Apple Beginning to Process Refunds for iPhone 4 Bumpers

[hellouser]

BTW, why are there so many negatives on this article? Apple is issuing money back to people plus shipping and any VAT charges. Are people insane here? Why would anyone vote negative for a company making good on refunds on a timely manner.

Because people were expecting a real fix rather than a bandaid.

That and the incredible arrogance and diversion delivered by steve jobs when he pointed out other phones to have the same problem (when in reality they dont). I once bought an ipod, years back, and when it failed on me in two ways (battery became too weak to use as a portable device and then the hard drive failed). I know how people buying an expensive phone feel; cheated.

 

[Journojulz]

Because people were expecting a real fix rather than a bandaid.

Do you think there is a fix and they are just not telling you?

You can't always get what you want - although in this case you CAN get what you need.

Take the bumper and hold it differently
or take the refund and wait until 4Gs

This appears to be the best they can offer under the current circumstances (reality).

Don't expect any corporation to halt production lines of a million a week for a minor* flaw with a major redesign, testing, resubmitting and a recall with second launch in six months - it is commercially unviable.

*(minor in that it it has an easy workaround and a case as compensation)

 

[Alonzo84]

Because people were expecting a real fix rather than a bandaid.

That and the incredible arrogance and diversion delivered by steve jobs when he pointed out other phones to have the same problem (when in reality they dont).

So, Apple faked all of the videos on their site of other popular smartphones losing reception? Those clever bastards

 

[NSMonkey]

So the idiots, who purchased the 10 cent rubber for $30 are in luck. Good for them.

Some of us are luckier than others, apparently.

 

[meatballs]

So, Apple faked all of the videos on their site of other popular smartphones losing reception? Those clever bastards

Bridging the antennas with your pinky vs muffling the signal with your hand.

compared s to oranges and sadly many people bought it. But hey, we get free bumpers to cover up the design marvel that is the iP4! (points finger at head and *shoots*)

 

[NSMonkey]

Because people were expecting a real fix rather than a bandaid.

That and the incredible arrogance and diversion delivered by steve jobs when he pointed out other phones to have the same problem (when in reality they dont). I once bought an ipod, years back, and when it failed on me in two ways (battery became too weak to use as a portable device and then the hard drive failed). I know how people buying an expensive phone feel; cheated.

Bridging the antennas with your pinky vs muffling the signal with your hand.

compared s to oranges and sadly many people bought it. But hey, we get free bumpers to cover up the design marvel that is the iP4! (points finger at head and *shoots*)

Whatever. My iPhone 4 works incredibly well. Between the jaw-droppingly gorgeous screen, best-in-class camera, long battery life, killer OS and apps, rock solid build quality, striking industrial design and -- yes-- excellent reception, it's the best phone on the market bar none. The vast majority of owners feel the same way. If you don't like yours, return it. You guys do own one, right?

 

[Alonzo84]

Bridging the antennas with your pinky vs muffling the signal with your hand.

compared s to oranges and sadly many people bought it. But hey, we get free bumpers to cover up the design marvel that is the iP4! (points finger at head and *shoots*)

How so? Do you ever actually use your phone with a pinky (or any other digit) covering the magic spot? The comparison seems pretty accurate to me.

 

[Alonzo84]

Whatever. My iPhone 4 works incredibly well. Between the jaw-droppingly gorgeous screen, best-in-class camera, long battery life, killer OS and apps, rock solid build quality, striking industrial design and -- yes-- excellent reception, it's the best phone on the market bar none. The vast majority of owners feel the same way. If you don't like yours, return it. You guys do own one, right?

Hey, your positive experience is not welcome here

 

[mrochester]

Bridging the antennas with your pinky vs muffling the signal with your hand.

compared s to oranges and sadly many people bought it. But hey, we get free bumpers to cover up the design marvel that is the iP4! (points finger at head and *shoots*)

I agree - the issue is NOT that phones lose signal when you touch the antenna, the issue is 'why did Apple put the antenna in such a stupid location that means when holding the phone normally, you end up touching it? What are Apple going to do to fix that?'

Steve did a very very good job of completely ignoring this question.

 

[Journojulz]

compared s to oranges and sadly many people bought it.

What they did do was reduce "death grip paranoia" to "don't touch this little bit here either".

And then they offered free bumpers to everyone who felt they could live with that - and refunds to those that didn't.

If neither satisfy you - i think its reality you are having a problem with.

And the only way to change that is become a respected antenna design engineer, get a job at apple and design a phone that doesn't have this issue.

 

[NSMonkey]

So - what happens after September 30, 2010? iP4.1 with coating on the antenna, making all the how many millions early adopters (including yours truly) made like hell...?

If you're actually angry or worried that you will become angry over your phone, do yourself and your loved ones a favor and return the phone. My iPhone 4 works amazingly well and I'm way too busy enjoying it to worry about the inevitable arrival of a newer version, whatever and whenever that may be.

If you can't see through the antennagate FUD or if you are having actual problems with your phone, return it. It really is a trivially simple problem to solve and there is absolutely no reason to just sit there and be angry.

 

[Anderzander]

That and the incredible arrogance and diversion delivered by steve jobs when he pointed out other phones to have the same problem (when in reality they dont)

I wonder why people think this is a con and only an Apple thing?

As an example, anyone remember the Nokia E71?

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/08/04/nokia-e71-2-reception-issues-mmm/

Nokia didn't do anything about it, no case, no press conference - nothing. In fact 2 years on they still sell them in their stores with the same problem.

 

[MotleyGrrl]

Sooo back on topic... I got an email from Apple saying they processed my refund... but I don't see it on my statement... I guess it takes a few days? Or I'm thinking it was some kind of spam email...

 

[srxtr]

Bridging the antennas with your pinky vs muffling the signal with your hand.

compared s to oranges and sadly many people bought it. But hey, we get free bumpers to cover up the design marvel that is the iP4! (points finger at head and *shoots*)

99% of iPhone users don't have that problem. Get over it and go buy yourself an iPhone.

 

[iBookG4user]

99% of iPhone users don't have that problem. Get over it and go buy yourself an iPhone.

The amount of people that called about the issue ≠ the number of people who are experiencing the issue.

 

[meatballs]

What they did do was reduce "death grip paranoia" to "don't touch this little bit here either".

And then they offered free bumpers to everyone who felt they could live with that - and refunds to those that didn't.

If neither satisfy you - i think its reality you are having a problem with.

And the only way to change that is become a respected antenna design engineer, get a job at apple and design a phone that doesn't have this issue.

What I want is for to take full responsibility and not try to fool us with unfair comparisons. I want honesty, not smoke screens.

I am (was?) a fan of many things but the way they handled this is, imo, a kick in the balls. have revealed themselves to be hypocrites.

 

[NSMonkey]

I agree - the issue is NOT that phones lose signal when you touch the antenna, the issue is 'why did Apple put the antenna in such a stupid location that means when holding the phone normally, you end up touching it? What are Apple going to do to fix that?'

Steve did a very very good job of completely ignoring this question.

That question has been answered a million times. They used an external antenna because it improves reception.

Quoting Anandtech: "This is the positive to Apple’s external antenna design - you can and do get better reception."

 

[Hilmi Hamidi]

How generous of Apple.

 

[NSMonkey]

How generous of Apple.

A realistic estimate of lost profits due to the free bumper cases is around $100 million. So yeah, fairly generous.

 

[NSMonkey]

The amount of people that called about the issue ≠ the number of people who are experiencing the issue.

So, some people called who weren't actually having an issue? Whatever you're trying to say would be a lot more clear if you just showed us some data.

 

[Alonzo84]

I agree - the issue is NOT that phones lose signal when you touch the antenna, the issue is 'why did Apple put the antenna in such a stupid location that means when holding the phone normally, you end up touching it? What are Apple going to do to fix that?'

Steve did a very very good job of completely ignoring this question.

He didn't ignore it. He proved that other smart phones suffer from the same issue (regardless of antenna location). It was referred to as a "challenge to the industry", which means there is no fix, yet.

 

[skidbubble]

What I want is for to take full responsibility and not try to fool us with unfair comparisons. I want honesty, not smoke screens.

I am (was?) a fan of many things but the way they handled this is, imo, a kick in the balls. have revealed themselves to be hypocrites.

I agree. How do I know those phones Jobs used weren't modified or rigged in some way?

I wish I could share the same joy, euphoria and excitement that 99% of you guys have but i guess it just isn't in the cards for me.

 

[Alonzo84]

So, some people called who weren't actually having an issue? Whatever you're trying to say would be a lot more clear if you just showed us some data.

How much clearer can he be? He is saying not everyone who is having an issue called to report it, implying that the .55% reception issue calls figure is inaccurate (which it is). But I still feel that it was overblown.

 

[Alonzo84]

I agree. How do I know those phones Jobs used weren't modified or rigged in some way?

I wish I could share the same joy, euphoria and excitement that 99% of you guys have but i guess it just isn't in the cards for me.

What happened to you as a child? Why do you think they would risk everything in an attempt to fool their customers?

 

[ihaveNFC]

double post