Brought my 2017 MBP 15” for a stuck key and a popping sound coming from inside when the CPU warmed up.
Some online research indicated a spectrum of possibilities, from a display panel glue issue to an expanding battery.
Some indicated that an expanding battery might be covered by Apple, even out of warranty. I verified the keyboard was definitely covered under their replacement program.
The Genius Bar guy I got was nice enough, but a combination of a bit clueless and slightly salesman-y.
He vaguely indicated that if the battery was indeed expanding, I‘d need to bring in a receipt. He also said it was not a serial number covered by a battery replacement program. This all seemed odd. I figured it either was covered or it wasn’t, regardless of the receipt? My wife bought it for me in 2017 and she quite possibly got it from a 3rd party seller, but it was brand new and I registered it the day I got it with no issues.
Anyway, he said “The good thing is, if you get it repaired, the repair covers everything including the keyboard.”
Umm, ok? The keyboard repair is supposed to be free. Whatever.
“Ok” I asked, “So what would be the range of the repair cost?”
”It's a fixed price. $658 plus tax.” (or something around that)
”Or“ he said, “We could check out your machine and see if it’s eligible for trade in.”
He checked and quoted me $900 towards a new computer. He noted that no new models were coming any time soon.
Then he offered Apple Credit, for 24 months no interest. With the trade in, a new 16” i9 1TB would cost around $75/month for 2 years.
I thought it over, and even though the trade in price kinda sucked, I could walk out with a new machine instead of paying $700 and waiting for a 2 week repair.
Despite my skepticism about why a battery replacement and free keyboard replacement should cost $700, I was tired of being there and was itching to leave, so I agreed to the trade in and a new machine on Apple Credit.
That's when he summoned a sales associate because he “hadn't rung up a trade in“ in quite some time.
We prepped my old computer by turning off location services and signing out of iCloud. Then I signed her sales agreement saying I was trading it in with no way to get it back. Then she had me apply for the credit, which I got instantly. Then we wiped my old computer and she brought out the new one and rang me up.
When she showed me the payment agreement, it was double the price the other guy had calculated. Turns out there is no 24 month installment plan. Only 12.
The Genius was apologetic, but it was clear I couldn’t get my old computer back and start over. So I sucked it up and walked out with the new 16”.
Later tonight, I discovered that the Apple pundits are predicting new Silicon based machines before the end of the year!
I didn’t do any research on new models before I went to the appointment because I had no idea I'd be paying $700 for a new battery, let alone getting a new machine.
The whole thing has left an odd taste in my mouth. I won’t say I was explicitly manipulated or lied to, but I do feel like I was a bit railroaded.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this when bringing in a repair and walking out with a new computer instead?
Some online research indicated a spectrum of possibilities, from a display panel glue issue to an expanding battery.
Some indicated that an expanding battery might be covered by Apple, even out of warranty. I verified the keyboard was definitely covered under their replacement program.
The Genius Bar guy I got was nice enough, but a combination of a bit clueless and slightly salesman-y.
He vaguely indicated that if the battery was indeed expanding, I‘d need to bring in a receipt. He also said it was not a serial number covered by a battery replacement program. This all seemed odd. I figured it either was covered or it wasn’t, regardless of the receipt? My wife bought it for me in 2017 and she quite possibly got it from a 3rd party seller, but it was brand new and I registered it the day I got it with no issues.
Anyway, he said “The good thing is, if you get it repaired, the repair covers everything including the keyboard.”
Umm, ok? The keyboard repair is supposed to be free. Whatever.
“Ok” I asked, “So what would be the range of the repair cost?”
”It's a fixed price. $658 plus tax.” (or something around that)
”Or“ he said, “We could check out your machine and see if it’s eligible for trade in.”
He checked and quoted me $900 towards a new computer. He noted that no new models were coming any time soon.
Then he offered Apple Credit, for 24 months no interest. With the trade in, a new 16” i9 1TB would cost around $75/month for 2 years.
I thought it over, and even though the trade in price kinda sucked, I could walk out with a new machine instead of paying $700 and waiting for a 2 week repair.
Despite my skepticism about why a battery replacement and free keyboard replacement should cost $700, I was tired of being there and was itching to leave, so I agreed to the trade in and a new machine on Apple Credit.
That's when he summoned a sales associate because he “hadn't rung up a trade in“ in quite some time.
We prepped my old computer by turning off location services and signing out of iCloud. Then I signed her sales agreement saying I was trading it in with no way to get it back. Then she had me apply for the credit, which I got instantly. Then we wiped my old computer and she brought out the new one and rang me up.
When she showed me the payment agreement, it was double the price the other guy had calculated. Turns out there is no 24 month installment plan. Only 12.
The Genius was apologetic, but it was clear I couldn’t get my old computer back and start over. So I sucked it up and walked out with the new 16”.
Later tonight, I discovered that the Apple pundits are predicting new Silicon based machines before the end of the year!
I didn’t do any research on new models before I went to the appointment because I had no idea I'd be paying $700 for a new battery, let alone getting a new machine.
The whole thing has left an odd taste in my mouth. I won’t say I was explicitly manipulated or lied to, but I do feel like I was a bit railroaded.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this when bringing in a repair and walking out with a new computer instead?
