Apple Refusing to Fix Computers of Smokers
Posted November 21st, 2009 @ 11:07am by Erik J. Barzeski
Consumerist has the story and of course slashdot picked up on it.
The facts of the matter are:
- It's incredibly obvious when a computer is used by a smoker.
- Smoking can violate the terms of the warranty the same way spilling pop on your MacBook Pro can violate the terms.
- Apple is well within their rights to refuse service under the terms in the second bullet point.
What's confusing here is why Apple - or at least a few employees - are claiming "biohazard" and "OSHA" and "second-hand smoke." It's a simple case of a voided warranty by customer abuse, just as if they'd spilled pop in their machine.
End of story.
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Posted 22 Nov 2009 at 9:04am #
I'm a smoker but I don't smoke around my MacBook. I smoke outside anyways so I shouldn't run into this issue. I'm sure the smoke would eventually give the screen a yellowish tint.
Posted 24 Nov 2009 at 1:16pm #
The complaint is not that it is a limited warranty, but that there is no limitation specific to smoking in the warranty, ergo it should be covered.
Regarding your second bullet point, I am sure if you look at the warranty contract, there is a specific limitation on liquid ingestion, making the point invalid.
Posted 24 Nov 2009 at 8:49pm #
[quote comment="56181"]The complaint is not that it is a limited warranty, but that there is no limitation specific to smoking in the warranty, ergo it should be covered.[/quote]
I don't think so. The warranty says that any act of abuse can be ruled out. It doesn't only cover specifically listed acts of abuse.