The Learning Center

I wish I had read the reviews on Unilocal about this place before I got there. But Learning Center was referred to me by Apple Store Ann Arbor because my computer is a vintage and Apple doesn’t repair vintages.
It is curious, but I had the same impression about Learning Center as I read in one of the reviews, that says: «that they weren’t interested in my business». I was so frustrated with the cranky treatment that I received on my first visit, that I told my husband that they didn’t seem to care a bit.
They asked me $ 79 upfront for a diagnostic. As my computer wouldn’t turn on, they said that it could be the power supply, which would cost around $ 200. The next day I received the quote:
Power supply: 299.00
Labor: 80.00
Tax: 17.94
Total: 396.94
Including the diagnostic fee, it would be $ 475.94. I declined the service and picked it up. After I got home, I realized that the computer had a huge scratch on the inside of the screen. I brought it back to the store and they told me that the scratch was there before.
How would it be possible for me to scratch a screen on the inside? It was the first time the computer was ever serviced.
As they wouldn’t admit their fault, there was not much I could do other than a scene, which I didn’t. And that’s pretty much the situation they put me through.
I walked out of that place with one more issue in my computer, that they gifted me after I had paid $ 79 bucks.

This place must be doing very well, because the impression I got from them was that they weren’t interested in my business.
My Macbook Pro has a hardware problem that will very likely require a logic board replacement to solve. The tech support specialist at the Apple store here in Ann Arbor isolated it, then presented me with two options: I could get the laptop serviced by Apple for a flat fee, or I could take it to the Learning Center (which advertises itself as a certified Apple service center) and ask them for a possibly different quote. Being inclined to support smaller businesses whenever possible, I did the latter.
When I walked in the door, the first person to notice me turned around from his computer and asked me how he could help me. When I explained that I had an Apple laptop with a hardware problem that needed servicing, he turned to another gentleman, with a *grimace* on his face — a wordless plea for this second person to help me so that he could return to his work. This second gentleman gestured for me to put my laptop on a nearby table and show him what was wrong with it.
I demonstrated the problem, which manifests quite dramatically as a graphics glitch when you attempt to open Launchpad, and related the Apple store specialist’s hypothesis that it was an issue with the integrated graphics chip on the motherboard. The gentleman responded: «Yeah, it could a problem with the *trackpad*, it could be anything, we won’t know until we’ve taken a look at it, and it’s 80 dollars for a diagnostic.» (emphasis mine). Unwilling to spend 80 dollars on re-​diagnosing a problem that had already been diagnosed, I asked: «So suppose that solving this requires a logic board replacement, can you give me a rough idea of how much that would cost?» He responded: «I wouldn’t know, I’m just a sales person. For 80 dollars, we’ll look at it and then we’ll give you a quote.»
At this point, I realized that I wouldn’t get to talk to someone with any real expertise on the matter before forking over the cash. So I packed up my laptop, and decided (against my instincts) to go with the Apple store.
On the plus side, I didn’t waste too much time at the Learning Center. This whole disappointing interaction was over rather quickly.

This local business is GREAT! Why go to the Apple Store and wait for barely trained teenagers to look at your Mac when you can go here? They’re incredibly helpful — from computer repair to advice about useful products. They’re always very honest, regardless of the price of the item or if it is an Apple exclusive device. They fixed my broken keys and cleaned my laptop for free — even helped me get rid of junk and get my laptop working like new again, at no charge. I highly recommend them to anyone with a Mac. Their prices are reasonable, too, and they have sales on items as well.

3 stars is not an insult, it means «A-​OK.» (I’m a strict grader).
This shop delivers what I would expect, other than not seeming to have any web presence at all. (?)
I was actually directed here from the nearby Apple Store, as they had a long service back-​up and The Learning Center didn’t. My machine needed a new hard drive — they ordered one, got it overnight (their standard shipping time) and had my Mac Book Pro ready to pick up the afternoon of that day. They are Apple Care certified, so my repair didn’t cost me anything, and my Apple Care warranty is still in effect for the drive.
Before the Apple Store came along, they were a much larger operation; now they mostly focus on service, and have reduced the size of their offices, which are clean and professional looking. Drive around to the back of the building, they have a walk-​in entrance from the lower-​level parking lot.

Long before there was ever an Apple store at Briarwood Mall, there was the Learning Center. For quite awhile, they were the only game in town (at least that I knew of) to reliably fix and service your mac.
I’ve had Macs for a long time, so over the years, I’ve had a few melt-​downs, crashes, etc. Luckily, the Learning Center has pretty much always come to the rescue. It hasn’t always been cheap, but it’s been reasonable, and they do try to help you figure out if the service you need would be covered under a AppleCare.
Now that the Genius Bar is so close, the Apple Store would probably be the first place I’d take a cranky computer, but I’m still comforted that the Learning center is around, and still apparently doing a pretty healthy business!
One thing that I find weird, though? They don’t seem to have a website. I mean, they work on computer, right?