Terrible Quality Control - MacBook Pro 14”

[jha]

The cumulative probability of a dozen repeatedly flawed MBPs to one buyer would seem to essentially be statistically impossible. Not that flaws do not get past QC, but rather that repeated QC issues to a single buyer almost guarantee that something other than poor factory QC is going on. Because like others noted, poor Apple factory QC would already have set the internet on fire.

If I was the Apple QA/QC manager involved I would be investigating details of the distribution channel to that specific buyer; perhaps criminals swapping (stolen) QC rejects for new items or whatever scam such miscreants dream up. One would think Apple's apparent tight attention to serial numbers would limit such scams, but who knows?

Seems far fetched to me. More like an engineering issue that didn't translate well in real world manufacturing. Everyone makes mistakes.

 

[sleep/to/dream]

OCD? I have OCD and used to return things for not being perfect a lot, though the most I ever did was I think 3 returns for a phone I really wanted to like (a Lumia), but all 3 had dead/stuck pixels. I bailed on it and got an iPhone after the third try

One thing that’s helped me with this is naming my devices when I get them. It makes it harder for me to want to return them for something minor, & easier to accept their blemishes. I put their name in the about section where it’s normally “sleep’s iPhone 13” or whatever

Reality is, nothing in the physical world is perfect. Try to embrace the idea of wabi-sabi

 

[jha]

OCD? I have OCD and used to return things for not being perfect a lot, though the most I ever did was I think 3 returns for a phone I really wanted to like (a Lumia), but all 3 had dead/stuck pixels. I bailed on it and got an iPhone after the third try

One thing that’s helped me with this is naming my devices when I get them. It makes it harder for me to want to return them for something minor, & easier to accept their blemishes. I put their name in the about section where it’s normally “sleep’s iPhone 13” or whatever

Reality is, nothing in the physical world is perfect. Try to embrace the idea of wabi-sabi

Thanks for sharing. My expectations were too high here.

 

[kp98077]

of the last three laptops I have ordered directly from apple:
1-arrived by UPS damaged with hole in box
2-arrived by UPS damaged with scuffs on box causing cosmetic damage to the lid
3-arrived but stoled of porch!

bad luck 🙂

 

[jha]

of the last three laptops I have ordered directly from apple:
1-arrived by UPS damaged with hole in box
2-arrived by UPS damaged with scuffs on box causing cosmetic damage to the lid
3-arrived but stoled of porch!

bad luck 🙂

Knock on wood, I have been very lucky with UPS deliveries. Sounds very frustrating.

 

[Zanton68]

I think the record in my experience was 7 iPhone 5 swapped by Apple. All with real problems, on off button not working, bottom half the screen bright green and one with what appeared to be a saw-cut on one side. More shocking was I knew several different people who had 6 or 7 iPhone 5 replaced for similar reasons. Not had anything that bad since but my OCD tendencies mean I notice stuff and I notice it straight away. I rein it in a bit and check on an "am I overreacting?" with others, but a few times recently I have been right i.e. it is a fault or a quality control failure. Which is nice. The current issue for me is the backlight under the MacBook Pro 2023 keyboards. It seems to have started with the M1 Pro and is just pot luck as to whether you get one that is ok or one that leaks a lot of light.

There are worse things in the world and I do try to focus on the vast array of positives instead of the one tiny discrepancy. I can't control the world (yet) but I can control how I cope with it and in it.....

 

[Klae17]

Nope. It is great.

 

[Sami13496]

I wonder how many times a customer can return before Apple says no more. A company can still choose it’s customers, I believe.

 

[weeener]

There’s got to be a limit, and I’d imagine 12 is pushing it.

Without seeing photos of the supposed defects it’s difficult to say whether the customer was justified in the returns

I’ve done a few returns myself for defects but I find it hard to believe you got 12 defects in a row. Something tells me you were being a little too picky for at least a few of those returns.

 

[ThomasJL]

Considering how much you are spending for a MBP, why "just live with it"? Return / exchange until you get one that is perfect.

Exactly. I can’t stand the moralizing that comes from Apple fanboys on this forum who act like Apple is a small mom-and-pops store that will suffer if people keep returning items several times until a flawless one is received.

The greedy Tim Cook charges extortionately high prices for hardware, so therefore customers deserve flawless hardware.

 

[jha]

Exactly. I can’t stand the moralizing that comes from Apple fanboys on this forum who act like that Apple is a small mom-and-pops store that will suffer if people keep returning items several times until a flawless one is received.

The greedy Tim Cook charges extortionately high prices for hardware, so therefore customers deserve flawless hardware.

I am relatively new here and spend little time on this forum, but what surprised me the most is the amount of people drinking the Kool-Aid. One day they will realize no one is paying them for their opinions and sit down.

 

[jha]

yeah the quality control isn’t as good as it used to be.
got my mid-high range spec 14” in dec 2021, it took almost a month to get to me.
there was an imperfection in the edge of the glass i could see under light.
i considered getting it swapped but i knew they were in short spare still at that time (especially my spec) and i’d probably be without one for weeks again.
after that my 13 pro i got in january also had a scuff on the edge of the steel frame, i did get that swapped!
frustrating none the less but this macbook is by far the best computer i’ve owned

I've gotten similar around that time and kept for same reason as you - limited inventory.

 

[cygy2k]

Are you buying these from "Frank's Discount Electronics" run out of the back of a van?

 

[cygy2k]

OCD? I have OCD and used to return things for not being perfect a lot, though the most I ever did was I think 3 returns for a phone I really wanted to like (a Lumia), but all 3 had dead/stuck pixels. I bailed on it and got an iPhone after the third try

One thing that’s helped me with this is naming my devices when I get them. It makes it harder for me to want to return them for something minor, & easier to accept their blemishes. I put their name in the about section where it’s normally “sleep’s iPhone 13” or whatever

Reality is, nothing in the physical world is perfect. Try to embrace the idea of wabi-sabi

Stop with the stupid OCD talk. I have clinical OCD and it is a terrible disease that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Hate how people use the term so casually to explain being "picky".

 

[ikir]

Anyone else notice quality control is horrible for the 14” Pro since M1 days?

I bought and exchanged a few M2 Pros, and I’ve probably been through a dozen so far and never got one without issues.

Some creak loudly when handled, hinge makes loud clicking noises when moved, scratches on the screen fresh out of the box on several. Last one I exchanged what making a loud whirring/whistling noise from the right fan.

Last one I just opened has deep scratches on the screen. No other issues so will likely just live with it. Am I the only one noticing this?

I sell Macs, I configure them for costumers, I work in more than one bug company as IT and no. Macs are usually perfect especially compared to many HP and Dell we have.

 

[jha]

Are you buying these from "Frank's Discount Electronics" run out of the back of a van?

You also know Frank?

 

[Totally Bored]

12 returns ? Wow 😳

All of my Apple products have been perfect.

 

[ArkSingularity]

I am relatively new here and spend little time on this forum, but what surprised me the most is the amount of people drinking the Kool-Aid. One day they will realize no one is paying them for their opinions and sit down.

I love Apple, but I have trouble understanding how the idea that Apple is imperfect (as is the case for all companies) became such a controversial opinion. People are allowed to have opinions.

A lot of it is just because it's an Apple fansite, I just try to ignore the noise. Just because someone has a nuanced opinion or a view on a specific thing doesn't mean they are an Apple hater.

 

[Makisupa Policeman]

I haven’t fully tested it yet, by my new 14” M2 seems virtually flawless.

 

[ajergome]

yep, but I had to pay to fix which drove me nuts https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mbp-rubber-bezel-coming-apart.2398297

I don't know how new this is in general though, I'd had to return or repair a ton of Mac laptops over the years - keyboard issues, screen issues.. the repair or replacement process 90% of the time is as hassle free as I can imagine though, I typically do the repair by mail.

 

[mushy peas]

I love Apple, but I have trouble understanding how the idea that Apple is imperfect (as is the case for all companies) became such a controversial opinion.

I can’t stand the moralizing that comes from Apple fanboys on this forum who act like that Apple is a small mom-and-pops store that will suffer if people keep returning items several times until a flawless one is received.

what surprised me the most is the amount of people drinking the Kool-Aid

Can you show me an example of these? Because to me these are just straw man arguments.

No one is saying any of that, and when someone disagrees with you it’s unfair to write them off as a fanboy, particularly when all you have for your argument is your experience and other people are just sharing theirs.

 

[Bananasaurus]

Can you show me an example of these? Because to me these are just straw man arguments.

No one is saying any of that, and when someone disagrees with you it’s unfair to write them off as a fanboy, particularly when all you have for your argument is your experience and other people are just sharing theirs.

We’re just fanboys because exchanging something twelve times is totally normal behavior that any store in the world would completely condone of without suspicion and to question this without any proof or logic is just guzzling that Apple Kool-Aid, yo. 🙄

 

[6749974]

You guys are repeating yourselves. Let your internet-narcissism get a shot in, pat yourselves on the ego, then move your little brains onto the next post.

 

[jha]

I love Apple, but I have trouble understanding how the idea that Apple is imperfect (as is the case for all companies) became such a controversial opinion. People are allowed to have opinions.

A lot of it is just because it's an Apple fansite, I just try to ignore the noise. Just because someone has a nuanced opinion or a view on a specific thing doesn't mean they are an Apple hater.

You nailed it. I love Apple products, and I buy mostly all of their offerings including displays. QC has dropped on these latest Pros even though they are great machines and the best iteration of the Pro.

yep, but I had to pay to fix which drove me nuts https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mbp-rubber-bezel-coming-apart.2398297

I don't know how new this is in general though, I'd had to return or repair a ton of Mac laptops over the years - keyboard issues, screen issues.. the repair or replacement process 90% of the time is as hassle free as I can imagine though, I typically do the repair by mail.

Just look at the video linked on the thread this guy shared.

 

[jezbd1997]

I've gotten similar around that time and kept for same reason as you - limited inventory.

what M1 spec model did you get? and what about the M2 one?