[G4] Apple "Flat Rate" Service

[Keith Whaley]

Great story, Ted! I'll keep this info around, just in case.
We still have a couple of older Macs. Good to know.

keith whaley


Ted @ Mac <tlanden at mac.com> wrote:
> Even though this is not specific to one product, I found it interesting
> that I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROGRAM AND I am sure it will help other
> Mac heads.
> 
> I took a MBP to Apple the other day that I purchased in January of 2007.
> The hard drive crashed a year ago and was well out of warranty. I replaced
> the drive myself and all I could get was a white screen on the LCD.  To
> make a long story short ... I researched online and found it was a common
> issue, but it was "VERY Expensive" to repair.  So I shelved it and
> purchased a MacBook Air.   I was reading something online and found an
> article saying that Apple was replacing the video card on some previous
> models of MBP.  I pulled it out and called Apple and of course my did not
> have that model video card.  But I went ahead and made a Genius Bar
> appointment.  I am thinking the whole drive (ATL rush hour traffic) to the
> Apple Store that I was wasting my time.  I go in and explain what happened
> and he hooked it up, reproduced the problem, and took it to the back.
> After a while he comes back and says they think it is the LCD screen
> because the screen came on (although white) and the e xternal monitor
> worked.  He tells me about a program I have never heard of before.  For a
> flat fee ($315 for MBP) they send it to Apple Repair and they will repair
> it (no matter how many parts) for the flat rate of $315.  If there is any
> "accidental" damage (drop etc,) they will call you with an estimate for the
> repair.
> 
> I thought it was a no brainer $315 for a computer that is still worth over
> $1,000.  The battery had swelled and he replaced it for free and had me
> sign the paperwork for the new battery.  He enter the repair for the MBP
> and had me sign.  As I am walking out the store, I remembered I did not pay
> him anything.  I go back and ask, don't I need to pay you the $315?  He
> said no the service is on us, because of how he enter the battery
> replacement the service printed out with no charge.  So now I am waiting
> patiently for the MBP to arrive in the AM. (They overnight all the
> shipments.) The repair status actually says "REPAIRED"!!!
> 
> Enjoy your Mac....
> 
> Ted