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3GS Broken - what will Genius replace with?

D

dealmaker

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 24, 2010
270
68
So my youngsters iPhone 3GS 32GB is broken - home button stopped working (phone is mint otherwise -) . I assume they wont try to repair it ? (or will they?)

Will the Apple genius offer to replace it with a new/or refurbished 3GS for 139 pounds (as I've heard in other cases)??

...if so - I see that they currently only offer an 8GB 3GS - so how will they replace a (nearly full) 32GB unit with an 8GB unit ?- or do they keep stock of older 32GB 3GS models "out the back" in case of these issues??

Appreciate any heads up so know what to expect when we go in there!

Thanks
 
They keep stock of the older 3GS models, 3G models and in some stores they even have the original iPhone in stock. Depending on whether or not it's still in warranty they'll either ask you pay the out-of-warranty fee or replace it for you. They generally don't do repairs but sometimes will. If your phone model isn't in stock they'll order one for you. Very rarely the Genius may upgrade you to the 4 if there's no current stock of your model.
 
Before you take it back to Apple, I have one suggestion:

If you're decent at taking apart iPhones, buy a new home button flex cable on eBay for about 6 US dollars. You have to remove the digitizer glass to be able to replace the home button/flex and it's a pretty hard and lengthy process, but it sure beats the hell out of a $200 replacement.

If that's a little too in-depth for you, you can also get entire LCD/digitizer assemblies for about $50 on eBay. These are VERY easy to install and there are many tutorials on YouTube to help you along the way.

If your phone is out of warranty, these are some things to consider before taking it to Apple!
 
dealmaker said:
So my youngsters iPhone 3GS 32GB is broken - home button stopped working (phone is mint otherwise -) . I assume they wont try to repair it ? (or will they?)

Will the Apple genius offer to replace it with a new/or refurbished 3GS for 139 pounds (as I've heard in other cases)??

...if so - I see that they currently only offer an 8GB 3GS - so how will they replace a (nearly full) 32GB unit with an 8GB unit ?- or do they keep stock of older 32GB 3GS models "out the back" in case of these issues??

Appreciate any heads up so know what to expect when we go in there!

Thanks
Click to expand...

They'll replace it with an iPhone 5.
 
Have you tried anything to get the button working again? Compressed air? Rubbing alcohol?

I had some intermittent trouble with the home button on my 4. Turned the phone off, soaked a Q-tip in rubbing alcohol and pressed it onto the home button and let the alcohol seep into the edges of the button and just repeatedly pressed the home button. I gave it proper time to dry out, started it up and haven't had any trouble with the home button since then.
 
SideStepSociety said:
Have you tried anything to get the button working again? Compressed air? Rubbing alcohol?

I had some intermittent trouble with the home button on my 4. Turned the phone off, soaked a Q-tip in rubbing alcohol and pressed it onto the home button and let the alcohol seep into the edges of the button and just repeatedly pressed the home button. I gave it proper time to dry out, started it up and haven't had any trouble with the home button since then.
Click to expand...

This I would not do.
 
They still have original iPhone for replacement, they will definitely have iPhone 3GS in all colors and capacities refurbished waiting for you, and there is no way to give you even different color or capacity
 
ikaveh said:
They still have original iPhone for replacement, they will definitely have iPhone 3GS in all colors and capacities refurbished waiting for you, and there is no way to give you even different color or capacity
Click to expand...

One other thing; the phone is out of warranty. If they do not have an exact match, they have no obligation to replace it at all.
 
err404 said:
One other thing; the phone is out of warranty. If they do not have an exact match, they have no obligation to replace it at all.
Click to expand...
How do you know it's out of warranty?
He could have bought an extended warranty and in some countries, they are longer by law.
 
So I've just sent my 16gb iphone 3g in for repair is it fair to assume that I will get a new/ refurbished 3g back if they dont repair it?
 
JASApplications said:
A friend of mine's 3Gs broke and he got a replacement iPhone 4 because there were no other 3Gs' in stock but that is a very rare occurrence but it can happen!
Click to expand...

ure friend is lucky!

My Brothers 3GS had cracked at the back, and my local apple store didn't have any, so they used a same day carrier to collect one from another store
 
iFiend said:
This I would not do.
Click to expand...

WHY!!!

Rubbing Alchohol is perfectly safe to use on electronics. It has no mineral so it will not conduct electricity therefore will not cause harm to any components. In fact, many people dont know this but you can submerge an electronic device into distilled water and it will still work. Since water itself does not conduct it is the minerals such as sodium. Distilled water and alchohol are both mineral free and safe.

I use alchohol all the time to clean PCB boards.
 
rjohnstone said:
How do you know it's out of warranty?
He could have bought an extended warranty and in some countries, they are longer by law.
Click to expand...

You're right. I was assuming that it was out of warranty based on OP's willingness to pay for the repair.
But he may simply not be aware that Apple would cover that issue.
 
Applejuiced said:
Lol :D
That is correct, white iphone 5 that is.
Click to expand...


You sure about that? I heard through a customer service rep at AT&T that they're only going to produce the transparent iPhone 5. But then again, I can see where some people would call that white if it were sitting on paper.
Ok, nevermind. :p
 
iceterminal said:
You sure about that? I heard through a customer service rep at AT&T that they're only going to produce the transparent iPhone 5. But then again, I can see where some people would call that white if it were sitting on paper.
Ok, nevermind. :p
Click to expand...


That's totally right. I received an official email from Apple with pictures of the iPhone 5 in transparent mode. It even has an sliding keyboard!
 
Tsk tsk, you boys are so far behind. I've got the iPhone 8S. It's only a prototype but Apple gave it to me out of sympathy when I showed them my iPhone 4 that I deliberately ran over with my truck when I was pissed drunk.

In all seriousness though, OP: If it's under warranty, you're going to get the same phone in every single way, unless they're out of your specific model, in which they may give you a higher storage capacity. Always the same color though, I'm almost positive. I believe the same rules apply for an OOW replacement.
 
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