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Apple Initiates iPhone 5 Sleep/Wake Button Replacement Program [Updated]
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I had this problem quite a while ago. I bought the parts on ifixit.com and repaired it myself. Cost me $5 in parts plus tools (which I needed anyways).
I contacted Apple support, and they won't refund me since I didn't get it fixed at an Apple Authorized retailer. To their credit, they did offer to check with their manager to see whether an exception could be made. I kindly declined, since it's not really worth my time or theirs if it's going to be complicated.
At the time, it was a scary repair as it voided my warranty, but the nearest Apple store is 220 miles away.
Anyways, kudos to Apple for announcing a 'recall' without a preceding torch-carrying mob at their doorstep. In the past, that's about what it took for Apple to acknowledge a quality control issue.
I contacted Apple support, and they won't refund me since I didn't get it fixed at an Apple Authorized retailer. To their credit, they did offer to check with their manager to see whether an exception could be made. I kindly declined, since it's not really worth my time or theirs if it's going to be complicated.
At the time, it was a scary repair as it voided my warranty, but the nearest Apple store is 220 miles away.
Anyways, kudos to Apple for announcing a 'recall' without a preceding torch-carrying mob at their doorstep. In the past, that's about what it took for Apple to acknowledge a quality control issue.
Finally!!! I went through heck with my sleep/wake button for months, falling on deaf ears to store employees, even when I told them that this was a known problem. A very nice store general manager in Escondido finally took a personal interest in helping me out and did a full out-of-warranty replacement. I am glad to see that Apple is finally admitting to this issue!
Wife and I got iPhone 5 on launch day. Her button failed under warranty (10 months). Mine was fine until a few days before end of warranty. Went completely dead few days after. Went to Apple store and they wouldn't replace even after I complained this is common issue. Apple also knew it was an issue then because they redesigned the 5S lock button to fix this issue.
So pissed I had to deal with this BS for last 6 months on known issue. Not pissed enough to jump ship though. It's still better then no software updates, malware apps, etc.
So pissed I had to deal with this BS for last 6 months on known issue. Not pissed enough to jump ship though. It's still better then no software updates, malware apps, etc.
It's not likely that wide spread and might not even be Apple's fault. It's a moving part, if you are wacking it left and right all day you can and will break it. This is mostly a PR stunt and a reseller cock block stunt. See breaking the sleep button is known to get you a replacement phone (or did) so if they botched something replacing a display or just want a cleaned up iPhone to sell on eBay they would mash the button in and get it swapped before the warranty ran out. Now Apple has this new protocol which will allow them to get around that move. Probably do the the same thing real soon over the volume buttons which is another common trick.
And then the iPhone 6 will come out with all these parts as well as the internals being repairable piece mill and those games will come to an end. I wouldn't be shocked if they started etching id numbers into the backs of displays to prove what's legit or not. Perhaps even stamp numbers on batteries.
And it won't be a shock if the new iPads and even iPod touches are repairable
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I had this problem 6 weeks after my warranty expired and Apple told me it would cost $269 to fix it. No leeway at all. They insisted that it was not a manufacturing defect and not a widespread issue. So I had to buy the part from iFixit and do the repair myself. I wonder if they'll refund me for that.
Nope they won't. Nor will they repair anything on that iPhone if they figure out it was repaired in such a way. Terms of service you agreed to
Privacy policy. Apple doesn't want possession of, and responsibility for your personal data in any way.
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No and no.
If it could be done in house they would have been doing it ages ago rather than swapping whole phones.
My sleep/wake button works fine, but it is very flimsy. The button is very wobbly and doesn't produce a nice solid 'click' feeling when pushing down. Also, when I push down on the button is it essentially flush with the body of the phone. Other iPhone 5's I have looked at have a very 'sturdy' sleep/wake button.
My serial is eligible, but I wonder if they will do the replacement even though the button still works fine? I'm concerned it could be a future problem...
Anyone else have this issue?
My serial is eligible, but I wonder if they will do the replacement even though the button still works fine? I'm concerned it could be a future problem...
Anyone else have this issue?
The implication is that they are going to repair it instead of just swapping it like the store have been doing for ages. Given the number of iFixit type solutions and reseller stunts perhaps it is just a ploy to get the units to an inspection group to make sure they aren't user jacked. I bet there will be something in the terms of service that if tampering is found they can refuse the repair. And of course they will mark it in the system to refuse any other repair since someone unauthorized was poking around inside and could have damaged who knows what
First off no you don't have a longer warranty period, you have a two year consumer protection period. Against the seller.
Second, Apple is offering you the same program just starting it a tad bit later. And no where have they claimed some big manufacturing defect. It could still be a small cut of units composed to the whole, it's just a cut that is slightly bigger than they like to see thus they are going to score some PR points with this 'quality program'
It's funny they add in the little caveat saying one has to upgrade to iOS 7. Still trying to get that 100% adoption rate hahaha
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They give you a loaner for the few days
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Explain to me how I'm suppose to be without my only phone for 4-6 days?
-Annoyed
They give you a loaner for the few days
Not that hard for them to track at all. There are zero shops authorized to do such a repair and few outside of Apple authorized to do warranty swaps. All of which would be in their service system. So they run the serial on your phone and see very clearly that you didn't get an authorized repair done and flag your phone warranty void. Such repairs probably void those UK/EU consumers laws also
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Consumer privacy protection.
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Explain to me how I'm suppose to be without my only phone for 4-6 days?
-Annoyed
Guess you missed the part about a loaner phone
Wow, my sleep button started acting up just 24 hours ago. I was wondering what happened to it. Sometimes I have to press it 2 or 3 times before it goes to sleep. I guess I have until 9/14 to get it repaired. I guess they could remove the SIM and put it into a loaner.
Step outside the Apple world at your own peril. Tim Cook is most likely rubbing his hands together as I type this and playing with his Nike Fuelband between chuckles.
Sorry to hear you lost $50 brah.
The program is for Out of Warranty iPhone 5's. You said it stopped working after a few months which means it was still most likely under the Limited Warranty or AppleCare+ (if you opted to get it). The button not working is covered under either the Limited or Extended Warranty which is why you walked out with a new phone for free.
One reason is that the phone needs to be erased before being sent for service, and will have to be restored from backup once repaired. When restoring a backup made with iTunes, the latest iOS version is always installed on the device.
Restoring from an iCloud backup doesn't force an iOS upgrade, so there may be another reason for iOS 7 upgrade warning.
Another possibility is that Apple might run a standard set of tests on the device while it is being serviced, and their test procedure could include updating it to the latest OS.
Glad to see Apple acknowledge and address the issue.
Apple store kindly replaced my iPhone 5 for this very issue 2 weeks prior to the iPhone 5s release. Wife took the new iPhone 5 and I snagged a 5s
Apple store kindly replaced my iPhone 5 for this very issue 2 weeks prior to the iPhone 5s release. Wife took the new iPhone 5 and I snagged a 5s
replaces my iPod nanometer sleep wake button as well.