Apple cites OSHA regs to refuse warranty repair?

According to this article, Apple refuse to repair anything that has been used by a smoker because nicotine is listed as a hazardous substance. They claim it is a biohazard and therefore the warranty is void because the techs will get second hand smoke.

Whilst I understand that working on a smokers PC is usually pretty nasty and that the tar does get anywhere and can damage things, I don't see it being an actual biohazard or being able to give you second hand smoke. Put some gloves on and away you go...

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Comments

msteinhilber

Knowing how filthy and clogged fan's get from being in a smokers environment for an extended period of time I can see why they would want to void the warranty which I'm sure is the real reason they did. I often times worked on and repaired PC's under warranty where the damage had clearly been caused by the environment, but our companies policy was to always go ahead with the repair since the cost of an upset customer outweighed the small savings (compared to the cost to acquire a customer) of fixing the computer was greater than the repair.

Sounds like somebody at Apple got upset about having to work on another filthy smoker's computer and put up a stink that was supported by Apple. I think the reasoning they came up with was fairly poor as I never felt endangered working on a smoker's computer as I learned a long time ago how to wash my hands. But I think it's good that a company would stand up and say they aren't going to repair it under warranty - I just wish they would say the real reason why that it's damaged by the environment and not a result of poor workmanship of manufacturers defect.

eMeS

It's kind of odd I think...the article I read indicated that they refused to do the work because the residue of smoking is classified as a biohazard. That seems odd to me given that there's about a thousand other things commonly used to create electronics that are also biohazards.

However, having a good friend that is a heavy pot smoker (I mean heavy), I can understand why they wouldn't want to work on a machine from an environment such as his. Several times he's brought his computer over and we've cracked it open, always out in the garage...it immediately reeks of pot, usually my garage smells like that for a week or so.

Strange to me that after seeing what stuff like that does to the inside of a computer, that people would still want to inhale that crap into their bodies...

MS

Kaminsky

Surely such an extreme measure must be stated when the initial contract is taken out. If it were added later then this should have been sent out as notice of new contract terms and conditions.

Also, if they have changed their terms and conditions mid term into a support contract and you do not agree to those new terms, standard sale of goods laws state would kick in and the contract would terminate and you would be refunded the proportion of money after that point.

The idea of second hand smoke means it has to be airborn smoke at the time doesn't it ?

eMeS

Kaminsky wrote: »

Surely such an extreme measure must be stated when the initial contract is taken out. If it were added later then this should have been sent out as notice of new contract terms and conditions.

Most of these types of contracts (not just Apple) are so broadly worded that they could shoehorn just about any reason to void the contract. I doubt that anything had to be changed mid-stream on the consumer....

Kaminsky wrote: »

The idea of second hand smoke means it has to be airborn smoke at the time doesn't it ?

My understanding from the article is that it's the build up of the tar that goes along with a smoker's computer. That tar contains hazardous substances, so it's more of a second hand effect of smoking than it is second hand smoke itself.

MS

Kaminsky

Yet another reason not to go near an Apple. They are the debil