Get my money back

mknabster · Mar 25, 2008

Is there anyway that i can convince Apple to give me my money back on my MBP? I was just on the phone with Apple for an hour, before i got cut off, i talked to customer relations, then their supervisor, then they put me with a product specialist when i got cut off. I wasted hours and hundreds of dollars on gas going to the Apple store to get nothing and rudeness from them. i want to go back to PC at this point in time. Does anyone have any ideas?

Zoolook · Mar 25, 2008

When did you buy it and what seems to be the issue? Have you just changed your mind about switching?

Also, you say you got nothing from rudeness from them, I take it you were perfectly polite? I mention this because if you're expecting them to go above and beyond what is reasonable (say accept a machine back, when it functions as designed, after an extensive 'test drive'), then I would suggest you need to do the sweet talking.

When you say you want to go back to PC, is this based on your experience with the MacBook or your experience with Apple after trying to return it?

bryphotoguy · Mar 25, 2008

I think he's had it awhile. It's a last gen system from the specs, is it not?
I remember the OP starting a thread a few months ago because he was unhappy.

Why don't you sell is on Craigslist or eBay and be done with the situation? It doesn't sound like anyone will be budging. There isn't any reasonable way I know of to get a full refund.

snoslicer8 · Mar 25, 2008

Agreed, it's a last gen system, which means you are well beyond Apple's clearly stated 14 day return policy. Selling it on Craigslist or eBay is going to be your best bet.

mknabster · Mar 25, 2008

How much do you think i could possibly get it for?

bryphotoguy · Mar 25, 2008

Recent closings on eBay average $1580 for the 15" and $2050 for the 17". eBay fee would be $40 or so and PayPal fee would be $90 or so.
I just searched the completed listings on eBay as MacBook Pro 2.4GHz. I assume you have the 15"?

snoslicer8 · Mar 25, 2008

mknabster said:
How much do you think i could possibly get it for?

More than you'll get for a PC.

The Vindicat3d · Mar 25, 2008

We can't really help you get your money back if you don't tell is what the problem is and why you want your money back, there not just going to give you your money back because you don't want it after you've used it for months.

mknabster · Mar 25, 2008

Yea i know, i guess i kind of jumped the gun about wanting to get rid of it. It's just that i have wasted over $500 worth in gas just traveling to and from the Apple store near me, to find it was a software problem, that they said they fixed, but keeps reoccurring, and giving me the line, "Apple knows about it and are working on it." So i basically can't do anything about them. My first MBP's video card went within 2 weeks of having it, then i received a new MBP, the Superdrive went within 2 months on this new one, then my Firewire 800 port blew out 3 hard drives i bought, then 10.5.2 clashed with a graphics update, thus making the Apple store wiping the computer the 8th time with several months. Last night is what really blew me off the edge, i got this error code from Toast and iTunes when it was burning a lead-in: sense key = hardware error, sense code = 0x03, 0x01. So i tried updating the software, the error did go away, but Toast still freezes at that lead in part for a few minutes, then proceeds with the burn. And also, my wireless card has been acting up a lot, like it doesn't detect my school's network, but my roommate's 5 yr old Toshiba gets it in full. Same at home, with Verizon FIOS, every connection i can pick up don't even come in, even my home's. I called Verizon and Apple about it, and they just say call the other, so i bascially have to deal with it, hpoing it will work, which it does most of the time, btu the times when i direly need it, it doesn't, or it cuts out. Then the last and final thing, my RAM has been acting up. For example, 1 week ago, i was burning with Toast, and istatPro showed that it was taking up 55 MBs of RAM, Entourage 50 MBs, and Adium 15 MBs, but istat was showing that i had 9 MBs or RAM remaining on my computer. I didn't understand that at all.

I'm sorry if that was long, but that's the full story.

kc0ngg · Mar 26, 2008

$500 sounds a little bit exaggerated.

MBasile · Mar 26, 2008

bryphotoguy said:
I think he's had it awhile. It's a last gen system from the specs, is it not?
I remember the OP starting a thread a few months ago because he was unhappy.

Why don't you sell is on Craigslist or eBay and be done with the situation? It doesn't sound like anyone will be budging. There isn't any reasonable way I know of to get a full refund.

Craigslist/eBay is really his only option as Apple has no long-term satisfaction guarantee

kc0ngg said:
$500 sounds a little bit exaggerated.

yeah, sounds a little over the top to me too. My nearest apple store is 60 miles away and costs me $25 round trip (maybe $30 now) which means I'd have to go 20 times to spend $500, and he says his store is in town. But thats not relevant to the story anyways

JohnTheMacGeek · Mar 26, 2008

kc0ngg said:
$500 sounds a little bit exaggerated.

The whole story sounds a bit exaggerated. I've never heard of anyone, even Windows users, having that much trouble!

mknabster · Mar 26, 2008

Well, it's all true, i have called Applecare 13 times according to their records, and traveled to the Apple store 8 times, maybe it doesn't amount to that much, but it sure is close to it. I live about 30 to 45 mins away from it, especially with rush hour in that area, it gets a bit crazy.

"The whole story sounds a bit exaggerated. I've never heard of anyone, even Windows users, having that much trouble!"

That's my point in trying to get a new one. I have never had this much trouble with any of my PCs within the first year.

WolfsBane · Mar 26, 2008

If all of these issues are taking place, it is possible they may replace your computer, (depending on their policy), but it is very doubtful you will get reimbursed. No manufacturer will do this, (heck, you would be lucky if either Dell or HP will give you the time of day, and Sony would plain ignore you). You Might want to address this issue directly with Apple. Do you have Applecare?

JohnTheMacGeek · Mar 26, 2008

mknabster said:
Well, it's all true, i have called Applecare 13 times according to their records, and traveled to the Apple store 8 times, maybe it doesn't amount to that much, but it sure is close to it. I live about 30 to 45 mins away from it, especially with rush hour in that area, it gets a bit crazy.

"The whole story sounds a bit exaggerated. I've never heard of anyone, even Windows users, having that much trouble!"

That's my point in trying to get a new one. I have never had this much trouble with any of my PCs within the first year.

Honestly, I haven't never heard of Apple treating a customer like you describe. That said, I'll recant my indirect accusation, however, it does sound a bit extreme. If I were you, I'd go further up the Apple chain of command until you get satisfaction. You won't get a refund, of course. But you will likely get a new machine out of it.

bryphotoguy · Mar 26, 2008

I can't comment on your sitation cause I was not there. You're more likely to get a replacement than cash. Try for the replacement if this one's broken too and give the new one another shot or sell it.

CL33Zero · Mar 26, 2008

mknabster said:
Yea i know, i guess i kind of jumped the gun about wanting to get rid of it. It's just that i have wasted over $500 worth in gas just traveling to and from the Apple store near me, to find it was a software problem, that they said they fixed, but keeps reoccurring, and giving me the line, "Apple knows about it and are working on it." So i basically can't do anything about them. My first MBP's video card went within 2 weeks of having it, then i received a new MBP, the Superdrive went within 2 months on this new one, then my Firewire 800 port blew out 3 hard drives i bought, then 10.5.2 clashed with a graphics update, thus making the Apple store wiping the computer the 8th time with several months. Last night is what really blew me off the edge, i got this error code from Toast and iTunes when it was burning a lead-in: sense key = hardware error, sense code = 0x03, 0x01. So i tried updating the software, the error did go away, but Toast still freezes at that lead in part for a few minutes, then proceeds with the burn. And also, my wireless card has been acting up a lot, like it doesn't detect my school's network, but my roommate's 5 yr old Toshiba gets it in full. Same at home, with Verizon FIOS, every connection i can pick up don't even come in, even my home's. I called Verizon and Apple about it, and they just say call the other, so i bascially have to deal with it, hpoing it will work, which it does most of the time, btu the times when i direly need it, it doesn't, or it cuts out. Then the last and final thing, my RAM has been acting up. For example, 1 week ago, i was burning with Toast, and istatPro showed that it was taking up 55 MBs of RAM, Entourage 50 MBs, and Adium 15 MBs, but istat was showing that i had 9 MBs or RAM remaining on my computer. I didn't understand that at all.

I'm sorry if that was long, but that's the full story.

Do you play frisbee with your laptops?

The Vindicat3d · Mar 26, 2008

CL33Zero said:
Do you play frisbee with your laptops?

None of these comments are helping guys... why don't we actually try to help the poor guy, huh, what a weird idea right! Anyway I suggest going to the apple store and asking for a new machine after all these problems. The store must have gotten a batch of defective machines or something of that sort. Hope you get your problems worked out man.

D3v1L80Y · Mar 26, 2008

The Vindicat3d said:
Anyway I suggest going to the apple store and demanding a new machine after all these problems.

Never.... never walk into a retail establishment and start making "demands" about anything. It makes no difference what happened to you or what the situation is.
Be reasonable, be rational, be calm... and ask about possibly getting a replacement.

The Vindicat3d said:
The store must have gotten a batch of defective machines or something like that.

Doubtful.

To the OP:

Last night is what really blew me off the edge, i got this error code from Toast and iTunes when it was burning a lead-in: sense key = hardware error, sense code = 0x03, 0x01. So i tried updating the software, the error did go away, but Toast still freezes at that lead in part for a few minutes, then proceeds with the burn.

That code has nothing to do with the hardware and everything to do with the type of media you are burning onto. Try a different brand of disc.

And also, my wireless card has been acting up a lot, like it doesn't detect my school's network, but my roommate's 5 yr old Toshiba gets it in full. Same at home, with Verizon FIOS

This again isn't necessarily the hardware's fault. Connection problems almost always boil down to the provider of the connection. Talk to the IT department at school, talk to your ISP. Apple is not responsible for the service these companies provide to you.

Then the last and final thing, my RAM has been acting up. For example, 1 week ago, i was burning with Toast, and istatPro showed that it was taking up 55 MBs of RAM, Entourage 50 MBs, and Adium 15 MBs, but istat was showing that i had 9 MBs or RAM remaining on my computer. I didn't understand that at all.

iStat is horrendously unreliable. If you want to check on your RAM usage, use Activity Monitor. It will give you the real-time, up to the second usage. iStat gets all sorts of things wrong... temps, RAM usage, HD space...etc. Again, don't go blaming hardware when there stands a reasonable chance that it is not the culprit.

Zoolook · Mar 26, 2008

The Vindicat3d said:
None of these comments are helping guys... why don't we actually try to help the poor guy, huh, what a weird idea right!

I think your sarcasm is a bit misplaced - many of the comments have come from people who usually spend hours helping others, quite happily. I am not sure how to help someone who has had every conceivable thing go wrong with their machine and is saying that want to go back to Windows - especially when you know they're only venting (as was confirmed a few posts later).

I would suggest asking Apple nicely for a replacement machine.