Apple: Smoking Bad for Computer Technicians
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The Consumerist reports two cases in which Mac owners have been denied repair service covered under their extended warranties first by the service agent followed by Apple corporate because of smoking. While Apple hasn't made any official comment on the matter, those filing complaints with the Consumerist say Apple claims that the PCs have been exposed to second-hand smoke and are potentially contaminated with known carcinogens. Smoking is not listed as one of the things that could void a Mac standard or extended warranty. However, Apple is a California company, which has some of the most stringent environmental and health codes in the country. The Mac owners were also told by their service agents that nicotine and carbon monoxide are known cancer-causing agents by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, making it a federal case. PC users--whether home or corporate--will often do stupid things to their machines. As noted in Channel Insider's Stupid PC User Tricks, end users have an inexhaustible capacity to damage their PCs with dunks in pools, dropping units and pounding keyboards with their fists. Voiding warranties isn't uncommon for acts that are intentional or beyond reasonable accidents. But contamination with cigarette residue is a new justification. The question is, Do other solution providers feel threatened by machines owned or used by smokers? Should this be enough to void a service warranty? Or is this just a smoke screen to weed out some contractual obligations? |
Comments (13)
I am not a smoker, but this is ridiculous. What excuse will they come up with next? I am seriously thinking of going back to PCs.
Posted by C. Pino | November 23, 2009 3:10 PM
No one who was actually a Mac user would consider moving "back" to a PC for this reason. Easier to quit smoking! That said, as any technician (not just computers) can tell you, strange things can be found in machines. I have refused to work on systems so infested with mouse droppings and urine that henta virus was a possibility. Keyboards that have been vomited on, black widow spiders and yes computers so yellowed in nicotine that they are not only look bad but they stink. FILTHY machines that no one should touch. Remember that computers have a ventilation system that draws air through the machine to cool it. In a smoking environment, that air is sometimes pretty thick with smoke and it builds up on components. that tar is sticky and then collects dust, creating a nice blanket of insulation, which can cause the component to overheat and fail. This should void a warranty as surely as dumping a coke on it.
Posted by G Swords | November 23, 2009 4:07 PM
SMOKESCREEN TOTALLY. The most REDICULOUS idea/excuse/bs I've heard of. Why Mac thinks so small and picky is beyond me- loses much more opportunity than creating.
Posted by RK | November 23, 2009 4:19 PM
They're nuts...this is an after-the-fact ruling. They need to uphold the agreement before they putting in their personal convictions. I understand the tar vs. component issues, but they need to get it in writing and honor all contracts.
I'd like to know what Apple was smoking when they teamed up with AT&T, the almost worst wireless carrier.
I've had Mac's since 1984, I don't understand their thinking sometime. Keep the computer out of the poker room next time...no smoking stickers in stead of an Apple.
Posted by JC Cummings | November 23, 2009 4:34 PM
How low can a manufacturer can go? I thought Apple was better than that. Can Apple guarantee that their entire staff are non smokers? How about machines going back fo r service after a customer had swine flu. Would they need a Medical certificate claiming that the PC user or any one near never had an infection that can be contagious!! If these machines were made in China there is a chance that the soldering material normally a tin compound was contaminated with Lead !!!
I hope this kind of BS stops.
SM
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Posted by SM | November 23, 2009 5:24 PM
I've seen (and smelled) some pretty nasty PCs. I will scold my clients about exposing PCs to cigarette smoke. It hasn't stopped me from working on them, though. I don't see how Apple can guarantee that their entire staff ARE SMOKERS. They would have to in order to guarantee that they can service smoker's PCs everywhere. I hope Apple gets their ducks back in order. They should update their warranties and service agreements before they change the policy. But I wholeheartedly agree that people should not smoke around a PC. Not even in the same HVAC zone.
Posted by Joe | November 23, 2009 5:44 PM
Congratulations, maybe now we can actually have mac's with cancer instead of viruses? What about melanoma (skin cancer) maybe just halitosis (smokers bad breath) and gyngivitis caused by smoking and the consequential loose keys? Think about the medical insurance rates applied to your computer?
If you are really serious, they have disposable hazardous materials suits complete with breathing apparatus that the frail techies can wear while servicing the cancer generating Mac's.
Grow up and start living instead of being holier than thou!!!
Posted by harold | November 23, 2009 8:07 PM
WHat a lod of BS. If they are that worried, they can wear latex gloves. WHat is Apple thinking?
Posted by TomKattt | November 23, 2009 8:28 PM
What a bunch of jerks. Another way to screw the customers!!
Posted by William Harper | November 23, 2009 9:39 PM
you better believe it. they pulled this on me in 2007. I walked out of the store dumped my 3000 dollar i-mac g5 in a dumpster and never looked at another apple product.
Posted by pat sheeky | November 23, 2009 9:45 PM
I planned on buying a laptop and desktop for Christmas this year; believe me it won't be an Apple.
Posted by Von | November 24, 2009 10:21 AM
Back in the 1970's the FAA realized that nicotine was causing failure of their electronic systems and baned smoking in all Air Traffic Control facilities because of it.
Posted by ken | December 22, 2009 6:48 AM
It was very interesting for me to read this post. Thanks for it. I like such themes and everything connected to this matter. I would like to read more soon.
Posted by Steave Thomason | January 18, 2010 4:48 PM