bad, lucky, maybe..

But, that being said, Every Week Millions and Millions of people buy Lottery Tickets across my country (Canada) and the USA, and every now and then NO ONE wins The Big Prize for weeks on end, and eventually THE BIG ONE goes to some lucky sap, and Congratulations are in order ~ Sadly, winning the 'MBP Return Lottery' is not so lucrative, or FUN!! Just my way of thinking It Just _ Might _ Happen, now and then.. Yup..

 

[shadow82x]

I don't know how it's a question of if its true or not..Apple said themselves that my devices have had defects. They don't just say that if they don't believe it..

 

[bobcan]

Numbers Never Lie..

I don't know how it's a question of if its true or not..Apple said themselves that my devices have had defects. They don't just say that if they don't believe it..

And, I am not questioning it at all in my Canadian Hypothesize above, merely adding my way of reasoning through how it could be!!

 

[yinz]

Actually, I can't say I can disagree with the OP. I've had some trouble with my recent MacBook purchases as well. My first one was a MBA, where the logic board just flat out didn't work out of the box. That was annoying because I was really looking forward to using it. It was a refurbished unit. I was hearing a lot of praise for the refurbs on this forum, so I thought I'd give it a go. Thoroughly disappointed. Well, I didn't cry about it, because things go wrong, so I tried to get it fixed. Well, they refused to fix it. Instead, they took it back and cancelled my order and I had to order it again. Luckily, they had stock. The second MBA had a scratch on the inside of the lid. I was itching to use it, so I kept it.

Recently I bought an rMBP. Logic board was dead out of the box again! I can't say that I was surprised. I took it to Apple, and told them I wanted to keep this one because this Macbook was the one with the specs I wanted and I didn't want to risk not being able to buy it again. This model seems very hot. Anyway, they fixed it for me this time, but ended up scratching the lid, so I told them I wanted it fixed. They said they would have to change the whole screen. At this point, I had already waited half a month for my new rMBP, so why not wait another 2 weeks. They fixed it and I got it back. I started to use it and realised the logic board was still screwed up. It turned on this time, but it would randomly shut down when sleeping. I tried trouble shooting it myself for 2 weeks like reinstalling the OS resetting the SMC. Anyway, I brought it back to apple to fix. They said the delivery might damage the logic board. I didn't make a fuss. I mean, I already waited for a month. Why not 2 more weeks.

This is the part that really annoyed me. As the guy was checking my MacBook in, he wrote down 'scratch on the bottom panel' of my MacBook. I inspected it, and didn't see any scratches, but I didn't want to delay the process further. After thinking about it now, this really bothers me. Obviously, they have it on record that I will bring the MacBook if there are scratches, and this is to protect themselves. I guess I just felt cheated because if they did scratch the bottom of the MacBook this time, I wouldn't be able to get a replacement.

Am I an unreasonable customer? I don't think so.

 

[alphaod]

You should really get a refund and try your luck somewhere else. Maybe buy a lottery ticket.

Out of all my computers I've never gotten one with a cosmetic issue. Only one came with a failing SSD after a month and the store replaced the computer with the new one without me even asking.

 

[5to1]

I don't know how it's a question of if its true or not..Apple said themselves that my devices have had defects. They don't just say that if they don't believe it..

I don't think you're reading other peoples posts either. The point of contention is that you said you'd had four duds, traveled 1.5 hours to the store AND DID NOT bother to inspect the fifth unit. Which then turned out to have a glaringly obvious defect. It quite simply doesn't sound plausible and makes some of us suspect there's more to this then you're letting on and perhaps that's why Apple didn't want to exchange it again.