I am so not happy with Apple right now. Two weeks ago I noticed the slightest wobble when I touched the edge of my laptop. Almost like one of the tiny footpads on the bottom had gone missing and sent the laptop teetering. When I tilted the laptop to check I saw something just not right going on with my battery. One edge of the casing had separated from the rest of the battery and was bulging out of the bottom of the laptop. That can’t be good.
My instant reaction was, “What the hell?” I had never seen anything like that. And what do we do when we come across some oddity that we need more information about? We Google that shit! Guess what? This wasn’t some anomaly happening to just me, it has been happening to lots of people. Good upstanding citizens who boasted that Apple replaced their bulging batteries without any hassle—even ones out of warranty! Hurrah! I knew what was happening and it could be replaced easily. I called the local Apple reseller—the MacCafe—and they said bring it on in. Two or three days and I should have a new battery.
Which I still do not have.
I called this morning to find out why the hell I was still waiting on my battery 14 days—which is quite a bit more than 2 or 3 by my mathematical standards—after I had dropped it off. This is how my conversation went:
Me: Hi this is So-and-so, I’m calling to check on my battery. I dropped it off two weeks ago and lady-with-the-name-rhymes-with-feather told me it would be 2 or 3 days so I’m calling to check on the status.
MC Oaf: Yeah, it shows that it’s done and ready to be picked up.
Me: Was anybody going to call me about that?
MC Oaf: *silence*
I mean seriously people. How long has it been “ready to pick up”? So I drive out to the store to pick it up only to find out that Apple said they would not replace it and nothing has been done about the situation. Super pissed at this point, I somehow manage to remain calm, get the old battery and number for Apple and leave without punching anybody in the face.
My restraint surprised even me.
Can’t you see the look of pure discontent on my face? I also feel compelled to tell you that the stuff behind me is not mine. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s just not my thing.
But back to the battery.
Apple’s reasoning behind not replacing my obviously defective battery? My laptop is out of warranty. The laptop I bought in July of 2008. Fifteen freakin’ months ago.
You’re kidding me, right? I refuse to accept that. Battery cells expanding to the point of busting apart the casing is not consumer wear and tear. That is a manufacturing defect. It’s a KNOWN issue. I am not pleased with the customer service I’ve received so far. So today I will be making a phone call. Let’s hope it ends favorably.
UPDATE: I called Apple Customer Service this morning. Talked to four different people. Was put on hold six different times—for LONG periods of time. And after spending an hour and twenty minutes on the phone, I’m happy to say a nice gentlemen by the name of Steven is sending me a new battery.
Good Luck and give them Hell and don’t leave without a replacement.
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*pixie* Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
And all tht jazz.
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I’m curious how this will turn out. Apple should do the right thing and replace it.
My first MacBook Pro had the battery replaced 4 times with no questions asked. I was covered under my Applecare, but I know of at least 2 others that were out of warranty and Apple did a replacement of their batteries as a nice gesture.
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*pixie* Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
This was the first call I have ever made to Apple about a problem. In 10 years. I’m sure that had something to do with why they didn’t really hesitate to replace it.
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Replying to the update… congrats. Nice to have some support from someone at Apple.
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*pixie* Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Yes indeed.
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You are the second person this week that I know of that has had a MBP issue. Weird. One thing I will say about Apple is that their hardware is generally pretty reliable. But all the manufacturers seem to be having battery issues.
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*pixie* Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
I’m just glad I caught it right away.
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What a happy ending to a stressful day. I guess it proves that if you speak up rather then sit back and not do anything- good things can happen. I am glad it worked out for you, Pixie.
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*pixie* Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Thanks. Me too.
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God I hate dealing with Customer Service and uncooperative major companies. Glad you finally got results.
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nice advice and sharing,I will buy one fantastic apple for me .thanks,Joe
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I also enjoyed The Wide Sargasso Sea which looked at things from the standpoint of Bertha, the mad wife of Rochester in Jane Eyre. Another sequel that I thought was riveting was Grendel by John Fowler, a take on the monster’s viewpoint and story from Beowulf. I agree that too often these sequels are cringe-wor-thy but as many have pointed out, no one is holding a gun to your head to force you to read it and sometimes, as in these cases, it works.Tera gold
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