I have a still perfectly useable early-2015 MacBook Pro that I purchased from Apple 6 years ago. The battery needs to be changed, especially since it has visibly started bulging the keyboard. I went to two Apple Authorized Service Providers. Each time, someone at the counter just checked the laptop model, then saying that it's classified as a "vintage product" and that the battery can't be changed. Yeah, "vintage product." Apple is great with naming things.
Okay, so Apple is hellbent on not allowing other stores to fix or replace parts, but at the same time they leave customers in the dark with perfectly decent laptops.
I've always purchased official Apple batteries, because Chinese knock-offs usually don't last very long, and they can be a fire hazard. I tried finding a way to get an OWC battery, which apparently is a good brand, but there aren't any places selling them where I live. All the non-official Apple repair stores sell knock-off batteries.
Any suggestions of what I should do?
Apple support MacBook battery changes on machines up to 10 years old, but only directly from the Genius Bar at an Apple retail store, and it’s then shipped away to be completed.
It’s a truly painful process, whereby it’s only subject to availability, you can’t see if a battery is available before attending, (I live 80 miles from my nearest store) and you can’t mail in the machine.
I had one done recently, and the “new” battery itself was physically 6 years old, and now only holds its charge for a couple of hours and Apple won’t do anything about it.
So, not impossible, but it should be easier.
There’s a 90-day warranty on Genius Bar repairs. Also, in your situation, it’s best to call the store directly and arrange a repair reservation for your Mac. Don’t expect technicians to agree because it would be an exception but if you’re kind and explain your situation I don’t see why they might say no. The only issue is that if the repair is completed in-store, there’s a 3-5 day turnaround time. The other option is to have an Apple repair center complete the repair and ship your computer back straight to you.