Charles Lacy
Level 1 (4 points)
Notebooks

Q: Battery Service Replacement requires original Apple Battery?

OK. This might be a bit of a rant but I have to ask the community.

 

I have an early 2011 Macbook Pro, non-retina - very similar to the Late 2012 currently still sold with exception of a slightly slower processor (2.3 Ghz vz 2.5), no Bluetooth v4, no wireless AC.

 

Since the nearest AppleStore is 45 minutes one way, I replaced the Apple battery with a NewerTech battery a few years ago (after my AppleCare expired). It started to bulge so it was time for replacement.

 

I recently ordered a battery from iFixit and replaced the battery. A few times actually since the capacity drops drastically after a dozen or so cycles. On replacement #3, I think.

 

Biting the bullet, I decided I would return the iFixit battery and head to the AppleStore for "Battery Replacement Service".

 

I called the particular Apple Store with the intention of seeing if they had the battery in stock before I set out on the trip, and was routed to AppleCare through the automated robot. The person who ended up taking the call called the store and checked. The stores response was we don't know since it's 5 years old and vintage, he will need to being it in.

 

I went to the Apple store, stood in line and waited my turn. Got to the counter with "Josh", I think. Told him I needed the battery replaced but needed the current battery in it to return to iFixit. He said he needed to see if they have the battery and went to the back.

 

He comes back out and tells me they absolutely cannot replace the battery because it does not have Apples original battery in it. Its a cost savings thing and keeps the prices low. I asked if I could pay an additional "core charge" since I don't have the original battery. He said no, they will not replace it. End of story.

 

* rant #0 .. why the **** cannot I just buy a battery for this? Its 12 screws (case and battery),1 clip and maybe 15 minutes if I take my time. Its not cells glued to the case like every recent model.

 

* rant #1 .. I called a specific store. Why did the automated answering system route me to AppleCare? My only responses were "Macbook Pro", and "no" to it being a signin issue. Don't want the stores called? Don't post the number.

 

* rant #2 .. its not vintage. It is a slightly older version of a machine still currently sold. If I had the $1099 to buy the 2012 model, and a complete lack of sense, I could just buy the 2012 model and pull the battery. Or, just swap my SSD and RAM from this machine to that. Anyway.

 

* rant #3 .. between the BS of this and the forced obsolence Apple has been moving to (can't fix, upgrade, etc), it seriously has me considering PCs again and steering my clients away. Not everyone has $2K to drop on a new, slim, Bic-computer every couple years.

 

I have scoured the forums and all Apple docs I can find. NOWHERE does it state an original battery has to be present for it to be replaced/serviced.

 

Why did the AppleCare rep not give me a heads up to this "policy" when I spoke with her?

 

Is this an Apple policy anyone has heard of or experienced or is this particular store and its reps full of it? This store leaves a bad taste in my mouth every time I go into it (since it opened).

MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2011), OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), 480 GB SSD, 16 GB RAM

Posted on Jul 17, 2016 12:17 PM

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Charles Lacy

Q: Battery Service Replacement requires original Apple Battery?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jul 17, 2016 12:56 PM in response to Charles Lacy
    Level 6 (14,289 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 17, 2016 12:56 PM in response to Charles Lacy

    Appears you have a few issues, and to see if anyone at Apple, Inc notices

    my suggestion is to try & contact them directly through one of the links or

    contacts supplied from the Apple site:

     

    • Contact - How To Contact Us - Apple:

    https://www.apple.com/contact/

     

    There also are some Apple Feedback links; the 'support' and 'product' are

    two that could put your issue further along than this ASC discussions area

    and yet, submissions to Feedback may go unanswered. (but not unread.)

     

    Since these ASC boards are mostly user-to-user peer help (people like you

    how volunteer to use their time & personal resources to help or advise) the

    odds of getting Apple's ear from here, are slight to none-at-all.

     

    {A 'rant' may not get you far: usually they get removed from these ASCs.}

     

    The replacement from macsales OWC appears to be a good 1st choice

    because that company has fairly good support; even before you buy. That

    said -- I have never bought anything from them. Same with iFixit parts.

     

    Good luck in any event!

  • by Charles Lacy,

    Charles Lacy Charles Lacy Jul 17, 2016 1:12 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 17, 2016 1:12 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Thanks K Shaffer.

     

    Thats my plan. Just a little miffed at the whole thing, and was wondering if that (no original battery, no replacement) is a real policy or BS from the "genius". It seems pretty silly to me if its a real policy.

     

    The NewerTech/NuPower battery I had previously (that bulged) is the brand OWC sells, and only lasted a little over its warranty (1 year) before it decided to bug out.

     

    Planned on calling a relatively-local Apple Authorized Service Center and Apple (directly) tomorrow to see if I can ship it out for repair.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jul 17, 2016 2:08 PM in response to Charles Lacy
    Level 6 (14,289 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 17, 2016 2:08 PM in response to Charles Lacy

    Ask if they prefer the failed battery be removed before they see unit.

    If you can replace the battery and that's all that appears wrong, to

    get another quality replacement may be less costly to you. Sounds

    you previously may have replaced it yourself, ie: iFixit guide. (?)

     

    Any battery defect with aftermarket product may see a better audience

    and reply from the vendor who sells the product; however close to any

    warranty deadline, they may choose to exactly follow the letter of it.

     

    An independent authorized Apple service provider can do some things

    differently than an official retail Store location. Most portables outside

    the AppleCare warranty are less likely to be seen by an Apple Store

    for a replacement battery. Even if similar to current model...

     

    Four years or five at most. Some locations may have to order you a battery

    in order to replace one in your fairly new MacBook model. However if any

    expectation or perception of them doing the labor exists, the Apple Genius

    or Apple Store direct affiliated repair service can prefer to not fix one that

    could've been tampered with. That determination may be at their discretion.

     

    An apple tech at official store (if they had battery in stock) may choose to

    not handle your older MacBook with third-party battery inside. They also

    can charge for labor plus part, to do the removal/replacement in the Mac.

     

    Sorry that you've had issue with your MacBook and retail. Hopefully

    you can get him to boot and be on all four feet soon.

     

    Good luck!

  • by Charles Lacy,

    Charles Lacy Charles Lacy Jul 17, 2016 2:21 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 17, 2016 2:21 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Hi K.

     

    It boots and runs fine. Using it now to reply. Battery is the only issue. I've been sysadmin/tech/network engineer for almost 20 years - hardware and troubleshooting is definitely in my purview. Apple user since 2003.

     

    That's all I'm trying to do is get a replacement battery. If I could get a quality replacement from somewhere other than Apple, I would. I have - unfortunately, those batteries don't appear to be up to par.

     

    I understand having the "right to refusal" for service - I've done it in my business (tech support/services). Seems a bit heavy handed because I don't have the original battery to give them.

     

    What if I bought the machine 2nd hand and the previous owner removed the battery, and I just need one installed? Per what I was told today, I have to go 3rd party. Thats the first time I've heard anything like that.

     

    Anyway .. I'm trying other routes to get this taken care of. Like I mentioned, I have not had good luck with this local Apple Store since it opened. "Geniuses" they are not.

  • by Charles Lacy,

    Charles Lacy Charles Lacy Jul 17, 2016 2:43 PM in response to Charles Lacy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 17, 2016 2:43 PM in response to Charles Lacy

    Not to drone on about this but I understand this in the terms


    2. If service is needed due to failure of parts that are not original to the product or due to damage caused by abuse, misuse or any external cause, Apple reserves the right to return the product to you without servicing it, and may hold you responsible for any indicated diagnostic fee.


    http://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/terms/repair/Retail_Repair_US_Terms_Con ditions.html


    I understand its a 3rd party battery that has failed. I was looking to buy a genuine replacement from Apple - which requires them to install it per their terms. It was not 3rd party RAM or a drive causing issues that I was asking them to diagnose. I would have been just as happy (happier actually) if they would have just sold me a battery in a box and let me install it. But they refused service because I did not have an Apple battery to give them in trade - which is not in their terms for that service. That is the part that ****** me off. I played by their stated rules and the guy I dealt with (at least) opted to change them.


    And the pricing does not list my machine as vintage ...


    Apple Mac notebook battery service pricing - United States

     

    ModelBattery pricing
    11-inch/13-inch MacBook Air$129 (excluding taxes)
    13-inch MacBook (vintage)$129 (excluding taxes)
    13-inch/15-inch MacBook Pro$129 (excluding taxes)
    17-inch MacBook Pro$179 (excluding taxes)
    12-inch MacBook$199 (excluding taxes)
    13-inch/15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display$199 (excluding taxes)

     


    Mac notebooks Service Pricing - Apple Support


    Just ranting. Just another step downhill for Apple products and service in general, IMO. Can't fix them. Can't get parts for them.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jul 17, 2016 3:02 PM in response to Charles Lacy
    Level 6 (14,289 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 17, 2016 3:02 PM in response to Charles Lacy

    An Apple portable from 2011 isn't likely to get a replacement battery

    from an Apple Store genius appointment. They have been known to

    balk when a 'old spec 2012 model' is presented in some regions...

     

    MacBook Pro repair guides - iFixit:

    https://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_Pro

     

    The iFixit guide to remove and replace the pre-Retina model battery

    appears fairly easy. Issues w/ third party batteries, (Anker, Newertech

    and a few other of good reputation) can involve how they were used;

    since near fully discharging them is bad to their health. So may any

    attempt to bring them back from near total discharge, after a point.

     

    • About Mac notebook batteries - Apple Support

    • Apple Portables: Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters - Apple Support

     

    Since bulging batteries may be of interest to OWC, you could ask them

    how common that is at about a year of service; and that yours is just

    over one year, with just that issue. Depending on who you talk to and

    how the discussion goes, they may (or may not) offer a consideration.

     

    About a year is the most any would guarantee a battery; some do last

    longer while others who were less to begin with go about 50% + fail.

     

    I've had a few 'dozen-dozen' Mac computers,  and few of them portables.

    Plus one or two PCs that I troubleshooted, determined the problems, then

    gave them away as-is. With diagnostic performed. Most all my Macs were

    repaired by me, donated to charity; to be re-cycled directly to usefulness.

     

    I'd consider another NewerTechnology replacement battery, depending

    on what OWC has to say about the bulged one your from 2011 MB/Pro.

     

    re: Apple Legal has several pages that apply to the incidence you experience:

    http://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/terms/repair/Retail_Repair_US_Terms_Con ditions.html

     

    Good luck in any event...!