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Is The Apple Store Still Replacing Palm Rests?

More info coming

Based on this thread, I setup an appointment today. I will report back success/failure on the wife's mid-2007 Macbook.
 
Update

UPDATE with details...

My MacBook was used, so I didn't know the exact date of purchase. And, to complicate matters, I learned that the logic board was replaced (with a totally different serial). So, the serial number on the top case is about a year newer than the logic board.

He tried the serial off the logic board first, and it showed the date of purchase as July '07. By the math, I am outside the 4 year window. But, he said they would replace it no problem. He said the different serial number on the physical top case could have been a problem, but, since the logic board shows it covered, it was no big deal. (it may have helped that I was pleading my wife's furor over me getting a new MBP and her getting stuck with his one)....

I told the back story, as it seems that they have a great deal of latitude, either in the genius' judgment, or in the policy itself. I was certain the conflicting serial numbers was a deal killer.
 
Just got off the phone with my local Apple Store, and they still do the replacements; I'll have to make an appointment. Anyone had any experience for expected turnaround time for this? My wife relies on the computer and would have to plan accordingly. Ours is a refurb, but we got it through the official Apple Store, so I hope there isn't a mismatched serial number issue. (Although when I ran a one of those scans from either Crucial or OWC it kept saying I had a black MacBook.)

One aside here. I had an incredibly frustrating time with the phone. I called the Apple Store, and as it was a local number, I figured I would get someone there. Instead I got the automated assistant, who happily informed me that he could understand sentences. However I could not get to a real person at that particular store. I said what my issue was and I didn't want to make an appointment yet, but just talk to someone. Kept sending me to Apple Care technical support and warned me I could be charged $49. I hung up twice and was really getting frustrated when I finally got a real person there who was able to simply answer my question. I think the software can actually tell I was angry and quickly connected me! :mad: But in the end, I got a very helpful and friendly person--I just don't know why I wasn't connected to her sooner!!

Dante
 
My mismatch was the serial number under the battery did not meet "About this Mac." I don't think anything else would matter.
 
jeffreymabq said:
UPDATE with details...

My MacBook was used, so I didn't know the exact date of purchase. And, to complicate matters, I learned that the logic board was replaced (with a totally different serial). So, the serial number on the top case is about a year newer than the logic board.

He tried the serial off the logic board first, and it showed the date of purchase as July '07. By the math, I am outside the 4 year window. But, he said they would replace it no problem. He said the different serial number on the physical top case could have been a problem, but, since the logic board shows it covered, it was no big deal. (it may have helped that I was pleading my wife's furor over me getting a new MBP and her getting stuck with his one)....

I told the back story, as it seems that they have a great deal of latitude, either in the genius' judgment, or in the policy itself. I was certain the conflicting serial numbers was a deal killer.
Click to expand...

Dang, 4 year window? That means my 2006 Macbook probably won't be eligible...
 
That's my whole point, you should double check. Someone said the limit is "4 years" but mine is outside that, so I don't think that is correct.
 
Dcentuori said:
Just got off the phone with my local Apple Store, and they still do the replacements; I'll have to make an appointment. Anyone had any experience for expected turnaround time for this?
....
Dante
Click to expand...

When I got my original fix in Summer 2010, it took 50 mins-1hour at the downtown Chicago location. That was out of warranty at the time.

I'm going into the same store tomorrow (Tuesday) to see if they still do it on the same (now) 4.5 year old laptop.

Funny enough, the only issues I've had with my MacBook have been outside of warranty and free fixes - one case for cracking, one battery due to swelling. Let's hope the trend sticks with my 3rd visit?
 
Hmm...."battery due to swelling" I wasn't even aware of that issue until you casually mentioned it in your post--thanks! I thought my battery seemed to be bowing out, and that's what it looks like is happening. And after some more online research, it seems as if the battery swelling is affecting my trackpad button, which for a few months hasn't been sitting evenly and doesn't make a click sound when you depress one side of it. Both issues I shrugged off to age, but it looks like they should be replacing our battery too, and that should fix the trackpad problem!

Any other known issues? Do you think the Apple people would have caught that if I didn't ask about the battery?

Thanks!

Dante
 
Funny enough, I had the same issue and was so confused (it was especially annoying being near the end of a semester when I was in college and had to write a few 10-25 page papers, I had to take the battery out to type) and did some of my own research.

When I went, the Genius definitely wasn't leaning that way. He may have figured it out in the first place, but I just casually said something like 'oh I think it might be the battery or something, when I take it out it's fine.'

Takes it out, levels it real quickly, notices it's barely off and swaps it out. $120 battery for free.

I have my 5:45pm appointment after work to get the cracked palm rest checked out today.
 
Let me know how the turnaround goes. With Black Friday looming, I would think they would be swamped and it could take a day or two to get it back. We may wait until next week. But then again, good retail outlets know that and have enough staff on hand to exceed expectations....
 
Dcentuori said:
Let me know how the turnaround goes. With Black Friday looming, I would think they would be swamped and it could take a day or two to get it back. We may wait until next week. But then again, good retail outlets know that and have enough staff on hand to exceed expectations....
Click to expand...

I'd hope not. I wouldn't get it done now, if ever, if that was the case. The Michigan Ave one seems to always have a hoard of workers, so hoping the turn around is quick again. Appointment in 45 mins, will update later.
 
Delayed victory.

They still replace them - and pretty quickly - but unfortunately repair reps work day at the Michigan Ave Apple store around 5-5:30, when my appointment was. I was told their repair guys show up at 8am, if I left it it would've been ready by 10am. That's with "7-8 other repairs" ahead of me in their queue. The issue is I'll be on my way from Chicago to Ann Arbor at 8:30am.

What I did get, though, was a sheet that essentially lets me drop off my laptop whenever I want to get repaired, so I can skip out on the Genius appointment next time around. I'll probably do it Sunday when I get back in town.

I did sneak a peek at the Genius' iPad - costs $101.14 in parts. If I heard him correctly, they're also going to replace the plastic bezel around the screen, which afaik they did not do last time around. All for free.

So looking forward to getting this done then. Replacements look to still be in effect, though the rep did mention they didn't have many parts left at this store location, so if your store is out, they might have to order and there'll be a longer delay.
 
malman89 said:
Delayed victory.

They still replace them - and pretty quickly - but unfortunately repair reps work day at the Michigan Ave Apple store around 5-5:30, when my appointment was. I was told their repair guys show up at 8am, if I left it it would've been ready by 10am. That's with "7-8 other repairs" ahead of me in their queue. The issue is I'll be on my way from Chicago to Ann Arbor at 8:30am.

What I did get, though, was a sheet that essentially lets me drop off my laptop whenever I want to get repaired, so I can skip out on the Genius appointment next time around. I'll probably do it Sunday when I get back in town.

I did sneak a peek at the Genius' iPad - costs $101.14 in parts. If I heard him correctly, they're also going to replace the plastic bezel around the screen, which afaik they did not do last time around. All for free.

So looking forward to getting this done then. Replacements look to still be in effect, though the rep did mention they didn't have many parts left at this store location, so if your store is out, they might have to order and there'll be a longer delay.
Click to expand...

I had mine repaired Aug. 6 on my early 2008 macbook for free. Took less than 48 hours. The cost for the bezel and palm rest was between $80 to $85. I don't remember and about $40 for labor.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

Got mine back. 22 hour turnaround. They did not replace the bezel, but they replaced the keyboard as well.

The wife is happy again - thanks to whoever brought this topic up
 
jeffreymabq said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

Got mine back. 22 hour turnaround. They did not replace the bezel, but they replaced the keyboard as well.

The wife is happy again - thanks to whoever brought this topic up
Click to expand...

The keyboard, palmrest, and trackpad are all one piece.
 
I brought my mid-2009 Macbook to the Emeryville, CA Apple Store a couple of weeks ago. They acknowledged the issue, but the genius said that my particular model wasn't covered (apparently every model was covered except mine).

Today I went to the Berkeley, CA store and they replaced my top case in about 20 minutes, no questions asked (and I wasn't charged)
 
I had this done earlier this year, didn't even realize I could until I mentioned it to an apple employee(when I was buying another Product) to which they said they fix it for free ! delighted , it makes it look/feel like new !
 
Late 07 Macbook.

Issue: Bulging battery, cracked top case and display jewel, unresponsive trackpad clicker

Solution: Replaced battery, top case and display jewel and fixed trackpad clicker

Cost: FREE, :D
 
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