A bit of advice for anyone needing after-sales suport for a web-ordered Apple product in Taiwan - Don’t call the number listed on their site, call 02-273-83242 ext. 419. This is supposedly their head office in Taipei. After calling the contact phone number listed on www.apple.com.tw/store I was bounced around a few reps in China and received little help before being given this number.

It seems as if there is one person responsible for web orders for the whole of Taiwan, maybe something to do with the recent job cuts. I got decent service from the Taipei office and arranged a swap out for my new MacBook (which should arrive very soon - update to follow).

Update - The new Macbook has arrived and so far everything is all good.