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Apple No Longer Replacing Front/Back of Broken iPhone 4/4S

H

HeezyBear

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 21, 2010
169
3
A friend of mine dropped her iPhone 4S and cracked the back glass. She set up an appointment with the Genius Bar via phone to have the back replaced. I went with her and when we got there a genius told us that there's no longer a code in their system to replace the back or front of the phone for accidental damage. She would have to buy a new phone for the price she paid for it. He said it was like that for the iPhone 4 now also.

I understand they don't do one time replacements for free anymore, but it seems kind of absurd that they don't allow you to pay for just the front or the back to be replaced. Has anyone else experienced this?
 
HeezyBear said:
A friend of mine dropped her iPhone 4S and cracked the back glass. She set up an appointment with the Genius Bar via phone to have the back replaced. I went with her and when we got there a genius told us that there's no longer a code in their system to replace the back or front of the phone for accidental damage. She would have to buy a new phone for the price she paid for it. He said it was like that for the iPhone 4 now also.

I understand they don't do one time replacements for free anymore, but it seems kind of absurd that they don't allow you to pay for just the front or the back to be replaced. Has anyone else experienced this?
Click to expand...

Well I was a dumb ass and spilt water in mine. I don't have apple care, and they replaced the phone for me without issue. I expected to pay the $200 and be on my way.
 
BadMoon said:
Well I was a dumb ass and spilt water in mine. I don't have apple care, and they replaced the phone for me without issue. I expected to pay the $200 and be on my way.
Click to expand...
Are you saying you did or did not pay the $200? That situation is a little different though because there's not much they could do to fix your phone anyways.
 
you still have time to buy applecare+ and get it replaced...but keep in mind that you need to pay $50 deductible fee.

or get a cover in the back and no one will see it :)...cheapest method :)
 
MayBee said:
you still have time to buy applecare+ and get it replaced...but keep in mind that you need to pay $50 deductible fee.
Click to expand...
I also understand this. However, my point is that it would previously cost $30 to replace something that now would cost $150 (AppleCare+ and the $50 deductible). AppleCare+ would be good to have for things like water damage or other instances where the phone becomes completely unusable. It just seems odd to need it for something like this.
 
HeezyBear said:
Are you saying you did or did not pay the $200? That situation is a little different though because there's not much they could do to fix your phone anyways.
Click to expand...

I did not have to pay anything. The guy asked if I ever had to bring a phone back to them. I said no first time dumb ass. He then grabbed a replacement and said here you are. Try to be more careful.
 
BadMoon said:
I did not have to pay anything. The guy asked if I ever had to bring a phone back to them. I said no first time dumb ass. He then grabbed a replacement and said here you are. Try to be more careful.
Click to expand...
How long ago was that?
 
Really? I don't see why they would do this, especially since I'm assuming it's the same glass as the iPhone 4. Try going in again and getting a different employee at the genius bar.
 
Whatever you do I would suggest that you get applecare+ anyways. It cheap peace of mind, and applecare told me on the phone that if it gets stolen I only pay 130 for a replacement. That alone is worth it.
 
Assuming this is true, that's pretty odd for them to do it. Surely the glass and 5 minutes of labor costs them less than $29.

Anyway, might as well buy a case to cover it up or spend $15 on eBay and get an OEM back or a nifty different material/color one.
 
I would just go on eBay and get a replacement for $10 or so.

If only the back glass is broken and they won't replace for the normal $29.

It wouldn't make sense to go about it any other way.
 
Manzanas said:
AppleCare+... if it gets stolen I only pay 130 for a replacement.
Click to expand...

That is not correct. AppleCare+ does not cover lost/stolen phones in any way.

4. What is not Covered?
...
4.2 Hardware Coverage and ADH Coverage. The Plan does not apply to:
...
iv) Covered Equipment that has been lost or stolen. This Plan only covers Covered Equipment that is returned to Apple in its entirety;
Click to expand...
 
Here is a solution: find someone with iPhone who does have AppleCare, exchange the screen with him/her, bring his phone to Apple Store and they will replace the screen.

Alternatively - buy a phone with Gorilla Glass and/or proper design that is much less prone to breaking. ;)
 
HeezyBear said:
A friend of mine dropped her iPhone 4S and cracked the back glass. She set up an appointment with the Genius Bar via phone to have the back replaced. I went with her and when we got there a genius told us that there's no longer a code in their system to replace the back or front of the phone for accidental damage. She would have to buy a new phone for the price she paid for it. He said it was like that for the iPhone 4 now also.

I understand they don't do one time replacements for free anymore, but it seems kind of absurd that they don't allow you to pay for just the front or the back to be replaced. Has anyone else experienced this?
Click to expand...

probably cheaper for them to replace/sell broken phones, send them to china to be refurbished and then put back in the system as refurbs
 
lilo777 said:
Here is a solution: find someone with iPhone who does have AppleCare, exchange the screen with him/her, bring his phone to Apple Store and they will replace the screen.

Alternatively - buy a phone with Gorilla Glass and/or proper design that is much less prone to breaking. ;)
Click to expand...

Or just don't drop your phone..
 
lilo777 said:
Here is a solution: find someone with iPhone who does have AppleCare, exchange the screen with him/her, bring his phone to Apple Store and they will replace the screen.

Alternatively - buy a phone with Gorilla Glass and/or proper design that is much less prone to breaking. ;)
Click to expand...

If you are going to criticize at least get your facts straight, it's AppleCare+ not AppleCare. And the iPhone 4S does have Gorilla glass: http://www.slashgear.com/iphone-4-t...rilla-glass-costly-screen-replacement-2391099. Your ignorant comments keep rolling in.
 
Ha! I like that I got a negative vote just because someone couldn't handle the fact I was right.

Taz Mangus said:
If you are going to criticize at least get your facts straight, it's AppleCare+ not AppleCare. And the iPhone 4S does have Gorilla glass: http://www.slashgear.com/iphone-4-t...rilla-glass-costly-screen-replacement-2391099. And you ignorant comments keep rolling in.
Click to expand...

Doesn't the iPhone 4 also have gorilla glass, since it's all the same external hardware as the iPhone 4S? Gah. I hate people that post to be negative and unhelpful and forget how ignorant they're being. <--- Last part not meant for you, directed at the other poster. Lol.
 
Taz Mangus said:
the iPhone 4S does have Gorilla glass: http://www.slashgear.com/iphone-4-t...rilla-glass-costly-screen-replacement-2391099.
Click to expand...

Don't be so sure. The Slashgear article you linked says Gorilla Glass, but they're quoting the iFixIt teardown. iFixIt says "The front glass panel of the iPhone is reported to be constructed of Corning Gorilla Glass", but they don't give any citation to support that or say who exactly "reported" it.

I don't know if the iPhone uses Gorilla Glass or not. Given the ease with which it can shatter, and having seen videos of strength demonstrations of Corning Gorilla Glass, I suspect it does not. Apple and Corning won't say.
 
MayBee said:
you still have time to buy applecare+ and get it replaced...but keep in mind that you need to pay $50 deductible fee.

or get a cover in the back and no one will see it :)...cheapest method :)
Click to expand...

I thught with Apple's new system you had to buy Applecare at the time you activated your 4S? So you can still buy Applecare even though my 4S is a week old? If that is the case then I am all for it otherwise not spending $100 to extend a $300 phone for one year? does not make sense?
 
I dropped my iPhone 4S the night I got it (launch night) and it shattered the front display glass. Made an appointment with the Genius Bar the next day and they replaced the phone for free but highly suggested I purchase AppleCare+ for future issues...
 
Manzanas said:
Just talked to a senior advisor at applecare. While they dont cover the lost iphone, they due sell you the phone for a 1/3 of the cost-200
Click to expand...

Pics or it didn't happen.

And by Pics, I mean point to where it is written in the Terms & Conditions of AppleCare+. Until you can, the policy doesn't exist regardless of what the "senior advisor" told you.
 
seanfranklin said:
point to where it is written in the Terms & Conditions of AppleCare+. Until you can, the policy doesn't exist regardless of what the "senior advisor" told you.
Click to expand...

See this post for the T&C reference excluding lost/stolen phones from coverage, section 4.2.iv. It's written into the hardcopy T&C Apple mailed me a couple days ago as well.
 
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