Apple Banning Screen Protectors in Retail Stores?

[iknowyourider]

late to the party

Sorry guys, I only read the first 2 and last 2 pages of comments. I would like to say though;

1. I think the intro of the iPad is a huge influence to this move. Surely they don't want the overall hassle of iPad screen protectors.

2. The Apple Store is getting too busy to deal with iphone SP, especially the genius bar. Remember, Apple is trying to maintain a reputation of eliteness and quality.

3. My wife got the first iPhone the week they went down $200. The SP was applied perfectly and she used a leather flip case. 2 1/2 years later she got the 3GS on release day and the SP was applied perfectly. I now have her original and it is sweet. I love it.

 

[muncyweb]

What the heck? Are Apple's screens now made of UNOBTAINIUM? Apple, honestly, your products are fantastic; I've been using them for many years. But they aren't made of indestructible, alien materials. In fact, thanks to the tree huggers, much the opposite is true as your products are indeed MADE so that they will break down easily after use.

Americans used to be personally responsible. I would think that if I paid a couple hundred dollars (Federal Reserve Notes) for a product, I would want to take responsibility for it and protect it as much as possible so that it would last a long time. This materialistic, "throw-away", buy-insurance-for-everything mentality has gone to people's heads. This will only encourage such an attitude.

 

[charlituna]

The title here is a bit dramatic. "banning"

My twelve year old niece even caught that. She actually wants to be a news reporter so she has been reading a lot of blogs and such with me and doing a paper for class on hit baiting and gossip. Anything Apple but not apple.com is high on her example list (Twilight is the other biggie. lol)

Its apparent Apple has a problem with anyone making aftermarket products for there phone,ipods and computers that will be usefull and less costly.

Or these items don't actually sell that well for them (they are small and easy to steal too) AND come WWDC Jobs is going to announce that the new phones will use glass modeled after museum displays and will be stronger and more shatter and scratch resistant, will have reduced glare and an improved oleophobic coating, making the films less needed and saying folks $$$$$

Do I take if that the screens are under warranty and if you do get a scratch on one (as you are not using a cover) they will fix it under warranty?

Not at all. Like water damage, scratches are on you. You choose to toss your phone in your bag and drop keys etc on it. You choose to put it in a pocket with keys, coins etc.

User created damage is not covered under warranty. Screen or no screen. Which is the way it has been since day one.

 

[nastebu]

Let this thread stand as a monument ...

to how completely disconnected we MacRumors denizens are from the average consumer.

428+ posts about Apple's decision to not sell a minor third-party product!

 

[chatfan]

Whatever apple thinks, they obviously need protection. Dropped my iPhone when disconnecting from the charger while reading this range of... reactions. Fell about 1ft to a soft wooden floor (yeah special soft wood.. made from software?!?!) to be honest I'm shocked at how crap it handles such a little drop. Oh well was getting really fedup with battery life anyway so glad I got a good excuse to switch back to my trusty Nokia 6800.

Funny how after 2 years of iPhone use I never got used to the crap battery.
Anyway, here is the result....

So start stocking those casings, pouches, airbags and what not Apple cause your phone can't take ****

 

[AidenShaw]

Can't you just send it to Apple for a battery replacement, and you'll
get a new one back? You did say the battery was weak, right?

(ducks )

 

[dukebound85]

Can't you just send it to Apple for a battery replacement, and you'll
get a new one back? You did say the battery was weak, right?

(ducks )

what happens if you are fine with the phone buy want a batt replacement?

 

[chatfan]

lol good idea!

Sadly I'm pretty sure the battery life was always this bad. The lousy t-mobile network and pretty poor battery life to start with = dead iPhone around 6PM. 8 out of 10 people I work with have an iPhone and everyone who works on location seems to have the same problem.

In Istanbul with a really good local provider the iPhone lasted till midnight no problem. (3G and dataroaming was off so that makes a slight difference, but not 6 hours.)

Anyway, found a fix shop that will replace the glass in 30 minutes, its around the corner. Will pop in monday and hand over 75 eurobucks (thats about 1800$ or a second hand toyota prius i think "yeah this prius really goes" "oh great, but does it stop??" ) and another 20 bucks for a iPhone batmansuit / ejectorparacshute / anti gravity app or something....

So i think its a bit silly apple is dropping stuff the iPhone obviously needs.. well except the screen protector that's just there to keep the glas blast-zone to a minimum when it imploded.

And in case anyone wonders: yes you do feel the microscopic splinters enter your fingers when you try to use the broken screen. Feels like handling glaswhool.

Anyway, not sure I will go back to using the iPhone. Only got it because of the visual voicemail, all the other app-junk is nothing more then eyecandy and mail / imap doesn't work well enough so I end up with hundreds of junk mails and crap from months ago.

Can't you just send it to Apple for a battery replacement, and you'll
get a new one back? You did say the battery was weak, right?

(ducks )

 

[ToeCutter]

Apple's making it harder and harder for me to like them as a company. They make really stupid decisions.

Why ban screen protectors now...they've been in Apple stores for almost 3 years!

If you *read* the article, they are causing support issues.

Over 435 comments re: screen protectors? Seriously? I've owned all 3 generations and not a single screen protector.

Talk about a tempest in a teapot...

 

[NT1440]

Whatever apple thinks, they obviously need protection. Dropped my iPhone when disconnecting from the charger while reading this range of... reactions. Fell about 1ft to a soft wooden floor (yeah special soft wood.. made from software?!?!) to be honest I'm shocked at how crap it handles such a little drop. Oh well was getting really fedup with battery life anyway so glad I got a good excuse to switch back to my trusty Nokia 6800.

Funny how after 2 years of iPhone use I never got used to the crap battery.
Anyway, here is the result....

So start stocking those casings, pouches, airbags and what not Apple cause your phone can't take ****

Explain to me how a little sheet of plastic is supposed to stop a PANE OF GLASS from shattering when dropped? You understand what a screen protector is right?

 

[cmaier]

Explain to me how a little sheet of plastic is supposed to stop a PANE OF GLASS from shattering when dropped? You understand what a screen protector is right?

If it stops microfractures when you drop it the first time, it can stop real fractures the next time you drop it.

Big ifs.

 

[chatfan]

Explain to me where it says a screen protector should stop this? You do understand the meaning of pouch, casings or airbags right?

Explain to me how a little sheet of plastic is supposed to stop a PANE OF GLASS from shattering when dropped? You understand what a screen protector is right?

Apple has said that it will remove both film-only solutions from its stores, as well as any case or other accessory that includes film protection as part of its package, such as cases that include film screen protectors.

 

[TrulyYuki]

I was the pro at applying the screen protectors at our store and that began a problem. Customers came in asking for help with applying the screen protector because they don't want to do it themselves (suck at reading directions I guess) I helped some but then other customers from other stores began to complain when it wasn't done right so our manager told us to stop. I still helped some customers when it was slow. Anyway after time we got used to telling the customers that we aren't allowed to. Then during my time as a Genius we'd get customers that would come in to get their screen or iphone replaced that would through a fit when we couldn't replace the screen protector for them (not apples responsibility to replace them because NEVER came with the phone). Some customer's got their way and we give them the powersupport ones from the retail floor or a discount but then the customers who actually got the invisible shield would actually demand US to refund their money.

FRAKIN' Crazy people.

I think that apple is finding the some screen protectors may be causing some physical issues with the phone perhaps... but I also think it the issue is primarily caused by the customers. They ask for too much. It was the customers choice to buy the product and put it on. Apple did not force the customer to do so. If the screen protectors are all removed from the apple store then apple is not liable for replacing them anymore.

I have had them all... different screen protectors. Gadget guard, non-adhesive kinds, sticky kinds and I never had an issue with my phone because of them.

 

[fletch33]

Apple's making it harder and harder for me to like them as a company. They make really stupid decisions.

AMEN!!!

im out (tap tap tap)

the last year has been unbelievable from these guys that i loved for soooo long.

1. Apple can pull an app off your phone at any time they want even if you already installed
2. the iPad turning out to be poorly named, under powered, and as is typical for them now it will have ZERO freedom but instead enjoy the device you pay big dollars to borrow from them.
3. now screen protectors.

who can only imagine what ridiculous idea they may come up with next.

i have sold my iPhone and went Linux to have the ability to do what i want to my phone and am currently porting my laptop OS from OS X to Linux as well.

Microsoft or Apple appear to be switching places which is crazy to watch. Apple wants control of everything and now M$ is opening up to attract new users back to them. crazy to watch

 

[NT1440]

Explain to me where it says a screen protector should stop this? You do understand the meaning of pouch, casings or airbags right?

That leaves only the cases available that don't come with the protectors?! The horror! The HORROR!

 

[Adamo]

Bought mine from the Apple Store (Milton Keynes), comes with two - just as well as I messed one up due to fibres in the air, bizarre! But, I don't have it to protect the screen from scratches, but from my annoying fingerprints. Because it's matte, it doesn't retain any finger moisture and dulls any light that is directed at it (like sunlight).

It won't bother me much, this news, but if I have to have it replaced (it's cracking at the bottom), I want a new protector as it cost me £10 from them.

 

[chatfan]

OMG you are DOOMED... to order from another site and run the risk of paying up to 80% less for the same item. That will put a dent into the customer experience, research shows that most customer satisfaction comes from paying more for the same product then others.

That leaves only the cases available that don't come with the protectors?! The horror! The HORROR!

 

[WeegieMac]

Totally pointless brag here, but I can apply these things perfectly with zero bubbles underneath, so much so you'd never know it was on there.

I get a pack of three from the O2 store for £10, and they're almost as good as the Crystal Film ones Apple sell in their retail stores.

I've also never noticed any lag or lack of touch sensitivity while using one.

 

[charlituna]

1. Apple can pull an app off your phone at any time they want even if you already installed

But have they. compared to say Amazon that also has said power and has used it.

2. the iPad turning out

love the opinion about something you haven't seen yet

to be poorly named,

like the name really matters.

under powered

for what, your snobby technogeek needs. guess what doll, the ipad is not being made for you. Yeah, you heard that right. Apple did NOT design the ipad for you and yours. It's for the average consumer. Folks that don't need a device that can fraking run final cut pro etc. Just something for watching some videos, checking email, reading an ebook without having 3 different devices. And there are plenty of those folks out there. You'll see a taste of it when Apr 3 rolls around

and as is typical for them now it will have ZERO freedom

by freedom you mean being able to put any old unvetted potentially device killing app on there you want right.

but instead enjoy the device you pay big dollars to borrow from them.

no, you are buying it. Borrow means having to give it back. Which you won't.

3. now screen protectors.

you are funny. So what if Apple exercises their right as a retail store to pick what they care. Every store does the same thing. And despite the hyperbolic phrasing, thus far there has been no real proof of a ban, which would mean measures such as saying the use of a film voids your warranty. THAT would be evil.
Perhaps I should get up on a soap box cause Apple used to sell iStopMotion in their stores. But they don't anymore. Oh my, they banned it. They hate stop motion. I better not go buy it off Amazon and install it. If my computer has to go to the Genius Bar they won't fix it because I have that evil hated software on it.
Uh. No.

i have sold my iPhone and went Linux to have the ability to do what i want to my phone and am currently porting my laptop OS from OS X to Linux as well.

well goody for you. what's next. you stop hanging out on Mac sites talking about how lame Apple is and how dumb we are for not agreeing with you.

 

[TrulyYuki]

a RUMOR

I heard from in an inside source that apple maybe coming out with their own...

 

[tardis56]

I honestly have had two iPhones now (original and 3G) and really haven't needed a screen protector on either of them. My current white 3G's glass face is barely scratched, and I can only tell when the display is off. The real problem is with the plastic backing.... it's cracked so badly now that I'm sure the resell value has dropped for it. I'd really like aluminum iPhones back, please....

You need one of these - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/iPhone-3G-3GS...ries_MobilePhoneBatteries?hash=item3efda37962 - works a treat!!!

 

[MacProPIMP]

no need to brag

Totally pointless brag here, but I can apply these things perfectly with zero bubbles underneath, so much so you'd never know it was on there.

I get a pack of three from the O2 store for £10, and they're almost as good as the Crystal Film ones Apple sell in their retail stores.

I've also never noticed any lag or lack of touch sensitivity while using one.

No need to brag, learn how to install them like the pros. Check out the installation videos I did for power support usa.

http://www.youtube.com/p9film#p/c/05C373A70C26BD16

 

[taskmanager]

Sounds like a bad move for apple..

Sounds like a bad move for apple. I have had xoskins on my phone for about 5 months and I'm glad I do. Even if they move to the gorilla glass, it is still scratchable. Any sand rock or glass that comes in contact with that will scratch it. That just doesn't make sense that after 3 years of screen protectors being available in their stores that they would all of the sudden stop. Unless they have something even better than gorilla glass coming out.

 

[taskmanager]

I heard from in an inside source that apple maybe coming out with their own...

That would make sense... They could control even more of the market. Then they will probably say any other screen protector besides theirs will void your warranty.

 

[applemagic123]

apple store prices are ridiculous anyway

Who cares. All the prices for EVERYTHING at the apple store are too expensive anyway. I don't know how they even sell things there. I bought a brand new aluminum iMac, early 2009, for only $950 from ebay. My applecare protection plan was only $73, and my memory upgrade was only $50. That is way less than what the apple store would charge.