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The Mac mini problem saga is never ending… new mini has a mini scratch on it right out the box.
- Thread starter Sarah Hamilton
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If people can stare at a display with an obvious notch in it (ahem, the new MacBook Pros), then you can live with a much less obvious imperfection.
Consider it a battle scar.... your beast of a machine fends off spinning beach balls. Would you rather have a machine that is slow that looks pristine or one that is fast that has a little nick in it? Hell I had a TV for years with a HUGE gash in the side plastic (back before LED was a thing). Never once bothered me. TV still worked, that's all I asked of it.
Consider it a battle scar.... your beast of a machine fends off spinning beach balls. Would you rather have a machine that is slow that looks pristine or one that is fast that has a little nick in it? Hell I had a TV for years with a HUGE gash in the side plastic (back before LED was a thing). Never once bothered me. TV still worked, that's all I asked of it.
Let me tell you both of a story where I exchanged my iPhone 5S 6 times in total and Apple never said anything.
1st iPhone 5s: On launch I got the new iPhone 5S, I got home and the screen had a chip on the side of it. I immediately called the store and they told me to come back and they said they'll exchange it or refund it. I took a refund and made a new order, due to it being via my credit card.
2nd iPhone 5s: I got home, unboxed and there was a scratch near the earpiece, not visible in low light conditions, but it was there and you could feel it. Took it back, they exchanged it.
3rd iPhone 5s: I got home, unboxed, no scratches but the power button at the top was very lose. Back to store get another one.
4th iPhone 5s: Got home, unboxed, would not power on.
5th iPhone 5s: Got home, unboxed, all good except touch ID would not work
6th iPhone 5s: At this point, I had enough, a few of the apple store guys had even recognised me and it felt awkward as they knew I exchanged many times. I told them of the issues, and I overheard one of them say that a fair few have been returned by other customers. I told them they must have a bad batch. They told me no other customer has returned a device (they have to do that as they obviously can't say it has happened to others).
I then asked for a replacement to which they agreed again and was my legal right. I asked for the same colleagues to open the device for me and check it over. They said they can't as it will be mine, I asked them to watch me open it and inspect it they agreed. I had 4 apple store guys around me, watching me. I then unboxed, and be hold, there was a massive black scratch on the back over the apple logo. One of the apple dudes said "Not to worry its just the glue from the protector we can wipe it off" I said great, let's do that. I handed over my iphone, and they got the orange whoosh cleaner and a brand new microfibre out the packet and gently tried wiping it off. I knew it was a scratch as i could feel it. I shouted over and asked "Any luck?" at that point, the on shift manager was called over, and I explained the situation and he had no case to say otherwise and they got another iphone out the back.
The 8th iphone was perfect, flawless, no blemishes, scratches, rocking power button nothing. That phone is still in use today without any technical issues.
Dang. That sucks. Thankfully I've been luckier. I've been an Apple user since the iBook G3 and the only issues I can remember is when I got my black polycarbonate MacBook, it had several bad pixels and they exchanged it. And more recently, an iPhone 11 which had dust on the camera sensor. That one they didn't exchange, but replaced the camera module within an hour or so.
I went through 2 iPhone 8's. One lost all sound, and the other ignored the power button. I was surprised at having so many fail, and it was only 2. Yikes... Oh, I had a 10s max that freaked out too.
I see it this way, you are paying for it, why be ok with a fault? As soon as the second ticks out of the 12 month warranty, Apple say no to any repairs and you have to pay
I totally agree, but can see where a purely cosmetic issue can be a downer. If it's obvious, then showing them how bad it is and asking for a replacement would be warranted. I shiny flaw like in the OP would be annoying, but... Would it rise to the level of a replacement? For me? Hmm... Probably... Adhesive residue, or massive amounts of fingerprints would be something I'd report because it's just lazy, and disgusting. Former and later, lazy, disgusting, the later...
If I caused the scratch I'd be fine.I mounted my mini to the underside of my desk. Now I have a super clean desk space, and if there is a scratch I don't know about it.
You got me curious so just checked the Apple return policy and if bought through their store or an authorized dealer there appears to be no conditions so if you don't like it for any reason it can be returned.
Awesome. I agree. They set the rules. I would imagine that Apple is logging all returns and requests for service, and I don't want to be 'that guy' that can't be made happy. I worked retail for a while during two holiday seasons, and there were 'that guy's all over the place. Even people that would damage their new purchase just to return it (That's what management believed anyway). I know that Home Despot logs all returns, and I had a bunch of stuff that I had to return, and ended up getting some odd looks the next few returns I had.
BUT if you have an issue, and I'm lucky as I've found the number of issues, historically, has been practically nil. I knew someone locally who returned a MacBook Pro because they scratched it within the first couple of days of ownership, and I objected to that, but Apple replaced it. I cringed thinking that they would be/could be just as careless and end up replacing yet another one.
But it's Apple's policy. If you don't like the scratch, get it replaced. In the end they want you. me, all of us, to be happy with our purchases. I admire that, as I'm sure they are taken advantage of quite a bit.
Some people complain about Apple prices. We seem to get a lot for that price. But just because Apple allows it, doesn't mean we should abuse it. Just saying. Use your best discretion. If you can't live with it, don't want to try to fix it, return/exchange it. Case closed.
My MBP 2016 has numerous nicks on the casing. Caused by me. I can live with that
I had an early model that had a HUGE dent in the back. I thought it would impede the screen from opening but it kept on working. I actually got a client to buy some MacBooks for their field sales people because of how bashed that one was, and how it still survived. It was a trooper. I scrapped it, and found out that a mount for an antenna, as I remember, was cracked, but it kept on working. It added character. It never sat flat on a table ever again. I tossed it into my car, and it hit solid on the center console. I thought it was a goner. Nope, just getting started. It lasted another 4 years or so.
And I'm covered with scars too. If you last long enough, you get a lot of 'character'... I'm not as durable as a MacBook Pro, but...
I bought a refurbished 2018 Mini back in March 2019.
I took it out of the box, gave it a quick once-over, it looked ok. I didn't go over it with too close an eye.
I set it up on the table behind my display. It's mostly out-of-sight except for the power-on light.
I haven't moved it from that space since, other than to connect/disconnect cables to it.
It still works pretty good !
I took it out of the box, gave it a quick once-over, it looked ok. I didn't go over it with too close an eye.
I set it up on the table behind my display. It's mostly out-of-sight except for the power-on light.
I haven't moved it from that space since, other than to connect/disconnect cables to it.
It still works pretty good !