Mac Book Discoloration Replacement Outside USA

Question

Calling all international Mac users!
I have researched what seems thousands of discussions on the Mac Book's discoloration, specifically the white MB. I have had my white MB for around 2 months and it is just beginning to show the yellow discoloration where my palms rest, the space bar, and on certain keys as well. I try to keep my hands clean as many people said they wash their hands but it has not helped. From what I understand Apple is now replacing the casing that is causing the problem (my serial number is 4H6306 blah blah blah if it helps). I am glad they are doing something about the problem. BUT, I live in China now. I am going to see where the nearest Apple store is here (if it exists). But if anyone has any suggestions how to fix the problem being that I am not in America anymore, that would be great. Luckily it does not affect the performance.
Will Apple pay for the shipping of my computer back to the US, fix the problem, and send it back to me? That would take months. Would they possibly priority ship it?
If all else fails I will try to find some sort of non-harmful cleaning agents to help the sparkly whiteness come back. It looked so good when I bought it.
I hope Apple pulls through on this one.
Mac Book 2GHz White   Mac OS X (10.4.7)   iPod U2 Special Edition 20 gig (4th Generation)

Answer 1

We have the exact same problem! I live in Slovakia and my week 21 macbook is discoloring. I brought it to an Apple reseller a few weeks ago, and he recognized the problem immediately and knew that Apple would fix it without charge. But things got more complicated when I pointed out that I had an American keyboard and the surrounding case would have to fit that (I'm not sure if the keyboard is replaced with the case). That confused him, he went to make a call, and came back to tell me that he thought maybe they could get a replacement case for an American keyboard. Maybe? Then he told me he would have to send the macbook away for the repair, and it would take about 2 weeks.
I could not afford to be without my only computer for that long, so I asked him if there was any way for him to order the case and repair it on the premises, and he told me there was not. Then I asked if I could wait until the Christmas break and bring it in then, and if Apple would still be willing to pay for the repairs. He told me that would be fine- there was no deadline for the case replacement - and I uneasily decided to do that. Add to my frustration that I ordered marware to cover the unsightly brown marks more than a month ago, and it still hasn't arrived!
Yesterday, I read on this forum that it is possible that after some amount of time Apple will not be willing to replace the case free of charge, and that made me nervous again. Also, I would like a definitive answer on the issue of the American keyboard. I would like to email AppleCare about this, but can't find an email address, so I think I will have to spend a lot of money to call the States and ask about this directly, IF I can find a number that is not an 800 one, since I can't call those from here.
One reason I bought the macbook was that I believed their strong customer service was available worldwide, but I am finding it impossible to get contact information or repairs that could begin to match what I would find in the US!
Finally, I use non-acetone nail polish remover once a week or so to try to keep the staining to a minimum, and that may help a little. But over time, it is definitely worsening, and it makes me sad to see it.
Please keep posting what you can find out about how to get your discoloration repaired, and I'll let you know how it works out for me, too.