Wednesday, April 27, 2011

$902.64

It was an average day of blog reading, net surfing and email checking when all of a sudden my laptop screen started blinking faster than a strobe light disco ball from the 80s. The more it flashed, the faster dollar signs passed before my eyes, as I watched my computer's screen slowly fade to black with a little sighing sound for its finale.

My beloved MacBook Pro computer died. I said a prayer, or maybe I cursed out loud, because I had a very bad feeling about the likelihood that my 3 year old baby would live to see another day.

Around that time my allergies also kicked in, got wonky, and my eyes swelled-- really big. Allergy season in my 'hood is not pretty and this one truly had its way with me. I spent the next several days looking a lot like Quasimodo minus the hunchback, scaring small children and takeout delivery guys who got a peek at my sad eyes.

This delayed me several days in taking my Mac to the Apple Store to see if they could breath life back into it without costing me an arm and a leg. Finally, with improved but still nasty allergies, and clad in the biggest pair of sunglasses I owned, I strolled into the Apple Store and bellied up to the Genius Bar.

I seriously think the Geniuses were a little uncomfortable when they saw me looking like a loon in those shades in their store, but I did quietly mention to my Genius guy that I had a "vision problem". The look on his face immediately registered that he was having a vision problem looking at me too.

Long story short-- Apple's Genius saved my you know what and knew immediately what was wrong-- It had a fancy name for what sounded like a "recall" part but it needed several days to be ordered and repaired.

When I picked up my new-and-improved, cleaned and spruced up laptop yesterday, it included an invoice indicating the cost was $902.64.

Whoa!

Then I saw my "Amount Due" was $0.00 because of the recall. Let's just say I heard the angels singing.

I was still wearing my sunglasses when I took my computer home but this time I almost skipped out of the store. A free repair on a high ticket item and getting my laptop back beats allergy season any day.

It feels like I've been gone from Blogland for months but I'll be making the rounds and catching up with everybody over the next week. I've missed you!

How's life treating you?
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins
Photo Credit: © Benn - Fotolia.com

59 comments:

  1. whassup jj! sight for sore eyes...smiles. glad to hear it was a recal...yikes on the pricetag...i might have passe3d out before seeing the $0.00...

    all is good, spring is in form, my youngest is playing t ball, my oldest riding horses...it rained today...i dunno anything else you want to know...smiles.

    good to see you.

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  2. Hey, I've had a Trojan virus invade my computer, too! I thought it was going to die, but I got lucky and am able to fix it relatively easy.

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  3. Woohoo!!! I just love a happy ending!

    So glad that your total was a big fat zero due to Recall...whoever that is! Heeehehehe!

    God bless ya and have a fun time catchin' up sweetie! :o)

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  4. I bet those angels were singin'!. lol
    Missed u Joanna!.

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  5. Welcome back! I've missed you and I'm so happy there was a recall!

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  6. I like the $0.00 figure better also, Joanna! Have a great week--I'm on vacation this week, so my stress level is el zippo :)

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  7. There's definitely something going around -- I got a trojan horse on Friday that killed my computer by Sunday, and my friend had the same problem, same day. I had to pay for my servicing -- nothing close to $900 but not under warranty either. So ... good for you!

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  8. As I type this on MacBook I'm wondering if I missed a recall. Mine is not 3 yrs old yet so maybe it's a part not used in my version. So it was actual physical part vs. just software? Great story and Apple will benefit from you being a happy customer and blogger.

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  9. there ARE angels.



    I knew it all along.

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  10. good to see you (even in THOSE glasses :)


    glad it worked out



    Warm Aloha from Honolulu


    Comfort Spiral

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  11. I take a cocktail of allergy meds starting with Allegra in the mornings, rhinocourt aqua and patenol mid morning and mid afternoon and then zyrtec before bed. It's a good, good mix. Try it!

    Also, we didn't even pay half that for our computer so if our repair bill was your original estimate, I'd take a hammer to it and buy a new one.

    Glad yours was fixed for free though!

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  12. Thank goodness for recalls. For that amount, you can buy a whole new one. What a bonus seeing 00.00

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  13. You've been missed!!
    sorry about the allergies and computer woes...

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  14. I almost didn't recognize you with those glasses on.
    I hope you get some angel intervention with your allergies like you got with your computer.

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  15. That $0 price tag sounds like a good deal. It's always nice to get your computer working again.

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  16. Wow! I'm so glad that was a freebie! Hope the allergies clear up. And I did miss you...welcome back, Joan!

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  17. Great to hear from you JJ. I had been blogging almost daily for about a month. Really looking forward to a break :))

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  18. Whew! Thank God for recalls! Maybe the Genius dude thought you were crying so they decided to throw in the freebie. Maybe I should try to shed a few tears the next time I have computer problems???

    Glad you're back!

    Let's see...it's still raining here..looking for another job...desperately and dating a wonderful guy. Take care!

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  19. I would never have been able to pay that bill, Joanna. The MAC guy ( though I have an IBM ) would have seen this pathetic old lady begin bawling, right there in the store - where I would have left my computer and just walked out!

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  20. Oh dear - I hope you're much better now. I had to get a new screen for my laptop a few weeks ago. Not $0.00 for me - $400!

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  21. Oh so lucky that there was a recall, yes I would have just passed out, glad to hear your feeling better. love your sense of humor. glad your back.

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  22. And that is why I'm glad I have a MAC! I hope your allergies mellow mine are starting up and it's no fun!

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  23. GLAD YOU ARE BACK!!! I was getting worried. And when I saw the total of your bill, I couldn't believe they just didn't advise you to get a new computer! Glad it was a "freebie". Take care and don't scare off all the neighbors!

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  24. Oh no! I swear, computer trouble is as awful as car trouble--just as inconvenient and expensive to fix.

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  25. I would have gone into cardiac arrest after seeing a $900 repair bill. Yikes! I love my iMac so much and would be devastated to lose it. Glad to know that Apple stands behind their products like that. Wow. Glad you got your baby back in good working order for FREE!

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  26. Aren't they required to give you a quote, like car mechanics do? I have a Mac desktop that refuses to start, so naturally I'm concerned.
    Sunglasses are my favorite kind of makeup, btw. Paired with a good lipstick, you can face anything.

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  27. I've recently shelled out for audible books to listen to on my iphone but they appear on my mac book instead. I too shall be trucking along to the store to sort out my lack of genius.

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  28. Oh wow...my heart would have skipped a beat or two...Glad that it was covered.
    Isn't it an awful feeling when you lose the use of your computer...Are we addicted or what?

    Hugs
    shug

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  29. My eyeballs are sympathizing with your eyeballs! Glad to see you back!

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  30. Gulp. What a surprise to see the ticket amount. I'm surprised you didn't do a happy dance in the store when you realized your bill was actually zero. Nada. Fantastic. So glad you have your old computer with new innards.

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  31. Wow - thank goodness for recalls... at that price you could have bought several new Macs!

    Allergy season is no fun - I*m suffering here too.

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  32. in this case thank goodness for recalls. i'm glad your baby is back fresh and new. i hope the allergies are better today. xo

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  33. Wow, now that's what I call service, eh? Welcome back hon, I'd be utterly bereft without my laptop! Ah, allergies (ugh), 'tis the season to be sneezin', as they say - hope the meds kick in soon..

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  34. Hey - your blog is really cool. I think we have many things in common and a similar sense of humor. I really like all your pics -- something I need to add to my blog. I'm a follower!
    (I found your blog through the Flying Pinto blog)

    Allie
    http://24inmymind.blogspot.com

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  35. now that's a reason to celebrate! i bet you felt like you won the lottery!

    i'm now making my rounds after two weeks of a blogging hiatus! (and it felt good!)

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  36. I love the END of this story. Wonderful news. I love me some Apple. Some folks aren't so lucky. I have a work friend who got an iPad a year ago and still can't get the thing to work right. My iPad is as close to flawless as one can probably get.

    Glad to see you!

    Casey

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  37. So glad you didn't have to pay that price!!

    I haven't been around much! Seems the nights are too short latey.

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  38. Bad computer jokes no. 94 - so your computer has had its chips..?
    Hope you're well JJ.

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  39. SCORE!!!
    How neat it cost you nothing.
    I hope your poor eyes are better now and you are not scaring everyone in sight.
    lol

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  40. Wow. Hope you feel better soon!

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  41. Ack.. that bill would have made my heart skip a beat, too. Macs are wonderful (I have always been a Mac person) but they're costly and so are their repairs. I'm glad this was no charge. Now, get your own self feeling better!

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  42. Oh YAE!!! That is wonderful! I've had my own computer woes so I can really empathize with you. I'm glad everything went well for you.

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  43. When a computer goes on the fritz, your heart nearly stops, doesn't it? SO glad this one was a relatively easy fix and involved no cash out of pocket!

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  44. Apple is great! Their customer service is always a pleasure...

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  45. a free repair....now that is a sweet deal !!!

    i hope my macbook never stops breathing....or i probably will, too......we're kind of hooked at the hip :)

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  46. hey jj! i´ve missed you! just caught up on all that is the fifty factor and i´m sitting here with a big grin on my face. hope all is well in your part of the hood. see you soon!
    xxx

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  47. Yay! That one sure went in your favor!

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  48. I am so glad to see you! I look like quasi modo with the hump. Darn it : ) Allergies are kicking me in the butt as well. My eyes are non stop crying. EEEK!

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  49. I've been through this too ... it's pretty scary when your computer dies. Glad things are back in order ... I've been behind in blogs, what with work deadlines, mom care, and spring chores. Sure have missed reading you in the meantime!

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  50. Oh thank goodness for that!!! Our computers are sort of critical items nowadays and can be expensive to fix. I ahvent had a Mac since my design days but I still look at them longingly. Apple have the best designed products ever. I may given the PC the flick next time and get a Mac again. Hope you are well xx

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  51. Oh thank goodness for that!!! Our computers are sort of critical items nowadays and can be expensive to fix. I ahvent had a Mac since my design days but I still look at them longingly. Apple have the best designed products ever. I may given the PC the flick next time and get a Mac again. Hope you are well xx

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  52. Wow! I laughed. I felt sorry for you! And it wore me out. So, you must have felt like you had been hit by a truck. . . that is, right up to the point where you skipped out of that store with a gift!

    Nice ending! Now, get back on here and let us see your pretty blog!

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  53. I've never had your kind of computer luck. Mine dies and is beyond salvation - and it usually happens the week afer the expiration of my three year contract. My karma is NOT good. My desktop went bonkers a few months ago and, thankfully, oldest son had advised me to get Carbonite which I did a few months prior to the desktop demise. I was so happy to have all my files, etc, in Carbonite heaven. Now it's all on my aging laptop which hasn't an ounce of space left on it and is s-l-o-w-e-r than molasses!

    Life is so complicated and I am aging faster than fast.

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