Smoking voids Apple warranty?

[Lee G. Veteran]

Good on Apple. :yes: I've been asked to fix computers owned by smokers or used in smokey environments, and I flat out refuse. It's a complete mistreatment of the computer and certainly should void the warranty.

+1

Well done Apple!

[WatchTheSoup]

There is a line that needs to be drawn. Depending on usage conditions, laptops can build up a large amount of dust inside within just a few months of use. If the computer is on 24/7, there may be a large amount of dust inside.

Tobacco smoke, as you all should know, has a tar component. The tar also gets into the computer and makes internal components oily and sticky. This increases the amount of gunk buildup. After two years, you really can get something that looks like fuzzy black sludge, because the tar also sticks to the dirt.

At that point, I'd probably also tell the guy to take a hike.

Poor Dell :'(

[Growled Member]

If anyone is going to refuse to work on a computer because of cigarette smoke then they should put in into the service agreement. Otherwise, they should be forced to work on it.

[toadeater]

I believe the person at the Apple store got caught red-handed being a *****. When Apple HQ asked the store manager what happened, they made up this story about a "thick layer of tar," which any smoker would tell you DOES NOT HAPPEN. I smoked around my PCs for ten years, almost a pack a day! I know that doesn't happen!

The woman whose Mac was said to have this "thick layer of tar" should take a photo of it and send it to the BBB, or to a lawyer instead of letting Apple silence her. If there was no "thick layer of tar" on that Mac, Apple is going to have a lot of 'splaining to do.

I quit smoking regularly after about fifteen years, but I'll never be one of these fascist anti-smokers who use FUD to justify persecuting smokers.

I've also lost some respect for Apple. Just when it seemed like they were opening up, I see they're still hateful elitists who don't just sell computers but sell a political agenda.

[Vice]

I believe the person at the Apple store got caught red-handed being a *****. When Apple HQ asked the store manager what happened, they made up this story about a "thick layer of tar," which any smoker would tell you DOES NOT HAPPEN. I smoked around my PCs for ten years, almost a pack a day! I know that doesn't happen!

It does happen and pictures have been shown in this very thread. I've also personally seen what someone who smokes at their computer can do to the insides. It is nasty.

[zhangm Supervisor]

I do find it improbable that the dust buildup in a laptop could actually exceed the OSHA-specified PEL over an 8 hour workday. If I cared, I'd call Apple on this, and demand proof, but I do still support their tack of "Hell no, that's ****ing disgusting."

[heffe2001]

Wish I still had pictures of a friends PC who smoked (both tobacco & other stuff), with the ash-tray directly in front of the vents at the front of the PC (with a fan inside that pulls air in the case). It was a red, sticky, hair-like mess inside, and instead of repairing the machine, I suggested he replace it. The only part we kept from the old machine was the HD, and when it heated up, it would make the room I use to work on PC's smell like a smoker lived in there. No matter what anybody says, smoking around the PC definitely makes a difference. It will absolutely discolor a white computer case to the point that it looks grey/brownish, and even chlorox woudn't get the color back.

I for one won't work on a smoker's PC anymore, mainly from the smoke smell (sets my sinus' off, closes me up like shutting a door). I also won't work on one that's been in a house fire again (last one I looked at smelled so bad after a few minutes being on, that my wife came downstairs in a panic because she thought OUR house was on fire).

There's certain things that a computer tech shouldn't be expected to do, and work on smelly, disgusting computers is definitely of of them.

[WatTwo]

....wow, NOW I know why my laptop has to much "dust" in it that wont just blow out, it's got nicotine in it!

Never again will i smoke by a computer!

[nekrosoft13]

here is G5, this is 5 years with a smoker

dust and tar

i certainly would not like to clean that.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/13/ve...kers/page1.html

btw, the top pic is from G5, the other two pics are combined (not sure if those are from G5 or other PC)

[-Alex-]

I haven't read that huge mass of replies but I opened my Macbook up a few months ago and after regularly smoking in front of it, it was completely covered in a sticky-ish brown stain inside.. nasty!

[Japlabot]

Analogy

Function: noun

1 : inference that if two or more things agree with one another in some respects they will probably agree in others

2 a : resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike

I think that the dentist quote is a bad anology because bad teeth does not affect computer components

[Boz]

I believe the person at the Apple store got caught red-handed being a *****. When Apple HQ asked the store manager what happened, they made up this story about a "thick layer of tar," which any smoker would tell you DOES NOT HAPPEN. I smoked around my PCs for ten years, almost a pack a day! I know that doesn't happen!

Bingo.. I am a smoker too.. working on my computer sometimes between 12-16 hours a day in a smaller part of my house that doesn't have that much ventilation at all. I smoke a pack a day or a bit less.

I have NEVER EVER, had computers that looked like some photos and also never had tar build up. I would imagine for my computers to get this way I would have to literally smoke insane amounts of cigarettes which would probably kill me sooner than make computers interior look like that and I have not cleaned my Mac for example for 2 years. I opened it the other day, and it had dust and stuff but absolutely no tar and even dust wasn't that much, just on the fans and stuff that was blow with a few sprays of air.

All this smells very much like BS.

Btw, I've seen regular computers look much worse then some of these photos and from a non-smoker household.

here is G5, this is 5 years with a smoker

i certainly would not like to clean that.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/13/ve...kers/page1.html

btw, the top pic is from G5, the other two pics are combined (not sure if those are from G5 or other PC)

5 years on a regular PC it would look like that..

Apple blows and we all know it. I'm glad things like this happen because people will finally learn to stop buying their garbage and I'm not necessarily talking about hardware, but the way they conduct business overall.

[Nashy]

Buuuuul****.

Another disgusting, pathetic, loser smoker here. Have never seen that. Apple needs to prove it.

What about us here in the tropics, I have more problems with the fact that it is stinking hot and humid, then later it can get quite dusty. But of course, because I smoke, natural causes aren't taken into consideration?

[Boz]

Yet another reason not to buy Apple.*

+1

I don't know why they are whining though. They went with Apple and that's what they got. I'm sure they'll think twice next time when they even consider buying an Apple.

[Solid Knight]

By the way, the same thing will happen to your PC if you use a scented oil air freshener in the same room as your PC. Obviously the closer it is to your PC the worse it gets.

[PurePhoenix]

How many other manufacturers offer warranties that cover a machine covered in a thick layer of tar? I don't know why you believe this is a policy that is unique to Apple.

Prove these bull**** claims you keep making. Prove even 1 other case of smoking "voiding" the warranty on ANYTHING.

It does happen and pictures have been shown in this very thread. I've also personally seen what someone who smokes at their computer can do to the insides. It is nasty.

I hope you realise that's not caused by smoking. That's grease and wood dust e.g that machine was kept in a damn carpenters' workshop.

By the way, the same thing will happen to your PC if you use a scented oil air freshener in the same room as your PC. Obviously the closer it is to your PC the worse it gets.

If you keep your PC on the floor, it'll end up like that no matter what.

Even for PC's kept on top of the desk, one that's 5 years old will litterally have a carpet or dust that you can peel straight off the top of the CPU's heatsink.

Also someone mentioned earlier pulling appart your mac? THAT voids the warranty, guaranteed. You are not qualified apple service personel, taking to your mac with a screwdriver actually voids your warranty.

[lt8480]

Also someone mentioned earlier pulling appart your mac? THAT voids the warranty, guaranteed. You are not qualified apple service personel, taking to your mac with a screwdriver actually voids your warranty.

Most manufactures actually put sticker seals on their pcs to prove they have been opened - its a great way for them to get out of warranties - its generally never worth buying any extended warranties. Instead put the equivalent money in a pot, then each time something breaks you will be able to replace it. Companies make you you pay up to a 1/3rd of the price of something to get 2 years extended warranty.

Also.... buy items from John Lewis (UK) - they will price match any high street shop and give you 5 years warranty on TVs for free - everything electrical has at least 2 I think from them.

[Elliott]

Also someone mentioned earlier pulling appart your mac? THAT voids the warranty, guaranteed. You are not qualified apple service personel, taking to your mac with a screwdriver actually voids your warranty.

Not true. For instance, you're allowed to take the bottom panel off of the new unibody MacBook Pros to replace the memory and the hard drive. That won't void your warranty. However, they do cover the screws (with stickers) that would otherwise allow you to replace the optical drive or the battery.

[thebigdil]

This is why apple sucks

[n301]

This is simple, if your apple care warranty doesn't state anything about smokers, just run down to the county clerks office and file a small claims suit, depending where you live its about $30.00 Dollars.

It's sad the only thing Corporate America understands is lawsuits.

[Elliott]

This is simple, if your apple care warranty doesn't state anything about smokers, just run down to the county clerks office and file a small claims suit, depending where you live its about $30.00 Dollars.

It's sad the only thing Corporate America understands is lawsuits.

Except smoking can be considered putting the machine in a hazardous environment (see the pictures from the G5 and other machines), and I'm pretty sure Apple would win that seeing as how the general trend in most governments is to stop people from smoking all together (or at least to stay away from the non-smokers while doing it).

I have a better suggestion for the smokers that are denied service because of their habit: stop smoking. It's disgusting. I can't see a single plus that comes from smoking.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Except smoking can be considered putting the machine in a hazardous environment (see the pictures from the G5 and other machines), and I'm pretty sure Apple would win that seeing as how the general trend in most governments is to stop people from smoking all together (or at least to stay away from the non-smokers while doing it).

I have a better suggestion for the smokers that are denied service because of their habit: stop smoking. It's disgusting. I can't see a single plus that comes from smoking.

Better yet, if people still have to smoke, go out side and do it. Problem solved.

Seriously, looking at some of those pictures and what tar dust does to PC, how can anyone say Apple is in the wrong by this. I mean just look at those machines. Simply put, if the user didn't smoke they wouldn't look like that. Also in the case of the CPU cooler getting packed with Tar dust to the point were it can properly cool itself and burns up. That also wouldn't happen if the user didn't smoke in their house.

They support unexpected hardware failure in a warranty period. A PC part failing due to large amounts of tar dust is not unexpected.

Edited November 23, 2009 by warwagon

[techbeck]

Dont know where people get that smoking will cake your PC in tar. I worked on several PCs where the User smoked all the time...never spotted any tar on the components. The only thing I have seem cig smoke do is turn a white PC, to yellow.

[toadeater]

i certainly would not like to clean that.

Five years of dust buildup? That's not normal, and the Macs in question were not that old.

But what matters is, would you not like to clean that, or MUST you clean that if the warranty your company provides says you must? Are you telling me that Apple doesn't have any dust guns at its repair shops? The issue isn't one of nicotine in such small quantities of being dangerous, because it isn't according to legal guidelines. Apple claimed there was some unholy buildup "tar" and living death on those Macs that was so dangerous that if an Apple "genius" was exposed to it for even a second they would dissolve into a puddle of festering apple sauce on the floor. That is just not true. Apple had an obligation to repair those Macs because the damage was not a result of cigarette smoke, some Apple "genius" decided to use that as an excuse so he could persecute these smokers.

This really needs to go to court, Apple is in serious trouble. :p

[chrisj1968]

I assume apple computers come without thermal compound then since their employee's can't handle it due to it containing items from the OSHA hazardous chemical list. Even silicon is on that list.

Without actually determining the amount of nicotine present to see if it's above the recommended level it's nothing more then an excuse.

It's like saying that owning a pet voids your warranty because some of our employees are allergic to pet dander, so we're not going to bother fixing it.

I suppose that Apple just wants this person in question just to buy a new Mac. that's always Apples answer I'm sure.I remember back when the ipod was the 1st gen player and people got ****ed bcz Apple just told people to buy a new ipod when the battery went Tango uniform.