Second Day Owning My 2017 Macbook Pro.... Someone Spilled Water On It

[fischersd]

The OP is not getting Apple to fix it but via some insurance. When the OP goes online to register with Apple Care + the original details and serial number of the mac will be used. The OP sent the mac to Apple support, they did some checking and diagnosis on the unit. The unit had no warranty cover because the OP admits it was something that was overlooked at the time. Apple quoted an out of warranty repair cost which the OP cannot afford hence using other insurance the OP has.

Now due to having sent the unit to Apple, they will have the unit's serial number on file so the question remains will online registration of Apple Care + flag it up as cannot be used because Apple will have no way of knowing that the machine that was originally sent in as faulty, has been repaired. As you rightly pointed out in your first post about the issue of fraud, Apple would need to make sure that the OP is not signing up to Apple Care + with the intention of making a claim soon after being registered.

Like i said, the OP will have to live with the doubts that Apple may have about the legitimacy of any Apple Care + registrations that are made.

Ok, just read the thread again. I didn't read anywhere here that the OP (@James.K.Polk) was getting this repaired anywhere other than by Apple, but getting the insurance from the CC provider to pay for it once it's repaired. (so the initial charge would be on the same card).

If the repair is done by Apple, then there's no question. (and I don't know why on earth you would do anything but).

 

[laptech]

Ok, just read the thread again. I didn't read anywhere here that the OP (@James.K.Polk) was getting this repaired anywhere other than by Apple, but getting the insurance from the CC provider to pay for it once it's repaired. (so the initial charge would be on the same card).

If the repair is done by Apple, then there's no question. (and I don't know why on earth you would do anything but).

Maybe i assumed wrong but wouldn't the CC's own insurance company specify who repairs it?. I know it's an Apple machine but there are Apple repair specialists out there too. Insurance companies have a habit of choosing the cheapest option and a Apple repair specialist is a lot cheaper than Apple themselves.

 

[WinterWolf90]

So I have a question. Not to hijack the poster's thread but I figured I would post in here instead of making a new thread. I actually also just spilled some water on my MacBook pro 2015. It was closed and was a small amount of water. Mostly got on the top of the case. Some made it to the ports on the right side (HDMI, SD, USB) and a tiny made it to the right of the keyboard. No water made it to the keyboard. but a small amount was to the right of the power but didn't make it to the dip that separated the keyboard from the bezels. I turned it to the side and let the small water from the ports out then cleaned it with tissue and q tip then left it on its side all day.


Powers on, and all ports work. Is there anything to worry about really? I have tons of backups thank god.

 

[zhenya]

This is exactly the kind of thing Chase's credit card protection is supposed to cover so very eager to hear how it goes for you as I have several Chase cards.

 

[fischersd]

Maybe i assumed wrong but wouldn't the CC's own insurance company specify who repairs it?. I know it's an Apple machine but there are Apple repair specialists out there too. Insurance companies have a habit of choosing the cheapest option and a Apple repair specialist is a lot cheaper than Apple themselves.

Really, you can insist and escalate if they try to give you a hard time. The point of insurance is to bring something back to the state it was before the accident. I really don't see Apple allowing AC+ back onto this MacBook unless they're the ones doing the repair. (and then, like I said, usually with something like water damage, for $1475, they're actually going to replace the MacBook).

@James.K.Polk get Apple to repair it. Don't allow it to be done anywhere else - you'll regret it!!!
[doublepost=1508720664][/doublepost]

So I have a question. Not to hijack the poster's thread but I figured I would post in here instead of making a new thread. I actually also just spilled some water on my MacBook pro 2015. It was closed and was a small amount of water. Mostly got on the top of the case. Some made it to the ports on the right side (HDMI, SD, USB) and a tiny made it to the right of the keyboard. No water made it to the keyboard. but a small amount was to the right of the power but didn't make it to the dip that separated the keyboard from the bezels. I turned it to the side and let the small water from the ports out then cleaned it with tissue and q tip then left it on its side all day.


Powers on, and all ports work. Is there anything to worry about really? I have tons of backups thank god.

You were a fool for turning it on. If any got inside, that's all it takes to cause damage. You should have put it somewhere in the sunshine and let it dry out for a few days, just to be safe.

Can you guys remove your batteries on the new MacBooks or is it like the Air that it's entirely inside and can't be removed? (that always used to be the saving grace...if liquids got on it, pull the battery as fast as you can, then let it dry out for a few days.

 

[laptech]

Really, you can insist and escalate if they try to give you a hard time. The point of insurance is to bring something back to the state it was before the accident. I really don't see Apple allowing AC+ back onto this MacBook unless they're the ones doing the repair. (and then, like I said, usually with something like water damage, for $1475, they're actually going to replace the MacBook).

@James.K.Polk get Apple to repair it. Don't allow it to be done anywhere else - you'll regret it!!!
[doublepost=1508720664][/doublepost]
You were a fool for turning it on. If any got inside, that's all it takes to cause damage. You should have put it somewhere in the sunshine and let it dry out for a few days, just to be safe.

Can you guys remove your batteries on the new MacBooks or is it like the Air that it's entirely inside and can't be removed? (that always used to be the saving grace...if liquids got on it, pull the battery as fast as you can, then let it dry out for a few days.

Batteries are entirely enclosed in the mac book. You have to unscrew the base to get access to the battery. Doing it this way gives a more asphetic look to the machine while also having a secondary effect of making owners of such machines treat the machine very carefully.

I am sure many of us have been guilty at some time of mistreating battery operated equipment because we know how quickly we can remove the batteries if something was to go wrong. Having batteries fully enclosed is a way to make our brain think and therefore condition us that we need to take more care of the item because we can no longer get easy access to the battery.

 

[fischersd]

Batteries are entirely enclosed in the mac book. You have to unscrew the base to get access to the battery. Doing it this way gives a more asphetic look to the machine while also having a secondary effect of making owners of such machines treat the machine very carefully.

I am sure many of us have been guilty at some time of mistreating battery operated equipment because we know how quickly we can remove the batteries if something was to go wrong. Having batteries fully enclosed is a way to make our brain think and therefore condition us that we need to take more care of the item because we can no longer get easy access to the battery.

True! Never had any close calls with any of mine *knock on wood*. Still have my 2008 17" MBP that I actually can drop the battery out of if something untoward were to happen. (should likely sell it....have HS working on it well, but unlikely the next release will be so accommodating)

 

[WinterWolf90]

Really, you can insist and escalate if they try to give you a hard time. The point of insurance is to bring something back to the state it was before the accident. I really don't see Apple allowing AC+ back onto this MacBook unless they're the ones doing the repair. (and then, like I said, usually with something like water damage, for $1475, they're actually going to replace the MacBook).

@James.K.Polk get Apple to repair it. Don't allow it to be done anywhere else - you'll regret it!!!
[doublepost=1508720664][/doublepost]
You were a fool for turning it on. If any got inside, that's all it takes to cause damage. You should have put it somewhere in the sunshine and let it dry out for a few days, just to be safe.

Can you guys remove your batteries on the new MacBooks or is it like the Air that it's entirely inside and can't be removed? (that always used to be the saving grace...if liquids got on it, pull the battery as fast as you can, then let it dry out for a few days.

Well I turned it off after turning it on 12 hours later. All seems to be ok, I don’t think any made it inside.

 

[fischersd]

Well I turned it off after turning it on 12 hours later. All seems to be ok, I don’t think any made it inside.

Heh...ok...in future, if this happens again, just leave it off and let it try a few days. Better safe than sorry!!!
You should also write down somewhere that you can find it later (your iCloud calendar maybe) that this happened....so if you DO get it serviced by Apple one day and one of the "tattle tale" tags inside shows moisture ingress, that you remember what happened. Heh. But, that's just something I'd do (my memory is awful these days).

 

[The F]

I never understand why people insist on putting drinks near laptops. It does not matter how thirsty you are NEVER EVER let liquid near a laptop, PERIOD. That being said, if the laptop fails to power, those at the Genius bar will ask what happened and as soon as you say you spill liquid on it, it will automatically be referred to as 'customer damage' and they will charge you for any repair, regardless of how old the machine it.

Now you could be lucky and have a sympathetic apple employee who will try and get it fixed for free under normal manufacturers warranty BUT and this is a big BUT, the laptop internals have liquid indicators in them and if any of them have turned red, they know that liquid has been spilled over the laptop and they will refuse to carry out any warranty repairs and instruct that you have to pay for the repair.

You may have to try with your home insurance.
[doublepost=1508460073][/doublepost]

How did you manage that because Apple will not replace under warranty or Apple Care a laptop replacement or part for free if it is considered to have been damaged by the customer.

Just some advice to everyone out there if you had bought the MacBook at Best Buy you could get it covered for water damage and accidental drops for about $134. Do not buy from the Apple Store

 

[Yeahyeahyeah123]

Interestingly enough, I actually did email him yesterday, something I've never done before - not about my case specifically (though I did mention it) but about an option to turn off the "computer powers on when the lid is open" mechanic. I have no doubt this furthered the damage to my machine, and having it available as a toggle (ala "open all windows when restarting") would be terrific.

Here you go. Open up Terminal and copy/paste this:
sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00

It worked for me!
http://osxdaily.com/2017/01/19/disable-boot-on-open-lid-macbook-pro/

 

[James.K.Polk]

Here you go. Open up Terminal and copy/paste this:
sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00

It worked for me!
http://osxdaily.com/2017/01/19/disable-boot-on-open-lid-macbook-pro/

Thank ya!

Update: Got the computer back today. They replaced... everything? Same serial, but now top case, screen, bottom case, logic board, I/O. So whatever that means. Interestingly, the ports came covered with some tape. I suppose to prevent further spill?

Came to a grand total of $1615 after tax. Oh joy. Got engaged this week so hard to be too stressed about material issues... then again, perhaps getting engaged means I should be even more cautious with money...

Will wait on Chase and report back. And, if Chase covers it (and thus, if I can afford it!) I'll add AppleCare+. Just in case

 

[Mefisto]

I really have nothing of value to add to the thread itself, but it's been really inspiring reading about your most unfortunate situation and the way you've dealt with it. With the general mindset of posters here often being what it is, you seem like you have your sh.. Stuff together and your priorities straight.

Congrats on the engagement, and in the future don't drink and compute!

 

[jerryk]

Thank ya!

Update: Got the computer back today. They replaced... everything? Same serial, but now top case, screen, bottom case, logic board, I/O. So whatever that means. Interestingly, the ports came covered with some tape. I suppose to prevent further spill?

Came to a grand total of $1615 after tax. Oh joy. Got engaged this week so hard to be too stressed about material issues... then again, perhaps getting engaged means I should be even more cautious with money...

Will wait on Chase and report back. And, if Chase covers it (and thus, if I can afford it!) I'll add AppleCare+. Just in case

Congrats on your engagement. This wasn't to the person that spilled the water on the system, was it?

 

[James.K.Polk]

Congrats on your engagement. This wasn't to the person that spilled the water on the system, was it?

No! I hope I love her enough that it wouldn't have mattered, if so - but at least I don't have to face that choice

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Congratulations man!

Very few things have changed my life as much as waking up the morning after getting married, and hearing my son’s first cry.

 

[TonyK]

Update: ...Got engaged this week so hard to be too stressed about material issues... then again, perhaps getting engaged means I should be even more cautious with money...

CONGRATULATIONS! May you have many happy years and adventures together.

 

[newellj]

Do Apple inspect returned products? Can't you just return it within 14 days, so long as there's no obvious damage?

Are you not aware that this is outright fraud?

 

[576316]

Are you not aware that this is outright fraud?

 

[newellj]

Yeah, and you wonder why prices are so high in the UK...

 

[PBG4 Dude]

No! I hope I love her enough that it wouldn't have mattered, if so - but at least I don't have to face that choice

I lost $400 of my now wife but then girlfriend’s money back when we were first dating in the early 90s. Like fell out of my pocket lost, not lost on gambling or something LOL. I’m very lucky she looked past my foible and continued to date me.

 

[0837990]

Sorry to hear about your accident. I hope it works out OK for you.

In real life spill happen. Computer manufacturers need to make their system capability of handling spills. The Thinkpad series has done this for years. Why can't the other companies do this?

I've mostly only used Lenovo computers at my work, covered by my employer, and I can verify that they are spill resistant. HP's enterprise laptops (EliteBooks, etc) also have spill-resistant keyboards with drainage by the way, so Lenovo isn't alone in doing this. Also this is not something new... The Thinkpads had this back when they were sold as IBM.

I guess Apple doesn't want this because it would make the laptop less thin. Thinness above all else. And they would need cut-outs for the drainage pipes exiting the bottom cover. Oh no... The design wouldn't be as clean any more. Disaster!! Apple hardware is GOOD, but it's mostly design ABOVE functionality (see CPU and GPU throttling, and non-user replaceable ANYTHING any more as more examples).

 

[Fishrrman]

I guess I'm going against the general sentiments here, but I don't think it was advisable to pay $1,615 (plus tax) to rebuild a damaged MacBook Pro.

I would have bought a fresh one, then sold the old one "for parts" as is.

Then again, IF the OP's insurance will cover some of the cost, it might "even out".
BUT -- after doing so, will his insurance premiums go UP?

 

[James.K.Polk]

I guess I'm going against the general sentiments here, but I don't think it was advisable to pay $1,615 (plus tax) to rebuild a damaged MacBook Pro.

I would have bought a fresh one, then sold the old one "for parts" as is.

Then again, IF the OP's insurance will cover some of the cost, it might "even out".
BUT -- after doing so, will his insurance premiums go UP?

They will if I need to invoke renter's insurance - but they won't if I can route it all through Chase.

 

[576316]

Yeah, and you wonder why prices are so high in the UK...

Prices are high because Apple shamelessly used Brexit as an invalid excuse to hike prices and further extort consumers.

Apple couldn’t wait to raise prices. They were amongst the first to raise them and they’ll be amongst the last to put them back down again.