Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!ogicse!decwrl!shelby!agate!web-3a!c60c-3cw
From: c60c-3cw@web-3a.berkeley.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Warranties/Dealers
Keywords: Warranty, update, system software
Message-ID: <1990Feb27.030622.2970@agate.berkeley.edu>
Date: 27 Feb 90 03:06:22 GMT
References: <1113@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU> <15800090@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Sender: c60c-3cw@web-3a.berkeley.edu (Allen Kelton)
Reply-To: c60c-3cw@web-3a.berkeley.edu (Allen Kelton)
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Lines: 57


	I'm incensed right now, but I'll try not to do much flaming.  I went to
an Authorized Apple dealer to get my system disks updated.  I know they don't
have to update the software.  I wanted both Mac & GS updates (6.0.4 & 5.0.2). 
They tell me that I need the originals and give me some story about there can
be a virus on my disks if they aren't originals (yeah, right), and it might 
mess up their orignals.  I had blanks but they still wouldn't do it, giving
the same reason.  If they had told me it was because of copyrights and proof of
ownership, I would have accepted that, but instead they give me some stupid 
line and treat me like I'm a fool.  I have a slight problem in that the last
time I had an update (4.0) the dealer didn't give me my originals back.  Can I
use my original manual as proof?  Why did Apple change from it's policy from 
the open licensing of DOS 3.3 and ProDOS 8?  Is piracy really a problem?  You
need a GS to run GS/OS anyway, so why would I want it if I don't have their 
computer already. 
	I then asked about warranties and AppleCare.  They said that to get my
Woz GS under warranty, I'd have to pay the inspection and coverage cost.  I 
knew this already, and it's perfectly logical.  However, he then said that the 
warranty will be void if:
	1) I open the computer
	2) I have non-Apple cards
	3) Any Apple cards I do have aren't installed by an Apple dealer.
I promptly said no way, and left.  I would have to give up my 2 meg GS-RAM+, 
FingerPrint, Sonic Blaster, even my 16 pin joystick. If I want AppleCare.  I 
asked very clearly if he just meant that it didn't cover non-Apple products,
and he said no, use of these products would void the warranty on the CPU.
	This seems totally paradoxical.  If only dealers are supposed to open
the computer and install cards, why is it open architecture in the first place?
Why are the instructions on how to open the case and not do damage to the 
motherboard in the GS owners manual?  Why do all Apple cards/drives have 
instructions in them?  If the instructions were only for the dealer, why are
there words such as "your computer" used in them?  Why would they even be 
included in an owners manual and not just in the Apple Service Level I
Technical Procedure manual?  This seems counter to Apple's stated policies of
leaving the machine open and not developing the hardware themselves so that 3rd
party companies are encouraged to make hardware for it, if they're going to
abandon all computers that have 3rd party equipment in them.  It's saying they
want people to buy their computers, advertising the fact that there's all sorts
of nifty hardware that other companies make that enhance the II line, but 
they won't support the computers that have the equipment installed.  This
doesn t just cover the Apple II line.  A Mac II/x/cx/ci can have memory or a 
hard drive installed (only if it's one of the approved brands) if the dealer 
installs it, but that's all.  Radius and other video cards/monitors aren't 
allowed, only Apple products installed by Apple dealers.  
  	Am I totally wrong in thinking something is not right?  If the dealer 
is wrong could somebody give me references that he is wrong(Apple service 
phone numbers, control numbers, page numbers of repair guides, etc) to prove it
to them?  Am I still thinking about reasonable pre-Scully Apple policies that
are now long extinct, or did I just encounter a dealership that didn't know 
what was going on?  Why doesn't Apple put a warning in big letters next to the
instructions if carrying them out voids your warranty?  I'm hoping the dealer
is wrong because, if not, Apple really is in trouble.

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* c60c-3cw@web-3a.berkeley.edu  * "Life's a jest, and all things show it,     *
* Allen Kelton                  *  I thought so once, but now I know it."     *
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