How quick does the genius bar fix problems?

[Hatchet]

(This is my first mac & first problem) I am in quite a dilemma right now. My iMac is making a loud buzzing noise and it sounds like it could be the harddrive. However, I use my iMac for all my work duties so if I bring it into the apple store, I will be without a computer until it is fixed.

What is the average time that they can diagnose/fix a mac? I know it depends on the issue but if you have had an experience, please report back.

I was considering bringing it in in the early AM tomorrow to try to get it back by the weekend.

Any additional advice that I need to know? Should i take off my files from my computer?

Thanks in advance!

 

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F136 Safari/525.20)

If it is a simple problem they will fix it while you're there but if it needs a teir 1,2, or 3 repair you will most likely have to bring it back and leave it for a day or two.

 

[Eidorian]

It was 40 minutes to replace the upper case on my MacBook. Then again that was an obvious external problem.

My friend had to have their upper case replaced and their laptop got lost in the repair system since they didn't have the part on hand in store. That was two weeks ago. They managed to find the laptop that Apple thought he still had to bring in yesterday.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR DATA

 

[Hatchet]

It was 40 minutes to replace the upper case on my MacBook. Then again that was an obvious external problem.

My friend had to have their upper case replaced and their laptop got lost in the repair system since they didn't have the part on hand in store. That was two weeks ago. They managed to find the laptop that Apple thought he still had to bring in yesterday.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR DATA

If i buy a external harddrive and use TimeMachine, will it be able to reinstall all my programs and refill my email accounts, etc?

I can't afford to lose all this data.

 

[Eidorian]

If i buy a external harddrive and use TimeMachine, will it be able to reinstall all my programs and refill my email accounts, etc?

I can't afford to lose all this data.

I suggest using Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper! to create a bootable clone of your drive.

I've used Time Machine to restore but some users have reported legitimate problems with it.

 

[Batt]

Make an appointment, too.

 

[Sesshi]

I find them very nice, very helpful but not always actually any good. The last bit seems to be a bit of a crap shoot. If it's a fairly basic issue and it can be dealt with easily, I think you'll get very prompt service.

For me, a 'leave it and we'll get back to you within 24 hours' issue has always been got back to within 48 hours, which is better than many other repair shops.

Parts availability can delay things of course. At the time when my MBP PSU's were dropping like flies - like no other vendor of supposed quality, like so many Apple problems - a couple took nearly two weeks to be replaced. I had spares so it was not an issue.

Generally speaking, given the very-high-failure-proneness-when-you-do-more-than-Twitter-Facebook-all-day or the from-the-outset-lack-of-QC Apples, I find it's a good idea to buy a spare if you want to continue working with the same level of reliability as say something for similar money from Dell.

 

[Vulcan]

Apple will do basic repairs (Case replacements and such) for free. Anything that will take over an hour to do, they ship out to AppleCare.

 

[Consultant]

You NEED to make a genius bar APPOINTMENT at: apple.com/retail

Depends on what it is. Sometimes wait for a part can be a week, but typically if the wait for part is long, they can have you choose to leave it or bring it back when the part is available.

Apple will do basic repairs (Case replacements and such) for free. Anything that will take over an hour to do, they ship out to AppleCare.

Actually they do a lot more than you think. Depends on how big the store is, they might also do complex things such as replace logic board, LCD, etc.

 

[Eidorian]

You NEED to make a genius bar APPOINTMENT at:
apple.com/retail

Depends on what it is. Sometimes wait for a part can be a week, but typically if the wait for part is long, they can have you choose to leave it or bring it back when the part is available.

I didn't make an appointment. It used to be first come first serve in-store sign in. I didn't know you could make an appointment until the staff told me.

 

[Hatchet]

You NEED to make a genius bar APPOINTMENT at: apple.com/retail

Depends on what it is. Sometimes wait for a part can be a week, but typically if the wait for part is long, they can have you choose to leave it or bring it back when the part is available.



Actually they do a lot more than you think. Depends on how big the store is, they might also do complex things such as replace logic board, LCD, etc.

I am definitely making an appointment. I have a laptop (PC) but it doesn't have the same programs for me to run to do my web development work so it's a lose lose unless they can fix it right away.

I will be getting a macbook pro as soon as I can pay cash for it. Hard to switch from PC to Mac without a slight wait to cover both a desktop and laptop.

 

[Consultant]

I didn't make an appointment. It used to be first come first serve in-store sign in. I didn't know you could make an appointment until the staff told me.

At certain stores the appointments are always booked at least 1 day in advance.

Here is how to make an appointment to the Genius Bar: go to apple.com/retail
Select store, look for Genius Bar, and Reserve.

 

[WildCowboy]

It definitely varies. My PowerBook was out ten days for a keyboard replacement.

 

[txhockey9404]

I was without my iMac for a week because of multiple problems, but there were also three repairs in that time frame. (2 level 3's and 1 level 2) The total cost to Apple for that week was well over $2000 for a $1199 computer. They eventually gave up after causing more problems than they fixed and gave me a new computer. If you can not give up your iMac for at least 2 days during the week (My repairs only took 24-36 hours each), then go on a weekend. It can't hurt, only help. They WILL fix your problem, maybe not in the time that you want, but they WILL.

 

[gre9del]

I've been in and out in under 10 minutes for a battery replacement but depending on the state of the racks in the repair room, it can be upwards of a week for hard drive replacements to get done. Only takes 30 minutes to actually do it, but everyones got a queue, except for Applecare.

 

[Hatchet]

I've been in and out in under 10 minutes for a battery replacement but depending on the state of the racks in the repair room, it can be upwards of a week for hard drive replacements to get done. Only takes 30 minutes to actually do it, but everyones got a queue, except for Applecare.

I have applecare and will be bringing in tomorrow at my appointment time. Should I bring my iMac in the box and with the accessories?

I am currently backing up all my files with Time Machine so I'll be ready to go. Trying to get as much work done as possible tonight.

 

[JNB]

I've made three GB appointments in the last couple years, every one was taken care of promptly (I was taken prior to the scheduled time), correctly (the problems were rectified or faulty equipment replaced as appropriate) and to my complete satisfaction (no challenges to my complaint, rapid diagnosis, and satisfactory resolution). In each case I walked out with a repaired or replaced unit. This was for two iPhone and one iMac G5 appointment, at three different Apple Stores (Chandler, AZ, Columbus, OH, and Arrowhead, AZ). Obviously, YMMV.

Do NOT bring in any accessories, the box is unnecessary, unless that's easier for you to carry it.

 

[hajime]

It depends on luck (whoever handles your case at that time). Even at the same Genius bar, the length of fixing the same computer could range from 3 to over 7 days.