Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

tesilential

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 9, 2010
224
0
my launch day iPhone 4 (almost 2 years old) was in seemingly perfect condition until saturday it just went completely dead after tapping "end call" on a phone call. since then it will not turn on, neither iTunes nor my computer recognize it when plugged in.

I went to a nearby apple store and spoke to one of the morons (er-geniuses :rolleyes:) and I was told my options were to upgrade to a 4S and renew my contract for 2 years (**** that) or pay $149.99 for a replacement.

My phone has been meticulously cared for and doesn't even have a single scratch after 2 years.

I was very polite and professional and tried to get a free or cheaper replacement, but even the manager claimed Apple was no longer able to replace the phone for free since Apple care plus came out. Is this true? He said it is a nationwide thing and I'm totally out of luck.

He basically told me it made no difference if my screen was shattered and my water sensors were activated, it would be $150 regardless.

I'm really pissed that someone who takes great care of their phone gets screwed when so many people got free replacements after treating their phone like crap. I don't want them to be able to reuse a single piece from the phone if that's how they are going to be.

The sting is even worse because I pay $300 a month for 4 iPhones with ATT.
My plan is to bring it in again tomorrow, set it on the counter. Then I'll calmly pull out a small hammer and smash it a few times, and then dunk it in some gatorade. Then I'll pay the $150 for a refurb.

How's that sound?
 

lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,161
3,720
Boston, MA
The sting is even worse because I pay $300 a month for 4 iPhones with ATT.
My plan is to bring it in again tomorrow, set it on the counter. Then I'll calmly pull out a small hammer and smash it a few times, and then dunk it in some gatorade. Then I'll pay the $150 for a refurb.

Sounds like a good way to get asked to leave the store and subsequently escorted out by the police if you refuse to comply.
 

astrorider

macrumors 6502a
Sep 25, 2008
588
122
I'm really pissed that someone who takes great care of their phone gets screwed when so many people got free replacements after treating their phone like crap. I don't want them to be able to reuse a single piece from the phone if that's how they are going to be.

Apple was replacing out of warranty phones that were treated like crap? Or are you talking about being very generous with in warranty phone replacements, even for beat up phones? If so, those who got replacements should be happy but I wouldn't feel jipped just because they stopped the practice. I don't really know any companies that extend their warranties like that.
 

boshii

macrumors 68040
Jul 6, 2008
3,699
784
Atlanta, GA
Just do that at home then bring it in. If you could get the same genius, even better. Your plan in its current state will only get you in trouble.
 

Small White Car

macrumors G4
Aug 29, 2006
10,966
1,463
Washington DC
So, just so we have this straight:

After 2 years, when a product is out of warranty, a company just offered you a $500 discount to buy a new one if you just give them the broken one. And you're angry about it.

Just wanted to make sure I've got that right.
 

sweetbrat

macrumors 65816
Jun 17, 2009
1,443
1
Redford, MI
my launch day iPhone 4 (almost 2 years old) was in seemingly perfect condition until saturday it just went completely dead after tapping "end call" on a phone call. since then it will not turn on, neither iTunes nor my computer recognize it when plugged in.

I went to a nearby apple store and spoke to one of the morons (er-geniuses :rolleyes:) and I was told my options were to upgrade to a 4S and renew my contract for 2 years (**** that) or pay $149.99 for a replacement.

My phone has been meticulously cared for and doesn't even have a single scratch after 2 years.

I was very polite and professional and tried to get a free or cheaper replacement, but even the manager claimed Apple was no longer able to replace the phone for free since Apple care plus came out. Is this true? He said it is a nationwide thing and I'm totally out of luck.

He basically told me it made no difference if my screen was shattered and my water sensors were activated, it would be $150 regardless.

I'm really pissed that someone who takes great care of their phone gets screwed when so many people got free replacements after treating their phone like crap. I don't want them to be able to reuse a single piece from the phone if that's how they are going to be.

The sting is even worse because I pay $300 a month for 4 iPhones with ATT.
My plan is to bring it in again tomorrow, set it on the counter. Then I'll calmly pull out a small hammer and smash it a few times, and then dunk it in some gatorade. Then I'll pay the $150 for a refurb.

How's that sound?

It's sounds like you're angry at Apple for a decision you made.

See, this is what happens when Apple does something nice for some people. Everyone starts expecting it. Apple owes you nothing. If you had purchased Applecare, your phone would still be under warranty and you would be entitled to a replacement. You didn't, therefore you have to pay the out of warranty replacement fee, which is $149. Even before Applecare+ there was never a guarantee that you would get a free replacement for an out of warranty phone; sometimes yes, sometimes no. If you want a guarantee, buy Applecare. If not, take your chances, but at least be willing to pay up when things don't go your way.
 

tesilential

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 9, 2010
224
0
Lol :D had fun writing that but not crazy enough to do it.


How bout if I walk through the mall holding a clear fish bowl with an iPhone in it and ask the geniuses for help with my phone troubles?

----------

So, just so we have this straight:

After 2 years, when a product is out of warranty, a company just offered you a $500 discount to buy a new one if you just give them the broken one. And you're angry about it.

Just wanted to make sure I've got that right.

It's sounds like you're angry at Apple for a decision you made.

no fellas.

I'm mad that I get the same discount that Johnny ******* gets for shattering his phone or falling in a lake like my buddy did saturday.

This thread was just to vent. In reality I really liked my iPhone and would not purposely cause damage to it. Just bummed that even though probably every component but 1 in it is tip top I'm getting the same deal as iPhones that come in and get tossed. I also remembered I got a refurb back in March of last year for a dead camera, so 2 iPhone's couldn't get me through 2 years of use.

I'm actually worried about them having access the contents of the phone (bank info, email, etc), so I may dunk it in saltwater as a precaution against that (would it help at all?). Otherwise I'll just pay up and recoup costs when I sell it for the 5.
 

lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,161
3,720
Boston, MA
I'm mad that I get the same discount that Johnny ******* gets for shattering his phone or falling in a lake like my buddy did saturday.

Sometimes Johnny ******* lives a long and healthy life while Goody Twoshoes dies of cancer at the age of 25. It happens.

FWIW I bought an iPhone 4 on launch and that day it made it through the wash. I took it back, they first told me it was $200, but they felt bad, so they exchanged it for $100. I could have been upset that I had heard them doing free replacements but instead I was happy that I could get a $600 device replaced for $100.

It sucks your phone died. IMO warranties should be longer than 1 year, especially when it clear there was no tampering. Some countries actually REQUIRE two year warranties on devices like this. Unfortunately the USA isn't one of them.

At the end of the day your phone broke, it was out of warranty, and you were not one of the lucky ones to get it swapped out.

I'm actually worried about them having access the contents of the phone (bank info, email, etc), so I may dunk it in saltwater as a precaution against that (would it help at all?). Otherwise I'll just pay up and recoup costs when I sell it for the 5.

They shouldn't really have access to bank info (unless you are silly and store your bank login and password on the phone which is a security risk in and of itself). They may have access to contacts, I suppose, but I wouldn't stress about it. The memory is flash memory, so just a dunk in saltwater may or may not damage it irreperably.
 

sweetbrat

macrumors 65816
Jun 17, 2009
1,443
1
Redford, MI
no fellas.

I'm mad that I get the same discount that Johnny ******* gets for shattering his phone or falling in a lake like my buddy did saturday.

This thread was just to vent. In reality I really liked my iPhone and would not purposely cause damage to it. Just bummed that even though probably every component but 1 in it is tip top I'm getting the same deal as iPhones that come in and get tossed. I also remembered I got a refurb back in March of last year for a dead camera, so 2 iPhone's couldn't get me through 2 years of use.

I'm not a fella, but anyways... :)

I'm curious about what you want them to do. Do you think they should run diagnostics, disassemble your phone, figure out what's wrong with it, and then tell you how much they're going to charge you for a replacement based on what's wrong with it? I don't think that's really realistic.

If you really think it's just a single component that's broken, take it to someone that fixes iPhones. You may be able to get it done for a lot less than the replacement fee, depending on what's wrong with it.
 

blueroom

macrumors 603
Feb 15, 2009
6,381
26
Toronto, Canada
If everyone hammered their iPhones into oblivion you can bet the $150 replacement would disappear. It exists because the old phone is often salvageable.

Just swap it and be glad Apple even offers the service. Try the same thing with any other smartphone manufacturer.
 

Soulweaponry

macrumors 6502
Mar 13, 2010
394
1
How was the apple employee a moron? Are you simply calling them a moron because they didn't give you the answer you wanted? Customers man. Hate em
 

aneftp

macrumors 601
Jul 28, 2007
4,362
546
The real plan would be to find the receipt from your original purchase.

Assuming its with major credit card that doubles warranty.

Call them. Fill out paper work. They will give u option of filing paperwork and waiting to send u $150 check for replacement iPhone warranty.

Or u can just pay apple store $150. Save that receipt and send it in to visa/mastecard etc and they send u a check.

So don't water damage or break that iPhone yet on purpose. Credit card warranty covers second year and if phone just died and you didn't do anything out of ordinary. This warranty will cost you nothing.

I have used credit card warranty with laptops and also apple TV (the $329 original 160gb version). Got my warranty check within 3 weeks.

So that is why I scan almost all my electronic receipts and file them for these extended warranty issues.
 

labman

macrumors 604
Jun 9, 2009
7,786
2
Mich near Detroit
name a company that even gives you the time of day after the warranty is expired. let alone offer to replace at a deep discount. best care they tell you to buy a replacement at full cost.
 

tesilential

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 9, 2010
224
0
The real plan would be to find the receipt from your original purchase.

Assuming its with major credit card that doubles warranty.

Call them. Fill out paper work. They will give u option of filing paperwork and waiting to send u $150 check for replacement iPhone warranty.

Or u can just pay apple store $150. Save that receipt and send it in to visa/mastecard etc and they send u a check.

So don't water damage or break that iPhone yet on purpose. Credit card warranty covers second year and if phone just died and you didn't do anything out of ordinary. This warranty will cost you nothing.

I have used credit card warranty with laptops and also apple TV (the $329 original 160gb version). Got my warranty check within 3 weeks.

So that is why I scan almost all my electronic receipts and file them for these extended warranty issues.


My man! :D

Found my receipt and I paid with my Visa, which definitely has the double warranty deal. Now I'm going to call Visa on lunch and get the process started before going to the Apple store.
 

youngsunnz

macrumors regular
Dec 21, 2008
214
1
just buy a new battery, replace it and it should work. The same thing happened to me and after replacing the battery my phone works just fine.
 

astrorider

macrumors 6502a
Sep 25, 2008
588
122
I'm actually worried about them having access the contents of the phone (bank info, email, etc), so I may dunk it in saltwater as a precaution against that (would it help at all?). Otherwise I'll just pay up and recoup costs when I sell it for the 5.

My understanding is iPhones have hardware level encryption so a single restore and set up as new, or even using the Settings app to Erase all contents and settings, will effectively wipe the contents of your phone.
 

completing

macrumors member
Aug 6, 2009
52
0
The real plan would be to find the receipt from your original purchase.

Assuming its with major credit card that doubles warranty.

Call them. Fill out paper work. They will give u option of filing paperwork and waiting to send u $150 check for replacement iPhone warranty.

Or u can just pay apple store $150. Save that receipt and send it in to visa/mastecard etc and they send u a check.

So don't water damage or break that iPhone yet on purpose. Credit card warranty covers second year and if phone just died and you didn't do anything out of ordinary. This warranty will cost you nothing.

I have used credit card warranty with laptops and also apple TV (the $329 original 160gb version). Got my warranty check within 3 weeks.

So that is why I scan almost all my electronic receipts and file them for these extended warranty issues.

Wow. I didn't know my Citi Forward Visa card had this feature until you mentioned it.

I thought it was only for American Express or some premium credit cards.

I'll definitely use this from now on.
 

barryl85

macrumors regular
Jul 8, 2010
201
2
I'm actually worried about them having access the contents of the phone (bank info, email, etc), so I may dunk it in saltwater as a precaution against that (would it help at all?). Otherwise I'll just pay up and recoup costs when I sell it for the 5.

When I got a replacement iPhone 4 (due to the official bumper scratching all the stainless steel not long after launch) the genius totally wiped my original iPhone in front of my eyes.
 

SpyderBite

macrumors 65816
Oct 4, 2011
1,262
8
Xanadu
When I got a replacement iPhone 4 (due to the official bumper scratching all the stainless steel not long after launch) the genius totally wiped my original iPhone in front of my eyes.

This is the common practice. If a Genius doesn't do this during the replacement process, remind them. It's the people at the carrier retail stores/kiosks that are notorious for not practicing this & just tossing your device in a bin, contacts, calendar & all. :p
 

aneftp

macrumors 601
Jul 28, 2007
4,362
546
I'll try to swap it with a friend's battery to see if it helps.

Don't swap the battery out. When u pay apple the $150 replacement. Just have apple store employee say iPhone is dead on their notes and make them note no water damage is found.

But call credit call company first and they will send u the paperwork to get the process rolling. If you have access to fax machine. It's the quickiest way to get your money.

My laptop mother board blew 13 months into its life. Cost me $475 to repair it. Had the repair bill along with manufacturer warranty (u can find it easily on apple web page) and original copy of receipt. Visa paid my entire repair bill.

Credit card extended warranties work. As long as you didn't purposely break your iPhone or had water damage. Visa or MasterCard or American express will reimburse you for second year of warranty.

American express makes extended warranty process easier since its on their web page for you to start the process. But Visa process is easy also.

American Express does have added 90 day accidental damage protection. Some higher end Visa and MasterCard also have this added protection but it values by bank issuing the card.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.