So far I have spent over $5k ferrying my 2017 Macbook Pro (15" with touchbar) to and from Apple. Is this a super isolated hardware situation or have others experienced similar?
- March 2018 I start my laptop in the morning to find the screen doesn't go on. I take it to the service center in Bali where they inform me it will take 6+ weeks to service. I can't do 6 weeks without my primary work device. I fly to Sydney and visit the genius bar. They replace the screen and the logic board (losing all the data) ($750 flight + other expenses).
I fly back to Bali (battery's ~ 80%) open up the laptop and find that the screen is dead again. After a week of conversations with Apple they agree to give me a new MBP but I have to fly to Sydney to get it ($750 flight + other expenses).
- March 2019 screen stops working. I fly to Kuala Lumpur where the authorised service center says 3 weeks to fix. That won't work, so I fly on to the new apple store in Bangkok. They replace the screen and logic board (losing all data) ($1.5k)
- April 2019 (5 weeks later) the screen gets pink lines. I fly back to Bangkok, they replace the screen (another $1.5k on travel) and offer me $980 off a new MBP + free 3 year applecare.
So far 12 international flight sectors, over $5k in expenses (hotels / flights etc) and 6 weeks with no device.
To stay on Apple I'm having to seriously consider a second standby laptop. Or make the switch to Windows as Dell has fast domestic warranty repair.
- March 2018 I start my laptop in the morning to find the screen doesn't go on. I take it to the service center in Bali where they inform me it will take 6+ weeks to service. I can't do 6 weeks without my primary work device. I fly to Sydney and visit the genius bar. They replace the screen and the logic board (losing all the data) ($750 flight + other expenses).
I fly back to Bali (battery's ~ 80%) open up the laptop and find that the screen is dead again. After a week of conversations with Apple they agree to give me a new MBP but I have to fly to Sydney to get it ($750 flight + other expenses).
- March 2019 screen stops working. I fly to Kuala Lumpur where the authorised service center says 3 weeks to fix. That won't work, so I fly on to the new apple store in Bangkok. They replace the screen and logic board (losing all data) ($1.5k)
- April 2019 (5 weeks later) the screen gets pink lines. I fly back to Bangkok, they replace the screen (another $1.5k on travel) and offer me $980 off a new MBP + free 3 year applecare.
So far 12 international flight sectors, over $5k in expenses (hotels / flights etc) and 6 weeks with no device.
To stay on Apple I'm having to seriously consider a second standby laptop. Or make the switch to Windows as Dell has fast domestic warranty repair.