What does replacing the bottom plate of the body cost?

Question

What does replacing the bottom plate of the body cost?

Hello

I am wondering if anyone knows what Apple charges to have the bottom plate of the MacBook Pro replaced. When I was at a store, an employee told me that it "might cost, like, uh, forty bucks," in a way that made me think he was just pulling that price out of his you-know-what. After searching eBay for that part and finding no auctions for less than $100, I assumed that Apple would charge something more like that.

It's really irritating that in order to replace two of my footpads, I must replace the whole bottom plate of the body. Apple is really trying to get people to buy the service plan, and then a new laptop when that runs out. Great for the environment. The whole unrepairable Retina Display MacBook debacle is just more proof of that.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jun 15, 2012 5:46 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 15, 2012 5:52 AM in response to Cory D Blische

Cory, what year is your MBP? I thought there was a program for dealing with the bottom feet on certain models, or maybe that was the MacBook not the Pro. have you checked the Support page for your MBP to see if there is a program for dealing with it?

You are right, $40 does not seem reasonable for any kind of service. Couple hundred sounds more like number thrown around on here in the past. And if the bottom plate is going for $100 on eBay it has to be more installed by Apple techs.

Check ifixit.com and see if they have info on this replacement.

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Answer 2

Jun 15, 2012 6:29 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

My MacBook Pro is a mid-2010 model. The bottom is one solid plate with the feet attached through the interior side. I remember years ago when I had feet falling off my PowerBook G4, the Genius bar guy just handed me a little bag wil a bunch of replacements "on the house." I guess those were the good old days of Apple repair service, because now I see everything is going to become a couple hundred bucks here and a few hundred there. Might as well just get a job at an Apple Store so I get a discount.

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Answer 3

Jun 15, 2012 6:48 AM in response to Cory D Blische

Approaching retirement the Apple store job sounds a lot better than Home Depot, but that is another story 😝

When you were at the store you mentioned in your original post, did you have the MBP along and was it a genius bar person you talked with? I have found the sales floor people to have a wide range of actual useful knowledge. The genius bar staff, however, are super.

Why not make an appointment at the genius bar, so you don't have to stand aournd and wait, and talk hard facts about replacement and what options are available. Definitive, quality information is the best thing to have.

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Answer 4

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Jun 15, 2012 6:49 AM in response to Cory D Blische

My memory banks say that the cost is $189 for the bottom plate of a MBP. That was the number quoted prior the institution of the availability separate feet for the MBP (when to replace one you had to purchase the entire bottom). If I'm off, I'm willing to bet its very close to that number.

Ciao..

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