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?
Vintage, Obsolete and other terms have existed for years, this isn't new whatsoever. So what if they don't want to do the battery? Let them lose the revenue and take it somewhere else or do it yourself. This is 2023, nearly 2024 we have guides, access to parts and tools. There's no reason not to get it done.
You're confused, there are authorized and non-authorized repair centers. There's also nothing proprietary about doing a battery. Do not confuse a battery replacement on a laptop for displays on a phone - they're different.
All these batteries you find will only be online, you're not gonna get it offline you have to order it bud. Or you can take it to a shop - they have to get the parts. That's their problem not yours.
ifixit battery if you want another method.
Here's the guide in written form, and here in video form and here
You seem to be the one who is confused, and as if you didn't read the OP at all.
My issue is that third-party knock-off batteries are usually garbage. Even the iFixit one you suggest. https://www.reddit.com/r/macbook/comments/1237kwd/anyone_ever_had_issues_with_ifixit_macbook/
Plus, that you suggest getting a laptop battery from some mystery store on eBay is just plain bad advice. Even more garbage than the knock-off ones on Amazon.
Where do you think Apple gets their batteries? I think you overestimate the amount of battery manufacturers in the world.
Yes Amazon/Aliexpress is wild west with lacking QA, and high prices are no guarantees for quality. Hell I have first hand experience (working at a mayor LCD manufacturer) that 90% of all QA rejects end up on aliexpress (or equivalent).
However you cant fault apple for limiting support on older devices, probably old stock is drying up and production of spare parts has stopped. Poor quality 3rd party is the only option you have.
You can however fault apple for your device not functioning properly because the battery is dead (the infamous "PROCHOT" throttling when any part of the laptop is missing).
Interesting. They end up on AliExpress as replacement LCDs for the model they were literally made for? What's usually wrong with them?