Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!agate!shelby!neon!pescadero.Stanford.EDU!philip
From: philip@pescadero.Stanford.EDU (Philip Machanick)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Predatory Pricing Practices
Message-ID: <1990Sep13.223619.19146@Neon.Stanford.EDU>
Date: 13 Sep 90 22:36:19 GMT
References: <1990Sep13.171034.8056@uokmax.uucp> <6441@adobe.UUCP> <83585@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Sender: news@Neon.Stanford.EDU (USENET News System)
Reply-To: philip@pescadero.stanford.edu
Distribution: usa
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University
Lines: 29

In article <1990Sep13.171034.8056@uokmax.uucp>, rob@uokmax.uucp (Robert
K Shull) writes:
> In article <83585@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
francis@giza.cis.ohio-state.edu (RD Francis) writes:
> >In article <6441@adobe.UUCP> lemery@adobe.COM () writes:
> >[Poster discovered power supply was dead, got confirmation from
> >non-Apple dealer]
> >>I took it to Computer One which is an authorized Apple repair center.
> >>$279 EXCHANGE!! and minimum charge of 1 hour at $55.
> >>$279 EXCHANGE. Just because you have someone by the balls, 
> >>you don't have to squeeze.
> >Yeah, that sounds about right.  Here's the deal.  Apple Authorized
> >repair center are "authorized" to do one thing -- swap chunks.  In
> 
> True. However, I'll point out that the prices don't appear to be fixed by
> Apple in any way (or at least enforced). Example: Swapping a Mac II
> motherboard through the university computer store costs about $300, including
> labor. Swapping the same board through a local Apple dealer costs about
> $800, NOT including labor of about $100. Calling around finds prices
> ranging anywhere between these.
> 	Robert
When it comes to things like parentboards (non-sexist language), Apple has
a lot of control over the price. But $279 for a refurbished power supply
(including the value of the exchanged broken unit)? Sounds like a protection
racket to me: buy AppleCare or we trash your wallet the first time you need
a repair.

Philip Machanick
philip@pescadero.stanford.edu