Apple Refuses to Fix Smokers' Computers

[gunnut]

Apple Refuses to Fix Smokers' Computers

3:51 PM - November 23, 2009 by Jane McEntegart

Reports from two Consumerist readers say smoking will void your AppleCare.

For those of you unfamiliar with AppleCare, it's basically an extended warranty service offered by Apple. You can get up to three years of service and support for your Mac as long as you're willing to pay. However, what Apple doesn't tell you is that if you're a smoker, your AppleCare might be worthless if your computer actually needs repairing.

Consumerist reader, Derek, sent in his MacBook to because it was having issues with overheating. Suspecting the fan might be the issue, Derek assumed Apple would just have to replace it but was surprised to hear that they actually couldn't fix his computer at all because he was a smoker.

… The Apple store called and informed me that due to the computer having been used in a house where there was smoking, that has voided the warranty and they refuse to work on the machine, due to "health risks of second hand smoke". Not only is this faulty science, attributing non smoking residue to second hand smoke, on Chad's part, no where in your applecare terms of service can I find anything mentioning being used in a smoking environment as voiding the warranty.

A second reader, Ruth, wrote in a few months later, reporting the same problem.

I bought an iMac for my son (for school) along with the extended Applecare warranty. A month ago, it quit working. My son took it to the authorized Mac service center. The "tech" informed him it would be ready in 48-72 hours. … They informed me that his computer can't be worked on because it's contaminated. When I asked for an explanation, she said he's a smoker and it's contaminated with cigarette smoke which they consider a bio-hazard! I checked my Applecare warranty and it says nothing about not honoring warranties if the owner is a smoker.

An Apple rep spoke to Ruth and told her that nicotine is on OSHA's list of hazardous substances and Apple would not require an employee to repair anything deemed hazardous to their health. A fair point, but Ruth points out that sucrose, chlorine, talc, calcium carbonate and isopropyl are also on the list.

Months later, Apple's PR department has yet to return comment as to what the official policy.

Apple Refuses to Fix Smokers' Computers - Tom's Hardware

Smoke Gets In Your Imac: Smoking Near Apple Computers Creates Biohazard, Voids Warranty

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

[Parihaka]

Heh

[bonehead]

Odd bit of customer service, but the smokers are not getting any sympathy from me. Nor will one ever use my computer either.

I know smokers have been banned from Intel's clean rooms. The residue contaminates the hell out of the chips.

[dave lukins]

That's a first for me. How exactly does it contaminate the chips?

[Rumrunner]

Jeeze...does Apple also refuse to repair hard drives becuase they are cleaned and polished with some really vile chemicals?

Elitest crapola. I feel bad for smokers. Sometimes. I guess one could play it off as being residue from the burned up slop that passes for coffee at Starbucks, where 99% of Apple computers are used to write screenplays, emo blogs and do 'hard work'.

[bonehead]

That's a first for me. How exactly does it contaminate the chips?

During the chip making process anything that does not belong on the wafer screws things up. Smoking residue, mostly tar, is difficult to remove from the wafers. Mind you even when the smoker wears the bunny suit and mask, the remains of smoking can still come out and ruin things. Clean rooms generally run in the class 100 to class 10 range. Smokers are a walking wave of contamination.

[texasjohn]

During the chip making process anything that does not belong on the wafer screws things up. Smoking residue, mostly tar, is difficult to remove from the wafers. Mind you even when the smoker wears the bunny suit and mask, the remains of smoking can still come out and ruin things. Clean rooms generally run in the class 100 to class 10 range. Smokers are a walking wave of contamination.

That only applies to the manufacturing process and the actual build of the components. Not for the finished products themselves.

As for smokers being a "walking wave of contamination", now you are getting way out there. Have you ever been to a third world country and seen the smoke and pollution? Should all Apple products then be unserviceable in say Mexico City?

I work on these beasts all the time. I see it as an Apple "copout"...

[ArmchairGeneral]

During the chip making process anything that does not belong on the wafer screws things up. Smoking residue, mostly tar, is difficult to remove from the wafers. Mind you even when the smoker wears the bunny suit and mask, the remains of smoking can still come out and ruin things. Clean rooms generally run in the class 100 to class 10 range. Smokers are a walking wave of contamination.

Care to provide a link?

[bonehead]

Care to provide a link?

Probably not. The info is provided when you go through all the protocol classes/background checks before you even get near a clean room. They will not even allow tobacco products in your pocket. If they find it you get escorted to the gate and your ability to work there is over. Rarely one of the protocol nazis ( the most anal, type "A" people you could ever meet) will hang out in the gown room and turn away those who reek of smoke, perfume, or.... general lack of hygiene.

[gunnut]

I believe bonehead. I used to work for a company that has a fab. It's a pain in the ass to get the clean room that clean. And it's called a clean room for a reason. There are no particles bigger than x diameter floating in the air.

[bonehead]

That only applies to the manufacturing process and the actual build of the components. Not for the finished products themselves.

As for smokers being a "walking wave of contamination", now you are getting way out there. Have you ever been to a third world country and seen the smoke and pollution? Should all Apple products then be unserviceable in say Mexico City?

I work on these beasts all the time. I see it as an Apple "copout"...

tobacco products are death to chip plants there is no question. years ago a protocol nazi gave a particle count of smokers vs non smokers. There is no comparison and it was he that coined the phrase, "walking wave of contamination." Protocol people actually do have a machine that measures particles given off by objects and if given reason they have no qualms about turning those machines on people. The list of banned objects for a clean room is extraordinary.
I am not so convinced that the finished product is or is not affected. Some data either way would be nice, however, like Apple, I see tobacco smoke as a toxic waste that ranks with all the other chemicals used to make the machine. If Apple can provide some evidence of their tecs being harmed by smoker's computers then they should provide proof. Otherwise it is a cop out. For now it looks like smokers need to find a computer repair lab that hires smokers, or get a good lawyer and put an end to this.

Smokers are used to their environment so they are no longer bothered by it. As a non smoker I can tell a smoker they reek of smoke, and if I let them in my car, my car will take weeks before the smell of cigarette smoke dissipates.

[bonehead]

I believe bonehead. I used to work for a company that has a fab. It's a pain in the ass to get the clean room that clean. And it's called a clean room for a reason. There are no particles bigger than x diameter floating in the air.

Thanks. However I know of no evidence either way of cigarette smoke and the risks to the finished product or the people working on it. Refusing to work on a smokers computer could indeed be a cop out.

[tankie]

.

Smokers are used to their environment so they are no longer bothered by it. As a non smoker I can tell a smoker they reek of smoke, and if I let them in my car, my car will take weeks before the smell of cigarette smoke dissipates.

Tooooooooooo true , when i was doing gigs before the smoking ban , i had to hang my clothes out on the line after work to try to rid them of the stink , all my equipment was reeking as well , the only thing the labour govt has done that i agree with

[gunnut]

Thanks. However I know of no evidence either way of cigarette smoke and the risks to the finished product or the people working on it. Refusing to work on a smokers computer could indeed be a cop out.

I'm not justifying Apple's decision. I'm just saying you are correct that smoking could lead to some problems in a fab.

Apple can do whatever it wants on the repair contract. The smokers don't have to buy it or can go with a different computer. Switch to a PC. They can fix it for themselves.

[dalem]

Mind you even when the smoker wears the bunny suit and mask, the remains of smoking can still come out and ruin things.

How?

-dale