Reviews - Staingate.org asks Apple - fix our 'stained' laptop screens for free

[Lanky123]

That's like saying a car is meant to be driven, so if it gets bumps and scratches, or a broken windscreen due to external factors, it's not doing the job it was designed to do.

If hundreds of people with the same model of car were having an identical issue on the same bit of the car (use whatever analogy you like - rust, paintwork, windscreen whatever) I'm pretty sure there'd be lawyers involved sooner or later...

[Brian224]

Depends how long you've had the car. You'd have to prove it was a manufacturing defect.

I'm not by anyway defending apple, I'm just preparing people for the (likely) worst.

As before, I don't have this issue (yet?), but I take pride in my expensive piece of kit. It is mobile, but doesn't mean you can't treat it well!

Probably a good thing Apple don't make cars then. I remember at least one car manufacturer having to replace metallic paint in the 70s because the lacquer coat failed in the first year.

In this case, as the anti-reflection coating is considered functional, and if the users have (as stated in the article) followed Apple's cleaning instructions, the products might be "unfit for purpose" even if the poor durability was a design decision and not a manufacturing fault.

[smilertoo]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was deliberate policy by apple to drive sales of replacement hardware.

[Spud1]

Anyone with this problem in the UK should get a free repair/replacement without any major issue, thanks to the Sales of Goods Act. I've had to use this with Apple before when my superdrive died after 18 months. The warranty had run out, I hadn't bought applecare (why would you in the UK?) but I argued that a £1200 laptop should last more than a year. The store manager agreed and repaired it.

The same should apply here - a £2000 laptop should reasonably be expected to last more than 3 years without a major fault like this, so I would expect it's not too difficult to argue this one. It may involve writing to them or speaking to their support team rather than a shop - but it looks a bit of an open and shut case really..this is a clear design flaw.

[MrRockliffe]

Yeah I've tried that before, and it doesn't work.

[Spud1]

Yeah I've tried that before, and it doesn't work.

It does if you have a genuine case of a manufacturing defect/design flaw - you just have to be prepared to take it all the way and fight for it. That may involve threatening legal action (which is cheap and easy to do for a case this size).

[nitro912gr]

whatever the reason they have to recall those laptops. it is not like you got some cheap lenovo at 300 euro or something, we speak for machines that cost more than 1200...

Apple used to replace less important problems, still remember the recall that changed my macbook's rubber base because it was falling off, now they are just "you hold it wrong" for whatever happens...

[directhex]

I keep reading this as "stalingate"

[MercutioUK]

Yeah I've tried that before, and it doesn't work.

In a case of this size where there's a load of other people having the same issue they are very likely to try to placate you. There's a ton of people not used to quoting letter and verse of the relevant consumer acts who they WON'T have to spend money sorting out. Once someone threatens legal they can either see them in court where an official judgement is made and the floodgates open with everyone and their dog with a MBP with a bit of screen damage wanting a replacement or they fix yours to shut you up.

Easy choice to make...

[MrRockliffe]

Except it's not everyone having the problem, so they're probably going to let them take it to court. If not everyone is having the problem, or a significant amount, then their argument will be 'you're not cleaning it properly' etc.

I'm not saying it's right, but it will unfortunately be the likely result.

[Oobie-]

Depends how long you've had the car. You'd have to prove it was a manufacturing defect.

I'm not by anyway defending apple, I'm just preparing people for the (likely) worst.

As before, I don't have this issue (yet?), but I take pride in my expensive piece of kit. It is mobile, but doesn't mean you can't treat it well!

Probably a good thing Apple don't make cars then<SNIP>

...Yet.

Ive worked with Macbooks for 5 years now and Ive never seen this. Having said that, most of the machines that are due replacements are from users treating it like it's company property, i.e. like ****.