Pretty miffed about my MacBook Pro

BigWilly

I bought a brand new MacBook Pro 15" 2.33GHz with 2 gigs of ram in January. Have basically had nothing but trouble with the bloody thing since.
The first problem was airport randomly choosing to not work with my home wireless network. This seems to happen every so often but it's been alright for the last few weeks.
Then I noticed the case had warped in the corner with the optical drive. I assume this was due to over-heating and had it re-aligned by Mactivate in Blanchardstown. I've had to have the optical drive replaced twice now also.
2 days ago it actually wouldnt even turn on. And I thought "here we go again"...But I was busy and went back to it again this morning and it all of a sudden started working again...except for the 'y', '6' and 'numlock' keys....

This is my first mac and I'm pretty pissed with it. Does anyone know what my options would be in regards a replacement machine or even a refund? I'm sick of sending it off to mactivate only to have yet another problem within a few days. I mean, this is 2700 euros we're talking about here, and the thing is just faulty as hell.

PeakOutput

BigWilly wrote:

This is my first mac and I'm pretty pissed with it. Does anyone know what my options would be in regards a replacement machine or even a refund? I'm sick of sending it off to mactivate only to have yet another problem within a few days. I mean, this is 2700 euros we're talking about here, and the thing is just faulty as hell.

you should be able to get a replacement............they have the choice to replace the item before you can demand a refund

Sad Professor

Sorry to hear about all the problems you've had, OP, and I hope you don't let this influence your opinion of macs. The machine is obviously faulty and you're perfectly entitled to demand a replacement immediately. Don't take no for an answer.

Did you buy it from mactivate?

Gillo

Considering the unit was bought in Janurary I seriously doubt you'd get a refund (or even a replacement), unfortunately it'll prob be a repair.

Where did you buy the Mac?

NullZer0

Sounds like the Logic board is giving up to me - I realise I could be wrong of course!

PeakOutput

gillo wrote:

Considering the unit was bought in Janurary I seriously doubt you'd get a refund (or even a replacement), unfortunately it'll prob be a repair.

Where did you buy the Mac?

he is entitled to a replacement and if the replacement has the same issues he is entitled to his money back.

NullZer0

PeakOutput wrote:

he is entitled to a replacement and if the replacement has the same issues he is entitled to his money back.

I agree, I mean he did only get in it in Jan.
Maybe if it was over a year old I would expect a repair.

I'd ask for a replacement nicely.

quad_red

BigWilly wrote:

The first problem was airport randomly choosing to not work with my home wireless network. This seems to happen every so often but it's been alright for the last few weeks.

Exactly the same problem with my girlfriends Macbook Pro. My pc laptop works perfectly every time so couldn't figure it out. The only way I can get it to connect is to make sure Mac OSx does not store the encryption password and profile in the keyring. If it does it inevitably stops connecting. If I manually choose the wireless network and enter the password (making sure not to let it remember the details ) it connects fine.

BanzaiBk

BigWilly wrote:

The first problem was airport randomly choosing to not work with my home wireless network. This seems to happen every so often but it's been alright for the last few weeks.

I also purchased a 2.33GHz MBP in January, and after incessant problems with airport and RAM I demanded a replacement which I received (replacement received in February). The replacement MBP warped from the infamous over heating issue and instead of a replacement I asked for a refund. Ended up buying back my old MacBook from my brother. After paying nearly 3K for the laptop I was sorely disappointed. Can't fault my trusty MB though.

Replacement/refund is the minimum here imo.

BigWilly

Thanks a mil for the replies guys.
Just got off the phone with an Apple guy - after being passed between 3 other people ofc - and "due to my repair history" I'm not entitled to a replacement. He wants me to send it away to repair again to a different repair agent.
I explained to him that since the last repairs in June that I'd hardly used the laptop due to being travelling. And less than a week back from europe I start using it again and it breaks.

I bought it online from the Apple Store btw.

I'm not even sure what I should do at this point. I can't even stand looking at the thing for all the trouble its given me. It just works eh

Sad Professor

Another repair simply isn't acceptable imo. If it were me I'd kick up bloody murder.

PeakOutput

BigWilly wrote:

Thanks a mil for the replies guys.
Just got off the phone with an Apple guy - after being passed between 3 other people ofc - and "due to my repair history" I'm not entitled to a replacement. He wants me to send it away to repair again to a different repair agent.
I explained to him that since the last repairs in June that I'd hardly used the laptop due to being travelling. And less than a week back from europe I start using it again and it breaks.

I bought it online from the Apple Store btw.

I'm not even sure what I should do at this point. I can't even stand looking at the thing for all the trouble its given me. It just works eh

its a consumer issue now really read this thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=291266

then decide which if any category you fit into and therefore which bit of legislation you will mention if forced to. What i would say to the person on the phone is that the item is less then a year old it has had constant problem due to no fault of your own and that you have given them a chance to repair the laptop. this has had not worked and therefore under consumer law you are entitled to a replacement or a refund as the item is not fit for the intended use. if they still say no goodbye ask to speak to a manager and then say the same thing to them. usually the manager will say yes sorry blah blah blah let me arrange a replacement. if he does not and still tries to blow you off then you should ask for further advice fromt he consumer issues forum

BigWilly

quick update. They've agreed to a replacement laptop to be made once my laptop has been picked up which is monday. It's gonna take like 2 weeks to get a new custom one but it's a total relief.

I did what you guys said and just politely insisted I was within my rights to request a replacement and after just over 36 minutes on the phone they agreed it was a hardware fault. So thanks for the advice

Just wondering, I didn't actually ask but I'm presuming I have to send the cables etc back and not just the unit? Will I have to send the cd's back also does anyone know?

440Hz

Send it ALL back in the box if you have it. Typically they just replace the unit but I reckon you are better off packing it all up and sending it back, you might get all new things, or else they'll just send it all back again. Either way, you wont need it while the machine is gone.

Glad they finally got their act together for you!!

whiterebel

Policy up there was/is that it has to have gone for repair 3 times, then you demand a replacement, they won't offer you one off their own bat

uberwolf

will it be like for like, or will the OP get the latest machine?

whiterebel

uberwolf wrote: »

will it be like for like, or will the OP get the latest machine?

Usually like for like, if in stock

BigWilly

Just a quick update people. The Irish lady I was talking to was very helpful. Just recieved my new macbook pro today. Came with leopard and all.
This almost makes up for all the time i had to spend on my 7 year old homemade computer which takes ten and a half years to boot :]

There's a dead pixel at the bottom left of the screen, and i really dont have the time to send it back again and get a replacement. It's out of the way and pretty unnoticable and I think the leopard upgrade almost makes up for it.

I definitely fault apple's technical service for it taking basically 6 months for me to finally have a working laptop, especially when I paid 2700 euros for it. I don't think its just an apple problem, as when I buy a new electrical product at the moment, the first thing that comes to mind is that it might have a fault, and that I will probably spend hours on the phone to an indian guy trying to explain what the problem is.
As soon as I was able to talk to an apple rep of english speaking descent, it was sorted out in minutes.

I think this is a problem that needs to be addressed. Not only are we depriving irish people of jobs in this field (which I pretty much dont care less about), but we are also having to put up with a lot of BS so that apple can save maybe a few pennies on every call. I mean, I basicaly gave apple a 1000 euro mark-up, perhaps more, so as a consumer i expect to not have to explain my (keyboard) problem through a "K for kite? E for edward...etc" system.


But not to be too serious, leopard is absolutely sweet as can be