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3G - Cracks in Plastic Housing
- Thread starter dogheadboy
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More Cracks ...
I noticed two small minor cracks in the case. One between the mute switch and the chrome frame and one at the dock. These were so small that they weren't even noticable unless you looked really hard. I initially thought i would leave going to the Genius Bar to get this replaced, but after a little thread searching on macrumors i noticed that these where common, so i decided to arrange an appointment.
Glad i did, extremely helpful staff with minimal fuss, just gave me a refubished iPhone that looks Brand New. Since this was my first time going to a genius bar (since i tend to be quite technically able), i was extremely pleased with the customer service.
A+ Apple ... keep up the great customer service
KrayzieKray
I noticed two small minor cracks in the case. One between the mute switch and the chrome frame and one at the dock. These were so small that they weren't even noticable unless you looked really hard. I initially thought i would leave going to the Genius Bar to get this replaced, but after a little thread searching on macrumors i noticed that these where common, so i decided to arrange an appointment.
Glad i did, extremely helpful staff with minimal fuss, just gave me a refubished iPhone that looks Brand New. Since this was my first time going to a genius bar (since i tend to be quite technically able), i was extremely pleased with the customer service.
A+ Apple ... keep up the great customer service
KrayzieKray I found out yesterday that the plastic near the dock connector is broken. I guess a hairline crack appeared then after the stress of using the dock connector a fracture in the plastic happened.
I'm concerned because I'm in Spain. We don't have genius bars to go to.
I will give Apple a call but i'll probably be told that the warranty doesn't cover cosmetic problems or wear and tear.
I'm concerned because I'm in Spain. We don't have genius bars to go to.
I will give Apple a call but i'll probably be told that the warranty doesn't cover cosmetic problems or wear and tear.
Since you don't have Genius Bars to go to, Apple will probably ask you to go to the carrier provider for that country (for the UK it's O2) and arrange a repair through them. Alternatively, they will offer you the option of doing it over the phone where you would send in your phone to get repaired and they will send it out once it has been done. I only know this as these were the options I was given in addition to visiting the genius bar.
With regards to the warranty not covering cosmetic problems or wear and tear. As long as the damage was not caused due to improper use of the phone (e.g. dropping the phone etc), the warranty should cover cracks.
I suggest that you give Apple a call and get this resolved.
Hope this helps.
KrayzieKray Since you don't have Genius Bars to go to, Apple will probably ask you to go to the carrier provider for that country (for the UK it's O2) and arrange a repair through them. Alternatively, they will offer you the option of doing it over the phone where you would send in your phone to get repaired and they will send it out once it has been done. I only know this as these were the options I was given in addition to visiting the genius bar.
With regards to the warranty not covering cosmetic problems or wear and tear. As long as the damage was not caused due to improper use of the phone (e.g. dropping the phone etc), the warranty should cover cracks.
I suggest that you give Apple a call and get this resolved.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.. things are a bit complicated for me now.. i'm spending two months in Italy for work.. i won't be back in Spain until March :S
Anyhows.. I know that in Spain, the official carrier, doesn't accept iphones for repair, they redirect all cases to Apple Spain directly.
I'll let you know what happens.. I might call now to let them know the problem and then get them to send me the box to return the iphone then wait until march to actually get it sent.
I just fear it will completely fall off during these weeks :S
So I have found that my black has several cracks as well. A major one by the ring/vibration switch, and about 10 others around the edge. Sounds like I'll be talking to Apple care soon.
Build quality of the 3G iPhone is unacceptable considering how many problems people have with it... dust under screen, cracks, uneven buttons, light leak(if you consider it a problem)...etc...
Though, I still love it dearly
Build quality of the 3G iPhone is unacceptable considering how many problems people have with it... dust under screen, cracks, uneven buttons, light leak(if you consider it a problem)...etc...
Though, I still love it dearly
This really makes me worry. I really want to buy a white one, I'm hoping the current batches are using better plastics but there is no way to tell. Also, all the people who work in cell phone stores or for the phone company say they've never had ANY cases of people bringing back their iphone due to cracks and that cracks can ONLY be caused by dropping it...
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
Question: I bought my white iphone 3g a week after release date. So that brings me up to about 6 months. If I go in and show them the cracks sometimes in the next few months do you think they will exchange it? Or will they say that I have had it for so long that cracks/dropping were bound to have happened.
I have a bunch of those 'stretch-mark' lines (mostly around the plug at the bottom) as long as a pretty intense hairline crack that's about an inch long.
I have dropped my iphone from moderate heights once or twice, but the crack wasn't caused by them.
I have a bunch of those 'stretch-mark' lines (mostly around the plug at the bottom) as long as a pretty intense hairline crack that's about an inch long.
I have dropped my iphone from moderate heights once or twice, but the crack wasn't caused by them.
Not all iPhones are cracking. Mine 4th iPhone hasn't cracked yet. It has 3 small chips but, they haven't grown and they're definitely not cracks. My second iPhone cracked within a couple of weeks of owning it and I never dropped it. Also, on the second iPhone, I could actually FEEL the cracks in the plastic... they felt deep.
Crap
So I got the 3g on the first day and a few months back it started cracking right on the corner. It got big and I took it in for a replacement before I dropped it and gave them an excuse for not subbing out my phone.
I got a new phone, assumed it was a refurb based off the build quality. I've had it maybe 3 weeks and I just noticed today that it is cracking too. Right now its just a hairline crack but I know how this goes.
WTF, how can the plastic be so sensitive? I've not dropped my phones. I keep them alone in a pocket and treat them well.
So I got the 3g on the first day and a few months back it started cracking right on the corner. It got big and I took it in for a replacement before I dropped it and gave them an excuse for not subbing out my phone.
I got a new phone, assumed it was a refurb based off the build quality. I've had it maybe 3 weeks and I just noticed today that it is cracking too. Right now its just a hairline crack but I know how this goes.
WTF, how can the plastic be so sensitive? I've not dropped my phones. I keep them alone in a pocket and treat them well.
UPDATE: took my iphone to the ipod bar on monday and the genius took one look at it and said 'take off the screen protector' and gave me a refurb, which by the way could not have been in more perfect shape! he asked me what case i used [griffin wave] and that was that.
i asked him what kind of case he'd recommend and he said the silicon ones are the only ones that won't put pressure on the housing. i showed him my iskin solo and he said that should be fine.
A+ to apple on my genius visit!
Silicone cases suck. Just use no case. If your iPhone wants to crack, it's going to crack whether you put it in silicone, wood, metal or plastic. Enjoy your iPhone with no case on it... you'll feel better.
Cases in general take away from the beauty and design of the iPhone... plus they make them thicker (as if they're not already fat enough).
Co-sign.
Enjoy the iPhone ... if it's going to crack ... its going to crack. I do however use the following leather sleeve. Protects the iPhone from everyday scratches in my pocket or desk, but i still have the feeling of using a naked iPhone.
Co-sign.
Enjoy the iPhone ... if it's going to crack ... its going to crack. I do however use the following leather sleeve. Protects the iPhone from everyday scratches in my pocket or desk, but i still have the feeling of using a naked iPhone.
I like that leather sleeve. Who is it (designer), from where did you buy it and how much was it?
really bad. i dont see why people buy the iphone based on looks among other things and then slap that bad boy on it
i mean if the iphone looked like that with no case, no one would ever buy it
The sleeve is designed by SENA and i brought it from an Apple store here in the UK for approx £25 which is roughly $35USD.
Found it on the SENA website for you .... only $29.99.
Apple iPhone 3G Ultra-Slim Pouch
Hope this helps.
KrayzieKray 
Update
So like I mentioned in my earlier posts: I didn't have any cracks and then I did, etc.
So I took into my local AS last night and saw a Genius. Right off the bat he looked at it and said "we'll get you a new one". I was like cool, thats what I was hoping for as the crack that I had, started to seperate the bezel from the plastic. If I left the crack much longer, the back may actually have come off.
Anyways, Genius A starts to fill out my info and ask me a few questions. A few minutes go by and grabs a replacement iPhone (smaller white box) and asks another Genuis how to do something on one of the screens. Genuis B repsonds with:
"oh, are you replacing that phone due to cracking of the plastic?"
"yes, I am" said Genuis A.
"well, we stopped replacing those under warranty 2 weeks ago. Apple launched an investigation and determined that the cracks were caused by compression and that they were no longer going to issue replacements" said Genuis B
However, since Genuis A said I was going to get a replacement initially, he honored his word and issued it -- I was out of there within 5 minutes. If this didn't happen, I would have been upset and put up more of a stink.
So this was in Portland, ME -- apparently I got the last replacement due to cracking.
So like I mentioned in my earlier posts: I didn't have any cracks and then I did, etc.
So I took into my local AS last night and saw a Genius. Right off the bat he looked at it and said "we'll get you a new one". I was like cool, thats what I was hoping for as the crack that I had, started to seperate the bezel from the plastic. If I left the crack much longer, the back may actually have come off.
Anyways, Genius A starts to fill out my info and ask me a few questions. A few minutes go by and grabs a replacement iPhone (smaller white box) and asks another Genuis how to do something on one of the screens. Genuis B repsonds with:
"oh, are you replacing that phone due to cracking of the plastic?"
"yes, I am" said Genuis A.
"well, we stopped replacing those under warranty 2 weeks ago. Apple launched an investigation and determined that the cracks were caused by compression and that they were no longer going to issue replacements" said Genuis B
However, since Genuis A said I was going to get a replacement initially, he honored his word and issued it -- I was out of there within 5 minutes. If this didn't happen, I would have been upset and put up more of a stink.
So this was in Portland, ME -- apparently I got the last replacement due to cracking.
x2.
The Genuis didn't ask me to take off my BSE, but when I did, the iPhone looked brand new -- aside from the crack in the plastic.
I also had another good experience at my local AS.
The cracks are caused by compression?? What does that mean? So Apple's not replacing cracked iPhones anymore? This is terrible news! I loved the Portland store too. They can't be serious. I wonder if all stores were told not to replace cracked phone or Portland just decided by itself that they didn't want to.
Not sure exactly, but to me, it sounded like people were sitting on them and causing stress on the outer shell. I said I keep mine in my front pocket and they could even tell that the phone had no signs of abuse.
Not sure if its all stores or just the Portland store. Who knows?! I hope my newest iPhone stays crack free.
wow, i'm glad I had mine replaced a month ago for this. I like how they claim its from compression, but a bunch of phones came cracked out of the box. right.