Loosing the Will to live with my Macbook

S

SimonUK

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,068
Name
Simon
Edit My Images
Yes
So i got the Macbook in Febuary i think, everything was fine for the first few months, i also upgraded to 8gb of RAM in that time, yay!

But after this i've ended in a slew of issues.

First of, the Bootloader eat itself, and i had to take it in, and they said they had no idea why it happened, so i had to reset and format and install.

Few weeks after i started having issues, it went in, and had its logic board replaced. Afterwards, worked fine.

Then 2 weeks ago it went in again with issues, had a new logic board, as well as Airport card and Thermals.

Got it back yesterday from that after having to go away without it because it wasn't ready in time :/

Then last night the SuperDrive started to play up, wouldn't read CDs and stuff, then an EFI update show'd up, installed that and then it started to work. I also went to Mountain Lion yesterday, in the store when i picked the machine up.

Then today i've been having issues with the cursor backtracking when i'm typing, the screen colour temperature changed randomly twice. It started beeping one time when i started it up.

At 1500 i really think this computer should be wiping me a$$, or at least working when i want to browse the web! Taking it in again tomorrow, going to try and get a new one, or money back. Then replace it with a different machine.

i like the computer, but i have never had this amount of problems with a computer in my life....
 
Sounds unusual. When you check the laptop reliability tables apple are usually at the top as being least failure prone!

I'd be pushing for a brand new replacement as you have lost faith in that one. It can only be a Friday afternoon special.
 
srichards said:
Sounds unusual. When you check the laptop reliability tables apple are usually at the top as being least failure prone!

I'd be pushing for a brand new replacement as you have lost faith in that one. It can only be a Friday afternoon special.
Click to expand...

Honestly mate its driving me up the wall, i've had other in the past and they've been great, but this one just seems to hate me! Going to practise my puppy dog eyes now, maybe if i just break down in the store they'll upgrade it too :P
 
Under SOGA I think a complete replacement is perfectly reasonble considering how many times it has been repaired and how reliable it has been!
 
Yep, push for a new one. We bought a windows laptop from Tesco a couple of years ago in late december, by may it had been back to manufacturer twice and was again faulty, the screen had totally failed, so instead of sending off, took it into Tesco, explained the situation and they opened it, turned it on and checked the fault we claimed and that there was no obvious signs of abuse, then gave us a full refund [or a new replacement to same value if we wanted it] with no hassle, so if tesco can do it.... ;)
 
odd that its still having all this bother with a new logic board. maybe its getting too much juice somehow and its killing components. or its overheating and killing components.

either way as above its not unreasonable to ask for a replacement.
 
I'd love to get a Refund, but this machine was a refund for my Ageing Powerbook which a Genuis broke whilst i asked for them to look at a fan, regardless of the fact it was out of warranty, they still looked and then broke it :P

So i technically got it for free, minus the len's i traded for the powerbook which cost me 150...
 
SimonUK said:
I'd love to get a Refund, but this machine was a refund for my Ageing Powerbook which a Genuis broke whilst i asked for them to look at a fan, regardless of the fact it was out of warranty,
Click to expand...


I'm just a suspicious soul really but ...
 
SimonUK said:
I'd love to get a Refund, but this machine was a refund for my Ageing Powerbook which a Genuis broke whilst i asked for them to look at a fan, regardless of the fact it was out of warranty, they still looked and then broke it :P

So i technically got it for free, minus the len's i traded for the powerbook which cost me 150...
Click to expand...

shouldnt matter. its defective and its a machine they supplied.
 
gramps said:
I'm just a suspicious soul really but ...
Click to expand...

I could feel the fan rattling when it span, so i took it in and just asked if they would look at it for my quickly, i would of done it myself but i was close by and i though why not. He took it, couldn't get the case off to look at it, then gave it back to me missing a screw, so i told him and he took it and put a screw in for me, he also put a screw into both the screw holes either side of the DVI port. The machine still worked but i couldn't screw a DVI cable into it, not that i ever had, but it wasn't the point. I took it in, pointed it out, he got he manager, they said they were really sorry and ashamed that it had happened. They asked if they could replace it, i said yes, 10 minutes later, i walked out the store with a new MBP. They or I could of removed the screws, but they chose not too...

Nothing dodgey, just a basly trained and informed 'genius' and a lucky day for me.. at 16 i can't really afford to get a new one :P
 
SimonUK said:
I could feel the fan rattling when it span, so i took it in and just asked if they would look at it for my quickly, i would of done it myself but i was close by and i though why not. He took it, couldn't get the case off to look at it, then gave it back to me missing a screw, so i told him and he took it and put a screw in for me, he also put a screw into both the screw holes either side of the DVI port. The machine still worked but i couldn't screw a DVI cable into it, not that i ever had, but it wasn't the point. I took it in, pointed it out, he got he manager, they said they were really sorry and ashamed that it had happened. They asked if they could replace it, i said yes, 10 minutes later, i walked out the store with a new MBP. They or I could of removed the screws, but they chose not too...

Nothing dodgey, just a basly trained and informed 'genius' and a lucky day for me.. at 16 i can't really afford to get a new one :P
Click to expand...

I wasn't suspicious at you, just wondering if you got a 'normal' brand new machine or a 'fob-off' that was available at less loss to them :shrug:
 
gramps said:
I wasn't suspicious at you, just wondering if you got a 'normal' brand new machine or a 'fob-off' that was available at less loss to them :shrug:
Click to expand...

Yeah i've been thinking that, i deffo got a refurbished Logic board though this time round....

Ugh such a pain.
 
neil_g said:
go to the apple store and stamp your feet a bit, normally theyve got a good reputation for holding their hands up and/or replacing stuff.
Click to expand...

I think i just want a refund, then i'll try a basline iMac and get a Refurb Dell Latittude..
 
I'd not stamp too loudly as it was a free laptop... I'd suggest going back in and having the power supply checked as that is the most likely cause of weirdness. I'd also try taking out the memory upgrade as if the odd behaviour started shortly after then that points the finger at the memory or the memory slot area.
 
srichards said:
I'd not stamp too loudly as it was a free laptop... I'd suggest going back in and having the power supply checked as that is the most likely cause of weirdness. I'd also try taking out the memory upgrade as if the odd behaviour started shortly after then that points the finger at the memory or the memory slot area.
Click to expand...

Tried the Stock memory and it doesn't even boot with it anymore :( The mem sat in the laptop box since i took it out and hasn't had anything done to it.


That fact it was a lucky replacement has nothing to do with it...
 
If it's stopped booting again just like it did before then it's definitely a lemon and wants replacing with a new one.
 
srichards said:
If it's stopped booting again just like it did before then it's definitely a lemon and wants replacing with a new one.
Click to expand...

That was a different issue, with the duff bootloader it, booted just couldn't find either OS
 
Simon

I woudl put the original memory in, take the laptop and all the bits to the Genius bar, explain that the machine isn't working at all after a recent repair and you are concerned that the machine is no longer 'fit for purpose' and you would like a replacement item or a credit note for the value of the machine as another repair is not acceptable to you.

If you are calm and reasonable you will stand more chance of success than a guns blazing approach.
 
Well i took it in, and they've taken it again. Refused to replace it, and refused to look at the errors in the log that i had saved and screenshotted. So i'm without it again, and if it comes back with no repairs and the same errors, i will be getting a replacement and selling it and buying something else.

Aside from the fact i'm 16, i need to have a computer that works with no fuss for at least the next 2 years whilst i'm in school.

Ugh. Not happy at all.
 
neil_g said:
Start using words like "not fit for purpose" and "sale of goods act" and "small claims court"
Click to expand...

Yeah, i think once i get it back if i keep having problems iĺl have to start to do somthing more. My Dad said he would come in with me if i keep having problems, at 16 no one really takes you seriously in anything.. Which sucks, but what can you do :(

I more anoyyed at the fact i took time to copy and screenshot and annottate the errors that show in Console and the system log, but they wouldn look at them....
 
Still no call and its been 48 hours, will be giving them a firm call tommorrow morning! :(
 
gramps said:
That might be the problem, take an older person in with you ... someone who is not afraid to speak up!
Click to expand...

Iḿ no afraid to speak up! But i don think that really matters :/
 
Only on one occasion did I have to be a bit authoritarian at a Genius bar in a Mac Store, but it did get results. You may have to get a bit bolshy , and from what I have read you having a real nightmare with your Mac.

Rather than just turn to a Genius Bar appointment, try ringing the store first, and let them know what has been happening and say you want the matter sorted.

Alternatively ring Apple Care and see if you get a better response that way. I've always found the guys in Ireland to be very helpful.

Finally if you get nowhere I'd write to Apple. My experience with this company has always been very positive ( even when I had to get a bit authoritarian ) and matters do get resolved. I wouldn't be on my 3rd Mac if I didn't think the product wasn't value for money and the after sales service is better than any I've come across.
 
So just got off the phone, Firstly to Apple Service, and then to the Local Apple store.

The guy at apple service was really nice, listend to everything i said, but said they couldnt do anything whilst the machine was at the Apple Store. He did put me through to the Apple store, but they were closed so i had to ring back.

So i rang the Apple store just now, i was told, that they will never call within 48 hours to tell me whats happening. And that there are 11 other repairs in the que ahead of mine, and it will take up to 5 working days...

So i now don have my computer for all of this week aswell....

This is awful...
 
That's up to 5 working days. Depends on how quickly they get through the others!

It's the holidays. Go out and do some film instead :)
 
SimonUK said:
So just got off the phone, Firstly to Apple Service, and then to the Local Apple store.

The guy at apple service was really nice, listend to everything i said, but said they couldnt do anything whilst the machine was at the Apple Store. He did put me through to the Apple store, but they were closed so i had to ring back.

So i rang the Apple store just now, i was told, that they will never call within 48 hours to tell me whats happening. And that there are 11 other repairs in the que ahead of mine, and it will take up to 5 working days...

So i now don have my computer for all of this week aswell....

This is awful...
Click to expand...

Absolute rubbish!! When I left my iMac with them a few weeks ago, they called the SAME day! [Brent cross store] They told me exactly what was wrong, explained the cost of the repair, and that there was a caveat that even after the repair, they couldn't guarantee it wouldn't need further parts to resolve another minor issue [logic board had a fault which was causing the machine to randomly freeze up, but also the cpu fan was working full power the whole time and they wouldn't know until new logic board was fitted whether it was the board feeding it the wrong signals, or the fan itself was faulty] and also advised that in their opinion, it was beyond economic repair as a machine that was over 4 yrs old. There was no pressure from them to buy a new one, or indeed have this one repaired, despite them spending over 3 hrs diagnosing the fault free of charge. At that age, I guess I could have stamped feet a lot and tried the SOG act, but it would have been borderline, and their customer service was so good, I decided to invest yet more more money into Apples coffers and buy a new one. Had they not have been so helpful, I might just have struggled on with old machine and relatively new MBP for a while longer....

As already suggested, and you are aware of, being 16 is not in your favour, so as galling as it is, get your dad to contact them and play holy hell with a store manager, including mentioning the fact that you feel like you are being brushed off because of your age, 'hurt feelings' etc, which will offer a little more leverage.
 
Yv said:
Absolute rubbish!! When I left my iMac with them a few weeks ago, they called the SAME day! [Brent cross store] They told me exactly what was wrong, explained the cost of the repair, and that there was a caveat that even after the repair, they couldn't guarantee it wouldn't need further parts to resolve another minor issue [logic board had a fault which was causing the machine to randomly freeze up, but also the cpu fan was working full power the whole time and they wouldn't know until new logic board was fitted whether it was the board feeding it the wrong signals, or the fan itself was faulty] and also advised that in their opinion, it was beyond economic repair as a machine that was over 4 yrs old. There was no pressure from them to buy a new one, or indeed have this one repaired, despite them spending over 3 hrs diagnosing the fault free of charge. At that age, I guess I could have stamped feet a lot and tried the SOG act, but it would have been borderline, and their customer service was so good, I decided to invest yet more more money into Apples coffers and buy a new one. Had they not have been so helpful, I might just have struggled on with old machine and relatively new MBP for a while longer....

As already suggested, and you are aware of, being 16 is not in your favour, so as galling as it is, get your dad to contact them and play holy hell with a store manager, including mentioning the fact that you feel like you are being brushed off because of your age, 'hurt feelings' etc, which will offer a little more leverage.
Click to expand...

Yeah, im tempted to phone up the support again, and make a proper formal complaint, or just tell them thats its rediculous, try get them to ship me a new one, and the apple store can do as they wish with the old one...

I need a computer! Living off my tiny phone just doesnt work...
 
Apple store couldn't find anything wrong at all with the computer, so i just went and picked it up. Reading the Repair report the genius has described everything i told her completely wrong, including saying that the machine was covered in scuffs. There is one mark from a bag zip, and two stickers on the back, that it is. NO marks anywhere else.

IF i have more problems, i will be getting the value for the computer back in cash, and buying back into PCs.
 
This is likely all down to a fault elsewhere that they have not located. Is it working? If not take it elsewhere and ask for the manager there. Explain the situation and ask him to oversee it actually being fixed. You might be best doing this with someone else as unfortunately at 16 they might not take you seriously. They are normally pretty good. I've had them replace a 4.5 year old power supply and a 3 year old battery before now!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top