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Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

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Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#21

Post by avree »

rogerhoward wrote: post #10

After months of suffering with this, with an out warranty 15" MBP 2016 that was relegated to desk duty with an external keyboard, I heard about this program. I made an Apple Store appointment for the next day (a Tuesday); they checked it, warned me it could be a week or more because of a holiday that week. Thursday morning I had a call that it was ready. Total cost: $0 (according to the invoice the parts were over $8…

I made the mistake of paying the $800+ for the bottom clamshell replacement needed to fix the keyboard one week before they announced this program.

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#22

Post by tomduncalf »

avree wrote: post #21
rogerhoward wrote: post #10

After months of suffering with this, with an out warranty 15" MBP 2016 that was relegated to desk duty with an external keyboard, I heard about this program. I made an Apple Store appointment for the next day (a Tuesday); they checked it, warned me it could be a week or more because of a holiday that week. Thursday morning I had a call that it was ready. Total cost: $0 (according to the invoice the parts were over $8…

I made the mistake of paying the $800+ for the bottom clamshell replacement needed to fix the keyboard one week before they announced this program.

I believe you can claim it back?

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#23

Post by 52-6F-62 »

vuln wrote: post #8

Ugh. I really want to upgrade my 2014 mba. Four gigs of ram doesn’t cut it anymore and my eyes have grown tired of the screen. I love the size, battery life, I just don’t know what to get next.

There are a lot of refurb 2015 MBP's on the market since many people upgraded to newer machines. They're the last run before the butterfly keyboard, you can find up to 16GB memory and 512GB storage—some of them with dedicated video as well (if the 15" size is what you're after). And substantially cheaper than new models.

Mind you I think this is t he run with the battery issue.....

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#24

Post by iamnotacrook »

cced wrote: post #11
ramijames wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My time isn't free. The fact that I have to deal with this at all makes me never want to buy another Mac and I have been a heavy user for at least 20 years. Super annoyed.

This. I have 7 distinct repairs so far. Every one of these involves a back up, checking in at the Apple Store, explaining what the issue is, having the staff run “diagnostics” only to find nothing wrong with the computer, my having to tell them that this has become routine and that I want them to take my computer in for repairs, having them call me back a few days later with a repaired computer, retrieving the comput…

It sounds like the "diagnostics" are faulty. If they ended up fixing your problems (as suggested by your "distinct repairs" comments, so they can't have just sat on the device for a phone days then said "yep, we fixed it") then it sounds like they do further tests once they've accepted it for repair, and where those tests highlight a genuine problem, in which case they should probably do those tests initially instead, or at least not make you have to argue with someone at the store when you've already had to stop work, get it to the store etc.

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#25

Post by davemp »

cced wrote: post #11
ramijames wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My time isn't free. The fact that I have to deal with this at all makes me never want to buy another Mac and I have been a heavy user for at least 20 years. Super annoyed.

This. I have 7 distinct repairs so far. Every one of these involves a back up, checking in at the Apple Store, explaining what the issue is, having the staff run “diagnostics” only to find nothing wrong with the computer, my having to tell them that this has become routine and that I want them to take my computer in for repairs, having them call me back a few days later with a repaired computer, retrieving the comput…

I had my display start to go and I just called support instead of going into a store. The rep just next-day’d me a box with shipping label and I got it back in a few days.

All you have to do is convince the support rep that you know what you’re talking about.

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#26

Post by breck »

52-6F-62 wrote: post #23
vuln wrote: post #8

Ugh. I really want to upgrade my 2014 mba. Four gigs of ram doesn’t cut it anymore and my eyes have grown tired of the screen. I love the size, battery life, I just don’t know what to get next.

There are a lot of refurb 2015 MBP's on the market since many people upgraded to newer machines. They're the last run before the butterfly keyboard, you can find up to 16GB memory and 512GB storage—some of them with dedicated video as well (if the 15" size is what you're after). And substantially cheaper than new models. Mind you I think this is t he run with the battery issue.....

I didn’t know there were 16GB options. I thought I got the best last generation MBA at 8gb and 512. It’s my primary machine and I still love it.

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#27

Post by admax88q »

rogerhoward wrote: post #10

After months of suffering with this, with an out warranty 15" MBP 2016 that was relegated to desk duty with an external keyboard, I heard about this program. I made an Apple Store appointment for the next day (a Tuesday); they checked it, warned me it could be a week or more because of a holiday that week. Thursday morning I had a call that it was ready. Total cost: $0 (according to the invoice the parts were over $8…

No questions asked after years of denying there was even a problem.

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#28

Post by jasonsync »

My report:

I just got a new MacBook Air a few weeks ago, to replace an aging MacBook Air. Retina display is a huge upgrade, and USB C is great (I don't miss the mag safe charger as much as I thought I would). The keyboard though ...

Week 1: For the first week the keyboard was great (although more clacky sounding than the older model).

Week 2: The R key started misfiring. Press the R key 10 times, you only get 8 Rs on screen.

Week 3: I was about to bring it in to get replaced, but then the R key started working again.

Great that Apple has acknowledged the issue, and as soon as the R key misbehaves again, I will be bringing my MacBook Air in for repair.

The misfiring, along with the clacking noise makes the overall experience of the newer keyboard feel "cheaper" than it's predecessors.

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#29

Post by Jakob »

mtrpcic wrote: post #13
rogerhoward wrote: post #10

After months of suffering with this, with an out warranty 15" MBP 2016 that was relegated to desk duty with an external keyboard, I heard about this program. I made an Apple Store appointment for the next day (a Tuesday); they checked it, warned me it could be a week or more because of a holiday that week. Thursday morning I had a call that it was ready. Total cost: $0 (according to the invoice the parts were over $8…

I had a similar experience. Struggled with several keys either "not pressing" or "double pressing". After a while I took it in, they gave me an estimate of 5 days for repair, and called me after 4. No charge, no fee, no questions. Once I got used to the butterfly keys I didn't mind the low travel distance, and now that my keyboard is in proper working order, I have no issues with it. Still wish there was an escape ke…

You can set caps lock as escape key in System Preferences since one of the last OS versions. For me this works even better than the original escape key position since it’s on the home row.

Re: Apple's service program for butterfly keyboard MacBooks, even out of warranty

#30

Post by GGfpc »

avree wrote: post #21
rogerhoward wrote: post #10

After months of suffering with this, with an out warranty 15" MBP 2016 that was relegated to desk duty with an external keyboard, I heard about this program. I made an Apple Store appointment for the next day (a Tuesday); they checked it, warned me it could be a week or more because of a holiday that week. Thursday morning I had a call that it was ready. Total cost: $0 (according to the invoice the parts were over $8…

I made the mistake of paying the $800+ for the bottom clamshell replacement needed to fix the keyboard one week before they announced this program.

Apple is usually cool with this kind of stuff. Contact them.
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