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Warning: smelly, disintegrating cables

The problem of smelly cables still hasn't been fixed. It's an acidic, moldy sort of smell.


I returned the first 2-meter USB-C charging cable, only to have it replaced by a second equally stinky cable. Not only are they smelly, they also are disintegrating and leave a white residue on anything they touch.


Really embarrassing for Apple, especially as they promote their high environmental standards. What a waste.

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Aug 16, 2021 6:48 PM

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Posted on Aug 16, 2021 8:05 PM

No, the smell is obvious when the package is opened. They are band new, unused cables. I have a chemistry background and the smell suggests depolymerization (i.e., plastic breakdown).


Most of the reports I found are about the 2 meter cables, which might be a less common length. Some people think that their laptops are the problem, only to discover that it is the charging cable.

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Aug 16, 2021 8:05 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

No, the smell is obvious when the package is opened. They are band new, unused cables. I have a chemistry background and the smell suggests depolymerization (i.e., plastic breakdown).


Most of the reports I found are about the 2 meter cables, which might be a less common length. Some people think that their laptops are the problem, only to discover that it is the charging cable.

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Aug 16, 2021 8:19 PM in response to preludio

Unfortunately, Apple will not see your concern here. This is a community of end users; Apple cannot scan the 100s of thousands of posts here from around the English-speaking world.


To place this important concern before Apple, please use this feedback link:


Feedback - MacBook Pro - Apple


I returned the first 2-meter USB-C charging cable, only to have it replaced by a second equally stinky cable.


Curious. Was the exchange handled directly by Apple or through a reseller?





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Aug 17, 2021 8:14 AM in response to preludio

preludio wrote:


I bought the cable from Apple, and Apple said they shipped it. I have no idea what supplier or reseller they have used. The packaging did not have Apple on the return address, but that's typical. It shipped from Lebanon, TN.





Returns & Refunds Order status

https://www.apple.com/shop/help/returns_refund

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Aug 17, 2021 7:59 AM in response to Allan Jones

I know Apple does not monitor their own forums. I posted here to help other users if they find themselves in a similar situation.


I reported to Apple the first time through tech support. They know about this. The second time I tried to use the online feedback, but there's nothing for accessories. It's not a MacBook Pro issue, or an iPad issue, even though I use the cable with both. So, I'm posting here.


I bought the cable from Apple, and Apple said they shipped it. I have no idea what supplier or reseller they have used. The packaging did not have Apple on the return address, but that's typical. It shipped from Lebanon, TN.


FWIW, I had this happen years ago with EarPods that came with an iPhone. Same stink, same sticky grit. Because I already had several pair, I just threw those out. This happened right around when they announced that they were changing the plastic to be as part of their environmental initiatives, so I chalked it up to that.

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Warning: smelly, disintegrating cables

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