If they can't produce some kind of evidence or test, they're most likely trying to avoid their warranty obligations. Saying "water damage" is a common dodge amo

If they can't produce some kind of evidence or test, they're most likely trying to avoid their warranty obligations. Saying "water damage" is a common dodge among unscrupulous businesses, because once the water evaporates, there's no remaining evidence -- or counterevidence. > Is this a sign that I should take it to another store where the geniuses are better? Yes, of course. It's like getting a second opinion from a doctor. But guess what? This is one of the downsides of dealing with a monolithic vendor like Apple -- you have fewer options than if you bought a non-Apple laptop. > Is this a ploy to get out of fixing this under AppleCare since it is a 2010 model? Yes, and you need to realize that they only need to stall you for a certain amount of time, after which the warranty coverage ends with no remedy.