Conflicted. No confidence in Apple's QC these days

Question

You all know the problems I've been having with the Macbook Pro. I've tried three times to get one I'll stick with. The first one, the built to order one was fine, but I returned it in the fourteen days and switched it for the highest end off shelf one (the built to order one was the highest end one, but with no dedicated GPU). The replacement (this Mac) is one noisy machine with the chassis creaking when it feels like it, now I think the hinge has started as well. Its replacement was even worse with what it had wrong with it. I inspected it to check if it had the same issue and I found that if I push the bottom with the lightest possible pressure it flexed and made quite a bit of noise. Also found that the hinge was out off whack. One end was flush and the other stuck out from the body. So I returned the Mac, but still have this creaky machine. It's an intermittent issue, but seems more common these days. There doesn't seem to be any flex anywhere, sometimes it needs me to push real hard (fair enough in those cases), but other times just closing the thing will cause it to do it so I don't even know what's causing it or if it's meant to do this (something tells me it's not supposed to). Some times it's quiet and other times really loud. The keys also leave dirt marks on the screen after it's been transported. I don't remember the built to order one doing that, but I only had it a few days. I've had countless calls to Apple support and live chat sessions, that I can't be dealing with them again, just fed up with it. Hasn't even been four weeks and part of me wishes I'd never touched this thing.
Still a great laptop, but come on Apple, step up your QC! Two out of two bad ones isn't acceptable. I built my own PC earlier this year and not one piece of hardware had to be returned. I would have the exact same hardware configuration if I hadn't changed the GPU (old one was removed due to under-performance which was actually caused by a poor driver release by Nvidia, which meant the PSU was changed. Changed optical drive, because of an issue I thought was there, because it was making an interesting noise at startup that didn't sound right, turns out was normal operation). How is it I can build a computer with tighter hardware controls and QC for £500 less (not counting HE discount)? I've had Xboxes that are built better (in terms of what they were aiming for). I have no doubt this Mac will last a long time, it's just this issue is really disappointing. And no, this Mac has never been dropped.
I don't know if I should even try for another one, seeing as they've got it wrong 66% of the time. I'll probably get one where the chassis is bent, that's what Apple products do these days isn't it? I've had problems with every OEM PC/Mac manufacturer to date. It's like their throwing their computers around the factory or playing football with them or something. Whereas, I've built one computer (my very first build) and from a hardware standpoint, reliability is 100% (there's one known machining mistake with my case, but a drill will fix that). Windows 8 on the other hand is a different story.
Anyway, this post is getting a bit too long, so, should I try for a 4th one (doubt they'll get it right even at the third time of trying)? OEMs all suck, Apple included (I could start a whole new thread on their customer service, and how these forums never work!). Probably just build from now on since OEMs can't seem to get it right. Could have just saved the hassle and just got a cheap tablet/laptop hybrid, but then...Windows 8.
/rant

Answer 1

CursedDice wrote:
You all know the problems I've been having with the Macbook Pro.
If that were true, why write about it?
You have a new MBP.  You should deal with Apple support which entitles to 90 days of free telephone support and there is the 1 year warranty.
Ciao.