Apple discontinues UK mail-in repair service

[Gunbuster]

Saw this http://www.pingwales.co.uk/2006/12/0...e-mail-in.html via TUAW. I was seriously considering getting a Mac next year, but after problems my friends have had with MBPs and now this I am erring toward the Devil I know.

[uchiha_itachi]

It all makes sense now!! I had a problem with my Apple cinema display, which I paid extra for apple care warranty. When I phone them up, and after lodging all the problematic details, they gave me a choice of addresses where I could send the item. I was furious, there was no way I was lugging around a 23" monitor box on the streets of London. After some serious arguing I got them to send a company to come and pick it up.

[Gunbuster]

Yeah my mate had to write stern letter to the Head of Apple UK and check with Trading Standards just to get them to marginally fix his MBP.

I don't so much mind for myself, but what about those in remote areas, hell we only get Scotland's one real Apple Store next year and thats in Glasgow.

[Spud1]

I really can't believe this..all I can say is thank god I didn't buy applecare in the end.

This is not a problem for all the upper middle class people on 35k+ with a car and time to travel - but for those without cars, for students, for the majority of the population who don't live within an hour of an apple store..this is terrible news.

I like apple products, and I love my macbook..but this would seriously make me think twice before buying anything else. If nothing goes wrong theres no problem, but in my case for example its going to cost me another 20 quid round trip on the train to get my macbook repaired if it breaks, plus 1/2 - 1 day of my time.

grrr @ apple

[Gunbuster]

Exactly, my Apple loving friends father just moved from Fife (close to Edinburgh) to up near Inverness. I don't know if there is even a service center up that end.

I don't know if John Lewis provide a better warranty with their Mac sales, as they add an extra year on themselves.

[artaxerxes]

John Lewis's extended warranty is better - it is also insurance AFAIK.

I have just been caught out on this twice, having to pay for carriage to Apple Authorised Repair Centre... idiots failed to diagnose the problem first time (CMYK Edinburgh) and returned the unit at my expense. Hopefully Scotia in Aberdeen will do better (closest to Inverness btw)

Good news is that is appears to be a lemon and my sorry iBook should be swapped out for something newer.