Wobbly 2011 13" Macbook Pro

Just got my 2011 13" From amazon and today I took it to work.

Set it on my desk which has a huge piece of glass. It's wobbly. There is minimum 1mm gap between the front right pad at the glass. so when i rest my palms, the damn thing wobbles. I tried this on multiple surfaces and same thing.

? I'm still under 14 days but I purchased from Amazon. Does the Apple store replace for new units if bought elsewhere? (New unit since it's still under 14 days).

Anyone else have this issue? My 2009 MBP 13" was fine with no wobble at all.


EDIT: See post 13. what the fudgeballs is that?

 

Couple things.

For your first question. Apple follows Serial numbers and you can reset your warranty through apple with proof of purchase (if brand new).

Warranty Checker:
https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

IF it is wrong, you can contact apple to get it adjusted, but beware that each one is scrutinized to see if its a new machine at purchase or not. Since Amazon is an authorized reseller.. they may, but not from individuals.


Second, that problem you are saying your having isn't something that will warrant a replacement. I know this because I work at an Apple Service Center. They will most likely say that its accidental damage caused in the shipping of the product, and you will have to contact the shipper, or return it to seller.

Apple warranty only covers hardware, that is deemed their fault. Much like the old macbooks chipping the top cases, those are still under warranty 4 years later! Software is not covered under warranty.

A "bent" MBP coming out of apple would be EXTREMELY rare. As in the only time I have seen that happen is when a girl left her computer on top of her car and drove away... and once when someone drove what looked like a screwdriver through the computer.


IF you really don't find that as an acceptable answer, you can always try 1800-APL-CARE and plead your case. Unfortunately, if you do that, you possible could have them void your warranty since it will be in the apple system as a "Service Refused" so anything pertaining to a "bent case" wouldn't be covered in the future. My suggestion is to goto your local corporate store and plead your case, but your cases are very very slim since you didn't buy it from them.

Sorry for the bad news, and good luck. Hopefully you get the right person to help you, sometimes they will! I would probably contact Amazon and explain the situation.

 

Go through Amazon first. Their customer service is a little more loose when it comes to returns and exchanges. Simply send them an e-mail explaining that the product you received is bent. They should be able to exchange it for a new one as Amazon covers products from when they leave their warehouse to when they arrive on your doorstep. UPS has lost a few items that were shipped to me from Amazon and they ended up sending me a new product so that I didn't have to deal with UPS (Amazon did that).

So let Amazon worry about it. As a last resort, you could always increase the padding under your MBP to compensate for the bent shape if neither Amazon nor Apple will help you (one of them should, Amazon would be the one to hold liable for a faulty product they sold).

 

huh? Plead my case? Why would I have to "plead"? It's less then 7 days old, purchased from authorized seller and it's a 1mm gap. Not bent like half way.... It's just annoying since it's always tapping on the glass.

My question wasn't if it was under warranty, It's to see if apple store will replace for a new unit or do I HAVE to go through Amazon.

Plead my case? Voided warranty?....woooooh there, seriously?

Your response seems just as canned as any apple support's response but thanks?

 

Bent macbooks used to be fairly common with the non-unibody models, from what I understand.

You don't have to tell Amazon why you want to return it if you still have a return window. Just send it back and get a replacement/your money back.
Hopefully your replacement won't be bent.

A laptop being bent from shipment sounds silly.

The only thing you can do through Apple is to set up an appointment at a Genius Bar and have some underskilled teenager (like me!) look at it and spew company rules. Maybe you'll get lucky though.

Absolutely don't accept anything short of perfect. You paid a lot for that machine. That, and it will eat at your soul for as long as you have it.

 

Hmm I am just speaking from an Apple Store managers point of view I wouldn't replace it, and i don't see it as very common in the amount of repairs I see.

 

I don't know about you, but from a consumer's perspective (and someone with OCD), I could NOT keep that machine knowing that I paid so much for it and is short of perfect aesthetically speaking.

 

Sounds to me that the piece on the underside isn't quite straight from the factory. Personally I'd unscrew it and try to gently bend it to sit better, if possible. It's just one piece that it sits on, if it's like the 15"/17" versions.

 

IMO contact amazon about this and they should solve your problem with minimum hassle. Don't waste time waiting for ideas.

 

Indeed.

10char

 

Agreed this is why there is return periods.

And yes the MBP 13 is very similar to the 15 and 17 other then it doesn't have a clip in the middle.

 

contacted amazon.... Will return.

But here's a crappy video of it. Sorry my camera sucks.
YouTube - Macbook Pro 13 wobbles

$1200 laptop shouldn't be doing that

Sadly, I did take the cover off. The cover is as flat as it can be on its own and has no wobble. I think the chassis is slight bent.

LAME.

 

Ok so while I was putting the covery back on, I noticed something that made me go WHAT THE FUDGE!

I saw lots of shavings on the battery. Then i say that one of the screw holes are pretty banged up, then i saw that there was what seemed like a paper spit ball mushed onto one of the screw holes.

What the hell was going on at the factory? This is completely unacceptable.

This laptop is definitely going back.

2nd question is should I report to apple?

 

You can report it to Apple though I don't know what they will do about it. Keep in mind that these come off of assembly lines and, due to the nature of that manufacturing process, there are bound to be some bad units. It doesn't matter if you are buying a $1200 notebook or a $120,000 car. A small percentage of the end products are going to be faulty and that just has to do with assembly lines.

Get a new one from Amazon and contact Apple if you want. You might even be able to get some sort of gift card (whether it be to their Apple Store or iTunes Store) out of the situation if you complain hard enough.

 

As long as Amazon certified it as new, Apple Corporate will replace it. Thats from a machine that auto-screws them in, not from accidental damage. In that case, your fastest choice would be to walk in and complain.

By the way... WOW, never seen that one before, and I have seen a lot being at this repair center.

 

I've already mailed it back to Amazon for a refund. Will weigh my options when I get a refund.

I simply do not trust all those metal shavings being tossed around inside the laptop.

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

Welcome to manufacturing taking place in China. :?

 

Yaaaay child labor!

 

Everything is made in China these days

This is the only Apple product I had left. Sold my iPhone for android device, sold my old macbook pro, sold my ipod.

I Don't think I'm gonna get another Apple product. Not because of this, I know every Manufacturer has defects.
It's because Apple is getting a lil out of hand with the prices (maybe more then a little) and they're getting cockier by the day.

I'll take my refund and sit on it for now...