So I just got a MacBook Pro Retina 2 days ago and yesterday spilled water on it.

[zI INFINITY Iz]

Well this was quite the conversation. Nice reading it.

Happy the OP "solved" his problem. I hope it's all going to be ok. I don't know what I would have done in this situation. Probably would have played the "good and honest guy" card, hoping for a free solution to the problem. It's not like I would have a hard time playing that "card" though, since that's who I am. I've had good experiences with being honest.

Though I must say, the older I get, the more I see that the world isn't that simple. I know a person that is good, honest, smart and really deserves a good life. Though person "A" only seems to get rewarded with bad things and a bad life. On the other hand, I know a person "B" which if karma points existed, would be in the minus a lot. I'm not going into detail, but he is in a way the opposite of the person A. Though life seems to reward person B constaintly, everything goes well. Yes a lot can still change in 10 years, but still. Sometimes I just see goodness being punished and "badness" being rewarded.

 

[marc55]

I'll do it if it gets me a new machine, hell, if I can yell at some guy in a Mazda 3 that didn't really do anything to make me mad, I can yell at some college kid in a blue shirt.

Sounds like there are some really nice folks on this forum; not.

 

[fskywalker]

So I decided to go to the Apple Store and return it. I did not try powering it on at home. I just packed it in the box and brought it to the Apple Store. The Apple employee did open the box, looked at the MacBook for damage and then turned it on. It actually powered on and loaded everything up. He went into the System Preferences to change the password. Then he checked the serial. Everything was working so he gave me my money back and I was on my way. I'm really happy that it powered on. I know that it was kind of a stupid move to do that but I did not want to have any problems with it in the future. Also this is not my first Mac. I have a 21.5" 2012 iMac upgraded to 16GB of RAM and I had 2 other Mac's before that the iMac so Apple already made a lot of money on me. Please don't hate.

No hate here! Just be more careful next time.

 

[dukebound85]

So I decided to go to the Apple Store and return it. I did not try powering it on at home. I just packed it in the box and brought it to the Apple Store. The Apple employee did open the box, looked at the MacBook for damage and then turned it on. It actually powered on and loaded everything up. He went into the System Preferences to change the password. Then he checked the serial. Everything was working so he gave me my money back and I was on my way. I'm really happy that it powered on. I know that it was kind of a stupid move to do that but I did not want to have any problems with it in the future.

Seems you got lucky.

Also this is not my first Mac. I have a 21.5" 2012 iMac upgraded to 16GB of RAM and I had 2 other Mac's before that the iMac so Apple already made a lot of money on me. Please don't hate.

Who cares how much you have spent. Does that somehow legitimize ripping off apple to you?

 

[fskywalker]

So I decided to go to the Apple Store and return it. I did not try powering it on at home. I just packed it in the box and brought it to the Apple Store. The Apple employee did open the box, looked at the MacBook for damage and then turned it on. It actually powered on and loaded everything up. He went into the System Preferences to change the password. Then he checked the serial. Everything was working so he gave me my money back and I was on my way. I'm really happy that it powered on. I know that it was kind of a stupid move to do that but I did not want to have any problems with it in the future. Also this is not my first Mac. I have a 21.5" 2012 iMac upgraded to 16GB of RAM and I had 2 other Mac's before that the iMac so Apple already made a lot of money on me. Please don't hate.

No hate here! Just be more careful next time.

 

[Windows&Apple]

Seems you got lucky.
Who cares how much you have spent. Does that somehow legitimize ripping off apple to you?

Believe what you want, but Apple rips us of more than we could ever possibly rip them off. The new 15" MBP. It's $2000 and it doesn't have a dGPU? ARE THEY JOKING? You have to spend another $600 just to get a semi decent GPU that can handle most games on medium to high. And than you have all the issues with the screen burn ins and yellowing, track pads not working...

Apple has great engineers, but little to no quality control and they still charge an arm and a leg for a computer that would cost $1300 on the Windows side with better specs, admittedly it wouldn't look as good, but it would out perform most mac's; except for the high-end iMac and Mac Pro.

 

[studio347]

NO hate here. But we all have to live with our actions. Don't be surprised that if it seems to be a little bit easier to compromise the integrity in the future events. There are a lot of events which are very similar with this event.
And there are a bit more chance that your close family members, who is learning from you in the future, would act very similar in the similar situations.
It might be not easy to persuade for them to act different since they learn from you…
As long as you can learn from this event and prevent the previous warning to happen, I think it'll be fine. Good luck with the new computer

 

[ChrisA]

I blame Apple. If is not hard at all to coat the electronics so that it will work after getting wet. It would not cost much to dip each PCB is a tub of plastic. It is common practice for marine electronics that have to work outdoors with salt spray around. The technology is decades old.

The old style conformal coating involve dipping the parts in thick epoxy and hanging them up to let the epoxy cure. The newer coating are very thin and clear and nearly invisible. I have seen video of an iPhone working and powered up in a tank of water.

But this is like the anti theft measures, Apple waited until they were close to being sued before they did anything. It's in IOS7 because Apple was being forced by some state's.

Apple makes money when ever a device is stollen or damaged so they are really not motivated to prevent this.

 

[Chuck-Norris]

So I decided to go to the Apple Store and return it. I did not try powering it on at home. I just packed it in the box and brought it to the Apple Store. The Apple employee did open the box, looked at the MacBook for damage and then turned it on. It actually powered on and loaded everything up. He went into the System Preferences to change the password. Then he checked the serial. Everything was working so he gave me my money back and I was on my way. I'm really happy that it powered on. I know that it was kind of a stupid move to do that but I did not want to have any problems with it in the future. Also this is not my first Mac. I have a 21.5" 2012 iMac upgraded to 16GB of RAM and I had 2 other Mac's before that the iMac so Apple already made a lot of money on me. Please don't hate.

so u didnt tell him u spilt stuff on to it?

 

[covertash]

Believe what you want, but Apple rips us of more than we could ever possibly rip them off. The new 15" MBP. It's $2000 and it doesn't have a dGPU? ARE THEY JOKING? You have to spend another $600 just to get a semi decent GPU that can handle most games on medium to high. And than you have all the issues with the screen burn ins and yellowing, track pads not working...

Apple has great engineers, but little to no quality control and they still charge an arm and a leg for a computer that would cost $1300 on the Windows side with better specs, admittedly it wouldn't look as good, but it would out perform most mac's; except for the high-end iMac and Mac Pro.

That's capitalism for you. Welcome to the United States of America. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy what they sell.

At the end of the day, this "it is OK to screw over a big corporation because they are already screwing with us first " ego of your's is still not justified. You are only getting (in your words) "screwed" if you partake in this lunacy by actually buying products from them. Be a man of integrity, and don't buy from Apple, if your principles are THAT strong about not supporting their pricing and marketing.

 

[Texxy]

Not so sure if you won't........cover the keyboard and the mac and the whole thermal formula is gone out of the window. Your machine will run hot and its life will shorten!

If you keep your mac, ESPECIALLY an rMBP for more then 2-3 years and don't sell it to make some sort of profit from it in order to upgrade to a newer one you are not doing this right haha.

These machines are not upgradable anymore so to stay in the game, protect it with your life so it is in perfect condition and sell it later without the keyboard protector. WALLA I won't need to care how hot it ran.

 

[marc55]

so u didnt tell him u spilt stuff on to it?

Come on now, do you think he really told them!

Be a man of integrity, and don't buy from Apple, if your principles are THAT strong about not supporting their pricing and marketing.

From reading this thread, it appears some folks do not place a value on integrity.

 

[ktc]

Have Mac notebooks ever had spill/drain-holes at the bottom like Thinkpad, etc.?

 

[sarakn]

So I decided to go to the Apple Store and return it. I did not try powering it on at home. I just packed it in the box and brought it to the Apple Store. The Apple employee did open the box, looked at the MacBook for damage and then turned it on. It actually powered on and loaded everything up. He went into the System Preferences to change the password. Then he checked the serial. Everything was working so he gave me my money back and I was on my way. I'm really happy that it powered on. I know that it was kind of a stupid move to do that but I did not want to have any problems with it in the future. Also this is not my first Mac. I have a 21.5" 2012 iMac upgraded to 16GB of RAM and I had 2 other Mac's before that the iMac so Apple already made a lot of money on me. Please don't hate.

I'm glad it worked out of you. What you need is probably not a lot different than these unboxing kiddos on Youtube. They go to Apple, buy something, show off on Youtube and then return - forcing a perfectly good system to go the refurbished route just for a dumb clip.

Since apple inspects all returns, the work done for a YT unboxing will be required for the apple juice spillers.

Good luck and be more careful with the next one.

 

[john123]

I blame Apple. If is not hard at all to coat the electronics so that it will work after getting wet.

This is insane. People choose to buy the computers knowing full well that electronics and water do not mix. If a person then knowingly chooses to keep a beverage near their computer, and an accident happens, that is their fault—not Apple's.

Stupidity and negligence are not the fault of the manufacturer.

 

[macfacts]

After the apple employee turned on the laptop to see it working and when they see it working, they are not going to do any more tests before they resell it as refurbished. (unless some apple employee can confirm they open up ALL returns)

Lesson here is you might be buying a macbook pro with apple juice if you get a refurbished one from apple in the future.

 

[marc55]

After the apple employee turned on the laptop to see it working and when they see it working, they are not going to do any more tests before they resell it as refurbished. (unless some apple employee can confirm they open up ALL returns)

Lesson here is you might be buying a macbook pro with apple juice if you get a refurbished one from apple in the future.

But it's "APPLE" juice!

In all seriousness, I would think they will check it again to at least insure the OSX hasn't been corrupted and works properly, and to insure there are no additional files on it.

However, if it fires up and the OSX checks out, it will be re-boxed, and some poor sucker will end up with it and more than likely will have problems down the road; maybe at the 13th month, and he will be screwed simply because someone chose to be dishonest. Hopefully the next owner will purchase AppleCare.

 

[Badrottie]

I will not place any drink close to my rmbp. It is bad luck going to happen anytime.

 

[ktc]

After the apple employee turned on the laptop to see it working and when they see it working, they are not going to do any more tests before they resell it as refurbished. (unless some apple employee can confirm they open up ALL returns)

Lesson here is you might be buying a macbook pro with apple juice if you get a refurbished one from apple in the future.

Ummm... this begs another question: How do you even know if that new Mac you buy is refurbed or not?

If a customer returns a product as "did not like", rather than due to faulty issues, and if it pasts basic testing, doesn't Apple have the right to sell it as new?

 

[kallemia]

Well, I actually had the same thing happen to me... only my beverage of choice was coffee (black), and I spilled more of it on my laptop than OP did... from what it sounded like. Also, my laptop was a 2011 MB Air 11", 1.8 i7, 256 GB drive... and I had purchased AppleCare. All within the 14-day period.

I also took my purchase back to the Apple Store, to the Genius Bar.

Where our stories differ is that I was honest about what happened. Oh and I had already booted up my computer at home to see if it worked (it did). I told the Genius I spoke to what had happened, and that I wasn't asking for anything special, but could they look inside and see if anything was damaged and estimate what repairs would need to be done, at what cost, etc. He took it back and a tech had it in the back area for a good half hour, during which time, I just shopped around and waited. When it came back out, the genius told me that they could indeed see that it had had coffee spilled on it. It had gotten to the board, but it was not wet. It had dried by that time. The tech there cleaned it off (as much as he could). They told me I had three options: 1) Pay around $800 to have the computer refurbished at a center where they would send it, and it would come back "as new" and still eligible for AppleCare. 2) Pay nothing, and if something went wrong that wasn't related to the coffee spill, AppleCare would cover it. But if it was damaged by the spill, AC would not cover it. 3) Return AppleCare for a refund, use the MB Air as is, hope that it lasts.

He said that it was good that the spill was black coffee rather than anything with sugar and milk, and that since it was dry, and I had turned it over and dried it out, that perhaps there would be no problems. But it would be a risk I would have to take. Which I did. I took option 3.

I basically wanted to know how bad the damage was, and what could be done... what were my options. I would have been VERY surprised if I had been offered a replacement for something I did myself. I could tell they felt sorry for me.

BTW. I'm typing this on the 11" Air right now. It is still a good device. I'm probably going to trade up to a Haswell MBP this week... but I'm giving this Air to a friend who needs a computer badly - she lost her job and needs something to use for writing and research. I'm not selling it to her. I told her about the coffee too. I hope it keeps working as well as it has (without any problems).

It never occurred to me to return property I'd damaged myself and expect a refund.

I don't have any hatred for the OP. But I do think what he/she did was wrong. In a basic, "do not do unto others as you would not want done unto you", sort of way. I prefer the negative expression of the Golden Rule... to quote Confucius (scholar in the land where our laptops are made): Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.

By lying (omitting to tell the truth about the likely damage to the product), OP forever took away the choice of the next person who owns that computer, if it ever has a problem... good luck explaining away the juice residue inside... unless Apple refurbishes every returned device by opening them up and inspecting them for such damage. If they do, then the lie has cost Apple some amount of money to repair and refurbish the computer... a cost which should have been borne by OP.

Others have called people "vicious" or lacking in "mercy or forgiveness"... merely for pointing out that what OP was proposing to do, and eventually did, was unethical and wrong. Others have said "accidents happen"... and yes they do. We all have accidents. But we should not all expect others to PAY for our mistakes.

That is the lesson here. Plain and simple.

Kalle

 

[kombo]

Apple is very ethical in the way they make their money.

 

[rMBP2013]

Well, I actually had the same thing happen to me... only my beverage of choice was coffee (black), and I spilled more of it on my laptop than OP did... from what it sounded like. Also, my laptop was a 2011 MB Air 11", 1.8 i7, 256 GB drive... and I had purchased AppleCare. All within the 14-day period.

I also took my purchase back to the Apple Store, to the Genius Bar.

Where our stories differ is that I was honest about what happened. Oh and I had already booted up my computer at home to see if it worked (it did). I told the Genius I spoke to what had happened, and that I wasn't asking for anything special, but could they look inside and see if anything was damaged and estimate what repairs would need to be done, at what cost, etc. He took it back and a tech had it in the back area for a good half hour, during which time, I just shopped around and waited. When it came back out, the genius told me that they could indeed see that it had had coffee spilled on it. It had gotten to the board, but it was not wet. It had dried by that time. The tech there cleaned it off (as much as he could). They told me I had three options: 1) Pay around $800 to have the computer refurbished at a center where they would send it, and it would come back "as new" and still eligible for AppleCare. 2) Pay nothing, and if something went wrong that wasn't related to the coffee spill, AppleCare would cover it. But if it was damaged by the spill, AC would not cover it. 3) Return AppleCare for a refund, use the MB Air as is, hope that it lasts.

He said that it was good that the spill was black coffee rather than anything with sugar and milk, and that since it was dry, and I had turned it over and dried it out, that perhaps there would be no problems. But it would be a risk I would have to take. Which I did. I took option 3.

I basically wanted to know how bad the damage was, and what could be done... what were my options. I would have been VERY surprised if I had been offered a replacement for something I did myself. I could tell they felt sorry for me.

BTW. I'm typing this on the 11" Air right now. It is still a good device. I'm probably going to trade up to a Haswell MBP this week... but I'm giving this Air to a friend who needs a computer badly - she lost her job and needs something to use for writing and research. I'm not selling it to her. I told her about the coffee too. I hope it keeps working as well as it has (without any problems).

It never occurred to me to return property I'd damaged myself and expect a refund.

I don't have any hatred for the OP. But I do think what he/she did was wrong. In a basic, "do not do unto others as you would not want done unto you", sort of way. I prefer the negative expression of the Golden Rule... to quote Confucius (scholar in the land where our laptops are made): Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.

By lying (omitting to tell the truth about the likely damage to the product), OP forever took away the choice of the next person who owns that computer, if it ever has a problem... good luck explaining away the juice residue inside... unless Apple refurbishes every returned device by opening them up and inspecting them for such damage. If they do, then the lie has cost Apple some amount of money to repair and refurbish the computer... a cost which should have been borne by OP.

Others have called people "vicious" or lacking in "mercy or forgiveness"... merely for pointing out that what OP was proposing to do, and eventually did, was unethical and wrong. Others have said "accidents happen"... and yes they do. We all have accidents. But we should not all expect others to PAY for our mistakes.

That is the lesson here. Plain and simple.

Kalle

Amazing post. Well said.

It's great to see there are still people like you who exist in this world.

I'd like to know the specs for OP's original laptop, as I would never order a refurbished one with that specs.

OP, come back and respond please.

 

[Jimgpayne]

Really??????

Obviously you knew that returning it was wrong; or you wouldn't have even raised the question here on the forum.

You were just looking for someone to tell you to go ahead and rip Apple off.

I just love it when ethics and morals go straight out the window when they conflict with selfish needs and desires.

 

[toneLA]

This is insane. People choose to buy the computers knowing full well that electronics and water do not mix. If a person then knowingly chooses to keep a beverage near their computer, and an accident happens, that is their fault—not Apple's.

Stupidity and negligence are not the fault of the manufacturer.

I crashed my BMW into a pole and it crushed my hood like an accordion. I blame BMW.

Oh boy.

 

[dukebound85]

Believe what you want, but Apple rips us of more than we could ever possibly rip them off. The new 15" MBP. It's $2000 and it doesn't have a dGPU? ARE THEY JOKING? You have to spend another $600 just to get a semi decent GPU that can handle most games on medium to high. And than you have all the issues with the screen burn ins and yellowing, track pads not working...

Apple has great engineers, but little to no quality control and they still charge an arm and a leg for a computer that would cost $1300 on the Windows side with better specs, admittedly it wouldn't look as good, but it would out perform most mac's; except for the high-end iMac and Mac Pro.

How is Apple ripping you off if you willingly buy it knowing that?