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I was at my local Apple Store, visiting with one of the Geniuses to work out an issue with my laptop. A lot of times, the Geniuses are double booked to work on two problems at once, which I'm fine with as it makes them more efficient because computers have to be booted, rebooted, run diagnostic software, etc, which is time consuming.
So this lady is assigned to my Genius (henceforth called Awesome Apple Genius or AAG). She has an older MacBookPro, 15". From the looks of it, it was probably the first Intel based chipset since it has the MagnaLock powercord.
Dramatis Personae:
Awesome Appe Genius (AAG)
SC
SC: I talked to Tech Support and they told me to see you today. They can't figure out my problem.
AAG: OK, what's going on.
SC: My battery won't charge.
AAG: And tech support couldn't help you? *he had a very confused look on his face*
SC: It's defective. I only use it about six times a year, when I travel. It will only hold a charge for an hour. It's defective and I want it replaced.
AAG checks her battery, and it is indeed bad. However, it is also out of warranty. He tells her this.
SC: The battery that came with it originally was bad. They replaced it for free. This one is bad. I want you to replace it.
Me:
AAG: well, you know after a while batteries lose their ability to have the chemical reaction . . . have you left it dead for awhile?
SC: No, I leave it plugged in all the time.
AAG: Well, that's a good idea. But the battery is out of warranty. You'll need to buy a new one.
SC: They replaced the last one for free
AAG: Well, yes, because it was replaced under a special program.
SC: Then replace it under that.
AAG: I'm sorry, I can't. The program no longer exists.
SC: It's defective; I want you to replace it for free
AAG: You don't understand. It's like a car. When your car goes out of warranty, you have to pay for the repairs. It's the same thing here. *yes, he actually said this. He is my hero*
SC: I understand that. But the battery was defective when I got it, so you have to replace it. If my alternator is old and goes bad, I have to fix it unless there was a problem with it to begin with, then you have to replace it.
Me: *What?? Lady, if it were defective, why didn't you bring it back when it was still under warranty? This lady clearly does not understand how warranties work.*
At this point I could tell the AAG was clearly getting frustrated. He'd replaced MY battery (which had gone bad, was out of warranty, and for which I cheerfully had paid to replace because I should), and I could tell he didn't want to argue with her in front of me because my facial expressions were pretty blatantly "bitches be crazy" (I was trying very hard not to laugh at her). He said he'd have to talk to his manager. I was done, so I left so I don't know if the manager caved or not. I hope not; Apple products are expensive and I'd hate to think SC's like this drive up the prices.
I got a discount on my new battery for agreeing to a 3 month warranty rather than a 1 year one. It's a safe bet that saved me $35, since I've only ONCE had to swap out something with Apple under a warranty in the 15 years I've been using their products.
So long story short, her battery was very old and had reached the end of its useful life. She wanted a free one. I guess she thinks rechargeable batteries should last forever.
I got 3 1/2 years on my laptops original battery. Then I bought a third party replacement. It lasted one year. So I went with Apple for my third battery. It it lasts another 3 years, then it will probably outlive the computer itself (which is 4 1/2 years old).
So this lady is assigned to my Genius (henceforth called Awesome Apple Genius or AAG). She has an older MacBookPro, 15". From the looks of it, it was probably the first Intel based chipset since it has the MagnaLock powercord.
Dramatis Personae:
Awesome Appe Genius (AAG)
SC
SC: I talked to Tech Support and they told me to see you today. They can't figure out my problem.
AAG: OK, what's going on.
SC: My battery won't charge.
AAG: And tech support couldn't help you? *he had a very confused look on his face*
SC: It's defective. I only use it about six times a year, when I travel. It will only hold a charge for an hour. It's defective and I want it replaced.
AAG checks her battery, and it is indeed bad. However, it is also out of warranty. He tells her this.
SC: The battery that came with it originally was bad. They replaced it for free. This one is bad. I want you to replace it.
Me:
AAG: well, you know after a while batteries lose their ability to have the chemical reaction . . . have you left it dead for awhile?
SC: No, I leave it plugged in all the time.
AAG: Well, that's a good idea. But the battery is out of warranty. You'll need to buy a new one.
SC: They replaced the last one for free
AAG: Well, yes, because it was replaced under a special program.
SC: Then replace it under that.
AAG: I'm sorry, I can't. The program no longer exists.
SC: It's defective; I want you to replace it for free
AAG: You don't understand. It's like a car. When your car goes out of warranty, you have to pay for the repairs. It's the same thing here. *yes, he actually said this. He is my hero*
SC: I understand that. But the battery was defective when I got it, so you have to replace it. If my alternator is old and goes bad, I have to fix it unless there was a problem with it to begin with, then you have to replace it.
Me:
*What?? Lady, if it were defective, why didn't you bring it back when it was still under warranty? This lady clearly does not understand how warranties work.*At this point I could tell the AAG was clearly getting frustrated. He'd replaced MY battery (which had gone bad, was out of warranty, and for which I cheerfully had paid to replace because I should), and I could tell he didn't want to argue with her in front of me because my facial expressions were pretty blatantly "bitches be crazy" (I was trying very hard not to laugh at her). He said he'd have to talk to his manager. I was done, so I left so I don't know if the manager caved or not. I hope not; Apple products are expensive and I'd hate to think SC's like this drive up the prices.
I got a discount on my new battery for agreeing to a 3 month warranty rather than a 1 year one. It's a safe bet that saved me $35, since I've only ONCE had to swap out something with Apple under a warranty in the 15 years I've been using their products.
So long story short, her battery was very old and had reached the end of its useful life. She wanted a free one. I guess she thinks rechargeable batteries should last forever.
I got 3 1/2 years on my laptops original battery. Then I bought a third party replacement. It lasted one year. So I went with Apple for my third battery. It it lasts another 3 years, then it will probably outlive the computer itself (which is 4 1/2 years old).
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