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Thread ID: 130440	2013-04-10 09:43:00	Strange OSX/Macbook boot issue	The Error Guy (14052)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1336309	2013-04-11 06:46:00	$120 for the actual drive is pretty damn steep too So how much do you think they actually are ?? Just looked on several sites, and a Seagate 2.5" 500GB Hdd is roughly $94 +, so being installed into a MAC $120 is about right. In my current position I'd charge $50 for labour That's the sort of prices cowboy businesses charge, ( not saying your a cowboy but low prices generally mean "fly by nighters")you'll find most business ( because they know what they are doing) that have been around for a while are closer to double that, if not more / hour.	wainuitech (129)
1336310	2013-04-11 06:52:00	Just got the laptop back.... in parts. They'd taken the flex out, left the screws in a little bag and just handed it to me. I was in a big rush so didn't really stop to argue. Just put the HDD back in the laptop, pocketed the screws and left. Quite shocked at the poor level of service really, I mean price/diagnosis aside handing a customer back a laptop that's still in bits is ridiculous. Never again yoobee. Never again. Wouldn't have expected it from such a high profile (and apple authorized) repair center.	The Error Guy (14052)
1336311	2013-04-11 06:57:00	especially if you just charged them $70 to look at it Just saw that comment ---- HP service centres charge more than that, last time I checked it was $80 +gst just to inspect them, even if its obvious what the problem is. Realistically I think you need to get real with what a real business charges, not a fly by night, amateur cost with no backup service when it turns to custard. How you got the laptop back is not uncommon, Esp with the comment : I was in a big rush so didn't really stop to argue they could have been waiting for you to answer, they aren't going to put it back together only to strip it and fix it at a later time. I got a Toshiba Laptop like that at the moment, its all in bits on a workbench - I'm waiting for the customer to get back to me as to if she wants me to replace the suspect , and failing parts. Most of the work in fixing a computer is actually finding the fault. Once the fault is found the rest is easy and generally not time consuming. Could take hours /days to track down the problem.	wainuitech (129)
1336312	2013-04-11 07:35:00	Fair enough re cost, I don't really know what's "acceptable" on that front since I don't work in the "proper" industry by definition, nor do I have extensive experience with how much is "normal" for such an operation. The main fault with the $70 was that was on top of the installation charges. To me that seemed a little steep (or perhaps I'm just being too much of a tight bastard) I didn't come in rushed though, I had places to be but didn't show it. Just said I wasn't going to go through with the repair, paid off the bill and then they show up with all the parts. What got me was the way they'd all ready taken things apart in preparation for assuming I'd go through with it. Probably went a bit over the top in the response after seeing them quote $400 to replace a HDD... that's what really got me.	The Error Guy (14052)
1336313	2013-04-11 07:51:00	So would it be fair to say the original problem was caused my sister dropping it, current problem caused by your botched attempt of fixing original problem? And the price wasn't just for replacing HDD, it also included other parts that were damaged	plod (107)
1336314	2013-04-11 08:29:00	Wouldn't say it was a "botched" effort? HDD failed due to impact damage, although it carried on for at least a year before it got bad BUT the bad HDD wasn't causing the original problem (random re starts) that was a problem with the magsafe connector module which was replaced . Ran fine for two months since then, she re starts and this happens . Probably all connected to the original damage which is pretty severe but I wouldn't go as far as saying it's a result of a botched effort on my part . Only thing I botched was not trying a new flex cable (didn't have one) and probably calling yoobee out unnecessarily . Fair call, caught in my own moment and over reacted regarding price . Only part actually damaged was the flex cable, the WD drive is fine, you might remember in an earlier thread I thought I got a DOA drive since it clicked in two of my caddys and wouldn't initialize . Never actually pinned the problem, I think it has something to do with trying to use a 5v instead of 12v power supply or not getting enough current . . . I think, can't confirm that . Tested the drive since it's out of the laptop, SMART still clean . Surface scan clean . Drive is fine .	The Error Guy (14052)
1336315	2013-04-11 09:13:00	re the it wasn't assembled when you went to get it --- If you hadn't contacted them before going in and advising you didn't want it repaired then they wouldn't have put it back together yet . As mentioned before, ( think about it for a moment) if you stripped a computer to find a fault, and were waiting to get a reply as to if you were going to fix it or not, would you strip it find the fault, put it back together, the person then says yes go ahead, so now you would have to re- strip it to repair it ?? I know I wouldn't till I go t a reply one way or the other ;) If you turned up, and after the shock say NO, and want it now, then they would pick it up and give it back as is . Since the Lappy has been dropped at some stage, its also possible its got a intermittent fault / damage that has gotten worse over time . (some advise) Sometimes trying to be helpful, by saying you have done this that and the other sometimes gives an impression of a "know all" . I wish I had $$$$ for every time someone said my "brother, Mate, son, daughter, the dog across the street" says its ?????????, I take comments like that with a grain of salt, often to find the fault is something completely different -----------Oh Wait I do get $$$$$ :p When I get the comments, Brother , Mate etc knows all about computers I'm tempted to say " so why are you calling me then " :D One thing that I'm not surprised about is the outcome you got - Meaning, looking back over this thread in post #6 it was made very clear the previous time you dealt with them it was far from a good experience . They may have been closer to where you are, but the "experience" this time only really repeats previous . Have you thought of getting the parts and fixing it yourself ?? Mind you getting MAC parts is like pulling teeth sometimes ( read most times, MB's etc)	wainuitech (129)
1336316	2013-04-11 10:09:00	Looks like I dug myself a nice hole, fair enough . Should have let them know etc . I don't think it will get much better over time, I'm kinda waiting around for to mobo to go on it tbh . (some advise) Sometimes trying to be helpful, by saying you have done this that and the other sometimes gives an impression of a "know all" . On reflection it probably does come across that way, will keep that in mind for next time . As with people who bring in their stuff to me, I'll never take the customers diagnosis as fact . Use it as a starting point but other than that it's pretty unreliable, and I'm only a few steps up on the ladder so my "diagnosis" isn't likely to be much better :p Last time wasn't good but I thought I'd give them a chance, perhaps they had a "bad day" in the sense of it . This time wasn't much better but it probably didn't go too bad compared to what it sounds like, certainly don't rate them highly though . I'll try elsewhere next time and see how that goes . I got the parts for the last fix from trademe, tried configra to see if they stock the HDD flex, if not I'll try find another NZ supplier . If not ebay, but NZ would be better since it will get here faster . The next thing to go will be the mobo, and if that goes then I'm going to say get a new one . No point feeding money into a dying beast . Only reason I took it to a shop was because I thought it would be under warranty, apparently not . Ach, oh well . Lessons learned with regards to shooting my mouth and dealing with this MBP . Had to make an foolish example of myself this month :D	The Error Guy (14052)
1336317	2013-04-11 10:50:00	One ting to keep in mind -- If something's been dropped and there's marks /damage to show it has, kiss away the warrant instantly. Even if its not showing outward damage sometimes internal damage says different. That's all the name brands need to say - not a "usual working condition Fault" In those cases its an insurance job. Bit like a Toshiba laptop I sent in to be fixed under warranty, completely dead, I gave it a quick look at, looked fine, no marks etc. When Toshiba removed the covers you could see the bent components inside and the lid, once the cover was removed it was obvious it had taken a fall. The customer, in the end confessed ( when presented with the pictures showing damage) it had been dropped several times from the couch onto the carpet :groan:	wainuitech (129)
1336318	2013-04-11 11:54:00	One ting to keep in mind -- If something's been dropped and there's marks /damage to show it has, kiss away the warrant instantly. Even if its not showing outward damage sometimes internal damage says different. That's all the name brands need to say - not a "usual working condition Fault" In those cases its an insurance job. Bit like a Toshiba laptop I sent in to be fixed under warranty, completely dead, I gave it a quick look at, looked fine, no marks etc. When Toshiba removed the covers you could see the bent components inside and the lid, once the cover was removed it was obvious it had taken a fall. The customer, in the end confessed ( when presented with the pictures showing damage) it had been dropped several times from the couch onto the carpet :groan:ots a shame apple doesn't have a proper presence in NZ, going by things I have heard from rallies in the states the apple stores are very non judgemental with a lot of things	plod (107)
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