Just received a New "Refurbished" MacBook Pro "16" opened the box and the whole thing smells very moldy. No visible signs of mold or wetness that I can see, but of course it make you wonder if the internals have been subjected to dampness. Not sure who to address this too. Not something you want to smell on a $4000 investment.
Who at apple should I contact? Any help would be appreciated
Thanks for the reply, I just contacted apple support and they are sending a label for return and then will ship out a replacement. Just hoping that the next one doesn't come from the same batch with the same issue.
We'll see.
Thanks for the reply, I just contacted apple support and they are sending a label for return and then will ship out a replacement. Just hoping that the next one doesn't come from the same batch with the same issue.
We'll see.
Hi guys, i had the same issue. A quick googling and it seems to be the cable actually. Lots of people having the same issue! Once you put the cable away the computer itself should be smelling mold. Try it out? Cheers!
Thanks for 4th note back. Hoping to get the replacement soon and that it doesn't have the same problem. If it has the same issue I think I'll have to send it back also. I'm just not comfortable spending such a large amount of money on a computer that makes me smells moldy and makes me sneeze. Who knows if it's just the cord, the internals could be involved also and then be subject to premature deterioration; of course after your AppleCare has expired.:) Mold is not up to Apple Standards. Kind of like finding a worm in an apple , makes you unsure you want to pick up another and take a bite.!
I just bought a new, very powerful and thus expensive MacBook Pro 16" (2,4GHz i9, 64GB ram, video Radeon 5500M 8GB & 2TB ssd) for our company at an Apple reseller. When unpacking I immediately smelled the moldy smell but as I needed the computer urgently, I continued installing all programs. Then the day after I realised that this could mean trouble after the warranty period so I decided to evaluate its performance. It turned out that a full battery only lasted between 3h45 and 4h15 which is far from the 11 hours Apple is talking about. Also some colour flickering could be seen on screen, so I contacted the reseller's customer service and they advised a swap. As they heard on the phone that I did not really have confidence as I feared that the other 2 were stored in the same stock as the one I bought so they proposed to reserve 2 of the same new laptops when handing in this one. I was so disappointed to find out that both other laptops turned out to have the exact same problem and the reseller made them return to Apple, so I am left now without an urgently needed MacBook Pro... don't know what to do... order at Apple directly with delivery in only 3 weeks or re-order at the reseller and just take the smell for granted...??? Any advise? Anyone having had the same experience but without trouble after a while?
Did you buy this from Apple or a third party?
I bought it direct from Apple. Just worried that if it sat in a damp area there may end up being damage to internals that might show up down the road.
Hi, I had a similar situation with a brand new one earlier this year. I believe it could be the Thunderbolt charge cable. If you smell it it smells mouldy and this trapped the smell in the packaging.
I got a replacement cable under warranty but that smelt too. Oddly it only seems to be the 2m length ones. Search google you will see that other people have had the same issue.
My MacBook Pro 16 has been fine and didn’t smell after removing from the box.
Hope this helps.
Hi Margo,
Please see my previous comments.
The mouldy smell for me was definitely the 2m USB-C charge cable (sniff test confirmed this) and the replacement cable they sent was smelly too. Interestingly the shorter 1m USB-C charge cable I purchased separately from a local apple reseller didn’t smell. I also removed all packaging, as this was retaining some of the residual smell. The smell from the cable has now gone after lots of Dettol wiping and leaving out to off gas. Just google it and you will see lots of other people experiencing mouldy USB-C charge cables.
My MacBook Pro 16 has been worked hard (lots of 3D graphics work) for the last 6 months without an issue or mouldy smell. If you are having battery issues and aren’t happy with the computer then I would do what you feel is right.
Good luck sorting it out.
You have 14 day s for a full refund or exchange for one you are happy with.
Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)
Moldy Smelling new MacBook Pro 16"
