Fault New Mac Book Pro

[Gadget Man]

I have recently upgraded my MacBook to the new MacBook Pro 13" 2.53 GHz. It was purchased just 7 days ago. It has a problem with the display, grainy, erratic and sometimes inverted. The authorized dealer said that it is a warranty claim, which I refuse to entertain on a 7 day old product.

Is there anyone out there that knows someone at apple ... basically they must swap out the machine and not repair it.

Any help appreciated.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

isn't out of box failure longer than 7 days? I will PM you a contact at Core - he was very helpful when I had to deal with a manufacturing fault on my MacBook Air (hinge issue). Where did you buy it?

 

[Gadget Man]

Thanks MagicDude4Eva ... I have sent off an email.

I am so p'eed off at the moment. I have spent a few days installing all my software, downloading my IMAP mail etc.

Bought from Citimac in Durban - an authorised dealer (I checked).

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

btw: you can do a full back of your machine (i.e. through time-machine) once you get your replacement do a simple restore. no need to reinstall everything...

 

[Gadget Man]

I will do the back-up tonight. I haven't even set-up the time machine for MacBook yet.

 

[Gadget Man]

So, I took the machine back this morning. They want to have a look at it. The screen is gone completely.

The apple.com/za site gives the UK site as the support. The UK site says there's a remorse period of 14 days - you can take any machine back for a refund (which I don't want, just want it swapped).

Waiting to hear from Core.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

i cant wait for consumer protection act to kick it. typically cooling off period is 5-7 days (including weekends) at the moment. if you bought via credit card you can still force the option onto the store to cancel the credit card transaction (most banks will help you with this as long as you say that the retailer sold you a defunct product and is unprepared to accommodate you). BTW: I did this one day @ Incredible Corruption and after the bank confirmed cancellation of transaction, just left the goods and walked out of the store.

 

[Gadget Man]

The Consumer Protection Act offers much better protection. For up to 6 months I can insist on a replacement product - the option is with the consumer.

 

[syntax]

AKAIK OBF was 7 days, but most stores push it a little.... .. u might be lucky and get it, otherwise the screen replacement is quick and fairly paiinless

 

[Gadget Man]

It was 7 days yesterday when I took it in. Had to bring it back because I needed to get my data off it. My extended desktop works fine, so it's not the GPU / Logic Board. Could just be the screen, but then again I didn't buy a refurbished laptop - I bought a new, unopen, nicely square and well fitted machine! 7 days (today 8 days) ... they must replace it. I won't accept anything less.

 

[syntax]

without doubt, 7 days is defintely out of box failure, not refurbished, not repaired.
If they refuse, pm me, I also know some ppl at Core, they can get into serious trouble for not honouring the agreement. (if they are not Grey of course...then core cant do jack....)

Its weird they wont do it though...they dont lose any money in this? unless they are gonna try give u a refurb one and then get themselves a new one from the OBF...
Check serials etc. If u have doubts, pm me the serial of the "new" one, I will be able to give u a pretty good idea if its new

 

[Sackboy]

If you get the option, take the money and start again. Don't accept any compromises or deals!

 

[Gadget Man]

Thanks tau1z. I am waiting to hear from them. Machine was bought from Citimac in Durban, an authorised dealer, so it's not grey. I will only accept a replacement machine in a sealed box. There's no compromise on that one.

They gave me an emailed policy which states: "Please take note that a DOA product is defective out of the box or if a product is not operable upon first use. There is no grace period of any kind."

The machine worked fine for a few days before the screen gradually gave in and by the 7th day was inoperable.

The apple site says differently. Core have their own set of rules which are not shared with the public.

I am not sure why they were being so sticky, because the apple tech looked at the machine and immediately noted the failure. Do you check the serials online?

 

[syntax]

Core will honour the 7 day OBF, and as an authorized reseller, the place u purchased from has no choice but to.
I check up the serials on an apple technical site. (i used to do some apple work),

 

[Gadget Man]

The place I bought it from gave me alot of grief. They point blank refused. I am down in Durban, they have now sent the machine to Core in JHB. I have to wait for feedback, and not sure how long that will be - probably Tuesday. In my opnion, there should have been and instant replacement ... a simple: "here's a new Mac Book Pro, sorry about the problem".

I will keep in touch. Thanks.

 

[syntax]

The place I bought it from gave me alot of grief. They point blank refused. I am down in Durban, they have now sent the machine to Core in JHB. I have to wait for feedback, and not sure how long that will be - probably Tuesday. In my opnion, there should have been and instant replacement ... a simple: "here's a new Mac Book Pro, sorry about the problem".

I will keep in touch. Thanks.

To be fair, i know some shops dont have stock or dont like giving away stock they know they can sell immediately to someone else. The fact they are sending it back is a good sign. Core should send a replacement immediately, unfortunately for u, thats 5 - 7 days

 

[Gadget Man]

Bloddy hell ... 5-7 days. I can't wait that long. The store tells me everything comes down by overnight delivery. So if the problem is confirmed on Monday, it's down here in Durban on Tuesday. Looks like I'm going to have to take out my old mini, install SL and start up with that for the week. It's going to be a busy weekend.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

5-7 days.... if it is a swap-out yes. if they repair it you will wait 4 weeks... I would just cancel the transaction if you dont have it back in 4 days...

 

[assagai]

Core won't swap out without a fight, that's been my experience anyway. Core warranty does not equal apple warranty.

 

[Gadget Man]

Well, I am up for a fight. I did not buy the machine from Core. I bought the machine from an Apple Authorized dealer that just gave me an invoice without any terms and conditions. My sales contract is with the Apple Dealer, who in turn has their own agreement with Core. In reality, I have nothing to do with Core.

Anyway, Core don't have a sales and returns policy that is publicly available or available on the internet. They have their own internal policies, which was never communicated to me. For support, we fall under the UK division, and their sales policy, which is in the public domain and against which I purchased this product, applies. They have a 14 day remorse period, i.e. you can return an Apple product for a full refund within 14 days if you are not happy with the product.

Core are middlemen, and middle men can't change a publicly accepted policy without informing you before purchasing the product, e.g. they can't tell you after you bought the product that the machine has a 1 month warranty, whereas Apple offers a years warranty. If the terms are contrary to the publicly know view, then they have a duty to inform you before purchase, so that you have a chance to change your mind. (I recall some Ticket Sales law in Varsity ... having T&C's on the back of a ticket, which you only get to see after you purchased the ticket is illegal).

If the machine was a month old, I will concede that it becomes a warranty claim and needs to be repaired. Within 7 days, I'm sorry, but the machine came with a defective part and no consumer court will uphold Core's view, if they choose to repair the MacBook Pro.