Hey everyone, I had a frustrating experience at a certified Apple dealership the other day. My "E" key on my MacBook (M1, 2021, out of warranty) stopped working suddenly, so I remapped it to another key temporarily. When I went in to inquire about repairs, the staff member I spoke to was really unfriendly. She said they don't replace individual keys, only the entire keyboard, and it felt like she was blaming me for the issue. I even tried to clean underneath the key, which may have made it worse, and she reacted like I had committed a serious offense. She pushed my MacBook away and refused to continue the conversation, saying it was "forbidden" to repair it and ignored my questions about paying for repair. Now, I'm left wondering if I really can't pay for this repair or if it was just her attitude. Are there any options available?
4 Answers
That sounds like a really rough experience. I’ve replaced key caps before, and the process is usually quick unless there's damage to the mechanism beneath it. If you go to a different Apple Store or another authorized service provider, they might be more helpful. And yes, you can definitely pay for the repair, but weigh the cost against just replacing the keyboard if that’s the route they suggest.
You might want to go back and request to speak with a lead technician about your interaction. They usually can assist with key repairs without charging you. Scissor switch keys are often repairable unless there's serious damage. It's worth a shot!
You should definitely call Apple and ask about other authorized service providers near you. Sometimes the experience can vary widely by location, and a different place might be more supportive.
That employee was totally out of line! It's frustrating when customer service isn't friendly. Just make sure to get the right help from someone willing to assist.
What if the keyboard replacement is too expensive? Are there any other options available for just fixing that key?