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3G - Cracks in Plastic Housing

BLACK MAC said:
My phone also has cracks. I have returned it for different reasons before, (dead pixels and light leaking). I have about a dozen cracks along the headphone jack, sim card, camera, and volume button. Other then that the phone has no dead pixels and the light doesn't leak. Do you think I should exchange it for a new one? I just hate exchanging it over and over. I have the black 16gb.
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Since my last exchange I had to take back mine today for dead pixels, a messed up proximity sensor and a super loose vibrate switch( If you just touched it it would vibrate.):( So in total I have 4 exchanges all came out of the original box(Not Refurbished.) The one I got today has cracks. I have learned to live with the cracks, in all reality the only person that sees them is you. I just feel like it's a 50/50 chance every time you exchange the phone there will be a defect. For me as long as the screen is good(no dust or dead pixels) and the buttons and phone work, I can live with the cracks if they are superficial. If they bother you take it back, but remember you can get one worse than the one you have. Good Luck:D
 
djinn said:
Is it just the 16 gig that is affected with the cracks?
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I was looking at some 8 gig models on display while I was at the store and about 4 of them had cracks. But the display models get abused and jammed in the dock all day long so who knows???????????????????:confused:
 
Al2009 said:
Since my last exchange I had to take back mine today for dead pixels, a messed up proximity sensor and a super loose vibrate switch( If you just touched it it would vibrate.):( So in total I have 4 exchanges all came out of the original box(Not Refurbished.) The one I got today has cracks. I have learned to live with the cracks, in all reality the only person that sees them is you. I just feel like it's a 50/50 chance every time you exchange the phone there will be a defect. For me as long as the screen is good(no dust or dead pixels) I can live with the cracks. If they bother you take it back, but remember you can get one worse than the one you have. Good Luck:D
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I have been having alot of seconds thoughts of exchanging it. Yes I would love to have a 'perfect' iphone. However with all these known defects, I think I may be pressing my luck. This phone works great, other then the small cracks. I just hesistant on keeping it and the cracks get worst. Then I guess I would be really out of luck on warranty coverage. I have an appointment for tomorrow, but I don't know if I will keep it.
 
BLACK MAC said:
I have been having alot of seconds thoughts of exchanging it. Yes I would love to have a 'perfect' iphone. However with all these known defects, I think I may be pressing my luck. This phone works great, other then the small cracks. I just hesistant on keeping it and the cracks get worst. Then I guess I would be really out of luck on warranty coverage. I have an appointment for tomorrow, but I don't know if I will keep it.
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I know what you mean my friend, I hope everything works out for you. While you're there explain your situation and make sure you look and test everything on the replacement phone really good before you walk out of there. Because there is nothing worse than getting home and finding out the phone is a DOA. Let us know how it goes. Take Care :)
 
Al2009 said:
I know what you mean my friend, I hope everything works out for you. While you're there explain your situation and make sure you look and test everything on the replacement phone really good before you walk out of there. Because there is nothing worse than getting home and finding out the phone is a DOA. Let us know how it goes. Take Care :)
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Thank you. I will keep you posted. But at the current moment, I am leaning towards just keeping it. I can deal with small cracks because I don't see them on with a case. However I just hope they don't get any worst. =| I just feel with an exchange it almost feels like I will be getting something worst then what I had.
 
Since Day One

I had a white one on the first day and it developed cracks a couple of weeks later, even with zero abuse. I put a photo of it on page one of this thread. Its (white) replacement did not develop any cracks and then I dropped it: major scuff marks, numerous serious malfunctions, but NO cracks. I was floored.

My credit card paid for the replacement and I got another _precious_, er, white one. It has not been dropped [yet] and it already has a crack on the corner after about 3 weeks.

I think I have proven that it is not necessarily physical abuse that causes the cracks. Stick by your guns, laddies: if you did not abuse it, make sure they don't accuse you of it.
 
instig8r said:
I had a white one on the first day and it developed cracks a couple of weeks later, even with zero abuse. I put a photo of it on page one of this thread. Its (white) replacement did not develop any cracks and then I dropped it: major scuff marks, numerous serious malfunctions, but NO cracks. I was floored.

My credit card paid for the replacement and I got another _precious_, er, white one. It has not been dropped [yet] and it already has a crack on the corner after about 3 weeks.

I think I have proven that it is not necessarily physical abuse that causes the cracks. Stick by your guns, laddies: if you did not abuse it, make sure they don't accuse you of it.
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That sucks.
 
RichBoston said:
I think it fairly certain at this point that the next generation will return to a metal back. Wouldn't we all just LOVE to see the internal Apple memos and emails flying back and forth on this? Someone or some team or some manufacturing facility is/ are getting their collective arses kicked, I'm quite sure! :p
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Probably not. I don't see anything else about these cracks aside from a few forums.... which in turn, is where all the people with problems gather so it looks like a lot of people have the issue. Based on the number of phones sold, if it were a real problem, this thread would be over 100-200 pages or more.

I personally have had a launch day 16gb white phone for a few weeks with no cracks and now I've had my current white 16gb for over 3 months with not a sign of cracking. All my friends and coworkers that have 3G versions don't have any cracks either. I'm starting to wonder how on earth some people go through 6 phones with cracks.

Maybe it's something with the area and the shipments fly through super cold and then really hot climates or something. I'm in the midwest by the way.
 
dotcommie said:
Probably not. I don't see anything else about these cracks aside from a few forums.... which in turn, is where all the people with problems gather so it looks like a lot of people have the issue. Based on the number of phones sold, if it were a real problem, this thread would be over 100-200 pages or more.

I personally have had a launch day 16gb white phone for a few weeks with no cracks and now I've had my current white 16gb for over 3 months with not a sign of cracking. All my friends and coworkers that have 3G versions don't have any cracks either. I'm starting to wonder how on earth some people go through 6 phones with cracks.

Maybe it's something with the area and the shipments fly through super cold and then really hot climates or something. I'm in the midwest by the way.
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I think it's just luck of the draw. My orignal iPhone had no problems at all. The reception is great too. So it's if you just get lucky or not.
 
I had two 16 GB's with the exact same crack by the Silencer switch. They changed both to new ones and the new ones are perfect. For some reason the new ones plastic feels different and the button is slightly different. Maybe its just me but I'm a happy camper :D
 
navigates said:
I had two 16 GB's with the exact same crack by the Silencer switch. They changed both to new ones and the new ones are perfect. For some reason the new ones plastic feels different and the button is slightly different. Maybe its just me but I'm a happy camper :D
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I hope I get the same result as you did. :D
 
I don't mind the cracks. They don't affect the functionality of the phone at all. So I gave up on exchanging for cracks, I don't see myself having this phone for two years anyway maybe one year max. They bothered me at first, just like my first paint chip from a rock on my 2008 G37 coupe with 600 miles on it. I wanted to cry but I just got some touch up paint and life goes on. So I just enjoy it and use it as a phone. Life's too short to sweat the small stuff. ;)
 
dotcommie said:
Probably not. I don't see anything else about these cracks aside from a few forums.... which in turn, is where all the people with problems gather so it looks like a lot of people have the issue. Based on the number of phones sold, if it were a real problem, this thread would be over 100-200 pages or more.
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maybe people just arent realizing it. they keep it in cases. the cracks are hidden away...
 
Well I got my phone replaced at the apple store. The new one seems to be a bit better. They said the newer phones are using a slightly different plastic and heated to a certain temp to avoid the cracks. Hope this one turns out to be the best one so far. I am currently one my 4th phone.
 
BLACK MAC said:
Well I got my phone replaced at the apple store. The new one seems to be a bit better. They said the newer phones are using a slightly different plastic and heated to a certain temp to avoid the cracks. Hope this one turns out to be the best one so far. I am currently one my 4th phone.
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What week of production is it?
 
mmbo said:
maybe people just arent realizing it. they keep it in cases. the cracks are hidden away...
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I agree. Most people I've seen buying them at the Apple Store just get them activated and they walk out of the store without even looking at the phone and probably don't even know they are there for the entire time they own their phone. Unless they run across one of these forums.:D Most of them are so small you need to hold the phone like two inches from your face to see anyway.
 
I don't mind the cracks. They don't affect the functionality of the phone at all. So I gave up on exchanging for cracks, I don't see myself having this phone for two years anyway maybe one year max. The cracks bothered me at first, just like my first paint chip from a rock on the hood of my 2008 G37 coupe with 600 miles on it. After awhile I just forgot the chip was there. So I just learned to enjoy it for what it is, a great phone. Life's too short to sweat the small stuff. :D
 
:(
I had 3 iPhones - 16 GB white. All have cracks on plastic housing after few days of using it.
The last one was cracked arround system connector. The plastic was really cracked thoroughly - if I pressed it, there were a hole!

So, I returned the iPhone to shop, and wanted my money back. Now I'm waiting for their response. I believe, that they accept it.
But... It's a pity. It was great phone... But the plastic housing is worse than "china-phone" plastic. :(
I don't want a phone which is breaking down in my hands.

I don't understand, why Apple used so bad material on back housing, while the glass on the display is "first-class" material.

(Sorry about my English)
 
I've had four iPhones now, White 16gb's - and each one has had faults, on my fourth now and it has various cracks in it, even though i paid almost £30 for a protective case in which it's spent it's life. Built quality isn't great - though the new version will surely be made of Aluminium as it follows suit of Apples pledge to be green.

Not that happy with my iPhone, but customer service is fantastic.
 
MykeHamilton said:
I've had four iPhones now, White 16gb's - and each one has had faults, on my fourth now and it has various cracks in it, even though i paid almost £30 for a protective case in which it's spent it's life. Built quality isn't great - though the new version will surely be made of Aluminium as it follows suit of Apples pledge to be green.

Not that happy with my iPhone, but customer service is fantastic.
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I wouldn't bet my money on the next one being aluminium. They had started the aluminum push before iPhone 3G, with the original iPhone and alu iMac in Summer 2007.

I really think they went to the plastic, for improved reception including the added GPS. I would want a return to aluminum more than you can imagine, but I don't know if it is possible.
 
I think the new iPhone will be alum, but just a diffrent grade of metal so it doesn't effect call quality as much. I am all for the alum iphone again. I don't really care to much for the plastic one.
 
I just discovered a mirror crack right by the sleep button. It's pointing towards the silver rim in a 45º angle looking from the top.

I bought this white iPhone 3G on day 1.
 
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