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There is a small scratch/blemish on my new 16" M1 Max (Space Gray) and it's driving me crazy... What should I do?

XciteMePls

XciteMePls

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 19, 2013
88
283
Full disclosure, I have very bad OCD. I always have. I can deal with causing my OWN scratches and scuffs on my devices because they are like unique battle scars that I develop over time. But out of the box brand new and discovering one, is different for me. It makes me want to return it.

The speck on my new MBP is about the size of a literal grain of salt (think very small but still visible). It's located on the upper right side above the speaker grills. I tried a pencil eraser, I tried scratching it with my fingernail, microfiber cloth, etc. Nothing. It looks like a chip from the factory.

All night last night I was going back and forth about what to do. Part of me wants to keep it, because on the list of acceptable flaws this is very bottom-tier, BUT on the other hand I now have an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and return it because I never traded in my 2016 15" MBP towards credit to Apple, and so if I return it and then re-purchase using my Apple trade-in credit for my old MBP (I can get about $700 credit) I can lower my monthly Apple Card payments by a lot (like $70-80 a month).

What is the best thing to do? Part of me thinks to keep it, but for a device that costs as much as a down payment on a car, should we accept things like this out of the box?

I say no. What say you?
 
I would keep it. A gain of salt? Come on man. ?
I have a three inch scratch on the Apple Logo and a one inch scratch right below it that came out the box.
The fact that you have to wipe, unregister apple pay, etc etc. just to gamble on another one is crazy.
 
I'm OCD as well...real bad. It would be the contrast between the aluminum underneath and the SG to me. I'd not go through the hassle of starting all over. I'd try the finest tip Sharpie I could find and dab it in the 'grain of salt' using care to not go over the lines, so to speak. It will kill this annoying contrast that grabs your attention to where you can maybe live with it. I purchased a new bicycle not long ago and hanging panniers on it scratched a little mark on the frame. Just about the same thing. I dabbed the spot with the Sharpie and although it wasn't a perfect match, (the bike frame is matt black) it looks quite fine to OCD me. If you didn't know where it was, you'd never catch it. I've forgotten all about it.
A black Sharpie ought to be real close. Just stay in the spot. S
 
As others have said, it's really an individual decision based on how much it bothers you. For what it's worth, while I get the disappointment for a new machine, and that your eye will be drawn to it every time you use it, it is a minor cosmetic issue and you could very easily end up doing it yourself down the road. If it were me, I'd just keep it...

Other real consideration now is that your 16" MBP based on your sig is a BTO config, that will likely mean you wouldn't get a replacement until late Dec / early Jan I would imagine. Even if you were willing to "downgrade" to one of the 16" base models, those are still pushed out for Dec deliveries. So another factor that if you were to return it, there'd likely be considerable time in between when you don't have one...
 
If it bugs you now then it will bug you in the future. It's an expensive purchase so you need to be 100% happy with it. Perhaps take it in to the store and ask the staff there what should be done about the damage?

Me? I would live with it, but these things tend not to worry me as much.
 
I had something similar.
Bothered me quite a bit, since I am OCD too.
I returned mine and the new one is clean.
Mine was a paupers base model which was in plentiful stock in the store.
Now I feel calmer.
 
I feel like no one knows what OCD means anymore…. OCD doesn’t mean “perfectionist”, and it doesn’t mean “spoiled and unable to cope with imperfect reality”.

Anyway. You’re asking two questions. One is whether you should return it because of the blemish. I can’t see it to say for sure, but nothing in this world is perfect no matter how much you pay for it. Trading it in just means you’re risking a different problem elsewhere, and trading in until you don’t see a problem doesn’t mean there isn’t one somewhere you can’t see.

Stare at anything long enough and you’ll start to see something that’s less than perfect. There’s a limit to what’s acceptable to me personally. What you describe sounds fine for me, but I’m going from a text description of a visual defect.

The other question is whether you should go through the exercise so you can apply your trade in credit. That’s a different question and a bit more compelling in my eyes. Personally, I’d take it to an Apple Store and ask if they can process the return and repurchase with trade-in in one transaction and walk out with the same machine I walk in with.
 
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Just exchange it as long as its a store model. If you have a custom one, then it is a month wait to get a new one and that would be more unbearable unless you have the funds to order one and return your other model after it arrives.
 
XciteMePls said:
Full disclosure, I have very bad OCD. I always have. I can deal with causing my OWN scratches and scuffs on my devices because they are like unique battle scars that I develop over time. But out of the box brand new and discovering one, is different for me. It makes me want to return it.

The speck on my new MBP is about the size of a literal grain of salt (think very small but still visible). It's located on the upper right side above the speaker grills. I tried a pencil eraser, I tried scratching it with my fingernail, microfiber cloth, etc. Nothing. It looks like a chip from the factory.

All night last night I was going back and forth about what to do. Part of me wants to keep it, because on the list of acceptable flaws this is very bottom-tier, BUT on the other hand I now have an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and return it because I never traded in my 2016 15" MBP towards credit to Apple, and so if I return it and then re-purchase using my Apple trade-in credit for my old MBP (I can get about $700 credit) I can lower my monthly Apple Card payments by a lot (like $70-80 a month).

What is the best thing to do? Part of me thinks to keep it, but for a device that costs as much as a down payment on a car, should we accept things like this out of the box?

I say no. What say you?
Click to expand...

You spent this much time writing this, you want to return it.
As for the trade-in, that's a separate matter.

Now, the right move is not to return it this weekend but check for the return date. (usually 2 weeks but may be longer due to Black Friday/ Christmas season)

During this time, you re-order or before the deadline for returns, re-evaluate whether you can live with the birthmark.
 
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OP just throw it away. :p It's really up to you how much it'll bother you. It'd be more acceptable if it were on the back of the laptop and not in a spot you'd see often..

Sword86 said:
I'm OCD as well...real bad. It would be the contrast between the aluminum underneath and the SG to me. I'd not go through the hassle of starting all over. I'd try the finest tip Sharpie I could find and dab it in the 'grain of salt' using care to not go over the lines, so to speak. It will kill this annoying contrast that grabs your attention to where you can maybe live with it. I purchased a new bicycle not long ago and hanging panniers on it scratched a little mark on the frame. Just about the same thing. I dabbed the spot with the Sharpie and although it wasn't a perfect match, (the bike frame is matt black) it looks quite fine to OCD me. If you didn't know where it was, you'd never catch it. I've forgotten all about it.
A black Sharpie ought to be real close. Just stay in the spot. S
Click to expand...

If you find black sharpie touch up on space grey to be acceptable maybe your OCD ain't that bad lol.
 
They do have touch up paint floating around. Not sure how good it is...but might be worth investigating some of these products.

www.ebay.com

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I've already exchange my 14'' MBP 3 times, all of them have some defects (mainly scratches and chips), but most of them can only be seen with a bright flash light.
 
XciteMePls said:
I can deal with causing my OWN scratches and scuffs on my devices because they are like unique battle scars that I develop over time. But out of the box brand new and discovering one, is different for me. It makes me want to return it.
Click to expand...
In this case, the solution would be for you to some how damage it yourself, in the exact same location as the current defect... but in a way that is only slightly more noticeable than the original damage.
 
Id return it. It's too much money.

I've had 2 so far that have a couple very very faint dark verticle lines on the display on white backgrounds. Dont know if i'm gonna try a third..
 
You don’t need us to make a decision for you. This is your notebook, so you decide if it bothers you that much.
 
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