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This simply shows your ignorance, I would stop posting if I were you. What part of "compressed air" don't you understand? The air is compressed, under pressure, in a can. It's that pressure which causes the air to come out of the can when you push the button. There is nothing about compressing air that harms the ozone layer. You apparently can't differentiate between an aerosolized product that uses natural compressed air versus one containing chlorofluorocarbons, which destroy the ozone layer and are no longer used in consumer goods.

What's that old saying... can't fix stupid?


Why so serious? What is wrong with you lack of sex! I dont care about you and your CFC crap. But my friend who is an Air Force and work with biohazard bullcrap. Ask me to stop using compress air for whatever reason I don give a crap. I still keep using it like I keep smoking in front of your children.
 
She signed her post Tia. That's typically a female name, so conversational implicature should alter your grammatical assumptions.




No, TIA is not my name.

TIA is a well understood language on the web in forums that is short for THANKING IN ADVANCE for the answers you are all about to offer.
 
So if people end up not using their AppleCare warranty, assuming there are no problems within the first 3 years, then Apple should refund what we paid for our AppleCare? Really? Does your healthcare company refund your premium if you don't go to the doctor? Does your auto insurance company refund your insurance annually if you don't file a claim? And if all of us who didn't need our AppleCare were entitled to a refund, how on earth could Apple afford to offer the service in the first place?

An extended warranty is nothing more than insurance. More people pay into the system than it costs in claims, making it a profitable venture for the company enabling them to offer the service in the first place. You're just saying that because the computer may have been dirty in the first place, which has nothing to do with Apple, they should refund the OP because of the condition the laptop was in when the AppleCare warranty was purchased? Huh?

I sure hope you don't apply this faulty logic to your political choices, lord help us all.

My point being was she had a problem under warranty, that they were not willing to fix because of the smoke issue. If the inside was nasty as claimed, then it was obvious the Apple Care was never truly valid, since she had most likely always been smoking around it, prior to the extended Apple Care going into effect.

So you are saying its ok to hide loop holes in fine print so that the entity providing the warranty can loophole their way out?

My main point is the Apple Care was NEVER valid, according to Apples terms.
She truly never had Apple Care. Because since day 1 (even prior to extended Apple Care kicking in) the computer was in an environment that was not in compliance with Apple Cares terms. Legally their isn't an issue, Apple covered that in the fine print. But its kinda a crappy thing to do.

And Apple is usually pretty good about not doing crappy things to customers.
Do they legally need to refund here, nope.
Is it a crappy thing to take her money, keep it, then deny her based on a loophole? I say yes. Does this type of thing happen everyday with other companies, yes.

Financial and Insurance companies use loopholes to screw over people 1000's a times a day, hell probably 1000's a times a minute. It's legal, but crappy...and most of the time Apple takes the high road.

I do think Apple needs to let people know more clearly if they smoke their Apple Care is void. If I buy life/health insurance they ask me if i smoke, (I don't, and hate it.) But at least they inform me, they don't wait till i make a claim and then say oh you smoke (i don't) then deny me.

Look smoking is actually one of my biggest pet peeves, I think it is the most stupid thing you can do to your body. I dont understand it, it has no benefit , I actually have WAY less of a problem with pot, than cigarettes. Atleast there is a "benefit" from pot, cigarettes just make you reek and kill you.

But that doesn't make it right for Apple to take AND KEEP her money, and not provide her the service because of fine print. ( Fine print that you can't actually read until you buy the box, and if you buy it along with your computer online, I don't recall being able to read the AppleCare Terms prior to purchase.)
 
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Guess you're going to have to quit smoking. I quit smoking a few months ago, the hardest part is the first week. Once you get over the first week it's smooth sailing, just stay away from smokers for a while.

But really, most companies do this kind of thing. I even heard of some auto repair shop that will refuse to fix anything interior if it's a smoker car.
 
My point being was she had a problem under warranty, that they were not willing to fix because of the smoke issue. If the inside was nasty as claimed, then it was obvious the Apple Care was never truly valid.

So the AppleCare should not be valid because the OP misused the laptop by allowing it to fill with smoke, thus coating all of the components? Are you hearing yourself?

So you are saying its ok to hide loop holes in fine print so that the entity providing the warranty can loophole their way out?

Which loophole could you be talking about... you mean this one?

(ii) Damage caused by (a) a product that is not the Covered Equipment (b) accident, abuse, misuse, liquid contact, fire, earthquake or other external cause, (c) operating the Covered Equipment outside the permitted or intended uses described by the manufacturer, or (d) service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”);​

A loophole is an ambiguity in a contract which can be used to circumvent or otherwise avoid the intent, implied or explicitly stated, of one of the parties. The above seems pretty clear to me, how is it a loophole again? I see no ambiguity.

My main point is the Apple Care was NEVER valid, according to Apples terms.
She truly never had Apple Care. Because since day 1 (even prior to extended Apple Care kicking in) the computer was in an environment that was not in compliance with Apple Cares terms. Legally their isn't an issue, Apple covered that in the fine print. But its kinda a crappy thing to do.

So it's Apple's job to determine whether the covered laptop was in an environment that "was not in compliance with Apple Cares terms"? The onus is not on the seller of the extended warranty to determine whether or not your warrantable item has been abused to the point of not being warrantable at the time the extended warranty was purchased. As the owner of a product, I am ultimately responsible for its condition.

And Apple is pretty good about not doing crappy things to customers.
Do they legally need to refund here, nope.
Is it a crappy thing to take her money, keep it, then deny her based on a loophole? I say yes. Does this type of thing happen everyday with other companies, yes.

Too bad your scenario is not even valid. The OP was not denied service, the OP was told to clean her machine and then bring it back for service. Can't you see the difference?

I do think Apple needs to let people know more clearly if they smoke their Apple Care is void. If I buy life/health insurance they ask me if i smoke, (I don't, and hate it.) But at least they inform me, they don't wait till i make a claim and then say oh you smoke (i don't) then deny me.

I'm sure they will do that as soon as cigarette manufacturers start voluntarily putting warnings on their products about smoking being harmful to your data and potentially costing you thousands of dollars in computer repairs.

I'm not directing this at anyone in particular, but how can you not know that smoking around your computer is going to cause filthy buildup inside and possibly premature failure?
 
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In any event it has since been determined that if I do take it into a 3rd party and have it cleaned, which I have arranged to do tomorrow morning, which should cost me roughy in he area of $50, I can then take it to Apple again. They are going to extend it a few days.

The warranty isn't voided. They clearly said, "clean it and come back".

Yes, correct but as I only have 2 days left I asked the fellow where on earth I would take it to get it cleaned.
You must understand that my home and computer are so squeaky clean I had no idea this muck they speak of was in there. This is my first laptop.
In any event, he was unable to answer me so I assumed it would likely cost $200 or so to clean if IF i could find someone that could do so.

Bearing in mind that I was pretty taken aback at the time and really thought this was a bad joke, I wasn't thinking clearly but his lack of help was not helping the situation so i left and it was only a friend that looked into it for me as a media blogger perhaps used her title to get help, I don't know, but was told they would extend it for a short time if I went and got it done right away.
I dont have either the time or expertise to take care of it myself and would rather just spend $50 having it done

Dr. John McDougall seems to think so...Tracking back the cancer to its most likely time of initial appearance is based on solid science and reasonable assumptions. Ultimately this is all speculation, mind you, but it does make a certain amount of sense

Personally I think it is highly unprofessional and unethical for any doctor especially one that has not likely ever examined him himself, if that is the case, to suggest what might have caused ones illness. It is also in very poor taste for it contributes to a habit of blaming the victim.

We live in a society of extremely judgmental people, as evidenced in this very thread. Peoples hysteria has caused many to suggest that those that smoke should pay for their own treatments. Those that drink any liquor a all, should they be required to pay for damage done to their liver? But forgetting all of the men that die from heart attacks from job related stress or, their diet. Forgetting those who cause car accidents. No one suggests such drivers should pay all hospital bills for both themselves and/or victims. How about musicians? Anyone asking them to pay for any/all treatment related to hearing loss/damage? No one suggests that men who have had unprotected sex and contracted HIV or syphilis should pay for their own treatment. Nor bicyclists that fall and have head injuries. Anyone asking them to pay for their therapy?
No, of corse not but everyone does seem to feel in their hysteria about smoking that it is ok to assume that the smoker should pay for his.
I truly doubt if Jobs had died from heart failure they would be talking about it.
Or for that matter, actress Farrah Fawcett? Word has it that women that engage in anal sex without condoms pick up the same "bug" or whatever it that can lead to cervical cancer. Did anyone suggest she and her husband should pay for her cancer treatments?
But I think or hope, my point has been made!

Yes, we Americans are aware of the damage that smoking can do to your body. I do not smoke but can appreciate your right to do so.

Hallelujah! One non judgmental person. That is a rarity! You are obviously a bit more evolved than most.
Most others are deluded into thinking they are perfect and therefore feel they have the right to pass judgement upon others.
Only those wise enough understand that they are not perfect and therefore not in any position to cast stones, as the expression goes.

Despite their poor reasoning, I'm going to have to side with Apple's conclusion (i.e. to not honour the warranty) on this one.

Assuming most (if not all) of Apple stores and care centres are located in cities, the amount of toxins one inhales every day most likely significantly outweighs any toxins one could inhale from cleaning a computer that was kept in a smoking environment. Besides, isn't that what biosuits and masks are for? So, Apple's reasoning is faulty.

The OP's problem, which I don't think she's admitting or acknowledging, is that smoking causes damage to electronics. Specifically, the residue from cigarette smoke accumulates on the laser of all DVD, CD, etc. drives, which ultimately renders them unusable as they can no longer read the disc that was inserted. I know because, before I stopped smoking inside my house, I had to replace the laser on my CD player a couple of times due to the smoke.

This is no different that submerging your computer in water; both cigarette smoke and water will void your warranty.

Sorry, OP, you're just going to have to... suck it up.

Sorry but you are wrong. There are other electronics here and drives and they all work perfectly. I know many non smokers who have had the same problem with their DVD Drive.
In any event, the drive stopped working, now that I think about it, shortly after I got it which would have been before smoking was allowed in here so again, no, thats not it, is simply a faulty DVD drive.
That being said, I didn't take it in to get the DVD drive fixed. I mean, yes, I did in that it was going in anyhow and as the warranty was about to end i wanted to get it al fixed but if it weren't for the keyboard issue which was what i wanted done, I likely would not have bothered to have taken it in for the dvd drive for i never use it and wont be selling this mac so is not an issue anyhow

A
This is my first laptop. I have used desktops before this and always vacuumed them out lightly or sprayed air into them but never recall seeing any muck from cigarettes so I had no reason to suspect there was any inside this laptop.
They knew I smoked for we had had a conversation pertaining to it, somewhat unrelated as I was waiting for help, when it finally arrived.
( they forgot me and left me waiting an extra 20 min. before it was determined they had not checked me off for having shown up for my appointment )
All in all I wasn't overly impressed with the way they handled any of it.

I do think Apple needs to let people know more clearly if they smoke their Apple Care is void. If I buy life/health insurance they ask me if i smoke, (I don't, and hate it.) But at least they inform me, they don't wait till i make a claim and then say oh you smoke (i don't) then deny me.

AGREED!!!!!

Look smoking is actually one of my biggest pet peeves, I think it is the most stupid thing you can do to your body. I dont understand it, it has no benefit , I actually have WAY less of a problem with pot, than cigarettes. Atleast there is a "benefit" from pot, cigarettes just make you reek and kill you.

Thats only because you are not a smoker. A smoker will tell you there is an advantage. That is why they smoke. Just because you cant understand it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
I consider pot just as unhealthy but I do expect hypocrisy between the two although in your case I don't feel you were being such.


I'm assuming the OP just got unlucky with the wrong Apple hippy nerd on the wrong day. (Bio-hazard? FFS)

Do remember that anyone not Apple-authorised opening up the computer will void the warranty so even if you wanted to, you can't spring clean your laptop before taking in for a service under warranty anyway.

I think you hit the nail on the head.
And yes, it was explained to me that I must also include the name of the person or company that cleaned my computer, I suppose in order to ensure my warranty was not voided.


Thank you for most of the answers. As for the more judgmental ones, I would suggest you take a good and long hard look at your own behaviours before passing judgment on others. Unfortunately in my experience, it often takes a few decades to reach the point where you are happy and comfortable enough in your own skin that you do not need to judge others in order to feel better about yourself so it is likely a few of you have a way to go yet :)


Cheers!
 

Well, I don't know if they cover smoke damage specifically, but several regular insurance providers such as Allstate or State Farm offer Personal Articles Policies that will protect against accidental damage and even theft for $30-$70 a year, as opposed to AppleCare, which covers you for only 2 extra years for $350.
 
Too bad your scenario is not even valid. The OP was not denied service, the OP was told to clean her machine and then bring it back for service. Can't you see the difference?


You are overlooking the fact that my warranty expires Friday and tomorrow is Thursday.
I asked the guy where on earth one goes to get such a job done? I had never heard of paying to clean out ones computer and he said a 3rd party so i was thinking an individual for some reason, rather than a business. Cant explain why I thought that but it was all so poorly communicated to me I assumed i could never get it cleaned and have another appointment set up before the warranty was done.
He was of NO help whatsoever.


BTW, I should add I have a *friend* that has had a brain tumour in the past. She is very quick to let every Apple tech know this when she goes in.
Her laptop died about 2 days before her warranty expired one year ago and rather than fix it, they gave her a brand new macbook pro at no charge.

My guess is that they felt empathy for her.
Proven once again 2 weeks ago when she went swimming and forgot to take her iphone out of her pocket and was swimming with i for a few minutes before she realized it.
And yes it was dead.
She took it in, asked to speak to the manager, told her the story about her brain tumour and was given a brand new iphone on the spot, although most people i know when hey have caused damage to an iphone due to water don't have brand new iphones handed to them.

My point being that its apparently up to the discretion of the tech or manager what they choose to do and I doubt anyone at Apple is fond of smokers.

As a smoker, it would not have bothered me to work on such a laptop.
 
One Final Point...


I find it interesting that they require an apple related tech or store to clean it for me and once i pay $50 + or whatever it ends up being, it is no longer considered a bio hazard

Therefore it apparently is only a bio hazard when working on it for free :D
 
Personally I think it is highly unprofessional and unethical for any doctor especially one that has not likely ever examined him himself, if that is the case, to suggest what might have caused ones illness. It is also in very poor taste for it contributes to a habit of blaming the victim.

Except that nobody blamed the victim in the McDougall video, where did you come up with that?

We live in a society of extremely judgmental people, as evidenced in this very thread. Peoples hysteria has caused many to suggest that those that smoke should pay for their own treatments.

No, just clean out your laptop so the poor technician doesn't have to touch your nasty. That's all, no drama. You're the one who wants to go to the media with a response that is way out of proportion to the actual incident.

Those that drink any liquor a all, should they be required to pay for damage done to their liver?

No, but I probably would put them pretty low on the transplant list.

But forgetting all of the men that die from heart attacks from job related stress or, their diet. Forgetting those who cause car accidents. No one suggests such drivers should pay all hospital bills for both themselves and/or victims. How about musicians? Anyone asking them to pay for any/all treatment related to hearing loss/damage? No one suggests that men who have had unprotected sex and contracted HIV or syphilis should pay for their own treatment. Nor bicyclists that fall and have head injuries. Anyone asking them to pay for their therapy?

... calling the men in white coats

No, of corse not but everyone does seem to feel in their hysteria about smoking that it is ok to assume that the smoker should pay for his.
I truly doubt if Jobs had died from heart failure they would be talking about it.
Or for that matter, actress Farrah Fawcett? Word has it that women that engage in anal sex without condoms pick up the same "bug" or whatever it that can lead to cervical cancer. Did anyone suggest she and her husband should pay for her cancer treatments?
But I think or hope, my point has been made!

Yes it sure has! [where are those men in white coats...]

A smoker will tell you there is an advantage. That is why they smoke. Just because you cant understand it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I believe that's what we call an addiction, and the words you used to describe this are what we call denial.
 
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Normally, no warranty covers damage you cause. Apple won't even look at it because of the nicotine buildup on the inside, it's not their responsibility to clean your mess.

If you're going to smoke, smoke, It's your body, just know better then to smoke near something you can damage with it, and if you choose to ignore that, then don't be offended when other people don't want to touch your mess.

If you have a drink while near the computer, most people will put the glass far enough away from the machine, to avoid accidental spillage that can damage the computer.

Most people understand the computer has internal fans, drawing the surrounding air into the machine. Knowing what we know these days, and what cigarette smoke leaves behind, it shouldn't any surprise what-so-ever that the smoke residue will also stick to the insides of your computer.

The warranty shouldn't need to spell out common sense.

Ignorance is bliss.
 
Except that nobody blamed the victim in the McDougall video, where did you come up with that?



No, just clean out your laptop so the poor technician doesn't have to touch your nasty. That's all, no drama. You're the one who wants to go to the media with a response that is way out of proportion to the actual incident.



No, but I probably would put them pretty low on the transplant list.



... calling the men in white coats



Yes it sure has! [where are those men in white coats...]



I believe that's called an addiction.

To tag onto this post, medical insurance and a computer warranty are two entirely different things. An insurance policy is supposed to protect you from things that you are liable for, by sharing risk. An extended warranty is simply a guarantee of a manufacturer's products that is sold by that manufacturer. This is easily shown in the documentation for both of them.
 
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I have an idea for the OP... stalk some of the Apple employees at the mall for a while. I'm sure several of them can be found smoking in the parking lot or out back. Once you've identified your simpatico, go talk with him.
 
I nearly did a spit take reading this one. Many friends in the media, a friend that does a pod cast!

I expected the next line to be 'I held my breath and stomped my feet!':D
 
My wife has a 2010 iMac, and she is a smoker. I have a first gen Intel iMac and she has smoked around it too and I never had a problem with it, ever! With her 2010 iMac, she started getting yellow spots all over the screen. When I brought it to the apple store, the guy said it smelled like cigarette and that it wasn't covered by apple care anymore because of it. I don't know why this iMac has that problem while the other one doesn't, and I also find it funny how tons of other people have had the same problem as my wife (even non smokers), yet apple won't do anything about their iMacs either! But now apple hippies just like to blame everything, saying that cigarette build up in your computer will harm them and that it's the reason that your computer is broken, even though that's not the problem at all. I like apple computers, but they will never get money for apple care from me ever again! (I actually only got it once, and what a waste of money anyway!)
 
I just have to comment on a couple of things. As the benefits administrator for a large group plan, I am totally in favor of passing along more of the costs to those who engage in behaviors that drive up claims costs.

And playing the brain tumor card to get free repairs? Twice? Wow.
 
My wife has a 2010 iMac, and she is a smoker. I have a first gen Intel iMac and she has smoked around it too and I never had a problem with it, ever! With her 2010 iMac, she started getting yellow spots all over the screen. When I brought it to the apple store, the guy said it smelled like cigarette and that it wasn't covered by apple care anymore because of it. I don't know why this iMac has that problem while the other one doesn't, and I also find it funny how tons of other people have had the same problem as my wife (even non smokers), yet apple won't do anything about their iMacs either! But now apple hippies just like to blame everything, saying that cigarette build up in your computer will harm them and that it's the reason that your computer is broken, even though that's not the problem at all. I like apple computers, but they will never get money for apple care from me ever again! (I actually only got it once, and what a waste of money anyway!)

Who are these mythical "apple hippies" everyone keeps talking about?
 
So the AppleCare should not be valid because the OP misused the laptop by allowing it to fill with smoke, thus coating all of the components? Are you hearing yourself?

Lol, really I'm done with this thread, I am not going to keep going point by point because it isn't really worth my time. Of course nor is this post , however.

Here is what I am saying: Like it or not, in fact I do not like it, but a significant portion of the population smokes. Thankfully it is decreasing. But with that said, a significant portion of the population does smoke. And I do not believe that the majority of the population including non smokers, have 1st hand knowledge that smoking harms computers. We all know what it does to humans, thats well documented. But I do not believe that it is widely known that smoking kills computers as well as humans.

In fact, until this post was made, I myself was not aware that Apple can/would void warranties or refuse to service if it shows signs of being in a smokers home. I am not saying it is wrong, but Apple does not make it known easily or are transparent to that fact. I would assume had Apple clearly stated (i dont consider fine print, clearly stated that is shown only to me after the purchase.) that if the OP had known that smoking around her computer would void the warranty, that she would of bought an additional warranty. Huh, does that make sense?

Technically, her 1 year warranty technically could of been voided, so why would you knowingly buy a voided extended warranty for a voided regular warranty.

Back to the fine print, I just bought a 15" Retina Macbook Pro, I bought it with Applecare online. I was not shown the terms and conditions of AppleCare prior to purchase. Apple did not state if I was a smoker that I shouldn't buy this. The problem is this isn't something that technically only effect a few people here and there. Since you might argue " Well they dont say if you dog pees on it its not covered either." Well as I stated earlier , like it or not million of people do smoke, so this isn't some rare occurrence.

Look, I am not defending smoking, if i had the power I'd make it illegal or put a $10 a pack tax on it.

But I am defending the OP because she should have been made aware her Apple Care would not be valid, She flat out should have never been sold Apple Care, it should have been boldly stated smoking near the machine could null and void the contract.

I am not even disagreeing with Apple that they should warranty it, in fact I don't think they should repair any damage due to smoking.

But they should have made it clear , so the OP or any smoker for that fact , should not waste any money on Apple Care.

I've already wasted too much of my life on this thread, I'm out.

Good luck OP, my recommendation, get some electrical contact cleaner spray , take the back off, make sure its off, clean it up. Gag when you see the black crap dripping out of your machine and know thats whats going in your body then take your laptop back to Apple with 1 day to spare.
 
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Plus, unfortunately as a smoker
You really should quit smoking. Your lungs aren't the only people and things that will thank you for not indirectly killing them.
Is the world really this black-and-white to you?
Apparently, to you, it is!
I WILL do everything i can using all the resources i have in the media here in Toronto to make sure all smokers know NOT to buy apple care warranty as there is no point as a smoker.........
As it's likely for other laptop vendors to do the same thing, I'd be one of the first callers to say that you are doing a disservice for the rest of us.
Whats with all these silly comments about would I cover my machine in poo?

My machine looks as good and as clean as anyones!
I AM ALSo a well dressed person that is very clean, sophisticated and in no way do I look as if I would have a computer covered in "poo" as some of you put it.

I personally think many of the comments here are over the top
As soon as I can detect a trace of cigarette smoke from you, all bets are off. Smoking is not sexy. Second hand smoke is more dangerous than air/roadside pollution.
That will certainly void your AppleCare warranty. Doing the above gives Apple an automatic out and you've just undermined your own complaint.
Taking pictures of internal fan assemblies void warranties? You're BSing.
 
I fix computers every so often for people in my area and have never turned them down because of smoking. That is just downright rude IMO. Some of the laptops I get are so bad I can smell them from the other room. But I just man up and fix it. Put a painting mask on and dig in, wipe everything down and move on. Apple is crazy for this!
 
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