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Apple not replacing my iPhone 5..

R

robp123

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 5, 2013
1
0
Hi everyone,

So I'm an australian travelling through the US - bought my 5 before I came to the US in Australia.
Got on a T-mob account (Don't get me started!) and everything has been fine up until now, 6 weeks in, when my phone has been continually stuck on 'searching' - totally agnostic as to whether it has a sim card in it or not (Doesn't flash up the 'Sim removed' when you take it out and remains saying 'searching')

Now I have a A1249 GSM Australian model and the people in the Genius store at Grand Central today, after bricking my phone by trying to do a restart (did it 5 times and each time it was a no-go - returned error -1) then told me that the Australian phone was specific to Australia and they didn't have any iPhone 5's that they could swap with me, that due to customised parts in the phone that are Australia specific there is no phone they would be able to get me that would replace it.

Is this likely to be true?
Is there likely to be nowhere in the greater NY region that can replace my iPhone? Is it really so special?

Your thoughts on whether I should stick it out until I go home - a massive pain - or whether if I go to another Apple store I am likely to get a positive response would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
I'd keep trying and try a different store too.

I don't see why they are being a pain about it. It's not like you bought a Samsung phone into to have swapped out.

Have you tried calling Apple? They may have the option of you sending your phone in and getting a replacement sent back?

If all fails, you will have to try and wait until you get home.
 
Apple's iPhone warranty is not international. They will help you software, maybe debug the problem, but if there is any hardware issues they will not touch your phone nor replace it.

I learned this first hand buying a Canadian iPhone then moving overseas. I don't know why the warranty is like this, but it is only valid in the country you bought the phone in.
 
dextr3k said:
Apple's iPhone warranty is not international. They will help you software, maybe debug the problem, but if there is any hardware issues they will not touch your phone nor replace it.

I learned this first hand buying a Canadian iPhone then moving overseas. I don't know why the warranty is like this, but it is only valid in the country you bought the phone in.
Click to expand...

Not really, if you buy in european country, you will get warranty in all european countries, if you bought in USA you wont get warranty in Europe ;)
 
Edgabimbam said:
Not really, if you buy in european country, you will get warranty in all european countries, if you bought in USA you wont get warranty in Europe ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, that would be the exception. But then again everyone treats EU like a big country anyways. ;:rolleyes: But in this case, warranties are not honored between US, EU, Australia, etc.
 
Yeah those guys at the store don't know what they are talking about. I have a 3G and iphone 5 that I purchased in Australia and they work fine over here in the US. The 3G phone was even locked to Optus originally and I unlocked it before I went over. The 5 I purchased off apple.com.au, unlocked, and it is fine over here.

As for your problem - You said it worked fine before, for 6 weeks, so obviously it *was* fine being on the network. So the T-mobile network isnt the problem.

If I were in your position, I would have shelled out the money for a new prepaid sim card, see if it connected to the network, and if it did, toss the old one and cut your losses.

Don't bother asking T-mobile for help. They are idiots. As soon as you tell them you have a BYO phone that they dont officially support, you wont get any help from them. I know they support iphones now, but as soon as you mention *australia* they will say the same **** apple told you...

I found being in the USA, as soon as you ask for help with anything which they do not officially support, especially if it involves something foreign technology wise, they will wash their hands of it and say nothing.....
 
standingoten said:
I'd keep trying and try a different store too.

I don't see why they are being a pain about it. It's not like you bought a Samsung phone into to have swapped out.

Have you tried calling Apple? They may have the option of you sending your phone in and getting a replacement sent back?

If all fails, you will have to try and wait until you get home.
Click to expand...

I think its also a matter of not having the Australian phone in stock in U.S. Applestores--and why would they?

*Perhaps* if the OP called Applecare he could convince them to mail him one -- though I wouldn't count on it.

As laudern suggested, I'd first try using another T-mobile sim to see if that is the problem. Maybe a full restore could work.
 
Work for apple here. You have to speak to the store where you purchased. If the device was not purchased in the states we can't repair it. Sorry mate. See if someone in Australia you can ship the device and then repair it their and then they can send you the new device
 
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