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

Another to the crowd. I bought a 27 inch imac in june 2013, my stand broke exactly 1.1 year after this. No-one was near the computer when a crack sounded...now my movies have to be watched on a lower chair.

perhaps it is time for apple to admit a design flaw and start repairing these stands...

//morgan

My screen just gave way today as well. The earliest I could get a Genius Appointment is during the week. I'm not sure how I feel about having my imac repaired for what seems to be a minimum of three days. That's a very long three days, especially during the week. And I'm not sure that enough of these imacs have been worked on to have a low error rate of repair. It is a lot ironic that the newer designed imacs have a reputation of being particularly difficult to upgrade and now there is a "flaw" that requires the computer to be taken apart. Whether this "flaw" is due to a design using a plastic washer or otherwise, I can't remember the last time I put something together that used plastic washers. Especially anything that is a metal device like a spring hinge. What i'd like to do is arrange it before hand so that the part will be on-hand and I can have a one day turnaround. Drop it off in the morning and have it by the evening. With a proper manual and experienced technician it could probably be done in less than an hour. Instead of disposing of my 2009 24" imac, I upgraded the hard drive on it, and really enjoyed the process. I looked at paying someone do it, but it ran several hundred dollars, when I could simply do it myself. That's how this all started right, doing things yourself? There were some pretty good guides, along with tons of cautionary tales and I don't think I would attempt it unless it was out of warranty. But nonetheless, I was able to accomplish the mission and now use both. It is a slippery slope between having a well designed desktop like an imac or beige box with easily exchangeable components. We all know what we pay for when we purchase an Apple product, I know I do. But I'm sure glad that I'll have my early-2009 24" imac that I upgraded as a backup if I have to be without my late-2013 27" imac because of a "flaw" requiring it be out of my possession for more than a day.

nugroho4 wrote:

Mine just broke yesterday after 14 months.

I just want to make sure if this damage covered by the apple care? Because yesterday i was told by QCD customer service that the casing might not be covered…..

Not to worry, AppleCare will cover that for sure!

Add me to this happy family. I took it to the local apple store and they told me that I am 155 days out of warranty. My response was So? It is a hinge. Should not fail. They ordered the part and I will have to take it back. I told them that I did not expect to have to pay for a design flaw. She politely told me that I could speak to "somebody" when I came back. I said "thank you" and choked back the comments that had come to mind. Comments like - This is like coming back to your car and finding the door just fell open and won't stay in place because the hinge failed. This like coming home and finding your front door askew and unable to stay closed because the hinge failed. Really? Pony Up and fix your engineering failure.

Hey all. I was working on my late 2012 27" iMac last night and everything was fine. This morning I woke up and the screen is tilted all the way forward and won't stay tilted back up. Sounds like the spring-hinge problem is NOT just a fluke... but rather a (becoming more common) flaw. Fortunately I am still under Applecare; it's just that I make my living on this Mac, and having to stop my work for 3-5 days while they fix it... is the part that's costly.

I have been buying Macs since 1986, and had almost every model since. This iMac is by far the best and speediest I've had. It is also the most problematic hardware I've had; I have had to bring it in for repair 4 times in 2 years already. First for bad RAM, then to replace a blotchy display, then the USB controller went out taking 2 ports and the wi-fi with it, then my 3T Fusion Drive failed, requiring an entire day for me to restore all my software and data.

Well, looks like like it's back to the shop for a fifth time to replace the hinge now. Just letting you folks know you're not the only ones. 😟

@richsadamsYeah, we usually have to pack up the computer and ship it to Helena or Missoula, MT (we're in Great Falls, MT). The last time we had a issue with an Apple product, the local Authorized Dealer here in Great Falls said they won't work on computers that weren't purchased at their store. We took that up with Apple, and they had us send it to another dealer in the state, with - apparently - no reprisals to the dealer. That was a few years ago, but I doubt my company will do business with them even if Apple managed to have them change their policy. No big deal, the pencil trick will work just fine.

I like having my iMac higher up - better for my posture. So I'll keep the phone books under it, too.

This is a neglected design fault!

The hinge broke on my late 2012 27" iMac which was 13 months old ... and tonight my late 2013 27" iMac hinge broke and I've only had it for 8 months.

Ive owned 2 iMacs and both hinges have failed.

Diehard apple fan and this is really disappointing ... why is this not fixed yet!?

- richard

I had apple care yeah.

At first when the genius rang me up he said $67.41 as well. I said "what? that can't be right." thinking the labor should be free (at this point I conceited defeat about the $28.41 charge for the part because I was told it was normal wear and tear and a consumable piece).

Then the genius said, oh wait *click click* "It's free."

I packed up my computer quickly and got out of there before the manager decided to check back in with me.

Couple days ago faced with the same problem. My iMac is under the warranty, thankfully. And only 6 moths old. I was very upset with fact, that such expensive thing got some defects. And even when the stand were not touched more than about 10 times from the it has been bought.

And as seems, this problem is widely know fault. Is the hinge being replaced with fixed hinge? Or they will put the same fault one, that will work again only for about 6 months? :/

Had to remove all data inside the my mac, because being afraid of potential fact of viewing files.

paperiebakery wrote:

Well thats not what they said when I called on thursday, in fact, it seemed as if apparently It had never happened. Since I live in another country the operator gave me the number of where I should call to have it checked, and yesterday I had to pay for it to be fixed.

Sorry to hear that. I'd certainly take it up with Apple...refer them to this thread if needed.. Seems a refund would be in order. Here's their world-wide contact info:

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Curious...you've already had it repaired? Was it by Apple? How much did it cost? Model and year? That would be helpful info for those that follow.

TIA!

The EXACT same thing happened to my 27-inch, Late 2012 iMac. Out of the blue, I heard a snap, I saw my screen tilt down, and my screen won't stay up now. YES - I AGREE. This is a design flaw, for I haven't tilted/moved the face of my imac but once since it's been out of the box last year. There are over 10 posts where this has seemed to happened to many 27" iMacs- so APPLE should fix it whether OR NOT it's under warranty. Especially if you own 8 mac products like I do! I need my iMAC for work so I can't take it in for 2 weeks, but this is very frustrating knowing they might tr to charge me for this. I will keep you abreast of what happens.

Just heard the crack and saw screen flop over. Mac used for work but screen never adjusted. 27 inch late 2012. Very disappointed as much by the likely downtime as by the inevitable hassle of having it fixed. This is my third iMac and the most expensive. No AppleCare but clearly a design flaw that Apple should accept responsibility for.

Additionally Apple Care covers peripherals used with the Mac it's assigned to. In my case Apple Care fully covered the replacement of a complete logic board in an Apple Cinema display I used with an earlier iMac I owned.

For the cost of a latte or so a month Apple Care is certainly the least expensive (and most comprehensive) computer support and insurance available on the planet. IMHO of course.

Sadly, I also have joined the club! I got my imac 27" in November 2013 so out of warranty and no Applecare. Just found the screen dropped down and unable to hold any tilt position anymore. Currently have a trainer propping it up. I will email Apple as I'm over 50 miles from nearest store and after seeing 22 pages on this discussion thread from 2013 - to date 2015, it's got to be an Apple problem. I am in EU so previous posts helpful, thank you.

Take the machine to an Apple Store and mention this thread and ask them to look at it. Then ask that the repair be completed at Apple's expense, be pleasant and persistent and you may get your way. BTW, if you did not purchase AppleCare on this machine, on your next one please do!