Apple Makes $29 Battery Replacements Available Immediately for iPhone 6 and Newer

[rootee]

We can look at everything in this manner... it's called playing the devil's advocate.

For example, how do we know that VW wasn't the one who did the scandal, but some bad apples at their engineering department? If VW truly wanted to hide their emissions, why didn't they keep hiding it from customers? That proves their innocence! See how this works?

i see your point, but just to be clear VW hid emissions software from ~regulators~, not from customers, and we know this because they've admitted such, company fined heavily and top engineers+managers were implicated and indicted

... i used VW as an example of how a company had the "will" to cheat, and found a way

 

[Baymowe335]

And yet you made a self-serving (to your argument) leap by stating apple's motive and by stating that users would not notice at everyday speeds. Yet apple admits in their timely apology that users would/did notice under everyday speeds because apps were taking longer to open and performance was decreased:

"While these changes may go unnoticed, in some cases users may experience longer launch times for apps and other reductions in performance." http://bgr.com/2017/12/28/iphone-battery-apple-apology-letter-battery-replacement/ December 28, 2017

Seems perfectly reasonable and transparent to me. Nature of lithium batteries. How many

Andriod software update are available right when they come out.. It's your carriers fault as to why your not getting them... I think when the iPhone first came out they said that apple would had out update seperate from the carrier that the carrier had no say or call about that...


James

samsung has to bless them too. Never got an update in 3.5 years
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You do know they replaced the entire airbag right? It wasn't just a part they needed.

I know more about my car than you, so yes.

 

[Defthand]

Freaking hell.

How much does it cost from a third party? Is it easy to install?

iFixit has battery and tools for $25 plus shipping. Install is understandably tricky (26 steps).

 

[Martyimac]

Seems perfectly reasonable and transparent to me. Nature of lithium batteries. How many

samsung has to bless them too. Never got an update in 3.5 years
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I know more about my car than you, so yes.

You had said part for the airbag so I assumed you meant what you wrote. Sorry.

 

[Baymowe335]

You had said part for the airbag so I assumed you meant what you wrote. Sorry.

It’s been a 3 year ordeal. I know exactly what is going on and by part I meant airbag. No worries. I actually can work on my own car but this was not something I could do myself.

Yes, Takata was responsible, but they are a supplier and BMW made zero effort to get customers alternate transportation or secure an alternate supplier. Airbags go in every car.

Similarly, Apple uses suppliers and can’t just blame them when something goes wrong. They need to own it.

 

[mrcrlee]

Apple is ridiculous to drop the battery replacement cost already if they don’t have enough inventory to meet the demand. They obviously have enough iPhone X’s in stock since that iPhone release was a major disappointment. No one wants a freaking notch in their phone, only true idiots at Apple designed that monstrosity!!

I can see two sides of the reasoning behind announcing immediate reduction of price for the repair.

1. The more information they can gather about the affected population the better for them.
2. The faster they get people in line, the better it might help the affected population feel about the problem and its resolution.

I think it's a mix of both. They probably knew they couldn't handle the fix of what they felt were the affected number of devices until end of January, in the US. But to announce a delayed cheaper fix may just (have) stirr(ed) the pot of anger.

When it comes down to it, they couldn't produce the batteries before end of Jan. Now, people who are most eager to get a fix are in line for their batteries as soon as stock is available.

Now, they have decided to announce the reduced price is immediately available, queue those most anxious for a fix, and get them their batteries at or before the end of the January.

 

[bmark]

I can see two sides of the reasoning behind announcing immediate reduction of price for the repair.

1. The more information they can gather about the affected population the better for them.
2. The faster they get people in line, the better it might help the affected population feel about the problem and its resolution.

I think it's a mix of both. They probably knew they couldn't handle the fix of what they felt were the affected number of devices until end of January, in the US. But to announce a delayed cheaper fix may just (have) stirr(ed) the pot of anger.

When it comes down to it, they couldn't produce the batteries before end of Jan. Now, people who are most eager to get a fix are in line for their batteries as soon as stock is available.

Now, they have decided to announce the reduced price is immediately available, queue those most anxious for a fix, and get them their batteries at or before the end of the January.

Or deny them batteries based on their inadequate battery tests! If that happens to me on my next genius appointment then I might drop Apple for good. Loyal customers can only take so much bs.

 

[Tor Eckman]

Seems perfectly reasonable and transparent to me.

It's not transparent if you wait until after you are discovered to make a statement about the information that was discovered... To paraphrase Billy Bob Thornton, I feel like I'm playing cards with my brother's kids here.

 

[mrcrlee]

Or deny them batteries based on their inadequate battery tests! If that happens to me on my next genius appointment then I might drop Apple for good. Loyal customers can only take so much bs.

I hear ya. I was shocked when I went in today with an iPhone 6+ to have it assessed at 80.5% when coconut showed 63%.

They offered to have it covered under the $29 plan and we accepted. The battery should be available in a week. He did say it’s borderline and would probably be under 80 in a couple days if only to provide rationale to buck the 80% policy. I didn’t have to show geekbench scores or coconut reports- they just decided to do it.

After they replaced my AirPods 350 days into the one year warranty due to annoying charging issues, I’m satisfied they do look out for their customers to a certain extent when the situation is reasonable for them to fix an issue. I have come to expect less from most companies and was surprised when Apple stood by their warranty and replaced both AirPods and case. I know that’s what they are supposed to do but nowadays I just don’t have confidence in most companies, their warranties. and their word.

Given the gravity of the currently batterygate issue, I’m sure anyone suffering from degradated iPhone experience will be taken care of as well as they take care of people under typical warranty repair situations.

Before the headlines broke they seemed ridged in their battery replacement procedure and policy. Now, the tables are turned and the cost of fixing the battery is considerably cheaper than losing more PR points.

 

[JSchlik]

Went to the Apple store in Ross Park Mall in the Pittsburgh PA area today. Wife's iPhone 6 battery tested at 89%. They Approved her for the $29 battery replacement. They were out of stock but expect them in by Saturday

 

[Act3]

Made online appointment with local Apple Store on 12-29 for today 1-1 for replacement. Braved the sub zero temps and went there. Was required to endure the standard admonishments about other solutions than replacement. Yet when told ‘I want a replacement for $29’ they switched deftly to a different script. However, was advised that, wait for it, no batteries in store. I inquired of the manager how one could know at time of appointment whether a needed part was in stock to avoid a double visit. In plain words, can one speak to an individual at your local store as was possible in the recent past. The answer was a theoretical yes. Yet, others have noted here no such store specific contact is now possible, absent having been personally provided a number. In terms of a 70’s meme Apple seems to be caught in the rings of its own future shock. Things are changing via corporate dictum at a rate that exceeds the whole’s ability to adapt. And 800 Helpdesk support is also out of sync with what local stores are doing. I did learn that a lot of requests have come in the door in the last two days and staff are unable to respond why Apple would change the effective time of replacements from late January to immediately, knowing the inventory was insufficient. Apparently, the diagnostic is mandatory before any replacement is authorized. Hence the need for physically presenting the device, even though no battery is available.

really sucks when one lives hours away from closest apple store. This will be more bad PR for Apple if this is the case.
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Went to the Apple store in Ross Park Mall in the Pittsburgh PA area today. Wife's iPhone 6 battery tested at 89%. They Approved her for the $29 battery replacement. They were out of stock but expect them in by Saturday

Are they gonna notify you when they come in or is it gonna be a crap shoot every time one goes into a Apple Store for a replacement? One chance at if they will replace it under the program and second chance if it is in stock? I personally can't stand being in an apple store for any longer than I have too.

 

[WannaGoMac]

Yes, because people having opinions contrary to yours means they must have been paid by some evil corporation. Egocentric and simplistic much?

No a contingent of people who refuse to realize why people are upset and are giving apple a pass.

 

[Act3]

Does anyone know if these $29 replacements have to be done at an Apple store or will an Apple authorized service provider perform the change out for $29?

 

[JSchlik]

really sucks when one lives hours away from closest apple store. This will be more bad PR for Apple if this is the case.
[doublepost=1514852405][/doublepost]

Are they gonna notify you when they come in or is it gonna be a crap shoot every time one goes into a Apple Store for a replacement? One chance at if they will replace it under the program and second chance if it is in stock? I personally can't stand being in an apple store for any longer than I have too.

They will notify me. The battery will be assigned to me when it comes in

 

[Act3]

They will notify me. The battery will be assigned to me when it comes in

thanks , good to know.

 

[rusty2192]

How bout saying you’re been able to get a FREE battery and you chose to wait... and now that Apples being crushed by requests... you walk into the store wanting it right then and there. Curious. What was the little bs you mentioned?

Actually, I set up the appointment before the price drop was announced. But the local Apple Store is in the mall and I avoid that place like the plague from Thanksgiving till the end of the year, so today it was. I think you read a little too much into my post. I was mildly annoyed that I’ll have to go back. It’s not like I was demanding that it be done today. I even charged up and brought the old backup Fire Phone in case I had to leave my iPhone behind for a few hours or a few days. I was prepared for all possible scenarios.

The BS was him giving me grief about not having the latest X.x.x update installed, their test trying to say my battery is still good when it isn’t and insinuating they didn’t want to replace it because of that, giving me a whole spiel about background app refreshes, including telling me every app on the list, and to top it off, that the genius wasn’t even aware of the free replacement program and had to go check with a manager. So like I said, a little BS, but overall not too bad.

 

[mrcrlee]

thanks , good to know.

Yep. I heard the same that they will notify me and like other purchased pickup products, it’s in your name.

The Apple employee actually said “we want to make this as easy as possible so we will email you and reserve the battery for you. You can drop it off and it’ll be done in an hour or so.”

 

[Rocko99991]

Just to confirm: this price includes having an Apple Store replace the battery?

Yes, BUT your phone has to fail their test-have less than 80% life. If it doesn't, they will not replace your battery.

 

[gugy]

Well, my wife iPhone 6S gets to half of battery capacity less than 4 hours after fully charged. This with 1:30 of use and 2:30 in stand by. I called the Apple Care and the lady gave me such a hard time trying to avoiding sending me to an Apple store for replacement. She gave me tips on how to save battery consumption that was fine but wasn't happy to set up an appointment.
Anyway, I'll try to take to a Apple Store and hopefully they will not do the same crap and just swap the battery.

 

[Act3]

Yep. I heard the same that they will notify me and like other purchased pickup products, it’s in your name.

The Apple employee actually said “we want to make this as easy as possible so we will email you and reserve the battery for you. You can drop it off and it’ll be done in an hour or so.”

wish they would let you call and "reserve" a battery for $29 if you have a device that is under the program. I really don't want to drive 2 hrs each way to have them check my device and then have to go back again to have them replace it.

 

[firewood]

A lot of people will now go to an Apple store to have their device’s battery tested who don’t have to. Or don’t have to for another year or two. And this added foot traffic will actually boost Apple’s revenues and profit numbers.

Where’s the updated conspiracy theory?

 

[justareader]

An update on my visit to Apple Store to replace my 6+ battery:
(1) I had an appointment specifically asking for battery replacement. The "Genius" checked the battery capacity ( <70% ) and said he recommends to change my battery
(2) The battery was not in stock. He went on to create a work order and said someone from store will call me in couple of days. I do not need an appointment the next time
(3) I asked him to check the stock from other stores in my area. As expected, none had any stock.

I was out in 10 minutes

Has anyone been able to get his battery replaced today? If yes, has there been any appreciable change ?

 

[jimithing1]

My battery life on my iPhone 7 has been horrendous the past several weeks to the point it wouldn’t make it through a day. Last week I wiped it to see if it would improve but no luck it was still bad. I ended up making an appointment for today before this $29 replacement thing happened. Today was the first day they had available. I took it in and they ran their test and of course it passed their “test”. Even though it did pass they went ahead and offered the $29 replacement and they had 2 batteries left in stock for the 7. So I feel like I lucked out or they have been communicated something different today and are replacing any and all batteries now.

 

[WannaGoMac]

Just curious, what happens when this round of replacement batteries start getting old and performance drops with throttling?

Does seem that there is a design flaw here that the EE folks have been saying in the forums...

 

[AFDoc]

How about replacing the battery on series one watches that barely make it 16 hours......