Apple Genius Admits iPhone 3G Build Quality is Substandard

[alana22]

I doubt if so many people are on their 3rd, 4th, or heck even 7th iphone as mentioned in thread the iphone, the iphone would be winning all those accolades. Its damn near impossible, which tells me people on their 7th iphones are rather minute.

Yeah. Honestly, I think some of the people who keep returning their phones are just OCD. I like to keep my mouth closed when reading some of the threads on here but sometimes I'm absolutely flabbergasted at the ridiculous reasons people keep returning their phones. If someone is on their 4th or 5th phone, then I guarantee they'll see a 6th, 7th and 8th phone too because they are determined to find a reason to return it. I think it's a mental glitch.. people almost get a high out of the anticipation of opening yet another phone and going over it meticulously, seeing if they can convince themselves the light is bleeding or the colors are off or the right side is more flush than the left, or the silence switch doesn't click as tight as the last phone, the USB charger has a fingerprint on it, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Reminds me of that movie "What About Bob?"

 

[Love]

I am on my 5th iPhone. This one seems to be of almost perfect build quality. After telling them about the horrible products I have bought from apple (bad quality) they upgraded me to a 16GB White. I'm keeping this in a case to prevent any cracking. If this breaks, my business relationship with Apple phones is over.

I think some issues people return phones for are ridiculous. The light leak thing doesn't bug me (i've had it on almost every phone except the last two). When the SIM tray protrudes, or when I pick it up it makes a noticeable noise. Little things in the build quality are called inconsistencies in manufacturing. They're mass produced. OMG! The right side is .000000000000001mm lower than the left!

What About Bob is the best movie ever, hands down.

 

[milani]

I am on my 5th iPhone. This one seems to be of almost perfect build quality. After telling them about the horrible products I have bought from apple (bad quality) they upgraded me to a 16GB White. I'm keeping this in a case to prevent any cracking. If this breaks, my business relationship with Apple phones is over.

Do you return a car after it gets a stone chip? Just curious. Seriously though, returning your phone over and over again is more or less stupid because you're A) going to lose it, B) going to break it, and/or C) going to replace it (with a new model). Why bother wasting your time going back to the store again and again, being aggravated at the build quality of something that is more or less designed as disposable. If it were meant to last, it would last - like old things that were built by hand. In 2009, that isn't a reality... so get used to it, you'll be so much happier if you just treat it like a phone (as opposed to an antique or a limited production super car).

 

[The Californian]

Do you return a car after it gets a stone chip? Just curious. Seriously though, returning your phone over and over again is more or less stupid because you're A) going to lose it, B) going to break it, and/or C) going to replace it (with a new model). Why bother wasting your time going back to the store again and again, being aggravated at the build quality of something that is more or less designed as disposable. If it were meant to last, it would last - like old things that were built by hand. In 2009, that isn't a reality... so get used to it, you'll be so much happier if you just treat it like a phone (as opposed to an antique or a limited production super car).

Your analogy is flawed, there is a fundamental difference between getting a rock chip in the paint of my car ( my fault ) and the iPhone coming from the manufacturer with a defect ( light leak, cracks in plastic housing, uneven glass ).

If your brand new car allowed rain water to leak through the windshield the day you got it would you just accept that?

 

[milani]

^ The stone chip analogy was a joke, but it was used to illustrate a point. You buy a car to drive - as a result, it gets a stone chip. Life goes on, the car functions nonetheless. Likewise, you buy a phone to use. As a result it might crack. But it still performs its tasks optimally (as it would if it had any or all of the above mentioned "flaws").

Nevertheless:

... returning your phone over and over again is more or less stupid because you're A) going to lose it, B) going to break it, and/or C) going to replace it (with a new model).

 

[The Californian]

^ The stone chip analogy was a joke, but it was used to illustrate a point. You buy a car to drive - as a result, it gets a stone chip. Life goes on, the car functions nonetheless. Likewise, you buy a phone to use. As a result it might crack. But it still performs its tasks optimally (as it would if it had any or all of the above mentioned "flaws").

Nevertheless:

First off all, the aforementioned defects directly affect my user experience. I've replaced mine for 1) Frequent dropped calls where calls should not be dropped. 2) Cracks in the plastic housing that were grabbing my hair, pinching my hand and cutting me, these were not cracks I caused but cracks from poor build quality, and 3) Light leaks which were completely distracting when I try to watch movies on my iPhone ( which is an advertised feature of the iPhone ).

If I cause damage to it or it develops normal wear and tear, it would be ridiculous for me to replace it, but to expect a quality piece of equipment that is free of manufacturer defects seems reasonable to me.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

My guess the device is built for an averae amount of use, to withstand multiple drops fromless than 2 feet and have a specified battery life under certain circumstances.

Man, I don't have an iPhone, but if those are the standards you go by, I never want one. If a week goes by where my phone hasn't fallen somewhere, somehow, it's a good week. After having it for just shy of 2 years, it's still working perfectly, and the battery is still going strong.

 

[9822679]

Look there are two kind of people on this forum: OCD people who want a perfect phone, and everyone else

Trying to argue one side to the other is useless, no one ever changes their mind.

 

[John T]

Man, I don't have an iPhone, but if those are the standards you go by, I never want one. If a week goes by where my phone hasn't fallen somewhere, somehow, it's a good week. After having it for just shy of 2 years, it's still working perfectly, and the battery is still going strong.

Don't give up!! I used to think like that - 'till I read this thread They're not all habitual professional wingers/complainers

 

[rarity]

hmm interesting...

Anyhoo, my 3g has never needed replacing ::knocks on wood::.