Consumerist
videos
-
above and beyond
Apple CSR Ignores Company's Warranty To Recharge Customer's Love
Sometimes the way to get sweet consumer justice is a series of pushy calls on the phone with CSRs or even the EECB route. But other times, probably more often, a sugary sweet touch and some good luck will get you farther faster. More » -
frickin' laser beams
Laser Engraving Gone Wrong? Just Fill It In With A Sharpie
If you spent about $150 to have the case of your laptop computer laser-engraved with a cool design and something went wrong, would you expect to be told to fill in the problem areas yourself with a permanent marker? That happened to Haje. He's sympathetic to the technical issues involved, but not happy with the end result. More » -
-
applecare
Apple: Cosmetic Damage Keeps Us From Replacing Your Battery!
Apple claims that they can't replace reader MTW's MacBook battery because the laptop's case is chipped. The minor cosmetic damage doesn't affect the computer's functions and isn't even on the same side as the laptop's battery, which stopped holding a charge months after the case cracked.
More »
-
serving suggestions
Computer Store Ad Uses Picture Of New MacBook Pro To Sell Old Ones
Andrew sent us this picture of a CampusTechShop ad that he says is all over his college campus. The ad trumpets reduced prices on the previous edition of MacBook Pro, then illustrates it with a picture of the new MacBook Pro. More » -
apple
PIX: Ladybug Infested Macbook (And A Happy Ending)
These are the ladybugs that infested Sam's Macbook, the ladybugs Apple said must be his fault. Now, here is the update to Sam's saga, and how he finally got justice from Apple.
-
apple
Apple Says You Put Those Ladybugs Inside Your Mac Yourself, On Purpose
UPDATED. Sam loves his Apple products, but their blaming him for the big ladybugs inside his Macbook Pro? It's enough to turn this fanboy into whatever is the clever name for opposite of a fanboy. -
apple
Apple Repair Center Doesn't Repair Your Laptop, But Does Replace Your Keyboard With German Layout
When Paul, a Georgia Tech student in Atlanta, got his MacBook back from an Apple Repair center, he noticed they hadn't repaired the dent screen bezel at all—and something was a little off about the keyboard now, too. There were umlauts over the vowels, for instance, and that weird B-shaped letter thing grafted onto the question mark key, which was now up on the number row.
So when you take your Mac to get repaired and they have to send it to their repair center, politely request that a service technician with the ID 31514 at the “CTS, Apple Authorized Repair Center” in Houston, Texas does not fix your Mac.
Unless you want to type in German.
"Apple Repair Remains Dismal" [Paul Stamatiou]
-
-
dell
Dell Doesn't Care Where You Live, Keeps Delivering Packages To The Wrong Address
Elizabeth went out and bought a Mac after Dell twice sent Windows XP replacement CDs to her old address. After each failed delivery attempt, Elizabeth called Dell, which repeatedly promised that they'd get it right next time. One CSR even claimed that he personally called DHL to change the shipping address. (He didn't.) More » -
sales
Morning Deals
- Woot: Visiontek ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 256MB PCI-E Video Card for $79.99
- Vans: 20% off with coupon code TRUEFAN08
- eBags: Up to 38% off The North Face Backpacks
- Amazon: Canon A590IS 8MP Digital Camera $147 Shipped
- Buy.com: Whistler XTR-140 Radar/Laser Detector $37 Shipped
- Apple Store: Save $300 to $900 off refurbished MacBook Pro Notebooks
- State Taxes: 2008 State Sales Tax Holidays
- Wilsons Leather: Entire site up to 75% off
- Shoplet.com: Up to 60% off back to school supplies
-
apple
Apple: Sorry We Wrote On Your Macbook Screen With Pen And Then Lost It, Here's A New Laptop
Reader Brandon's Macbook had some cracks and stuck pixels, so he sent it in to be repaired. When he got it back the cracks were fixed, but someone had written on his screen with pen. So, naturally, he sent it back. This time, they lost it. Don't worry, there's a happy ending. More » -
accolades
Apple Sends You Replacement Laptop With Broken Keyboard, Apologizes Wtih Free Sims 2
Terry writes:I work in an IT dept at a tech company in Utah and we have about half Apple computers and half PCs. We had a 17" MacBook Pro with a bad hard drive, so I sent it in with AppleCare and got it back within a couple days. They sent it back with a new hard drive, a new battery, and a broken keyboard! There was tape covering the tab, caps lock, and shift keys and when I lifted it off, the caps lock key came with it! (see picture)...
More » -
apple firebook
Dear Apple: My Macbook Keeps Trying To Light My House On Fire, Please Replace It
This poor guy is named Steve. Steve's Macbook keeps trying to light his house on fire, so Steve would like replacement. He's already sent the computer for repair several times, gotten it back, at which time it tried to light his house on fire again.
The machine in question (which is not pictured here because Steve sent it to Apple to be repaired) likes to shoot off sparks that land on his copy of the New York Times. The NYT is not only the paper of record, but it also functions rather effectively as tinder. More »
-
What's Apple's replacement policy for hardware failure? Our intern is having ongoing problems with his MacBook, and thought that after three large hardware failures in a row, Apple replaced the laptop—but "some dude at the genius bar just told me that was absolutely not true." Does anyone know the official Apple party line on this issue?
-
customer service
Apple Store Manager Calls Autistic Guy A "Freak"
Joshua's MacBook was splitting along one side—you could push it back together, but after a few minutes it would start to separate again. When Joshua, who has Asperger syndrome, tried to get it repaired at his local Apple Store, he ran into all sorts of problems. First there was a two-hour wait to see an expert, then an assistant manager walked up and said, "I've seen you in here a lot with that laptop, what's wrong?" Joshua explained, and pointed out that he had a meeting to attend that evening and needed his laptop to take notes, so he was hoping to have it looked at in person.
"I'm sorry if I seem on edge or anything, I just.... I'm born with this"... The assistant manager then says "It's okay. It's the Monday before a full moon. There will be plenty more freaks like you before close". And tells me to calm down.
More » -
help!
Apple Won't Refund My Macbook, Which Is A Lemon
"Dear Consumerist,
So I purchased a MacBook last year and it's been a nightmare. It's been replaced twice now, each time with multiple mail-out services before Apple would replace the laptop.
Each time Apple representatives told me that under warranty details they will refund at 'their discretion', which seems to mean never. Am I stuck with yet another lemon laptop now that I've run out of ways to escalate?
Does California offer me any good consumer protection? Can I take them to small claims court perhaps?" More » -
above and beyond
Apple Gives Macbook Smasher A New Macbook
Apple contacted me over the weekend and arranged for me to pick up a new macbook on Tuesday...
More » -
apple
Finder Of Apple Porn On His Daughter's Laptop Interviewed
UPDATE: Imran works as a system administrator at Orange, the mobile arm of France Telecom. More »
