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I broke my MacBook Pro

F

FlyingTexan

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 13, 2015
947
790
So I’ve been traveling for work for three weeks. France, Dubai, New Delhi and a few spots in India, so while beat down tired and afraid to drink the water I destroyed my MacBook Pro by flipping a drink over on its keyboard while not fully “all there”.

It flickered then shut off. I took to a place here in Mumbai where they tell me it needs a new keyboard, logic board, then tried to double the price to just over $1,000usd at a hole in the wall unofficial place.

It’s in excellent shape with no external damage. Just the liquid damage. I’m looking for advice on what I should do. It’s a 2017 15” MacBook Pro with 512SSD 16GB and whatever the best GTX card at the time was. Total it was $2933 New with tax.

I filled out online for a place that buys them from people being completely honest and it said they’d give me $425 for it.


A) has anyone here dealt with this accident and had a good experience getting the logic board and keyboard replaced?

B) is there a retailer like I went to that’s known for offering more than the others on buy backs?

C) If it we’re you what would you do in this situation?


About me: I’m a pilot and travel a lot so bought the MBP because I loved the screen, the quality of the speakers (great media consumption machine), it’s battery life, build quality, and MacOS.

I can’t begin to describe how much I don’t use the machine for anything they sales pitch it for. I don’t edit video, really no photos either. I create no content. I surf the internet a lot, stream boat loads, play Spotify, and do a few expense reports which thank Jesus for dropbox. To some “it’s vastly overkill and unwarranted and not a good bargain”. I wasn’t interested in that. I live in hotels half the month and wanted a premium device that I enjoyed using because I spend most my day on it. More than any tv or anything else. I truly enjoyed the quality of it and bought it for that.

I also love gin and tonic which, for what I’m sure isn’t the last time, made me do something I regret. Accidents happen.

I’ll knock a few other things out of the way while here.

-No it is not in warranty nor covered by any

-yes, hindsight 20/20 I know having the additional plan would have been great but honestly I found it unopened on eBay for $2200 without tax so returned the one I originally bought and went this direction (hey it’s economics).

-yes, I know some of you get bullet proof cases and rubberize everything while having a barbed-wire fence around your desk for any intruders so much has holding a coffee. I choose to live my life. I will continue lugging whatever I get around as I always have and let fate decide what happens before I spend 5yrs pissed off at a machine that’s bulky, uncomfortable, and worried that it doesn’t support my drinking habits.


I’m a well educated, grown man, and with this being my first time through this wondering what outcomes others have experienced and what they’d recommend I do, with the laptop and not my life choices.

I was waiting to pick-up a RTX gaming laptop (either the Razer or Acer Triton 500, really 80/20 for the Triton because of G-sync). They only downside is they have 1080p 144hz screens and no MacOS so I was just going to keep this machine to use for everything not gaming related since I already had it. I really don’t want to give it up but was also thinking of swapping it for a smaller 12” MacBook or the 13” MacAir but now I have to decide what to do with this paperweight.


Thanks everyone for suggestions, your own stories, or tips. I’m still in Mumbai so going to go grab a whiskey. If anyone wants to let me know I’m not alone in this feel free to post so I have something to read :)

Cheers!
 
sunapple said:
Just checking; sure it's not covered by some kind of insurance?
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Not that I know of unless there’s a benefit on my card for it when traveling. Im the pilot and not a traveler that bought a plane ticket so not sure how it works with Chase Sapphire or Amex Platinum. It might be on homeowners but I don’t want a claim on my record for $2000 worth. Believe it or not a claim for something like this hurts you more because it was a fault of yours.
 
FlyingTexan said:
Not that I know of unless there’s a benefit on my card for it when traveling. Im the pilot and not a traveler that bought a plane ticket so not sure how it works with Chase Sapphire or Amex Platinum. It might be on homeowners but I don’t want a claim on my record for $2000 worth. Believe it or not a claim for something like this hurts you more because it was a fault of yours.
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Oh okay, I'm not clear on the details but I found that in quite a lot of cases people overlook insurance.

I've watched a glass of ice tea fall over a MacBook Pro (2010 model). I turned it off, let the liquid out, opened the case and let if dry for a few days. We were probably lucky that it didn't get to the important parts because it is still working 5 years later. So if this happened to me, I'd try that first. Then insurance.

And if that doesn't play out.. Spending 1000$ on repairs is probably still cheaper than a replacement machine. At 3000$, it may not be a total-loss just yet.

I'm not sure if warranty would've covered liquid damage by the way, it often does not.
 
sunapple said:
Oh okay, I'm not clear on the details but I found that in quite a lot of cases people overlook insurance.

I've watched a glass of ice tea fall over a MacBook Pro (2010 model). I turned it off, let the liquid out, opened the case and let if dry for a few days. We were probably lucky that it didn't get to the important parts because it is still working 5 years later. So if this happened to me, I'd try that first. Then insurance.

And if that doesn't play out.. Spending 1000$ on repairs is probably still cheaper than a replacement machine. At 3000$, it may not be a total-loss just yet.

I'm not sure if warranty would've covered liquid damage by the way, it often does not.
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Yea it’s been dead for a week. Took it to have it repaired in Mumbai they say it needs a keyboard and mainbaord but then tried to jack up the cost so I took it back. I know apple is an option but I think it’s around $1250 without tax and I’d rather use this as a door stop before I do that, or just sell it.
 
I did almost exactly the same thing, except mine was less than four months old (2018 base model 15" MBP). I bit the bullet and paid the factory penalty, which (for me, in N. Virginia) came out to $1557 after taxes, shipping, and handling. It took them two weeks to get it back to me, and when it did the only thing they DIDN'T replace was the touchpad. Seriously, it was effectively a new computer, and it acts that way.

In my area there are independent shops that advertise the sort of repair I needed for less, but this got me my factory warranty back. You should check around & see if there are any reputable shops in your area that will do the same.

Even with an effectively new computer, though, Apple would not let me purchase AppleCare+. So I did a little research and found out that Progressive, through a contractor named Worth Ave Group, offers laptop insurance that (on paper at least) provides better coverage for less money than AC+. The only downside is I have to go through an insurance adjuster to get reimbursed instead of simply dropping it off at the Apple store.

But, after a spanking like that, I damn sure did sign up for it.
 
Either let Apple repair it, or sell it off as a doorstep and hope all your personal information on the hard drive stays secure.

$425 is not a bad price, considering that they’re going to part it out and the most expensive parts are fried. For me, it would be worth the extra money to send it to Apple.
 
dscottj said:
I did almost exactly the same thing, except mine was less than four months old (2018 base model 15" MBP). I bit the bullet and paid the factory penalty, which (for me, in N. Virginia) came out to $1557 after taxes, shipping, and handling. It took them two weeks to get it back to me, and when it did the only thing they DIDN'T replace was the touchpad. Seriously, it was effectively a new computer, and it acts that way.

In my area there are independent shops that advertise the sort of repair I needed for less, but this got me my factory warranty back. You should check around & see if there are any reputable shops in your area that will do the same.

Even with an effectively new computer, though, Apple would not let me purchase AppleCare+. So I did a little research and found out that Progressive, through a contractor named Worth Ave Group, offers laptop insurance that (on paper at least) provides better coverage for less money than AC+. The only downside is I have to go through an insurance adjuster to get reimbursed instead of simply dropping it off at the Apple store.

But, after a spanking like that, I damn sure did sign up for it.
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Don’t take this the wrong way brother but glad I’m not alone! What gets me is I can sell this as-is at least to a company for $425 and buy a MacBook or MacBook Air for less. I don’t care if it’s new or not I just liked it was easy to travel with.
 
FlyingTexan said:
I don’t really think it is. Or let me put it this way, I’ll never pay apple $1250 to fix it.
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That's unfortunate. The reason it costs so much to repair is because everything is crammed in there so tight that when fluid gets in it goes EVERYWHERE. In spite of the cost to me, when I read the list of things they replaced I considered it a fair trade.

You should do some research in your area to see if an independent shop is willing to repair it. But I'd wager it won't be a lot less than what Apple will charge.

Otherwise you'll probably have to consider it a net $2480 lesson in why you should always buy from the factory and get AC+ (or third-party insurance). Harsh I know, but them's the breaks.
 
dscottj said:
That's unfortunate. The reason it costs so much to repair is because everything is crammed in there so tight that when fluid gets in it goes EVERYWHERE. In spite of the cost to me, when I read the list of things they replaced I considered it a fair trade.

You should do some research in your area to see if an independent shop is willing to repair it. But I'd wager it won't be a lot less than what Apple will charge.

Otherwise you'll probably have to consider it a net $2480 lesson in why you should always buy from the factory and get AC+ (or third-party insurance). Harsh I know, but them's the breaks.
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Yea to be honest this is the first machine I’ve kept this long in forever. It was a 2017 and normally I always swap for the newer model of something but I’ve been happy. I’m going to see if my chase sapphire reserve will cover it. While it wasn’t a direct buy from apple it was still new in box and had the full warranty so it may be covered.
 
Fluid damage is specifically EXCLUDED from the Apple warranty, couched in "seriously, don't even think about it" language. IMO you'd be better off getting it fixed and selling it. These things hold their value like nothing I've ever seen. You could easily recoup the cost of repair, which would make the hit a lot less than the $2500 you're looking at with your current strategy.

UPDATE: I misread your post. Here's to hoping your CC will cover it. Mine didn't.
 
dscottj said:
Fluid damage is specifically EXCLUDED from the Apple warranty, couched in "seriously, don't even think about it" language. IMO you'd be better off getting it fixed and selling it. These things hold their value like nothing I've ever seen. You could easily recoup the cost of repair, which would make the hit a lot less than the $2500 you're looking at with your current strategy.

UPDATE: I misread your post. Here's to hoping your CC will cover it. Mine didn't.
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Well it’s be the $1250+the $425 which I bought it new on eBay for like $2200 so at that point I might as well just send it off. Was wondering from someone that’s done it before if they knew what the apple premium was. If apple is charging $1250 what I could expect elsewhere. I’m still in India on my phone so it’s been limited what I can get done lol.

So for all you fellas thinking you’ve had it bad just consider that I rode on the back of a motorcycle with a guy that agreed to give me a lift in a place that’s the complete Wild West like you’ve never seen trying to see if I could get it repaired.
[doublepost=1548517324][/doublepost]Just got an offer for $646 online. For that much this laptop would need to be worth that plus the $1250 and hell no it isn’t! Flying to Dubai tomorrow then the states after that then putting her in mail. For that I’d rather just send it in and pay the difference for a MacBook Air lol.
 

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My wife poured a cup of coffee on a 4 mo old MBP and we luckily managed to get it rebuilt for ~#300 under AP+ other wise it would have been a little over $800 with tax. Took about a week but they replaced every thing inside. basically a brand new machine. This was a 13 in MBP so I don't know if it is less than your 15 in? Maybe it's less here in the USA? Worth a try, good luck.
 
FlyingTexan said:
Well it’s be the $1250+the $425 which I bought it new on eBay for like $2200 so at that point I might as well just send it off. Was wondering from someone that’s done it before if they knew what the apple premium was. If apple is charging $1250 what I could expect elsewhere. I’m still in India on my phone so it’s been limited what I can get done lol.

So for all you fellas thinking you’ve had it bad just consider that I rode on the back of a motorcycle with a guy that agreed to give me a lift in a place that’s the complete Wild West like you’ve never seen trying to see if I could get it repaired.
[doublepost=1548517324][/doublepost]Just got an offer for $646 online. For that much this laptop would need to be worth that plus the $1250 and hell no it isn’t! Flying to Dubai tomorrow then the states after that then putting her in mail. For that I’d rather just send it in and pay the difference for a MacBook Air lol.
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Seems like the best solution. Good luck!
 
You might want to try an authorized Apple Service Center to get an estimate. I have one about an hour away and they charged me 50% of what Apple estimated for liquid damage. They are usually just local shops where the technicians have been certified by Apple. The entire insides of a 17" MBP were replaced with brand new/upgraded parts (at that time) and our adult daughter is still using it, refusing to give it up until it dies.
 
Just came across the Huawei Matebook X Pro. Found a base model on Newegg with 10% off and no tax bringing the total to $809 shipped. It’s obviously not the 15” MacBook Pro and I’ll keep chasing down getting it covered by my card but this appears to be a great laptop for everything I do. I just wanted the premium machine with a great screen and build quality. I don’t do anything resource heavy. Gazelle offered $646 for this MacBook so for $210 I can have a laptop waiting for me at home to get me through waiting for my rtx gaming rig (I also am taking a new job and have “death by PowerPoint” I have to get done. Small price to pay for an ultra portable. Thanks for all the advice and hope my experience helps someone!
 
Your choices:
1. Pay to get it fixed.
if that's going to be too much to be worth it:
2. Sell the old one for parts and get something new.

(be more careful with drinks NEXT time....)
 
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My only concerns would be the security of any data you may have on the device if you sell it complete. It is an easy matter to remove the internal drive which I guess would be a SSD (flash drive) mount it in and external enclosure and access its contents. If you have allowed your browser to remember passwords for web sites for example you are handing over this information to whoever you sell it to. Then there is all the data in KeyChain, you contacts ect.
Personally I wouldn't do it without being able to securely erase the drive first. In the one case where i couldn't I removed and destroyed the drive.
 
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