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3G - Cracks in Plastic Housing

So I went to the apple store today and was denied my phone replacement for its cracks. (16gb black). He said Apple hadnt documented any sort of replacements for cracked phones.

I also have a weird issue where the phone will randomly make a buzzing sound that sounds just like when your phone is about to get a text and its near some old computer speakers... except the buzzing sound happens in the earpiece throughout the entire conversation. I'm lucky enough that its completely sporadic so I couldnt duplicate it in the store. bah.
 
OverSpun said:
So I went to the apple store today and was denied my phone replacement for its cracks. (16gb black). He said Apple hadnt documented any sort of replacements for cracked phones.

I also have a weird issue where the phone will randomly make a buzzing sound that sounds just like when your phone is about to get a text and its near some old computer speakers... except the buzzing sound happens in the earpiece throughout the entire conversation. I'm lucky enough that its completely sporadic so I couldnt duplicate it in the store. bah.
Click to expand...

That genius is a (insert expletive here). The guy who replaced mine said he had never seen the cracks before and gladly swapped mine out. I suggest going to a different Apple store or just picking a different genius.

As for the buzzing, the same effect that happens around speakers could be happening to your earbuds. Do they buzz while the phone is on 3G? If so, then that's an issue.
 
Ya, it definitely buzzes while in 3G. It did it tonight about 30 minutes after leaving the apple store. Really annoying. I guess I'll try another store to see if I have better luck. The buzzing sound is FAR more annoying than the cracks, thats for sure.
 
skramsfan13 said:
Mine has the cracks taking it to the Apple store at 8 tonight I'll post how it went. I have been following this thread since day one. TODAY IS MY DAY TO GET A NEW PHONE!
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I just noticed a crack in mine. This is my 2nd phone with a crack. Mine is in the exact same spot as your picture (between the headphone and the chrome).
 
drew0020 said:
I just noticed a crack in mine. This is my 2nd phone with a crack. Mine is in the exact same spot as your picture (between the headphone and the chrome).
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Does Apple replace phone that have those cracks? I have the same cracks.
 
djinn said:
Does Apple replace phone that have those cracks? I have the same cracks.
Click to expand...

yep im in the same boat, will they give me trouble? im already having to take my mbp in for repair ( 6 problems to be fixed ), so im just hoping to do a one stop deal. also do you think if the agree to replace it i could talk them into letting me get the white one, i have the 16gb black one now.
 
TimothyB said:
I recall someone spotting cracks on their white iPhone the moment he took it out of the box at home. When he went back to the store they accused him of dropping it and wouldn't exchange it or something.
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That happened to me, it had a gap the second I bought it, but luckily they were really good about replacing it for free at the Apple store. If that happens again, however, I hope they'll be as helpful as they were the first time (dust had clearly gotten under the glass on the screen).
 
I noticed a hairline crack yesterday around the headphone jack, and it actually somehow chipped off the chrome around the jack. The crack however was relatively minor, compared to the other images.

I made an appointment today with the Genius and the guy was really cool. Taking one look and asking me the three questions everyone seems to be reporting. Within 10 minutes I walked out of the store, with a "new" phone in hand.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get a BRAND NEW unit, but out came one of those mystery WHITE boxes.

I tried to talk him into giving me a new one, but he claimed Apple policy does not allow him to give out a new phone. But the casing, screen, and battery was replaced, he assured me...


But the phone is definitely built better than my original because on the original my sim card tray was all coarse like sandpaper.

The casing is perfect, checked at the store (since some ppl here complained of cracks in their replacement) the buttons feel more solid as well.

I went in with a week 40 unit and came out with a week 47 unit, so compared to my old one, it is in the sense NEW.

The only complaint is that the chrome bezel on the right rises slightly, but its just a cosmetic issue I can live with. Also I figured I will probably be back in 3 months with another crack, so I am taking the wait and see approach...

Oh also, I had a 5 minute wait before my appointment so I took a look at all the other WHITE 3G phones and they were horrendous..

THEY HAD SPIDER VEIN CRACKS ALL OVER THE BACK, so it seems that eventually we will have cracks all over the back as well.

I really think its just a matter of time before everyone develops the cracks on their phones. I really think that our TLC handling just prolongs the process before cracks develop, comparing it to the display models.

Oh by the way, my "Genius Bar Work Authorization" sheet says "Consumer states unit's sound quality is waning".

I am curious to see what people's work sheets say as well so can users who received a replacement report what the sheet says? That way we can see if Apple has come to officially recognizing the problem, or just reporting it under different issues...
 
Cheebahawk said:
I noticed a hairline crack yesterday around the headphone jack, and it actually somehow chipped off the chrome around the jack. The crack however was relatively minor, compared to the other images.

I made an appointment today with the Genius and the guy was really cool. Taking one look and asking me the three questions everyone seems to be reporting. Within 10 minutes I walked out of the store, with a "new" phone in hand.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get a BRAND NEW unit, but out came one of those mystery WHITE boxes.

I tried to talk him into giving me a new one, but he claimed Apple policy does not allow him to give out a new phone. But the casing, screen, and battery was replaced, he assured me...


But the phone is definitely built better than my original because on the original my sim card tray was all coarse like sandpaper.

The casing is perfect, checked at the store (since some ppl here complained of cracks in their replacement) the buttons feel more solid as well.

I went in with a week 40 unit and came out with a week 47 unit, so compared to my old one, it is in the sense NEW.

The only complaint is that the chrome bezel on the right rises slightly, but its just a cosmetic issue I can live with. Also I figured I will probably be back in 3 months with another crack, so I am taking the wait and see approach...

Oh also, I had a 5 minute wait before my appointment so I took a look at all the other WHITE 3G phones and they were horrendous..

THEY HAD SPIDER VEIN CRACKS ALL OVER THE BACK, so it seems that eventually we will have cracks all over the back as well.

I really think its just a matter of time before everyone develops the cracks on their phones. I really think that our TLC handling just prolongs the process before cracks develop, comparing it to the display models.

Oh by the way, my "Genius Bar Work Authorization" sheet says "Consumer states unit's sound quality is waning".

I am curious to see what people's work sheets say as well so can users who received a replacement report what the sheet says? That way we can see if Apple has come to officially recognizing the problem, or just reporting it under different issues...
Click to expand...

You also have to remember that the display models might be old enough to be using inferior plastic. Perhaps they've changed the thickness of the plastic or the strength of the plastic since then.
 
at first i thought it was a hair on my phone inbetween the silencer switch and the chrome but then it grew a little more., and then continued onto the other side of the switch....... so now im wondering if i take it back what if i get one with cracks on it almost right away?, can i b like NOPE NOPE NOPE lol... it's kinda stupid how apple would release something that is just going to crack and get worse and worse...

<3 :apple:
 

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komiothebeat said:
at first i thought it was a hair on my phone inbetween the silencer switch and the chrome but then it grew a little more., and then continued onto the other side of the switch....... so now im wondering if i take it back what if i get one with cracks on it almost right away?, can i b like NOPE NOPE NOPE lol... it's kinda stupid how apple would release something that is just going to crack and get worse and worse...

<3 :apple:
Click to expand...

Seriously, wtf?!

That's messed up right there! :eek:

(referring to the pics)
 
Apple never fixed or officially acknowledged the palmrest cracking on the plastic MacBooks. I don't expect them to acknowledge this iPhone case cracking either.
 
I'm hoping somebody can give me the abridged version of this thread, so I dont' ahve to read 1000+ threads...

Are these phones just cracking on their own? Are the phones seeing the cracking in cases at all? Or all they all naked???

Thanks..
 
from what I remember when this thread started, the phones are just cracking on their own -- almost like a stress fracture.

i myself have not had any issues with my white 3G
 
wayland1985 said:
I'm hoping somebody can give me the abridged version of this thread, so I dont' ahve to read 1000+ threads...

Are these phones just cracking on their own? Are the phones seeing the cracking in cases at all? Or all they all naked???

Thanks..
Click to expand...

Its been a mixture of both. Mine was naked. Regardless, it doesn't matter as I haven't heard of too many people having issues getting them replaced. My Apple store replaced it with no questions asked.

But to komiothebeat, those cracks are horrendous.
 
On my iPhone 3G I have had 2 cracks on the ringer switch, a crack on the bottom near the connector, and a crack through the sim card tray for a while now. But stupidly I dropped my iPhone and cracked the glass near the home button. I wonder if I bring it into an Apple store, will they give me a hard time exchanging it due to the crack on the screen.
 
Sekots said:
On my iPhone 3G I have had 2 cracks on the ringer switch, a crack on the bottom near the connector, and a crack through the sim card tray for a while now. But stupidly I dropped my iPhone and cracked the glass near the home button. I wonder if I bring it into an Apple store, will they give me a hard time exchanging it due to the crack on the screen.
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They will because it has been dropped so I'd say you are SOL unfortunately.
 
buckydgoat said:
I went right in yesterday and showed them my cracks and they said "no problem here's a new one", and proceeded to give me an referb.
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Obviously it's a known problem at apple. Good thing they're replacing them! I'm sure it's a fairly easy fix for them anyways. That plastic cover should cost next to nothing.... Plus they can recycle the broken ones (even though that's probably a little more $$$ than starting from scratch)
 
I read the thread at the beginning, and it is amazing that this thread is going strong, as one would think that Apple would have fixed the problem by now.

Wow, just wow:(

Jude
 
I don't think they'll be fixing it.

It's already been 6 months since the phone was released, and there will probably be a new one out in another 6 months, so I can't imagine they'd fix it now.

Awesome device, terrible quality. Still beats every other phone though. :D
 
My white iphone also has a gigantic crack along the silence switch but I DID drop it. Over and Over again in fact. My original iphone had several dents in the aluminum when I traded it out. Apple sucks because it doesn't make phones with 6" of lead shielding. :D
 
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