Getting a perfect Macbook - worth the hassle?

[Jochheim]

Hey,
two weeks ago I got a new 2020 MBP 13" and I was quite happy with it replacing an aging early 2015 MBP. But it had a dead pixel and the right speaker was not working as intended - so I called apple and got a replacement today. I was happy that this time the speakers worked and there was no dead pixel - however it does have a little dent / bump in the aluminium of the display. While it is only around 3 mm it does bug me that apple seems to have such a bad quality control (of course it is expected that there will be some issues with millions of machines, but this should not have shipped as it is - especially by apples standards). So now I don't have problems that do influence my user experience - but aesthetically it is not pleasing. It would also reduce the price I would get for this machine when I want to sell it or even trade it in with apple.

Now I am undecided if it is worth playing this game over and over again till I have a perfectly working and undamaged MBP or if I should stick to this model and swallow the bad quality control. I would be ok with it if apple just gave me some "compensation" so that they would not have to ship another device and I would not have to deal with the logistics again - has there ever been the case that apple did provide a "compensation"?

 

[Buck987]

Exchange it, you will be bugged by the dent every time you look at the screen.

 

[arche3]

Exchange

 

[LinkRS]

You know, I have 2 schools of thought on this. 1. We pay a premium for Apple devices, for the quality and support associated with the Apple name. If you are not happy with what you got, you should absolutely exchange it for one that makes you happy. 2. If the issues is cosmetic only, and does not effect or impact your use of the device, why go through the hassle of an exchange?

With Apple products, I typically lean towards option 1 LOL.

Rich S.

 

[Donnation]

Exchange it. I don't care if its a $100 item. If its brand new it is not allowed to have something like a dent in it or I'm exchanging it.

 

[arche3]

when you want to sell it the listing will say "dent on case, but it still works fine". so yeah. exchange it

 

[Seanm87]

A dent yes replace.

A dead pixel you'd have to go out of your way to find which means its probably not noticeable in normal usage. Don't go looking for problems or you will find them.

 

[Analog Kid]

Exchange it, you will be bugged by the dent every time you look at the screen.

Yeah, I tend to agree with this philosophy. If it were mine, it would eventually get dented anyway, but then the dent is mine. I also agree that if you look hard enough you’ll always find something, but if you notice it without hunting then it’s probably worth rectifying.

 

[LinkRS]

Something to be mindful of when you are talking about pixels... Pixels can be either stuck or dead. A dead pixel is usually just that, dead and will always be there. A dead pixel manifests as a pixel that is permanently off and black. Now stuck pixels are a different story. They can be stuck "on" or stuck "off," and can manifest in different colors, or just off (like a dead one). A stuck pixel can sometimes be temporary and may resolve itself with a power cycle, and some folks (and I do NOT recommend this action) claim that using a microfiber cloth, press it over the screen where the pixel is stuck, and rub hard (using the microfiber cloth to protect from scratches) to get it unstuck. I just had an instance of a stuck pixel on my 2019 16" MacBook Pro. It was white, and at first I thought it was dust or a fiber of some kind, and I did not even consider a stuck pixel until I couldn't rub it off (gently). Mine went away after a power-cycle, and I have not seen it since. Each manufacture has different policies on dead pixels (not stuck pixels), and here is Apple's policy on "anomalies" https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202025 good luck!

Rich S.

 

[Jochheim]

Thanks for the input! I have talked with apple yesterday and today and there is nothing they can do other than exchange the MBP again ... man I hope third time's the charm and I will try not to look to carefully 🙃

 

[edubfromktown]

For the premium they charge, yes- I'd exchange for a dead pixel or other "marginal issue" that some may not even notice.

I am also not shy about contacting Appel support when an issue crops up that I am unable to resolve. So many folks on these forums and Reddit put up with major issues far too long before picking up the phone in my opinion...

 

[gim]

Man, this issue with the little dent has been around for years. My then brand new 2014 MBP also had a dent, although not on the screen cover but on the bottom plate. I kept it and Apple gave me a 100€ refund instead of exchanging it. Still happy with that deal, since it's only a cosmetic issue and does not effect the functionality of the device in any way.

 

[Jochheim]

Man, this issue with the little dent has been around for years. My then brand new 2014 MBP also had a dent, although not on the screen cover but on the bottom plate. I kept it and Apple gave me a 100€ refund instead of exchanging it. Still happy with that deal, since it's only a cosmetic issue and does not effect the functionality of the device in any way.

It reminded me of the (almost) uncountable numbers of iphone 5 they gave me, till it was not scratched all over the place. But that seems like a good deal for you - i would have accepted this as well!

 

[Spudlicious]

Replace. If it’s not perfect out of the box I won’t have it. But all the Apple products I’ve bought for myself and others have been perfect, so maybe I’m a lucky guy.

 

[gim]

But that seems like a good deal for you - i would have accepted this as well!

You have to actively ask Apple for that solution of a partial refund. They usually offer to return and exchange it because they want you to have a perfect device, which is commendable. But if you tell them that you're otherwise happy with the device and would like to keep it despite the cosmetic blemish, they may offer you a partial refund.