Is there any way to report a complaint regarding a Genius Bar experience?

I visited an Apple service centre (not an official Apple Store but an AASP) a week ago, and my MacBook Pro was diagnosed with a burnt logic board. The staff told me there were two options: either replace the whole section to prevent any future issues, or just buy a new MacBook. After some thought, I decided to repair my old MacBook since it holds a lot of precious memories for me.


So I went to the Genius Bar at an Apple Store and explained what had happened to my MacBook and what I was advised before. I also clearly said that I wanted to fix it. But the staff kept recommending that I just buy a new one, saying that fixing old models is kind of a waste of money. I understood what he meant, but I had already gone through a lot of thought before making my decision.

Still, he said things like, “I don’t feel like it’s right,” and even asked, “Are you a student?” Then added, “If I were you, I would just purchase a new MacBook Air.” That made me feel like I was making a dumb decision. I just smiled and told him, “I’ll buy a new MacBook in five years,” but he replied, “No, you will definitely not be able to use it for another five years.”

I used to work in retail too, so I understand how sales strategies work and how staff are trained to upsell. But that conversation was really uncomfortable, and I had to repeat several times that I wanted to get my MacBook fixed.

More than anything, I felt like my decision and intentions were not being respected. It was disappointing to feel unheard, especially after I had made a careful choice that was meaningful to me. How can I let Apple know about this?

Posted on Oct 10, 2025 8:05 AM

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6 replies

Oct 10, 2025 3:19 PM in response to HaileyKoo

HaileyKoo wrote:
I used to work in retail too, so I understand how sales strategies work and how staff are trained to upsell.


That may be true of retailing in general, but Apple Store representatives do not earn sales commissions. It has been my experience that their primary objective is to listen to their customer's needs to help them make an informed purchase decision. They want happy customers.


Also I would not expect a properly trained Genius Bar associate to describe a logic board as "burnt" unless it suffered fire damage. Otherwise, it's imprecise at best. Components and systems can fail for a variety of reasons. Those reasons can be identified and explained but it's almost always uneconomical to do even that much. If someone were to tell me a logic board was "burnt" I would quickly lose confidence in anything else they had to say. I'd stop listening. I'd probably just walk away.


Component level repair became a lost art decades ago. If a logic board fails, it can be replaced, but considering most Macs have been single board computers since their inception the logic board comprises nearly all of its cost and complexity. If a Mac is new or nearly new, sure, replace it. If it's more than a few years old, replacing a failed logic board becomes economically unjustified.


Not having been party to that conversation, I believe that's what they were trying to tell you.


How can I let Apple know about this?


Others already answered that question but as a practical matter it's not productive to do so. Register your complaint and move on.

Oct 10, 2025 12:27 PM in response to HaileyKoo

There may be more to the technical side of this than meets the eye.


In almost all cases, 'repairing' the logic board (that holds almost everything in the computer) involves replacing the logic board. Apple does not do field repairs of customer logic boards.


If your Mac was released after about 2015, the boot drive was likely soldered to that logic board. Since the boot drive is essentially a fixed part the logic board, replacing the logic board TRASHES your files.


Despite your emotional attachment to this computer, 'repairing' it may not accomplish restoring your fond memories in any way -- out may simply discard them permanently and forever.


¿EXACTLY what model-year, processor, and screen size is this computer?

Oct 10, 2025 3:19 PM in response to HaileyKoo

HaileyKoo wrote:

After some thought, I decided to repair my old MacBook since it holds a lot of precious memories for me.


Do you mean that literally or figuratively? If you are concerned about the contents of its storage device (hard disk or flash memory — you didn't identify your model Mac so we can only guess — the MacBook has not been produced for many years, so it's by definition quite old) then it will influence your decision.


If you simply have an emotional investment in the Mac that can influence your decision as well. No one but you can put a value on either of those aspects.


If you have (or had) an attachment to that Mac's stored contents and failed to maintain backups it must not have had much value to begin with.

Oct 10, 2025 10:17 PM in response to HaileyKoo

Hi all,

Thank you so much for your kind explanations.

I understand what he was trying to say. The laptop was originally bought by my father, so I wanted to keep it for sentimental reasons. (The storage memory was already deleted during a previous visit to a repair center!)

From a technician’s point of view, it might seem a bit odd to spend money fixing an old laptop, but I had already made up my mind. Still, he kept asking me, “Are you really wanting to fix it?” about five times and that just made me feel a bit uncomfortable. :(

I think I was feeling extra sensitive in that moment, but I still think he didn’t need to repeat the question so many times.

Anyway, my MacBook is already on its way to being fixed—so I guess it’s time to let go of this feeling.


Thanks again for your support!

Is there any way to report a complaint regarding a Genius Bar experience?

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