I've been going back and forth with Apple in my quest to get a "perfect" MBP, so I thought I would share my experience here for anyone that cares.
MBP #1
I purchased my 15" unibody MBP back in January. I did an inspection when I received it, but apparently I wasn't thorough enough. At the time, I barely used it because I was extremely busy with work and didn't have time to migrate all my files. I did, however, want to make sure this thing stayed in tip-top shape, so I got a Moshi ClearGuard, PalmGuard, and Codex.
I started to actually use it in March, and that's when I noticed a mark on the keyboard area. I posted about it here. I ended up speaking with Apple Customer Care about the situation, and the rep was absolutely awesome. Given the circumstances, she agreed that the mark was probably there from the beginning and she gave me an exception code so I could have it repaired at the local Apple Store. So off I went to the Apple Store to drop off my MBP. A few days later, I get the call that my MBP is ready, so off I go to pick it up. They give me my MBP with a brand new topcase, and then that's when I notice a new scratch on the lid. I spoke with the store rep about it, and he basically told me to live with it or return it because it's "normal." I spoke with the store manager, and she basically said the same thing and was extremely condescending. I ended up going home with a repair that was done in vain.
I called up the same Customer Care rep and told her what happened. She apologized for what happened and told me that she would resolve this. She gave me another exception code, and I ended up going to a different Apple Store (quite a bit further, but I didn't care to deal with the first store again) to get the new scratch repaired.
Dropped it off, got the phone call a few days later and went to pick it up. Checked it in the store and I noticed a gash on one of the corners of the topcase (further inspection later suggested that the MBP was dropped, as the corner was actually warped). Fortunately, the Apple Store rep checked it out and agreed to have it repaired again. They didn't have the part in, so he said they would call me when I could come in again for the repair. I got home, contacted the Customer Care rep again. She apologized for everything that's happened and suggested that she speak with the Apple Store about giving me a complete replacement. Awesome, especially since I would get a small spec bump since Apple no longer made the 2.53GHz model. The only negative was that I would have to rip off my Moshi PalmGuard.
MBP #2
Several days later, I get the phone call to come and exchage my MBP at the Apple Store. The exchange goes smoothly, I get home and check out the MBP. The case looked perfect! I turn it on, and what do I see? A light and dark blob on the screen, probably caused by uneven pressure (the blobs would go away when I press the back of the screen). Putting on a black screen, I noticed a strange light pattern at the bottom of the screen which I later learned was dubbed "stagelight pattern" by other unibody owners. Moreover, there was pretty bad light leakage in the bottom left corner. I called the Apple Store, and they said they said to bring it in to have a Genius check it out. Back again at the Apple Store, the Genius agrees that the screen is bad and tells me they'll do an exchange.
MBP #3
I just picked up the new machine, the body looks perfect, but the screen has minor stagelight pattern. Not as bad as the previous one and no obvious light leakage, so I figure it's good enough. But then I picked up the machine to adjust its position and that's when the screen fell back. The infamous loose hinge. Admittedly, I had my Codex attached to it, but it was a very slight angle. Really annoying and I worry about the long term effects on the hinge. I called the Apple Store, and they said I will have to bring it in to have a Genius check it out. I made an appointment.
Do I just have really bad luck or are there some serious quality control issues? I feel like a bit of a jerk constantly complaining, but this is supposed to be a premium product. I'm also kind of sick of going back and forth and I'm worried that the next replacement will just have another problem. I wish I could just get a repair done to fix the hinge, but so far they are 2/2 with damaging my MBP whenever I leave it with them.
MBP #1
I purchased my 15" unibody MBP back in January. I did an inspection when I received it, but apparently I wasn't thorough enough. At the time, I barely used it because I was extremely busy with work and didn't have time to migrate all my files. I did, however, want to make sure this thing stayed in tip-top shape, so I got a Moshi ClearGuard, PalmGuard, and Codex.
I started to actually use it in March, and that's when I noticed a mark on the keyboard area. I posted about it here. I ended up speaking with Apple Customer Care about the situation, and the rep was absolutely awesome. Given the circumstances, she agreed that the mark was probably there from the beginning and she gave me an exception code so I could have it repaired at the local Apple Store. So off I went to the Apple Store to drop off my MBP. A few days later, I get the call that my MBP is ready, so off I go to pick it up. They give me my MBP with a brand new topcase, and then that's when I notice a new scratch on the lid. I spoke with the store rep about it, and he basically told me to live with it or return it because it's "normal." I spoke with the store manager, and she basically said the same thing and was extremely condescending. I ended up going home with a repair that was done in vain.
I called up the same Customer Care rep and told her what happened. She apologized for what happened and told me that she would resolve this. She gave me another exception code, and I ended up going to a different Apple Store (quite a bit further, but I didn't care to deal with the first store again) to get the new scratch repaired.
Dropped it off, got the phone call a few days later and went to pick it up. Checked it in the store and I noticed a gash on one of the corners of the topcase (further inspection later suggested that the MBP was dropped, as the corner was actually warped). Fortunately, the Apple Store rep checked it out and agreed to have it repaired again. They didn't have the part in, so he said they would call me when I could come in again for the repair. I got home, contacted the Customer Care rep again. She apologized for everything that's happened and suggested that she speak with the Apple Store about giving me a complete replacement. Awesome, especially since I would get a small spec bump since Apple no longer made the 2.53GHz model. The only negative was that I would have to rip off my Moshi PalmGuard.
MBP #2
Several days later, I get the phone call to come and exchage my MBP at the Apple Store. The exchange goes smoothly, I get home and check out the MBP. The case looked perfect! I turn it on, and what do I see? A light and dark blob on the screen, probably caused by uneven pressure (the blobs would go away when I press the back of the screen). Putting on a black screen, I noticed a strange light pattern at the bottom of the screen which I later learned was dubbed "stagelight pattern" by other unibody owners. Moreover, there was pretty bad light leakage in the bottom left corner. I called the Apple Store, and they said they said to bring it in to have a Genius check it out. Back again at the Apple Store, the Genius agrees that the screen is bad and tells me they'll do an exchange.
MBP #3
I just picked up the new machine, the body looks perfect, but the screen has minor stagelight pattern. Not as bad as the previous one and no obvious light leakage, so I figure it's good enough. But then I picked up the machine to adjust its position and that's when the screen fell back. The infamous loose hinge. Admittedly, I had my Codex attached to it, but it was a very slight angle. Really annoying and I worry about the long term effects on the hinge. I called the Apple Store, and they said I will have to bring it in to have a Genius check it out. I made an appointment.
Do I just have really bad luck or are there some serious quality control issues? I feel like a bit of a jerk constantly complaining, but this is supposed to be a premium product. I'm also kind of sick of going back and forth and I'm worried that the next replacement will just have another problem. I wish I could just get a repair done to fix the hinge, but so far they are 2/2 with damaging my MBP whenever I leave it with them.
There are always quality control issues no matter what. You might have had just bad luck and your expectations might also have something to do with it.
