Ok so my doomed 2011 iMac is being replaced under AppleCare with a 2013 iMac. I'm wondering if it is possible to pay for upgrades on the replacement iMac? Wanting to upgrade to a fusion 1tb and the 780m 4gb video card. Has anyone done this or am I just stuck with what they give me?
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Possible to upgrade iMac with a AppleCare replacement?
- Thread starter Ak907Freerider
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I've never heard of Apple replacing an entire machine under AppleCare coverage, nor have I ever heard of a case where they replaced older hardware with newer.
If the logic board fails, they replace it. Likewise for the LCD panel, hard disks, etc.
If the logic board fails, they replace it. Likewise for the LCD panel, hard disks, etc.
I'm afraid that you're going to be stuck with whatever they give you. It certainly cannot hurt to ask them, but I think that they will most likely deny the request.
After multiple repairs, Apple will often simply replace the entire machine rather than attempt another repair. They have been known to replace old hardware with more modern equivalents in-store.
Well unfortunately my iMac has had issues for a long time. So far had logic board, hard drive and ram all fail. Last straw was when the wifi card went out. Anyhow dealt with executive relations and they are sending new iMac 2013 model. I was super busy when he called and didn't get the chance to ask about upgrading the replacement. I sent him a email as soon as I could that evening but wondering if anyone has been able to do this. I don't see why a company would say no to money but who knows. Not like they are paying retail for these parts. Either way they are ahead I'm sure.
Wow, thanks for clearing me up on this. I wasn't aware that such cases existed.
As Multifinder17 notes above, it can't hurt to ask.
You could also get the parts yourself and open up the new machine. You can get the official Apple double-sided tape for the display fairly cheaply.
However, if you get AppleCare on your replacement machine you may not want to do that. I'm waiting until the coverage runs out on my own before opening it up but I do plan on replacing the 1TB Fusion Drive with a 1TB SSD only after that. I figure the prices have to have come down by then.
Wow, thanks for clearing me up on this. I wasn't aware that such cases existed.
As Multifinder17 notes above, it can't hurt to ask.
You could also get the parts yourself and open up the new machine. You can get the official Apple double-sided tape for the display fairly cheaply.
However, if you get AppleCare on your replacement machine you may not want to do that. I'm waiting until the coverage runs out on my own before opening it up but I do plan on replacing the 1TB Fusion Drive with a 1TB SSD only after that. I figure the prices have to have come down by then.
Ya don't want to tear apart iMac until warranty runs out. That's why I'm hoping to at least get a fusion drive. I have been using a LaCie little big disk ssd as a boot drive for awhile and hard going back to regular hdd. That's why it would be nice to have it built in and not be external. And well the 4 gb video is beast, especially for $150. Hopefully I hear from them soon.
Update: well guess I should read my email more often. Haha anyhow the executive I have been working with sent me a email. Said he doesn't see this being a problem as my iMac is still being built. He will call Monday the 27th to see what all I want to add. Yay! Already coming with i7 and 16gb ram, so for $350 getting a pretty sweet upgrade!
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upgrade iMac
My power company replaced our meter last Sept, without telling us to turn off anything. The DTV DVR went south, and lost all its recordings, and stopped fully recording programs. My late 2012 27 inch iMac (base model) Started having a screen flicker issue, and my bookmarks bar lost a few bookmarks, and the hard drive had a few bad sectors. I took it back to the local Apple Store twice to have it checked out. Nothing was found on the first visit. I brought it back a second time with the same issues. It was decided to replace the LCD screen. When I got it home after this repair all I had was a fan running, and nothing else. The next day when I brought it back to the Apple Store slightly POed, Apple replaced it with a new 2013 27 inch iMac. I asked the manager about upgrading to a fusion drive, surprisingly they agreed to it. The only 27 inch Fusion drive they had was a i7, 3 TB Fusion drive, and better video card. A $700 upgrade. I balked at the cost, and they split the difference with me. As an added bonus I bought Applecare with a 20% discount. I walked out of the store with a new 2013 iMac with far better specs, & Applecare for approx $490. Apple definitely made me a happy camper. The way Apple treated me giving me a new iMac replacing an 11+ month old computer made me feel that they wanted to do the right thing for me in my case, and then go even further to make me feel like I was a valued customer.
My power company replaced our meter last Sept, without telling us to turn off anything. The DTV DVR went south, and lost all its recordings, and stopped fully recording programs. My late 2012 27 inch iMac (base model) Started having a screen flicker issue, and my bookmarks bar lost a few bookmarks, and the hard drive had a few bad sectors. I took it back to the local Apple Store twice to have it checked out. Nothing was found on the first visit. I brought it back a second time with the same issues. It was decided to replace the LCD screen. When I got it home after this repair all I had was a fan running, and nothing else. The next day when I brought it back to the Apple Store slightly POed, Apple replaced it with a new 2013 27 inch iMac. I asked the manager about upgrading to a fusion drive, surprisingly they agreed to it. The only 27 inch Fusion drive they had was a i7, 3 TB Fusion drive, and better video card. A $700 upgrade. I balked at the cost, and they split the difference with me. As an added bonus I bought Applecare with a 20% discount. I walked out of the store with a new 2013 iMac with far better specs, & Applecare for approx $490. Apple definitely made me a happy camper. The way Apple treated me giving me a new iMac replacing an 11+ month old computer made me feel that they wanted to do the right thing for me in my case, and then go even further to make me feel like I was a valued customer.
I'm glad the OP and others got their iMacs replaced
Glad to hear folks got the additional upgrades (and, in at least one case, cheaper.)
Thanks for posting!
Glad to hear folks got the additional upgrades (and, in at least one case, cheaper.)
Thanks for posting!
Well if you think about it it works out for them. They gain all the profit from what we pay to upgrade. Cause you know they for sure aren't paying $200 for a 128gb ssd. So add that on top of the money they will get for the returned iMac. Either if they sell it as a refurb or donate it for a tax write off. So really they should be stoked to sell upgrades. Just more profit for them.
Yep win win really. So I've set aside $350 for a 1tb fusion drive and a 780m 4gb video card. I will add ram later. It is coming with 16gb. So going to ask for two 8gb sticks that way I'm not stuck with two 4gb sticks later. Either way I'm sure I could sell the ram. Pretty excited! Good bye beach balls!!
I had a 2010 MBP under Applecare that started to have some problems late 2012, almost at the end of its warranty. The screen was freezing and flickering so i took it in, replicated the problem and they attempted to repair it. They replaced the screen, found that didn't work, attempted to replace RAM, motherboard, everything and nothing worked so they declared it end of life.
The genius said since it was still under warranty but the 2010s were no longer kicking around for replacements, that they would replace my machine with the equivalent current model which was the 2012. I had bought the fully upgraded (other than hard drive) 2010 model, with the HR-AG, so they would give me the identical 'fully loaded' one in the 2012... Top processor, HR-AG, RAM, etc.,
OR! (this is where its gets good)... if i wanted something different, they would give the value of that new one (which was $2599) on any other machine and I could pay for any upgrades or changes. So i went with a loaded retina model and they only charged me the difference between the loaded retina and the $2599 cMBP equivalent of my machine. It worked out to 700$ for everything i wanted in it. Very impressed with apple.
The genius said since it was still under warranty but the 2010s were no longer kicking around for replacements, that they would replace my machine with the equivalent current model which was the 2012. I had bought the fully upgraded (other than hard drive) 2010 model, with the HR-AG, so they would give me the identical 'fully loaded' one in the 2012... Top processor, HR-AG, RAM, etc.,
OR! (this is where its gets good)... if i wanted something different, they would give the value of that new one (which was $2599) on any other machine and I could pay for any upgrades or changes. So i went with a loaded retina model and they only charged me the difference between the loaded retina and the $2599 cMBP equivalent of my machine. It worked out to 700$ for everything i wanted in it. Very impressed with apple.
Well just spoke to apple they are going to send my replacement back and place a order for a bto iMac! Going to have 1tb fusion, 4gb 780m video card, 16gb ram, 3.5 i7 processor. All for $350! So stoked going from a 2011 to loaded 2013.
Well apple finally came through tonight. I have a beautiful 2013 iMac on my table. It is wrong one but the rep said once he sees my old iMac has been shipped from store he can place order for the upgraded bto iMac. This one is close to original but only 8 gigs of ram. I had 16 gigs. So until new one arrives I will use this one. Best part is my internet is working and stable. Yaaaay. About time.