Good evening fellow Apples! A query for you.

Question

Hi Apple community!
I couldn't find my query elsewhere and my problem seems to be somewhat unique so I'm hoping one of you geniuses could help shed some light on this particular issue. Your posts have helped me with countless issues before so I turn to you for your help and expertise.
So a couple of days ago, I shut the top of my March 2011 MacBook Pro and went to sleep. When I woke up, the screen was frozen on a bluish/grey screen. I gave her the old manual reboot only to get a pinkish/red boot logo screen. It loaded past this and then froze again on the blank bluish/grey screen again. I manually rebooted a few more times as I was getting the same result. Still nothing. The computer came back for 20 minutes but then it seemed to die out when the display went to sleep (screen went black, when it came back windows were all jumbled together). Again, nothing when I rebooted. I called Apple support and they walked me through the various diagnostic procedures. I should mention that I am still covered under warranty until March 2014. None of the diagnostics worked and actually seemed to make it worse. I loaded through safe mode, went to repair the disk only to have the screen change and freeze on some thick, bright, blue lines. When I spoke with Apple Support they said that the nearest store was all booked up but there was an Apple authorized repair shop only a couple of blocks from me and I should bring it in to them to see if they can help me and that I would still be covered under warranty there. I did not have a recent back up of my computer done and have many important files on there that I do not have duplicates of (stupid of me, I know, but you never really expect something like this to happen).
Of course, in my panicked urgency, I brought my laptop in to him and he was able to see me right away. He explained to me that he repairs my computer and then Apple goes ahead and compensates him for the work he has done (except for data recovery). The first day I brought it to him, I called back and asked if I could pull my computer out so I could bring my computer in to the Apple store for a second opinion (I mean, it is a $2000 machine after all!) and he told me that he had already started work and I would have to pay the labour cost. Since I knew the Apple stores don't do any kind of data recovery and I wanted my files I had him run a diagnostic on the hard-drive to see what could be salvaged at a cost to me. Not wanting to pay just for a second opinion, I said fine, go ahead with the diagnostic to save my files. He came back to me and told me that he thinks that it is a problem with the hard-drive and that he could probably salvage my files and there would be a $200 charge for this. $200 does not sound so bad for all my work! But then he told me that what he would have to do after he pulls the files is he will have to wipe the drive and reload the operating system onto the computer, try and repair the drive to see if he can repair it himself and see if it fixes the issue so to be sure that it isn't just a software issue, which would not be covered by the warranty. Then if it works, it was a software issue and I was not covered under warranty and I would have to pay for the work he has done on my machine since Apple does not cover software issues under their warranty. I told him that I am covered and anytime I have had to bring my laptop,phone, etc. into the Apple store for whatever the issue (I have had quite a few issues with my various machines over the years) there has been no cost tn me since I am covered. I asked him what happens if he reloads the operating system on and then 2 weeks later the screen goes pink and I'm back at square one and I am out the money spent on the supposed repair he did and he said it's not his problem and anything I do at home with in when it is working when it leaves the shop is my responsibility.
I suppose part of my fault is not bringing it right into an Apple store but when it's something as serious as your every day computer, you just want the problem handled as soon as possible.
It seems like I am in somewhat of a win-lose (I want a win-win!) situation with this and want your take on it. Basically, If he deems there has been nothing wrong with the machine and he can fix it manually and it doesn't need any hardware replacement, I pay for all the supposed labour he has done. Whereas the Apple store would have done so for free under my warranty. Or if he does find a problem (which there clearly is if my computer is turning funny shades of pink and won't boot up) then I only have to pay for the data recovery and he sends the hard-drive back and I'm on my way, completely covered under my warranty for the hardware repair, no money out of my pocket. Shouldn't I be allowed for him to do the data recovery for me and then let me have my machine back so I can bring it into the Apple store for recovery or does he need the new hard-drive to dump everything on?
It seems like the Apple stores are more intent on fixing your computer and fixing it well so that you come back and buy another one of their machines when your machine does throw in the towel for good whereas situations with shops like almost seem like they want the less-than-computer-savvy individual to bring their computer back when it dies again. I almost feel like I get a straighter, more honest answer with Apple (of course, I am just generalizing based on my particular issues). I am also not intent on ripping him off either. I just want what is fair for both parties.
So my questions: Are these certified stores the same as going into the genius bar at an actual Apple store? Shouldn't something that seems as serious as this be covered under my warranty? Am I being ripped off? If I would have brought it directly into the Apple store, would I be looking at this problem right now? Or do they have the exact same policies regarding hardware/software issues. I mean, it sounds like it is a serious issue, but who's to say it isn't as simple as checking my RAM hasn't been shaken out. Would I still have to pay for them to fix or assess that issue?
Thank you so much for reading my very long-winded post.
I appreciate and thank you for any answers you might have!
CN

Answer 1

AppleCare should have confirmed whether the issue was software or hardware over the phone. If they did the troubleshooting and believed it to be a hardware issue then you have nothing to worry about. They shouldn't have referred you to a service provider if it was just a software issue though.
Independent service providers can charge for software since software is not covered under the Apple warranty.