That's BS if that's their excuse.
However, smoke damage is like water damage if you ask me and is a perfectly reasonable violation of the terms of the warranty. If you have the expectation of using your laptop in a smoky bar (they still exist in some states) 24/7/365 then you take your chances.
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General discussion
Apple won't honor warranties on smokers' PC's...
I'm no big fan of Apple, but I have to say I can understand this policy --so long as it's spelled out in advance. Of course, they better be able to prove it.
1. Apple won't honor the warranties of PC's subjected to smoke.
2. Apple won't force techs to work in consumers' homes where smoking is going on because of second hand smoke issues.
What say you?
Discussion is locked
20 Posts
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From people I've talked to, the problem seems to be tar + dust, makes for a sticky dust that blocks fans and stores heat.
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I read this as well on other news outlets and it is a risky call by Apple. Apple could be setting themselves up for a legal challenge because there warranty information does not make reference to second-hand smoke as an element of "improper environments". It would appear that Apple is making a judgment call regarding the merits of smoking among its customers. Unless Apple has stated language in their warranty regarding "improper environments", they are obligated under law to honor their warranties.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson%E2%80%93Moss_Warranty_Act
Later People
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But there are many smokers. And many smokers who use laptops. Seems to me that as disgusting as smoking is, it's not Apple's job to tell smokers off. And this is not irregular use and it should be covered.
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then they are under no obligation to service the machines. That's not "telling smokers off". Thats just the consequences of their choices. Just like if you choose to use your iPod in a tub and accidentally drop it in: Choice and consequence.
It does not look like it was spelled out in the warranty however. So I think Apple could be opening themselves up to a lawsuit here. And the part about tar being a "biohazard" to the apple geniuses who work on the machines is total BS and sounds like something some overzealous regulatory organization came up with. What's next: lawsuits against state parks when you come in contact with ashes in a fire pit? Or against BBQ places because there are charred bits on the meat?
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If the news sources are correct, the stipulation was not in the warranty. A bean-counter probably came up with the idea after looking at the numbers and realizing the profit margin for AppleCare may have changed in a bad direction.
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It's totally absurd for a company to try and reject servicing a machine, when being around smoking is not an atypical or unexpected environment for the machine to be found in. Might as well reject a service because a machine was used on a hot summer day.
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on a hot summer day and you fried it that would also be a "expected environment" but it would also show irresponsibility on your part.
Look, you are not going to build up tar on your internal components from occasional pulling out your laptop in a bar so that is just a red herring. Obviously this was an extreme case. If you smoke 2 packs a day in your apartment and live with 3 other smokers and you use your machine in such an environment you are taking chances. Laptops aren't guaranteed to work forever on construction sites full of dust, gypsum and debris either. Just because you can imagine doing it does not make doing so "reasonable usage."
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I can't see this as anything but another way for Apple to wiggle out of providing coverage. I agree that smoking is disgusting, even foolish, but poses no threat to a tech's health. Wear gloves if you are worried about the nicotine film that will cover everything inside the laptop. Suck it up and deal with the stench. I a bit disappointed in Apple on this one...
Another reason to NOT buy AppleCare? I always do, though... AppleCare has paid for itself every time I have used it.
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"U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona today issued a comprehensive scientific report which concludes that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. The finding is of major public health concern due to the fact that nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke."
I applaud Apple for protecting employees from this pollutant.
Bob
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The sale of such products is still safe enough to be legal. I have to call B.S. this is about money. I wonder if Apple allows their employees to go out on smoke breaks? They do at my local Apple Store...
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I think this has nothing to do with smoking. We all know smoking is bad, but Apple is crawling out on a thin limb with that notion. The way Apple has handled the idea is the real stinker. I love Apple products. I am writing this on a MacBook Pro, ignoring phone calls on my iPhone and listening to my Audible pick on my iPod Nano, but am not a fan of the band themselves...
I love Metallica's music, but could do without Lars, James, Kirk, and don't even know Trujillo.
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"poses no threat to a tech's health."
Your comment about this flies in the face of many studies.
I'm not commenting about Apple's warranty, only about second hand smoke I would encounter in the service call.
Bob
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I, personally, have never made that claim about 2nd hand smoke not being dangerous, but would agree that the content is take way out of scope. Studies are often skewed to reflect positively, those that fund the study. No one is stating that smoking is not bad for you, but not in this example.
Anti-smoking rhetoric is on a soap-box, not helping their cause at all.
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"I agree that smoking is disgusting, even foolish, but poses no threat to a tech's health."
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but you keep going back to that. No one said anything about a service call. You keep arguing something that is not on the table.
From the article: "brought to the Jordan Creek Apple Store". I bet that none of the studies you're pointing to say anything about touching items that have been around smoke. There was recently one about dangers to infants crawling on floors in a smoking environment, but I'm believing the techs are able to generally remain upright.
If they refused to do a service call while someone was smoking in their presence, or until even make them open the windows an clear out the previous smoke, I would support it. This is NOT that. There have been tar contaminated computers since the beginning, probably more than now as smoking has declined so much. Why now? My suspicion is: to save money using a thin excuse to void warranties.
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I read the reply that there was no danger about the smoke or resiue and that is the only issue I have any quibble about.
Should be interesting how Apply fairs on this.
Bob
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I am a currently unemployed tech and I posted to this thread an email I sent to BOL and they said they were glad to read the point of view and thanked me for sending it but it was too long to post in the show notes.
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