Design fault? 27" 2013 iMac stand just gave up!

Did both of you guys have apple care?

The first iMac with this issue for some weird reason I didn't have apple care and was quoted like $165 to fix it but then when I went back to pick it up it was only $67.41

Item number was 923-0313 and was $28.41 and labor was $39.00

This should get refunded to me since its an apparent design fault.

Sorry to hear that the hinge on your iMac failed...been there done that. However Apple is aware of the issue and numerous people have gotten theirs repaired out of warranty. I don't count that as a "Total FAIL". I count that as doing more than most any other computer manufacturer would do in the same circumstance.

Rather than throwing up my hands (or propping up my monitor) I'd certainly contact Apple. If the first person you talk to doesn't understand, politely escalate your request until someone does. Refer them to this thread if needed and your iMac should be good as new in a reasonable amount of time.

Exactly the same as mine, Tarkan. The repairer came to my house the other day and replaced it. He said that the part has been updated and is now stronger, so I'd suggest that anyone whose Mac breaks like this and is out of warranty tries to get it repaired under the "must be of merchantable quality" proviso in the consumer laws in many countries.

"Another one bites the dust". The same Stand Hinge Failure issue has recently happened to me as well. The design flaw parts failure had occurred on 02/20/15 to my iMac 27" with an Order Date[from Apple(US)] of November 29, 2013 and an Invoice Date of December 6, 2013. I do not have Apple Care. I was on the computer the night before and everything was fine, however the next morning after I came home from a meeting to my horror I found my 2013 27" iMac facing downward looking at it's keyboard. When I tried to tilt it back to the normal viewing position I came to discover that it would no longer say put in any position that I had tried to put in and unfortunately it will now, on it's own, only face downward. My current temporary solution, to a better and more comfortable viewing angle, is to put a stack of CD cases(remember those?) under the monitor as to prop it up. This computer is where I do my post processing Photoshop CS6 work for my photography business and having my computer perform properly and as expected is a must. My hope here is that voicing my experience can in some way beneficially contribute to those whom have suffered the same shocking parts failure and that this obvious light weight plastic washer confining a heavy duty spring be address with perhaps a heavier duty solution. Furthermore, I find it interesting that it appears to be just the right side plastic washer that keeps breaking.

Its just happened to our 27" imac. My wife was just sitting at her desk using the imac when she heard a load crack and the monitor gave in. This is not what I expected from a $3500 piece of machinery. Its a design flaw so I wont be expecting to pay for the repair, but regardless this will be a substantial inconvenience as my wife uses this for work.

Very dissapointed

Just happened to me a few minutes ago. Quite unexpectedly, I might say... for a 2,500 EUR device. I think mine is 14 months old.

I live in Bucharest, Romania (EU) and the official Apple representative I've bought it from (iStyle) has developed a shady reputation lately, so I'm not sure what to do about it... They'll probably ask for 500 EUR to fix is, so I guess for now I'll go for the tennis-ball temporary solution.

Anyway, I'm quite displeased about this, so I don't think I'd recommend Apple (and especially the iMacs) to anybody soon. You'd expect more for such an expensive product.

I too have joined the sagging screen on a late 2013 iMac 27". I found a couple possible workarounds if not a better solution altogether. One is called the Freedom Arm (https://youtu.be/P2Q53ZJ3RiE) and the other is a desk mount from MonoPrice (https://youtu.be/Rz4btMDrsNw)

As he was unsure of warranty status to drive to the store and got a budget of 60 euros but the warranty was still valid (dec 2013), so I'm not cost anything and in two days they called me to pick it up. Great after sales service.,

When I contacted Apple Support, I asked if this specific hinge malfunction was commonly reported.

The tech helping me said that he "had been doing [Apple Support work] for a long time," and that I was the second person to bring this issue to his attention.

But after a quick Google Search for 'iMac Hinge Broken' and clicking on the very first search result, I suspect that not to be the case....

ie.) The 49,491 views ... and the precise make and model listed.

I, too, am no longer covered by the warranty by just 3 months. So reluctantly I contacted my nearest service provider to inquire about the cost for a repair. The provider told me that it would be a "lengthy procedure" due to the internal location of the hinge, to which I can only imagine will lead to a 'lengthy bill.'

I am more than satisfied with everything else my iMac provides. (That is, after I have tediously propped up the magnificent screen with weighty objects like books so I can comfortably view it.)

Going to be even more disappointed if this is a costly repair. I never expected Apple products to unexpectedly *SNAP* just months after the warranty ends. (Any theorists betting on Planned Obsolescence? For example, intentionally producing a product with a limited-lifespan design such as opting for cheaper soft metals in screws and bolted parts. Or for this case, using inexpensive plastic instead of higher-quality metal in crucial stress-bearing components. This intentionally increases the speed at which the product will break down, become inoperable through normal usage, rendering it prone for breakage and ultimately requiring replacement.)

After looking into the matter more throughly and seeing the amount of people who are dealing with the same specific product malfunction, I'm convinced that this is an unintentionally overlooked design flaw. But regardless of intent, this flaw critically effects the usability of the product and is significant enough to the product's quality that Apple should offer (at the very least) to pay for a portion of it's repair.

Well welcome to the ever growing club.

In the USA at least, the fix has been pretty painless for most, even without warranty coverage.

Hopefully you have an Apple store reasonably nearby. If nothing else, just show them this link. However most have been getting timely repairs, without major hassle.

Davper. Sorry getting a fix has been such a headache. Again I suspect the local repair guys are mostly concerned as to who pays them. Hopefully the Athens center will stand up for you.

I don't know anything about what parts are used for the replacement, but for as long as this thread has been open you would think that a second failure would have turned up if it was at all common. Lets hope that is not the case! The store that repaired my machine told me that Apple would continue to repair any failures of this part free of charge. Doesn't make the inconvenience any better but I think they know there is a problem.

Took mine to the Genius bar at Bluewater this morning after having booked it in with Apple Care a week ago. Apple Care hadn't bothered to tell the staff at the Bluewater store why I was coming in so the part required hadn't been ordered in. I was sent home again while they order the part in. Luckily I'm fairly local but even so it's quite an effort to carry this thing more than a few yards. I have been told that once they have the part they will still need to keep my machine for up to 14 days for the repair! I told them I need it for my work. Without it I simply cannot work as I am a photographer. They said they will try and prioritise it but can't guarantee anything. Really not impressed at all. I only changed from a Windows conventional desktop because I thought the iMac would be a more reliable and better built machine. Hey ho!

Just happened to mine, exactly as described. I was standing outside my office when I heard a loud cracking sound. Nothing seemed to be amiss. The next day when I turned on my iMac, I noticed that the screen was shoe gazing, and could not be tilted back up. Luckily I bought an extended warranty at the time of purchase, so I can bring it in for repairs at the nearby Apple Store. Expecting repair to take at least a week.

Mine went about 6 months ago. Was still in warranty but they wanted it for around a week and like plenty of others here, self-employed means this is my work machine so can't be without it for a week just for the stand! So also like plenty of others, just found a new use for my bank card reader which site under the apple logo and keeps the screen at a decent height for working.

Not impressed by Apple though, serious money spent and such a poor defect - and common fault too ;-( Merry Xmas ;-)

They managed to fix mine the same day but they told me it would take up to 14 so I went home only to get a call to say it was ready. shame, if they had told me it could have been done straight away I would have waited but I was still pleased to get it back so quickly. All free too.