IMac to Genius bar 5 times, problem never solved...

Question

I have a 2011 iMac 27" and it never had any problems.  However, a little over a month ago, it started to make a noise that sounded like a very loud fan, a high pitched cricket sound.  I decided to take it into the Apple store to get looked at and fixed.
Trip 1:
I took the computer to my local store and informed them of the problem.  They said it sounded like a fan just like I said and they took it in.  They called me the next day to inform me that it was fixed.  When I arrived, they told me that nothing was done, they said there was a lot of dust in the computer and they blew it out and it seemed to fix the problem, so I said ok.  This trip was no charge.
When I arrived home I plugged in the computer and turned it on, the noise immeditely returned and was louder then when I dropped it off the first time, back to the Apple store.
Trip 2:
This time I returned and I was dealing with the same guy.  I told him that when I got home it was louder than when I dropped it off.  He said that well it must be the fan then and that they would open up the machine and replace it.  I left it again overnight and was called again the next day to pick it up and was relieved that it was fixed.  I returned to the Apple store and picked up my machine.  This trip I paid for labor and parts.
When I returned home, the computer seemed ok for about an hour or so.  Once the computer got going and heated up, the noise was back and never stopped.
I was pretty upset and was a little frustrated that it was still making noise.  At this time I was finishing up the semester of school and needed my computer so it was a day or two before I could return to the store.
Trip 3:
When I returned to the Apple store this time, I again met with the same employee.  He was aware of the issue at this point and apologized.  He heard the noise again in full blast and said that it must be coming from the other fan.  The first fan they replaced was the optical drive fan and this time they were goign to replace the CPU fan.  I was frustrated but I just wanted it fixed.  I dropped it off and was just hoping this would be solved.  They replaced the fan and I once again picked it up.  This time I didnt pay for labor but I did have to pay for the new fan, even though I previously paid for a fan that I didn't need.
The same as last time, when I returned home, the computer was ok for a little bit of time and then once the computer got started up again, it was very loud.  At this point I was getting upset but I didn't know what the options were excecpt to bring it back in.
Trip 4:
This time at the Apple store, the old employee saw me come in with the iMac and no joke, he ignored me.  He was with another customer but he never looked in my direction once, even when he had to go into the back or in a drawer.  I even jokingly said to him, "the noise just won't go away man" and he didn't even look up at me.  This time my computer wouldn't even turn on, the new genius had plugged it in with two different cords and outlets and it wasn't turning on.  I told the employee that it was working fine when I turned it off to bring it in and etc.  He wrote up a report that said it wasn't turning on and that they would have to fix that issue before they could troubleshoot the noise.  Right before I left I asked, could we please try to turn it on one more time before I go.  It instantly turned on and it was loud.  This employee said it was coming from the power supply and that it was that fan or the unit itself.  So I dropped it off.
I was called the next day to pick it up.  To note, I was never called to tell me what the issue was or if it was ok to fix it or at what price.  This time I went to pick it up and they had replaced the power supply.  I asked why I was being charged as it was the 4th time it has been in for the same issue and all they did for me was take about 50% off the price.  I still had to pay for the labor and parts with a discount.  I didn't feel like making a scene since I felt like it was finally fixed and over with.
As before, the computer was very loud and the noise never went away.  I couldn't help but think to myself, are they just opening the computer, replacing these parts at random and just hoping it works.  All it would take is to have the computer running with it open and stop each fan one by one to see if the noise stops and if it does, replace that fan, if not, it's something else.  I have no idea what they are doing in there.
Trip 5:
There was no way that I was going to return to the same store.  I drove an hour away to go to another Apple store.  I dropped it off, explained all the issues and the same issue of not turning on happened.  Once again, it worked fine at home, besides the noise, but wouldn't turn on at Apple.  This time we never got it started.  He said that it was the power supply.  When I picked it up, they had replaced the power supply and charged me nothing.  I remember walking out of the store with my girlfriend and making a bet that the issue wouldn't be fixed.
When I got home, the computer was quiet and I was finally like omg, is it possible.  Unfortunetaly I was only able to test it for a few minutes as I had to leave for a trip to my brothers wedding for a week.  I got home last night and turned on my computer, and the noise was right there, loud as ever.
I have made 5 trips to the Apple store, paid multiple times, lots of gas and the issue is not fixed.  I have no idea what to do at this point and I am really frustrated.  It is almost impossible to sit here to even write this listening to the noise.
Who do I need to write, what do I do to solve this?
Here is a video I just recorded of the noise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sa-OGeSSpo&feature=plcp
Thanks,
Chris

Answer 1

Though if the system was out of warranty you would have rightly paid for a repair, the fact that you were apparently charged for unnecessary repairs would most certainly seem to me to be incorrect and unfair.
Did you talk to the manager of the Apple Store about the issue? If not, I would suggest you first do that. Call the store, ask to speak with the manager, and calmly explain the situation, explaining that you paid for multiple repairs that did not solve the problem and that the "shotgun" approach the technician took toward solving the problem was unprofessional and led to you having to pay for multple repairs that still have not solved the problem.
If the store manager will not help, call Apple Customer Relations at 1-800-767-2775, again calmly and politely explain the entire situation, and ask for help in obtaining a real resolution to the problem. At the minimum I would expect that all of the charges currently incurred should be refunded to you since none have corrected the problem, though of course I can't speak for Apple and so can't guaranteee what resolution if any they'll offer. 
Regards.
Message was edited by: varjak paw