Late iMac 2012 / 2012 smashed, fall down from the table. Screen broken & cracked

[rkaufmann87]

Sadly my house insurance is the 'cheapest' one. They will only cover a new computer if there is a "overpower?" (electricity)

And I don't think you can fake a "overbaked" computer. Or can you?

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It's 2 months old

The thing is, I'm still paying it (1 year payment) and I'm a film student, so that means = no money. I can work in the summer, but I'm in Spain and it's kinda hard to find a job at the moment down here... Even if I do, I hope I could repair it for "less than 500€". I hope so... because right now I'm still saving to pay my next semester..... thats why I had to pay the iMac monthly for a year

What are my other options?

Buying a new monitor and having it connected to my "broken" iMac covered in a black blanket?

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Thank you Bear! But I think Late 2012 models will be even more expensive... Do, somebody said here 511$ (???) https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4766776?start=0&tstart=0 And it is a Late 2012.

He only had a "small scratch" (I have a massive one) but I guess, changing the screen for a big scratch is the same issue as for a small one (?)

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What do you mean with AppleCare invalidated? They invalidate your AppleCare if it gets smashed, even if you don't use their warranty for that purpose (the scratch) and just keep it for future problems? Wow... Apple is so strict...

I guess that from now on, every problem I might encounter, they will justify it with "you smashed your screen 1 year ago"..... that's why you are facing this problem dear customer!

Its invalidated (most likely) because the computer has been abused. Sorry but that's the rules, I feel for your bad luck and poor situation and wish you good luck.

 

[Badluck2013]

Thanks a lot for all your comments and help.

Insurance: Upgrade it, wait 3 months. Have it covered (maybe...) Sadly in Spain the insurance companies are not so "cool" like in other countries, offering "super coverages" and all that.

They will not cover damage, they will only cover "Electricity errors" (like, if it was overbaked)

I heard stories from people doing that by themselves with TV's, but, I don't think if I can do that to the iMac, or if I should do that...


Bringing it to the Apple Store: Sadly I don't have a store here, just an authorized retailer who I'm 100% sure will not be cool with me, just because they are a private shop and don't care at all, just about the money. They are no way so nice as in a real Apple Store.


Carrier trick: Call Apple for other problem, ship the iMac, tell them it was perfect when I had it in the box and handle it to the carrier. But I doubt this works... if it came all the way from china without breaking, how come it does break now? Lol... No way it will work.



I think my only options are:

1) Tell the truth to the Apple Care Phone service (and... hope)

2) Work the aluminium with pliers. Make it flat enough to fit a new screen.

3) Dismount everything. Buy a new case + screen. Mount it.

screen: ¿500€?

rear back ¿200€?

700€ at least... right?



Thanks a lot for all your help.

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You might take it all apart, cut the damaged aluminum off, or try knocking it flat. Aluminum is a soft material, so it should be doable.

When thats said, I will look like *******, when your done doing it. You will have a gab between the screen and the aluminum. I would not take the job, of fixing the aluminum, and I worked in that world. It simply looks too damaged.

It's a shame, but remember it's material damage. But how on earth did she managed to pull it off the table? Sounds like some sort of bad setup you had there, and what about her insurance?

Thanks for your alu tips. I have really no 100% of an idea of how she did it. She said she was on the chair) couldn't see the screen well since I have it "facing up" (at it's max. range) and she pulled down with her two hands, she saw the computer falling, and instead of grabbing it, she "screamed" and had her hands away, like if she was scared confused allowing the iMac to fall down... Amazing...

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upgrade your insurance ,wait a month or 2 ,then make a claim .

Does the insurance in your country, cover the "accidental damage" ?? I think my company refuses to cover that kind of stuff, just, energetic errors because of the lighs suddenly going down.

But new computers are 100% proof of that kind of stuff, right?

 

[spyguy10709]

Thanks a lot for all your comments and help.

Insurance: Upgrade it, wait 3 months. Have it covered (maybe...) Sadly in Spain the insurance companies are not so "cool" like in other countries, offering "super coverages" and all that.

They will not cover damage, they will only cover "Electricity errors" (like, if it was overbaked)

I heard stories from people doing that by themselves with TV's, but, I don't think if I can do that to the iMac, or if I should do that...


Bringing it to the Apple Store: Sadly I don't have a store here, just an authorized retailer who I'm 100% sure will not be cool with me, just because they are a private shop and don't care at all, just about the money. They are no way so nice as in a real Apple Store.


Carrier trick: Call Apple for other problem, ship the iMac, tell them it was perfect when I had it in the box and handle it to the carrier. But I doubt this works... if it came all the way from china without breaking, how come it does break now? Lol... No way it will work.



I think my only options are:

1) Tell the truth to the Apple Care Phone service (and... hope)

2) Work the aluminium with pliers. Make it flat enough to fit a new screen.

3) Dismount everything. Buy a new case + screen. Mount it.

screen: ¿500€?

rear back ¿200€?

700€ at least... right?



Thanks a lot for all your help.

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Thanks for your alu tips. I have really no 100% of an idea of how she did it. She said she was on the chair) couldn't see the screen well since I have it "facing up" (at it's max. range) and she pulled down with her two hands, she saw the computer falling, and instead of grabbing it, she "screamed" and had her hands away, like if she was scared confused allowing the iMac to fall down... Amazing...

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Does the insurance in your country, cover the "accidental damage" ?? I think my company refuses to cover that kind of stuff, just, energetic errors because of the lighs suddenly going down.

But new computers are 100% proof of that kind of stuff, right?

Just sell it on eBay, man. Then throw the cash toward the new one.

 

[Badluck2013]

Your best bet is to take it to your local Apple store, tell them the truth, and see what they say.

They may repair it free, they may offer a flat rate repair, they may tell you to pay for it (the repair might not be as much as you expect).

You're probably looking at €120 for the rear housing, and €500 for the display plus a bit of labour. Considering how much the computers cost, it'd be worth it IMO.

For the record, the LCD you need is 661-7169 (€400 on eBay). It's an easy enough repair if you take your time.

The rear housing is not a repair I'd attempt yourself. With some experience, it still takes me a couple of hours, and I rarely get it right first time.

Bryan Y. Thanks a lot for you amazing answer.

You are right, 661-7169, I guess you must be a Pro. Thanks again for your help, seriously. I've found it for the price you've told me, on eBay EU.


It seems 'easy' to change the screen, using a guitar pick as If seen. Removing that tape, use new one to attach the screen back.


So, the only big problem is the aluminium thing. Right?

What do you mean with the hardest part, is it trying to flattern the aluminium with pliers, so I can attach the screen. Or what's difficult is to dismount the inner components of my iMac, and attaching them back to a new rear case?


In case that the best option is to forget the pliers, and buy a new rear (if its really 120€, I would buy it for sure!) ¿Do you think I can find somebody selling a Late 2012 rear case?


I don't care if its "used".



Once again, big thanks for having written in my thread.

 

[spyguy10709]

Bryan Y. Thanks a lot for you amazing answer.

You are right, 661-7169, I guess you must be a Pro. Thanks again for your help, seriously. I've found it for the price you've told me, on eBay EU.


It seems 'easy' to change the screen, using a guitar pick as If seen. Removing that tape, use new one to attach the screen back.


So, the only big problem is the aluminium thing. Right?

What do you mean with the hardest part, is it trying to flattern the aluminium with pliers, so I can attach the screen. Or what's difficult is to dismount the inner components of my iMac, and attaching them back to a new rear case?


In case that the best option is to forget the pliers, and buy a new rear (if its really 120€, I would buy it for sure!) ¿Do you think I can find somebody selling a Late 2012 rear case?


I don't care if its "used".



Once again, big thanks for having written in my thread.

You're throwing good money after bad if you try to repair this machine. Just put it up on eBay and buy a new (or used/refurbished) one.

 

[Badluck2013]

Just sell it on eBay, man. Then throw the cash toward the new one.

Why if its 100% working (I'm writting from it right now) and Bryan Y. says the screen is easy to find, and then I would only need the rear back (wich I don't know if thats going to be easy to change...)


But thanks for your tip. My iMac is the "most expensive one" (but 1TB instead of 3TB) and I payed 2600€ for it, with student discount, that's why I'm poor (because I'm a film student) and still paying for it. And film student means = really poor by the way ( )

I don't think I could make the money back, since not a lot of people in Spain get the high-top iMac model. Most of the people go for the basic, or even the 21.5".

 

[Badluck2013]

You're throwing good money after bad if you try to repair this machine. Just put it up on eBay and buy a new (or used/refurbished) one.

I mean, I don't know. Maybe I will loose less money having it repaired by myself (screen is 450€ as Bryan Y. stated) the rear back is, let's say 200€ if I decide to do everything by myself (it doesn't seem to difficult to get the screen out, and install a new one) -I don't know about the rear back if I decide to buy it-

But let's say it's 600€ if I buy both things and do my own.

2600€ I payed. + 600€ for the fix.

If I sell it on eBay, for how much could I expect somebody buying it? I don't think removing 600€ would help me, selling it for 2000€. Probably it will go for ¿1500€?

I would loose 1.100€

Repairing it, I'm loosing at the most (if by my own) 600€. And if I don't buy a rear back, but try to make it flat (even if it looks like crap from the back -wich I don't care-) it will only cost me the price of the screen (450€)


I don't know what to do... Flat the alu, buy the screen. Buy the alu back, buy the screen... sure if I had money I would buy a new one. Use this one to destroy it with a hammer, or hire a Go-Go Pinup girl to dance around the iMac, make a video of it, and finish it with her chopping it with a Chainsaw. Then upload it to Youtube, get 2000 likes, 1000 dislikes, and 20528530 views.

Then use the Adsense money to buy a new one...

But thanks for your reply, you cared, california man!!. Thanks a lot!

 

[iSayuSay]

upgrade your insurance ,wait a month or 2 ,then make a claim .

Or simply get a new iMac rather than paying premium for insurance upgrade? It's a serious long run compared to a simply broken iMac

 

[rkaufmann87]

upgrade your insurance ,wait a month or 2 ,then make a claim .

Smart idea....insurance fraud!

 

[macthefork]

Did you try calling Apple as suggested earlier? Since you have Applecare, sometimes for these kinds of customer caused accidents they will work with you to try to resolve the issue as inepensively as possible. If Apple approves a specific repair for a specific price, then you can bring it to your closest Authorized Apple Repair Facility and have it done there.

Call and explain honestly what happened, and see what they say. The worst they can say is NO, which leaves you exactly the same place as now.

 

[mushroomtip]

Smart idea....insurance fraud!

it's only fraud , if you get caught

 

[auhagen]

it's only fraud , if you get caught

Even if you dont get caught, it's still fraud...

 

[OLDCODGER]

One small point, if I may. Should you decide to try replacing the screen yourself, is there a friendly local panel beater who would take on the job of reshaping the back panel? You never know, a small cash-in-hand job may do the trick.

 

[iSayuSay]

You really should at least actually try to solve this problem. I suggest start with these steps:

1. Call or visit your local Apple Store, or preferably Apple Service Provider. Tell them what happened and you wish to get it repaired. You'll never know, you might got lucky and have a free repair? (it's a possibility)

2. If you need to pay for the repair at Apple (likely) .. then ask them how much it will cost. Does it worth the money, or simply too expensive?

3. If Apple charges too much for this accidental damage, the best bet is to repair it yourself, or get a third party to do it (if it can be cheap enough). Then again you'd lose your warranty. So I'd suggest you to sell your iMac post repair.

4. Or if you can live with it and still want to use this iMac, get a Kensington lock this time to tie your iMac in the back so it doesn't move or fall easily off the table. Neither by your nephew nor anybody.

 

[intz2nu]

What I would do given that these things are still new and was just recently released is maybe sell the entire thing off and note it as being sold for "parts". I'm sure some places wouldn't mind buying it for repair purposes. I can never see you getting what you paid for it or even coming close, not even half of what was paid so its just best to cope the loses and sell it off as is and grab you a new one (maybe the most low end one given we're in the middle of a new year) and the release of a newer iMac is probably already in the works?

 

[Saturnine]

<snip>
...yep Am I probably the first person with a late 2012 iMac broken screen? I feel so empty now... Like if they told me I had cancer and 2 years more to live only. It's just "money", yes, but... "what a money!"
<snip>

That is a really horrid thing to say.

 

[Raima]

Call and explain honestly what happened, and see what they say. The worst they can say is NO, which leaves you exactly the same place as now.

Others have also suggested this, and I agree with them. Your integrity, which is more important than the iMac will be held intact. I know that doesn't do much for you now, but if you hold yourself to a higher standard, you'll be rewarded in life with higher standards.

Other thing is, there's no mention of the aunt to assist you at all with this. I hear you say she's unemployed, but if she caused the damage and feels guilty, surely there's something she can help with.

If she accidentally burnt your house down, would she be off the hook so easily? She's still responsible for the damages.

 

[fhall1]

Other thing is, there's no mention of the aunt to assist you at all with this. I hear you say she's unemployed, but if she caused the damage and feels guilty, surely there's something she can help with.

If she accidentally burnt your house down, would she be off the hook so easily? She's still responsible for the damages.

This. What is your aunt - 12 years old? Doesn't she feel bad about being an idiot and destroying an almost $2000 computer? She should be helping out in some way.

 

[MrNomNoms]

This. What is your aunt - 12 years old? Doesn't she feel bad about being an idiot and destroying an almost $2000 computer? She should be helping out in some way.

Never be surprised at the level of entitlement that parents have - "I have kids therefore I can behave like a complete douche bag because I can use my kids as an ace up my sleeve anytime I'm held to account for my own behaviour of the behaviour of my kids".

As for a solution for the problem, I really can't suggest anything other than to suck it up, kick the cousin and kids out of the home and work your backside off to save up for a new iMac and this time make sure you have accidental coverage on your insurance. For me it cost me an extra NZ$20 per year and it included taking the computer outside of the house as well - NZ$350 excess and well worth the few extra dollars per year.

 

[Red Fuji]

Sorry on you loss; it could happen to anyone.
Here in the USA , certain credit card companies/banks automatically cover your purchase with Accidental Damage protection for the first 90 days. I am not sure how UK banks operate. Best of luck to you.

 

[Arfdog]

I agree with the above post.

My wife put my iphone through the wash. I went into the store expecting to pay the standard replacement fee but said what happened and they replaced it. I was in uniform at the time (I'm in the RAF) and the guy started telling me how we did a good job and replaced it for free. Someone else I know went it to get their phone replaced and basically demanded they replace it after he smashed the screen. They told him where to go.

You have nothing to loose. If you can get some tears out that would no doubt help. I don't know how I would respond to someone crying their eyes out in my store but I'd want to find a way to stop it and quickly.

What an awful situation to be in. Good luck whatever you do.

Methinks you got the special treatment because of your RAF duty.

 

[Arfdog]

What do you mean with the hardest part, is it trying to flattern the aluminium with pliers, so I can attach the screen. Or what's difficult is to dismount the inner components of my iMac, and attaching them back to a new rear case?

This is the weirdest thread.

1. No, you cannot competently fix this amount of damage to the case. A metal worker couldn't do it. Get a new one, please stop bringing up the idea and insisting on using pliers to "bend it back". If you're really desperate, you can try cutting the damaged section and just replacing the screen. See attached.
2. What kind of insurance do you buy that doesn't cover accidents? The point of insurance is to pay you if something unexpected (and unlikely) happens.
3. You suggest insurance fraud by claiming it was damaged in shipping. Why do you keep bringing this up, only to shoot it down?
4. Get tough on your aunt who completely destroyed your new PC, why is this so hard to do? Get money from her or make her feel guilty by asking her why she won't be responsible for damage she caused.
5. The best solution is to try begging Apple. (I can see if working for an iPod, but an iMac, don't think so)
6. Failing that, Ebay it, get about $300-500 for it, spend on a new Mac Mini. It's better than repair (which will cost about $1500 anyway). Would you rather spend $1500 for a new PC or $1500 repair one? Not a hard decision.

But good luck