Well here is my story in relation to this board issue...
This is taken from my questionare response to apple store in Belfast UK
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2675881?start=15&tstart=0
My visit to this store was based on my issue with my mac book pro having problems freezing and with rebooting getting grey screen on startup. I assumed it was hard drive issue when looking on internet for similar symptoms.
My first visit was very satisfying with dealing with Noel who I have no issue whatsoever as he in my opinion is the perfect customer facing representative within this store.
Noel also thought Tis was a hard drive issue on the day I dropped the computer in. He said they would take standard 5-7 days to sort but did state that it would prob get sorted next day and they would call when sorted.
I waited and waited and after 6 days I called to find out from a guy called Michael (I think that was his name) that the issue was not resolved and they were still working on it.. They would try something else and would call in afternoon. I did not receive this call and contacted again in morning... This is where my real issues are with this store (beside the lack of common sense to call a customer if a diagnosed issue was not straight forward).
When I spoke to him the second time I was then told this was a logic board issue and not the hard drive (how this took 5-7 days to diagnose is beyond me, but I suspect that when I called they hadn't even looked at the issue and only looked again as I called to wonder where it was)
I was quoted £300 to replace with new logic board and when I said the computer was only just two years old I was greeted with the following comment ....
"Well lap top life spans are only between two to four years"
I was shocked at this comment and asked if it was replaced would this solve issue and if it happened again within one year would I be liable to pay another £300.... He said the part would be covered by 90 days only.
I said I would think about this and call back within a few days (I unlike the store honoured this statement)
I called back to say I would collect the product.
I then waited 1/2 hour to collect when I called (I could write more about this visit but my finger could not be bothered typing)
Now to my overall points:
1) as you can see by my link at the start this issue is NOT a one off issue. In fact it really does look like a apple defective board and in my opinion should be covered free if charge... Given the fact the computer is two years old I can empathise with not doing this and after all I do not have apple care.
2) when purchasing new lap tops is it the apple store policy to inform customers that it will only last two to four years???? I suggest they don't as they might not ever sell any!!!
3) after investigation it is clear that the issue can be resolved by a number of companies to fix the apple defective board for a cost of £20 diagnostic and £130 sorting the defective area on the board... This is what I shall be doing
3) customer service... This means to serve the customer and not be "prompt dependant" so inform status of an issue please if incorrectly diagnosed even a quick message to say problem is more serious and could take longer (seriously how difficult is this to do???)
You can reach me directly (if you wish to discuss further) but I doubt this will happen.
Alan