Extremely bad service and workmanship

Item: Core Group
Rating: 1

My wifes iMac 27" 2012 computer was purchased new from Dion Wired in Somerset West Mall. After about 2.5 years of use, no problems, then one day her computer started to shut down randomly. It was taken to the iStore in Somerset West for inspection, the techs couldn't replicate the problem, so we went home and shut downs became more frequent. We took her computer in again and insisted that there was indeed a big problem with the computer. iStore then sent the computer off to CORE GROUP for inspection and repairs, in the mean time, I had discovered after much searching on the net that my wife's computer was actually recalled by Apple due to a faulty graphics card, I informed the CORE GROUP SERVICE CENTER supervisor that the problem was most likely the graphics card and that they should replace it. After many emails back and forth, the CORE GROUP informed me that they couldn't find any problem with the computer and that they would be shipping it back to the istore in Somerset West. We collected the computer and within a few days it was starting to shutdown and reboot, shutdown and reboot. Back it went to the istore, this time they picked up a fault with the graphics card, off it went to the CORE GROUP again. CORE GROUP came back to us saying it was a faulty graphics card and would cost just over R10 000 to replace!!!!! I informed them that it should be replaced under Apples recall program, to this they said it had missed the deadline by a few weeks and that they would not repair it. I then managed to get hold of an Apple Customer Service chap in Greece, he was very helpful and I supp**** him with all the details of the computer and proof of purchase / date, etc. After 2 days, he came back with the good news that the CORE GROUP were instructed to replace the graphics card free of charge under the Apple Recall Program. This was then done and we again picked up the computer at the iStore in Somerset West, 4 months go by and BANG, it starts randomly shutting off again. Take it back to the iStore in Somerset West, they pick up a fault on the damn graphics card again. Again it gets sent to the CORE GROUP for investigation and repair, they come back that it's a faulty graphics card and will cost over R10K to be replaced - I told them that they had just frigging replace the card, they rep**** it was out of their 3 month warranty period and basically it's now my problem. I told them to send the computer back to the iStore untouched. Picked up the computer and took it to a private technician in the Strand, the report came back that the graphic card which was replaced by the CORE GROUP was a frigging “ REFURBISHED CARD" with the telltale signs of a missing dust cover, but it gets worse, the technician also said he had never in his life seen a graphics card so badly installed, it's a miracle it lasted 4 months!!!! I was totally shocked to hear this, I immediately sent an email to iStore and the CORE GROUP SERVICE CENTER, together with a photograph taken by the technician of the graphics card. I was told that the issue had been sent up to management and they would make a decision on it. Today (7th April 2017) - I was told because a 3rd party tech had open the computer, they were not liable - end of story. This is Apple we are talking about, what a bunch of thieving sharks, I will make sure this reaches the papers and every social media platform possible, so people can see exactly how they treat their customers………..once you purchase their expensive, faulty computers - you’re on your own - GOOD LUCK TO ALL FUTURE APPLE CUSTOMERS, you’re going to need it, especially when things start going wrong.

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