Apple Battery Exchange Program

Apple Battery Exchange Program

I had my 17 inch MacBook Pro for 18 months before the battery warped and deformed an inch overnight.

I went to the Apple website, clicked on support and ended up on a page called "MacBook and Macbook Pro Battery Update 1.2"

My battery fell under the correct dates of purchase and it was identified as an affected battery because as they wrote, "Battery pack is visibly deformed."

The page also goes on to say that this battery exchange program "extends repair coverage on the battery for up to two years from the date of purchase of the computer." 

And again at the bottom of the page it says, "This program extends repair coverage on the battery for up to two years from the date of purchase of the computer for Intel Core Duo-based MacBook and MacBook Pro computers."

BUT, it also says that Apple will determine if the battery is eligible for replacement. 

In other words, having taken my battery to an authorized service provider in Hong Kong and then having been ping-ponged around, speaking to half a dozen customer service people over the phone in HK, Singapore, Europe, Philippines and Australia, I was told that my battery wasn't on the 'List'.  That I had to purchase a new one myself at a cost of HK$950.

I was put through to a product specialist in Australia who hung up on me twice!  Because I was complaining too much, I suppose.  He kept telling me that my computer was 210 days out of warranty and besides it wasn't on the 'List', even though the Apple website clearly states (here we go again) that the repair coverage for these batteries extends for two more years if they're 'visibly deformed'.

What happened next?  I spoke to customer service in Europe and they're going to give me a HK$675 discount on a purchase of HK$2250 or more on the Apple Store website. 

So, I call to exchange my battery but instead I'm gonna end up buying more Apple products.  I feel ripped off.  Kinda like when you hear advertisers say, "The more you buy, the more you save!"

Apple you suck.

This is what engadget.com has to say:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/03/bloated-17-inch-macbook-pro-battery-take-2/

This is someone else's MacBook Pro: