What is the cost of changing the keyboard on the new 16" Macbook?

[kaans]

This will be a weird question, just looking for a realistic ballpark figure, I tried getting a quote but Apple authorized technical services don't quote without an actual serial and physically going to the store, Apple itself directed me to them, I just wanted to ask here before going through that loop again

So the reasoning is, for programming, I need a US English keyboard, but in Turkey, for some weird reason, you can't buy non-Turkish layouts any more (I guess at one point devices were sold with English keyboards to reduce the costs, a lot of people cried about it, they passed a law prohibiting non-Turkish keyboards, all pretty stupid, probably the actual reason is to halt innovation by just derailing programmers /vent) - Because of this coronavirus stuff, you can't buy them aftermarket either - I also want the local warranty and the local Apple care, as my Macbook's just consistently fail after 2 years

Anyway, you can't buy an English keyboard Macbook, yet, you can buy the keyboard itself and the upper body through spare parts, so I'm just looking for a realistic ballpark figure to attempt this

TL;DR: How much does it cost to replace the upper body + the keyboard?

 

[matram]

For me 700 USD. That is for topcase with keyboard and battery which is glued in place.

 

[kaans]

Thank you,

I assume the battery can be re-attached with a new glue kit maybe, didn't watch enough Rossman videos, but he seemed to recreatively remove the battery while testing, could be older models

If it's <700 usd, seems gulpable - I need to pay ~200-300 usd more to buy an aftermarket macbook, local ones are cheaper with good deals - if I can get it done for around $500, I guess it'll be worth it, having the better local warranty too

 

[matram]

The battery is part of the top case and included in the price, so you will get a new battery regardless of if you need it or not.

I think during repair they basically move over the other stuff into the new top case.

 

[natted]

My suggestion which may sound horrific to some, but I make the suggestion so you can save a ton of money.
I would get some kind of stickers/labels to stick over the current keys on the keyboard. There are digital label printers that you can type in the letters/symbols and print small adhesive labels.
Once you have done that, then buy a thin keyboard cover - a bit like the one in the link below. It will sit overtop the keyboard and prevent your labels from coming off. Then just map keys as you need.

Ultra Thin Clear Keyboard Cover for 2020-2024 New MacBook Pro 13 Inch Model A2338 M2 M1 A2289 A2251 & 2020 2019 MacBook Pro 16 inch Model A2141 with Touch Bar & Touch ID Keyboard Skin Protector Cover

Ultra Thin Clear Keyboard Cover for 2020-2024 New MacBook Pro 13 Inch Model A2338 M2 M1 A2289 A2251 & 2020 2019 MacBook Pro 16 inch Model A2141 with Touch Bar & Touch ID Keyboard Skin Protector Cover

www.amazon.com

Others might not like this idea but is it truly worth $700 USD to replace the keyboard? (and risk damaging the laptop)...

 

[kaans]

I normally use mechanical keyboards, the relation with the keyboard is very important, the keyfeel etc.

Also if you've seen people using those stickers, they truly mess up the screen

Additionally, the layout is different, ANSI vs ISO etc. - using the ISO Enter would mess up my reflexes :/

I'm not ecstatic about damaging a new device either, but it'll be better than buying an aftermarket import device - the local warranty in Turkey is 2 years, that warranty would still apply- and also, even if I pay $700, I'd get the old upper body and probably sell it for $350 - non authorized repairmans in Turkey are the best buyers for Apple products

 

[c0ppo]

I have the same issue in Croatia. That's why I buy online. It's even cheaper for me to import a device from USA than to buy it locally.

 

[kaans]

Wish I could import too, but it's too risky, since it's a lithium battery device, you need to use DHL/UPS, with those companies, if an issue occurs during import, you end up paying storage charges etc. too - also the limit for personal imports in Turkey is 1500 euros, so best case scenario, I could import a specced Macbook Air - it would cost me $1900 at best, which becomes illogical

The messed up things is, local Apple prices here match US prices, I guess they haven't updated their prices with the recent FX changes yet, so If I wasn't so obsessed about the keyboard, I could just buy one - but probably the reason everyone is flocking the new devices are keyboards anyway

I'm watching the craigslist equivalent here too, devices come and go, but none makes sense, the base 16" model here is $2250 (TR keyboard), people try to sell unopened devices for $2700, used ones for $2500 - I'd rather pay the $700

One device popped up recently, base model, it had it's upper body replaced, 0 battery cycle, 6 months warranty remaining, price is $2300 (US keyboard) - the audacity of these people is just perplexing - everyone prices bastardly

Personally, when I sell, I become the seller I want to see when I buy stuff, so I make my buyers very happy

 

[Fishrrman]

I doubt that any Apple Store would do this for you.
They are not going to change a WORKING Turkish keyboard to an English one.
Their reasoning will be "there's nothing broken, so no repair is required".

You MIGHT be able to find a 3rd-party repair shop that would do this.
But no guarantee that they can get the required parts.

 

[c0ppo]

One device popped up recently, base model, it had it's upper body replaced, 0 battery cycle, 6 months warranty remaining, price is $2300 (US keyboard) - the audacity of these people is just perplexing - everyone prices bastardly

Well, to be honest, if sellers are able to sell at those prices, well, they are right

also the limit for personal imports in Turkey is 1500 euros

1500 euros? So basically, if you pay your device 1499 euros, you don't have to pay import charges?
If that is true, that is awesome. Anything beyond 90 euros in Croatia I have to pay import charges (10%), and for most of the products I have to pay additional tax as well (25%).

I've ordered a lot from amazon and ebay. Most of deliveries are either UPS or DHL. I have gotten only great experiences, nothing bad to say. Other that UPS in Croatia is bad, but DHL is simply fast, responsive and awesome.

 

[kaans]

18% from EU, 20% from elsewhere, but if it exceeds 1500 euros, you need to hire a firm to do the import, you can't do it personally - with the firm involved, you need to pay storage charges to UPS/DHL for the duration of the import - there's also random limitations that you only learn when you hit them (you can't import used car parts, you can't import radio devices (like RC stuff) without special permits and so on) - with regular postage, you deal with customs officers directly, they help however they can, yet with UPS/DHL, you lose that human connection, so it's very risky

I managed to find an unopened i9 with a reasonable asking price - the thing is, sellers can't sell these devices either, not in this economy, they bought these devices before February, at that time they were cheaper than the Apple store price, then Apple reduced their prices - their only buyers are eccentric people like me who buy them just for the keyboard

When I talked to the Apple rep. - he was positive it can be done, but when I talked to the authorized services, I wasn't too optimistic either - Apple says local laws prevent them from selling English keyboards, one repairshop indicated Apple prohibits them from ordering English keyboards, so it was too much of a mess to get into

One shop said it would void the warranty, but since I called to originally inquire about the devices they have for sale with english keyboards, it was clear he was lying to be able to sell a device instead - but from his hustling skills, it was clear this guy could get the English upper body for me too

Anyway, I hope it will be over Monday, and I hope I can keep this new device healthy - the hustle is too stressful

 

[motulist]

You can use an external keyboard. You can get a good, cheap, wireless keyboard in any layout.

 

[kaans]

You can use an external keyboard. You can get a good, cheap, wireless keyboard in any layout.

No ****, in that case, closing the thread
[automerge]1591461967[/automerge]
If Apple hired this guy, they could lay off half their workforce

All the 2017+ keyboard fiasco could be avoided by just giving everyone a cheap wireless keyboard

 

[motulist]

No ****, in that case, closing the thread
[automerge]1591461967[/automerge]
If Apple hired this guy, they could lay off half their workforce

All the 2017+ keyboard fiasco could be avoided by just giving everyone a cheap wireless keyboard

No ****, in that case, closing the thread
[automerge]1591461967[/automerge]
If Apple hired this guy, they could lay off half their workforce

All the 2017+ keyboard fiasco could be avoided by just giving everyone a cheap wireless keyboard

I assume you're being sarcastic. Why does an external keyboard not solve your problem?

 

[kaans]

You get a keyboard, you get a mouse, what you end up with is a desktop

I considered a mac mini, but want/need the portability through the day

 

[Dhock_Holiday]

I'm surprised Apple is still gluing the battery to the top case, you think they would have learned it's a horrible design decision after the whole butterfly switch fiasco.

 

[motulist]

You get a keyboard, you get a mouse, what you end up with is a desktop

I considered a mac mini, but want/need the portability through the day

So you're a choosing beggar. Got it.

r/ChoosingBeggars

This subreddit is for posting screenshots, pictures, or stories of people who are being way too picky when begging for things.

www.reddit.com

 

[kaans]

So you're a choosing beggar. Got it.

r/ChoosingBeggars

This subreddit is for posting screenshots, pictures, or stories of people who are being way too picky when begging for things.

www.reddit.com

I don't know what your problem is, but I do hope you go see a shrink and get some mental help, for the sake of people at close proximity to you