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Original poster

Apple computer lead flawed design

42 replies

Clawdius · 08/09/2013 09:37

I have a small apple laptop. The cable lead is around £60. It has now frayed just below where it is attached to the computer, exposing all the wiring. I only have it a few months. When I went to the apple store, they said it was accidental damage and not a problem with the lead. I have not used the lead for any other purpose other than it's intended purpose. I have not handled it roughly. One of the guys said there were special apple instructions about how to handle putting it into and detaching it from the computer.

AIBU to think that if it frays with normal use it is a design flaw. If it needs micro surgery finesse should this not be a huge warning.

I'm going to wrap the whole bloody thing up in insulating tape now.

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 08/09/2013 09:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Whereisegg · 08/09/2013 10:22

Yanbu but my local Pound land sells iPhone wires, never bought one from there but I was in QD the other day and spied a car charger for £2:99.
I was sceptical but bought it and it works perfectly.
I believe B and M sell them too.

GhostsInSnow · 08/09/2013 10:28

Yanbu.

We have 3 apple laptops, one standard mac book that belongs to dd, my pro and ds has a pro.
Current standings are:

Dd 2 chargers
Ds 3 chargers
Me 2 chargers

Mine never moves from the arm of the sofa yet just frayed. Dds is always on her desk and did the same. Ds takes his to uni which may account for the third charger to our two.

I bought mine last month's, have saved box and receipt and if this one gets frayed apple can dream with it.
Incidentally, in the USA they have admitted fault and will replace. Here? Not a hope.

whilewildeisonmine · 08/09/2013 11:42

If anyone would like a Macbook charger I have one that I am no longer able to use as my Macbook was stolen at the beginning of the year Angry. It's a couple of years old but still worked fine.

Dobbiesmum · 08/09/2013 11:44

iPad chargers are the same, the guy in the apple store and what I read on soe techie forums lead me to believe it's a big design flaw/way to scam money out of customers.

TidyDancer · 08/09/2013 11:50

Yanbu. I have an Amazon Basics one now which is really good. I won't give Apple more money for something I shouldn't have to pay out for anyway.

friday16 · 08/09/2013 14:15

Yeah, my experience too. I rebuilt mine with shrinkwrap and it's been fine since. For my daughter's I'm tempted to reinforce it with shrinkwrap before the problem starts. Apple have claimed that the newer ones are better, although they might be spinning. But I've got three chargers for mine, and it's only the original one that has gone mangy. That might be coincidence.

sarine1 · 08/09/2013 14:21

Also have a frayed one in the same place. It's obviously a design fault. We need to get new one but sooo expensive

EverybodysStressyEyed · 08/09/2013 14:28

I had his on my iPhone charger. Went to the geek desk or whatever it's called and complained. The guy said he'd never seen this happen before. Both people sitting next to me turned and sai it had happened to theirs too. He got a bit flustered and offered a free replacement.

I bought a replacement that is built more like the Nokia/blackberry chargers when the same happened to the next one. It might be black and bulky but I'm not one for style over substance. Has actually put me off apple products.

Be careful though because some of the non- apple ones are dangerous. The one I bought was a reputable brand.

Sparklingbrook · 08/09/2013 14:29

I have just bought a new lead for DS1's I Pad Mini. He has only had it 9 months. It was £15. Hmm

I heard the non Apple ones were bursting into flames.

justwondering72 · 08/09/2013 14:31

DH recently told me that Apple will replace iPhone chargers for ten pounds if you are currently using a generic one. Apparently a women was killed recently as she was using her iPhone Whigs it was charging using a generic charger. The phone overheated and exploded next to her head. I think it was an article on BBC Click.

EverybodysStressyEyed · 08/09/2013 14:32

Those are the fakes. If you buy a branded one it should be fine.

If you have the plug you only need to get the cable at least (although not for the computers)

Sparklingbrook · 08/09/2013 14:33

Yes, the plug was ok fortunately. Was a bit offended in the phone shop as the man said 'They are £15 though' making me feel like a pov.

Summerhasloaded · 08/09/2013 14:35

Dd has had her MacBook for 2.5 years, and is on her 6th charger! I'd taken out a 3 year AppleCare plan so replacements have all been free Smile

EverybodysStressyEyed · 08/09/2013 14:35

techbeat.com/2013/08/apple-charger-replacement-program-expands/

I think it's only USB chargers

makemineamalibuandpineapple · 08/09/2013 16:13

Same problem with my iPad lead. I had only had it a couple of months and had to get a new one as it was no longer charging.

Sparklingbrook · 08/09/2013 16:17

There was nothing to see either make, no fraying wire or anything it just stopped working. Confused

sarine1 · 08/09/2013 16:19

Our frayed one is the original that came with the mac book - definitely not a fake!

Sparklingbrook · 08/09/2013 16:21

Well they tried to tell me that the non working lead wasn't an Apple one. But it was the one that came from Apple in the box with the IPad at Christmas. Hmm

nancerama · 08/09/2013 16:37

My iPhone cable frayed. It was only a few months old. I took it into the Apple store where I was told it was "a classic case of cable abuse". The Genius told me it was my own fault because I didn't know how to handle electronics properly. I was fuming. I demanded to speak to the manager. He apologised and gave me a replacement.

Until recently I worked in PR and events for a major electronics manufacturer. I know exactly how to handle cables and know they should be much hardier than they are.

Silverfoxballs · 08/09/2013 17:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GhostsInSnow · 08/09/2013 19:15

2 of the replaced MacBook chargers we have frayed were the newer style ones so I don't think the problem has been solved :(

All I'd suggest is buy from Apple, keep the receipt and when they fray deal with Apple directly for replacements.

Avoid the generic macbook chargers on Amazon, I've heard a few stories of these surging and frying logic boards etc. Yes, £60 is a lot for a charger, but its still cheaper than £1,000 on a new Mac.

littlewhitebag · 08/09/2013 19:39

As a family we have a number of apple products (iphones, iPad, ipod, laptops). I would have to say that every charger we have looks exactly as it did the day it came out of the box. And we use them a LOT and have had some of them for years.

Sallystyle · 08/09/2013 19:43

I have gone through a few.

Apple replaced two for me free. No Apple care, they just admitted that they break to easily.

mineofuselessinformation · 08/09/2013 19:45

They need to have plastic reinforcement near the connectors on both ends. Until that happens the problem will carry on.