Damaged Apple Mac DC in socket .. repair costs (1 Viewer)

[scotjimland]

I was unfortunate enough to trip over my Mac Powerbook power cable and damage the jack plug socket .. for a time it worked by wiggling the plug about then it failed.. :Sad:

It's a common problem that Apple were aware of and redesigned the new Macs with a magnetic plug which can be pulled off without damage..

Anyway, I bit the bullet and called up three companies to quote for a repair .. all were over £200 .. the reason given was the cost of a new DC power board which the socket is mounted on..

So I went surfing, found the correct part from Apple and it costs £29 + vat

I then went looking for instructions on how to change the board and found a site which gives a very detailed step by step instructions complete with pictures.. The task is rated as moderately difficult, should take about 1 hour for a reasonably competent person ..

Which leads me to the point of the post.. how can a company justify in excess of £200 for a £30 board and one hours labour... dare I say I think it's a rip off ?

So, I have ordered the new board and will let you know how I get on...

 

[JeanLuc]

Good luck Jim, at least the high cost was not down to Apple, so no room for complaint there. Fortunately, I have a MacBook with the magnetic connector and hope I never have to venture inside.

Philip

 

[scotjimland]

Good luck Jim, at least the high cost was not down to Apple, so no room for complaint there. Fortunately, I have a MacBook with the magnetic connector and hope I never have to venture inside.

Philip

I hoped never to venture inside either .. but 'needs must' is a great master .. I might be gone sometime ...

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[JohnH]

Just remember to earth yourself before going into a Macintosh. They are very, very sensitive to static and you could end up frying the motherboard. Experience from the older MacBooks.
John

 

[scotjimland]

The deed is done,

Not as difficult as I feared and only took about 45 mins. I even took time out to take a couple of pics showing the lappy opened up with the DC input board on the table.. and a final pic up and running

Tools. Torx No 8 and Phillips No 00

 

[JeanLuc]

Great job - well done. I will remember in case I ever need to get inside the case!

Philip

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[Geo]

Well done Jim:thumb:
seeing as its April 1 I thought you should have had the other sides web page on display

 

[scotjimland]

Well done Jim:thumb:
seeing as its April 1 I thought you should have had the other sides web page on display

damn.. wish I'd thought of that ..

 

[scotjimland]

Great job - well done. I will remember in case I ever need to get inside the case!

Philip

No problem.. I only charge £100 per hour, half the going rip-off rate

here is a useful site for future reference

http://www.ifixit.com/

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[tucker_j]

I work in IT and can explain why these types of repairs seem so expensive.

The £200 you were quoted breaks down as follows;

Cost of parts £30
Cost of labour £30 - 50 depending on level of skills that the technician has

The remaining cost of £120 - £140 is the fee for them knowing more than the end user. In this case the end user was able to discover the 'how' and thereby avoided the 'know-how' related costs

 

[bigfoot]

The DVD drive on my MAC has jammed.I have been quoted £100 supply and fit a replacement, done while I wait or additional £16 to collect and deliver.
Whats the site you used Jim?

 

[scotjimland]

The DVD drive on my MAC has jammed.I have been quoted £100 supply and fit a replacement, done while I wait or additional £16 to collect and deliver.
Whats the site you used Jim?

Hi

for instructions .. http://www.ifixit.com/

for parts.. http://www.visparts.com

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