Tech site quotes a UK-based Apple Authorised Service Provider/Reseller that claims Apple is offering an additional 15 per cent to those who return faulty 27-inch iMacs.

Numerous reports, including on Apple's own support forums, claim faults including flickering and yellowing screen have blighted the 27-inch iMac, introduced late last year.

"The short of it is that Apple doesn't have any 27-inch LCDs in Europe and there is a backlog of 230 machines that are waiting on this part, with no eta on shipping. So to keep customers happy(ish) they're paying them," the obviously unnamed Apple Authorised Service Provider/Reseller tells Gizmodo.

"That's right Apple is now (quietly) offering people a full refund and 15 per cent of the price extra, and they are arranging a free pick up of your machine. I'm not 100 per cent if this is the case in the US, but it's happening over here in the UK."

"As far as i know it's both Apple stores and 3rd party retailers, but the refund itself comes from Apple not the 3rd party retailer. We've had two customer that have both gotten there machines' refunded plus the 15 per cent."