Apple quietly introduces Quality Program to deal with “Staingate”-affected MacBook, MacBook Pro notebooks

Well, this is decent news in spite of an unfortunate circumstance.

Apple has issued an internal notice about an upcoming Quality Program that addresses an issue in which the anti-reflective coating on Retina Display-equipped MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks has been peeling. According to various sources, these issues include the anti-reflective coating on displays wearing off or delaminating under certain circumstances.

Apple will replace Retina displays on affected MacBook or MacBook Pro models for free within three years from the date of original purchase, or one year from October 16, 2015, whichever is longer. Affected customers that have already incurred out-of-warranty costs may be eligible for a refund through AppleCare support.

Affected customers can book a Genius Bar appointment or visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider to determine if their MacBook is eligible for coverage. Apple does not currently plan on announcing the Quality Program publicly on its support website, according to sources, but may contact some customers directly.

Users first noticed the problem around March and it has since grown to affect thousands of customers on the Apple Support Communities, Facebook and our own discussion forums. Nearly 6,000 affected customers have also joined an online database called “Staingate”, sharing pictures of their damaged displays, while thousands of others have signed a Change.org petition.

It’s felt that the peeling has stemmed from assorted sources, including the pressure of the MacBook keyboard and trackpad on the display when closed, and the use of incorrect third-party cleaning solutions with microfiber cloths. The issue often affects small areas of the screen, but sometimes encompasses the entire display.

Some MacBook and MacBook Pro users with AppleCare have been able to get their notebook repaired through the Genius Bar with no charge, while others have been told that cosmetic damage is not covered under warranty and offered to have their notebooks repaired for a service charge costing hundreds of dollars.

Please let us know if this has happened on your end and we’ll post additional details as they become available.

Via MacRumors