Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro Battery Replacement Program

my computer had fallen off of my desk and now it will not work unless it is plugged into the charger. I was wondering how much it might cost me to get a new battery for a macbook pro computer

my battery showed black X, not recognized etc.
purchased in apple store San Francisco on 16 Feb. 2007.
contacted applecareand got the reply: your laptop is not eligeble for battery replacement because apple determined that there are no problems with this serial number.
so apple showed their real face: they just want your money!

Just like Marc, I got the same reply. I got all the symptoms (except the battery pack is not deformed), but since the serial number is not on Apple’s list I have to pay for a new battery!! This is outrageous!

I brought my Macbook (purchased in June 2006) to the Apple store in Emeryville, CA today and they looked at the battery cycle count (58) and the full charge capacity (1136 mAh) and gave me a new battery on the spot, no charge. Make sure to install the battery update first and calibrate the battery before going in.

Purchased my macbook pro in early 2007. Lately it was shutting down randomly, without warning, while on battery power. Battery capacity kept fluctuating, and the laptop would die when the charge capacity was at 30-40 minutes remaining.

Took the mbp into the genius bar and they gave me a new battery, even tho’ I didn’t have applecare. Initially they said I was ineligible for a new battery, since my serial number didn’t match up and I was out of apple care.

But this changed when I proved to them:
1) There’s a web site on apple.com that describes a battery-replacement program (i.e. the subject of this article)
2) The battery capacity was below 3800 and that it changed from time to time.
3) The logs showed a random shutdown without safe sleep.
4) I tried to recalibrate the battery, and that didn’t fix the problem

It definitely helped to have the printout from the apple web site describing the replacement program. Without the printout I probably wouldn’t have received a new battery.

Jeeves :

That’s great, but I’m in the same situation and can’t find the Apple.com web page you’re referring to that discusses the battery replacement program. Can you post the URL? Thanks!

-TSG-

All this information is correct, although the Apple page itself seems to have been removed from the Apple site, I had it bookmarked as I needed my battery replaced and within a week of bookmarking it, the page had been removed and Apple claimed they no longer offered this program. I still went into the store and talked to a “mac genius”, his solution was to charge me for a new replacement battery, I calmly said “no.” and within a few minutes I was handed a new battery free of charge. Talk about the customer being right!

Best customer service, EVER = best company EVER. Keep it up, Apple!