# Apple will not repair computers that have been used in smoking environments - Is this a fair policy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 20, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344 "2009-11-20T22:31:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/1 "2009-11-20T22:31:33Z")
Interesting tibit via[the Consumerist](http://consumerist.com/5408885/smoking-near-apple-computers-creates-biohazard-voids-warranty) > [@](#): > > 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. Five days go by and he’s heard nothing, so I called. 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. The Applecare representative said they defer to the technician and my son’s computer cannot be fixed at any Apple Service Center due to being listed a bio-hazard. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/2 "2009-11-20T23:16:57Z")
Sounds like a lawsuit looking for a client. This is seriously lame. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/3 "2009-11-20T23:26:17Z")
Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t all consumer electronics full of toxic substances? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/4 "2009-11-20T23:27:31Z")
Pandering to anti-tobacco zealots? Trying to beef up their “green” image? (How are they going to reconcile that with all the Mac-crazy hippies with Drum and rolling papers?) ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/5 "2009-11-20T23:36:27Z")
I just asked Snopes about that article. I can hardly believe it! ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/6 "2009-11-20T23:37:02Z")
Holy schmoley. I’m a smoker and programmer who has had various computer components die as a direct result of all the smoking gunk – decreased air flow, increased (sticky) dust build-up, malfunctioning fans, etc. I was all ready to say – sure, it’s fair, so long as it’s indicated clearly to the consumer that smoking presents an abnormal environment (akin to using it in an un-air conditioned topical climate). But _contaminated_? Really? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/7 "2009-11-20T23:39:31Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t all consumer electronics full of toxic substances? I’d assume that those toxic substances are contained, rather than coating the entire thing. It hardly matters what toxic substances are inside a battery, just as long as you don’t open it. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/8 "2009-11-20T23:40:51Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > I just asked Snopes about that article. I can hardly believe it! Yes, I missed the cutoff to add to my post. This sounds like fake news. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/9 "2009-11-20T23:41:30Z")
That seems so crazy, it’s a little difficult to believe that could be official corporate policy. If it is though, screw 'em (says this long-time Apple user/supporter and non-smoker). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/10 "2009-11-20T23:41:43Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I’d assume that those toxic substances are contained, rather than coating the entire thing. It hardly matters what toxic substances are inside a battery, just as long as you don’t open it. It doesn’t matter what toxic substances are coating a computer, unless you scrape it off and rub it on your mucus membranes. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/11 "2009-11-20T23:45:41Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It doesn’t matter what toxic substances are coating a computer, unless you scrape it off and rub it on your mucus membranes. And you’re just, what, _assuming_ you know the standard Apple Repair Procedures? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/12 "2009-11-21T00:14:15Z")
I just went through the AppleCare terms and conditions. [Link to North American T’s and C’s (Warning: PDF filled with legalese)](http://images.apple.com/legal/applecare/docs/NA_APP_English_v5.2.pdf) > [@](#): > > The [AppleCare] Plan does not cover: > … > (ii) Damage to the Covered Equipment caused by accident, abuse, neglect, misuse (including faulty installation, repair, or maintenance by anyone other than Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider), unauthorized modification, extreme environment (including extreme temperature or humidity), extreme physical or electrical stress or interference, fluctuation or surges of electrical power, lightning, static electricity, fire, acts of God or other external causes; Would being coated in tobacco gunk constitute abuse? It certainly totaled a VCR that I lent to my father years ago… ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/13 "2009-11-21T00:41:01Z")
[Here’s an old thread I made on the subject](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=486796&highlight=Smoke) with a link to some photos, it took a couple hours to fully clean the machine out, and I still wasn’t able to remove 100% of the contamination ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/14 "2009-11-21T01:04:18Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > [Here’s an old thread I made on the subject](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=486796&highlight=Smoke) with a link to some photos, it took a couple hours to fully clean the machine out, and I still wasn’t able to remove 100% of the contamination Well, there you go, right? If smoking does that to the equipment, I don’t think Apple should have to fix it under the warranty. (I don’t know about that bio-hazard nonsense, though) ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/15 "2009-11-21T01:09:14Z")
It doesn’t help the Apple designs desktop computers so that they can’t be opened and cleaned. Even regular dust can mess up a computer, but if you have an Apple, you can’t simply open it and spray it with canned air like you would with a normal computer. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/16 "2009-11-21T04:37:28Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > It doesn’t help the Apple designs desktop computers so that they can’t be opened and cleaned. Even regular dust can mess up a computer, but if you have an Apple, you can’t simply open it and spray it with canned air like you would with a normal computer. That may be true on the iMacs, but the Mac Pro desktops are extremely easy to open and clean. I do it regularly. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/17 "2009-11-21T04:47:28Z")
I can see not working on the machine because the problem is it’s too gunked up with tar (I’m a smoker and I know what it does to my machines - which I clean regularly). But not working on it because something broke unrelated to tar gunkage, or simply because it smells of smoke, is not cool. Not cool at all. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/18 "2009-11-21T13:49:37Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > That may be true on the iMacs, but the Mac Pro desktops are extremely easy to open and clean. I do it regularly. The iMacs are easy to open and clean as well. As for the OP, the Apple store is being stupid. I suspect a letter from a lawyer will make them see reason. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/19 "2009-11-21T14:00:32Z")
> [@](#): > > The “tech” informed him it would be ready in 48-72 hours. Five days go by and he’s heard nothing That part already strikes me as perhaps unprofessional and suspicious. Could there be more to the story? Maybe the tech spilled his mocha latte in the computer while looking at it, and doesn’t want to admit it? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344/20 "2009-11-21T14:34:28Z")
The “void warranty” bit I can buy. Cigarette gunk coating everything could surely be argued to be the result of an unusually damaging environment, beyond what they should be expected to cover. The “refuse to work on it because it’s a biohazard” is just plain stupid. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-will-not-repair-computers-that-have-been-used-in-smoking-environments-is-this-a-fair-policy/518344.md?page=2)