Recently my new MacBook Air keyboard stopped worki...

Recently my new MacBook Air keyboard stopped working properly. It was apparent that the rest of the device was working because when I was able to turn the device on, everything else worked. Battery, trackpad, hard drive all appeared to be fine. I brought my computer in to this location and I was told they couldn't get the machine to turn on (power button is part of the keyboard), that there was water damage and that the repairs would be $700. I never got water on the device, so I was beside myself and insisted that Apple try an alternative way to turn it on. The Apple "Genius" showed no interest in what I had to say, no regard for the fact that I was blindsided and upset, and even had a slight smirk on his face; he seemed happy that "there was nothing they could do" and that made it all the more infuriating. I asked to speak to their manager, and I vented a bit. She was nicer, but said all she could do was take $70 off and help finance the repairs. I left with no resolution, and what seemed to be a $1200 paperweight.

I waited a couple of days and took my machine to the Apple Store in Huntington, NY. I explained my experience in SoHo and they apologized and said they would happily take another look. Within 5 minutes, they came back and confirmed the only issue they could see was with the keyboard; this location thought to take the battery out and put it back in to see if the computer would turn back on, which it did. The Genius at this location was outstanding, but because the previous store indicated water damage in the notes she was forced to send the computer to the repair depot. She said as long as there was no further indication of water damage, the device would be covered under AppleCare. The SoHo store didn't even bother with this option and instead tried to slap a $700 charge on me immediately.

In the end there was no actual water damage, my computer was fixed under AppleCare within 2 days and it is now working like new. The SoHo store is a disgrace to customer service, and their conduct in this instance was nothing short of abhorrent. I will never go back there despite the convenient location and suggest other Apple customers do the same.