Hey, I have a 20-month old iPhone 4 16GB, which I purchased with cash at an Apple Store.
Recently it's top power button has lost its 'click' and has to be pushed hard to work: In fact it seems increasingly hard; and others report that it eventually stops working altogether.
I armed myself with the EC legislation promising a two-year warranty; and an article from the BBC website stating that Apple have not been informing customers that it exists.
Sure enough, I was told by the 'Genius' that I was no longer covered by their one-year warranty; and that I could buy a new iPhone 4 for £119.
Upon presentation of the article, he called a manager over, who obtusely reiterated the one-year warranty which is Apple policy; and told me that he knew nothing about the EC legislation.
He then revealed that he was possibly lying, by swiftly identifying an article specifying that to use the EC legislation after six months, you have to demonstrate that the fault was pre-existing.
I countered by citing the circumstantial evidence that many others have had the same problem, which he refuted. I then reminded him of the many thousands I have spent on an iMac, Macbook, iPhone, iPad etc in recent years and asked him whether he thought it was reasonable to pay over £500 for a phone that would break in just over a year-and-a-half.
Of course he used the standard sales principle of empathising, then reminding me that it's store policy; although he said I can take it up with their legal department.
Options
Legal Department: Has anyone else done this? Or are there any other Apple routes that can yield success?
£119 for a new handset: I'll do this if nothing else, because I am about to get an iPhone5 on contract and want a 4 as my business handset to replace my Blackberry..
I note that the iPhone 4 is now only available in 8Gb, so would I get a 16Gb iPhone 4s, or a refurbished 16Gb iPhone 4?
Also, does the £119 option give me another 12 month warranty?
Any other thoughts on the best way to proceed and/or similar experiences would be appreciated. I read stories about some people who smash their iPads and get free replacements; then people like me who spend thousands and get nothing back - Apple's customer service policies seem wildly inconsistent!
Recently it's top power button has lost its 'click' and has to be pushed hard to work: In fact it seems increasingly hard; and others report that it eventually stops working altogether.
I armed myself with the EC legislation promising a two-year warranty; and an article from the BBC website stating that Apple have not been informing customers that it exists.
Sure enough, I was told by the 'Genius' that I was no longer covered by their one-year warranty; and that I could buy a new iPhone 4 for £119.
Upon presentation of the article, he called a manager over, who obtusely reiterated the one-year warranty which is Apple policy; and told me that he knew nothing about the EC legislation.
He then revealed that he was possibly lying, by swiftly identifying an article specifying that to use the EC legislation after six months, you have to demonstrate that the fault was pre-existing.
I countered by citing the circumstantial evidence that many others have had the same problem, which he refuted. I then reminded him of the many thousands I have spent on an iMac, Macbook, iPhone, iPad etc in recent years and asked him whether he thought it was reasonable to pay over £500 for a phone that would break in just over a year-and-a-half.
Of course he used the standard sales principle of empathising, then reminding me that it's store policy; although he said I can take it up with their legal department.
Options
Legal Department: Has anyone else done this? Or are there any other Apple routes that can yield success?
£119 for a new handset: I'll do this if nothing else, because I am about to get an iPhone5 on contract and want a 4 as my business handset to replace my Blackberry..
I note that the iPhone 4 is now only available in 8Gb, so would I get a 16Gb iPhone 4s, or a refurbished 16Gb iPhone 4?
Also, does the £119 option give me another 12 month warranty?
Any other thoughts on the best way to proceed and/or similar experiences would be appreciated. I read stories about some people who smash their iPads and get free replacements; then people like me who spend thousands and get nothing back - Apple's customer service policies seem wildly inconsistent!
