What kind of apple support is this in Guatemala?

Question

Dear Apple Staff,
I am writing today to ask to please intervene on my behalf since I've had several issues with my computer (an iMac 27”, serial number W8*****DB5), most of them during the first year of purchase at iShop, Guatemala which were fixed/repaired under warranty.
I decided to acquire the extended warranty for another 3 years, but a little over a week had passed from the first year of purchase but at the store were I made the purchase they told me they couldn't sell it because I was 14 days over the period of the purchasing time and this was Apple's policy. I asked them to contact you and explain the fact that I had not been able to use my computer during the various days it had been at the repair shop, at different period of times which amounted to more than the 14 days I was past the year, but this lead nowhere.
Now, I'm faced with a new problem apparently due to dust in the environment (?) and the repair is the equivalent to US$800!!!!
For your information, I'm finishing College this year to earn my Architect's degree and my relation with Apple started totally by accident 4 years ago. In the faculty of Architecture at the Universidad del Istmo, in Guatemala City, they use Macs in the laboratory so I decided to purchase my own. My experience using OS X was excellent and my computer was very responsive compared to my older PC. Editing Photo-shop, Illustrator, Vector-works and Sketch-up files was a breeze, and when I needed anything from windows like Auto-cad, I could always use parallels to run the program.
However, nearly 6 months after the purchase, my hard drive had a failure so I took the computer to the Apple Certified Department where they rescued the data and reinstalled OS X but the communication with the staff was difficult as I they never told me what the status of the computer was for around two weeks (the time they had the computer to run a diagnostic and repair the system).
When I went to pick it up, I was handled a receipt for approx US$100 (although the computer was under warranty) but after talking to the store's Manager he apologized and didn't have to pay anything.
A few months later, with the computer still under warranty and having it used less that a year, a new problem surfaced; the screen showed a greasy aspect in one of the corners so again, I took it to the Technical Department and left it over for another week or so. They fixed the problem,
And now, this new problem surfaces: (1/3 of the screen on the left side dimmed as if the back-light was off). I took it to the same shop only last Thursday and was told that in 24 hors I would have the diagnostic. Today, May the 23rd, after a week upon leaving my computer I finally got the diagnostic: dust in the environment and a repair fee for US$800 (?????!!!!) What's this?
I will greatly appreciate your help in this matter.
Thanks you in advance for your consideration,
<Edited by Host>

Answer 1

Yeah,
While it is unfortunate, I have to agree with rkaufmann, too!
You had anytime during the first free year of AppleCare to budget, purchase and register with Apple for the extended 3-year warranty plan. After the first two major repairs, why didn't you sign up for the extended warranty then? Why did you wait so long and up to and past your free warranty year to decide and try and sign up?
You only have yourself to blame.
You can try calling Apple directly and plead your case, but I think that they will not let you sign up for the extended warranty plan when you had any time during the first year of it to do so.
Sorry.