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Apple Researching Methods to Detect 'Consumer Abuse' in Portable Devices

LOLaMac said:
Translation : "I have no idea what I am saying and am just talking out my a**"

I am guessing you have absolutely no evidence whatsoever on how many people are and are not, abusing Apple's return policy. I can't believe people are for this sort of thing. Basically, Apple is saying they don't trust you. They're telling you that right from the moment they sell you something, they think you are an underhanded scammer who will be abusing their warranty; I can't understand all the "rah rah, go Apple!" talk from some people over this. Personally, I am insulted by it.
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Part of the problem are the myriad customers who abuse the system.

I'm sure Apple has had quite enough of bogus claims. Photoshopping receipts (admitted to previously in this thread) falls under this general category. If someone is capable of THAT kind of fraud - to take the time and actually do all of that, then you can imagine how easy it is to misrepresent the facts about user-caused hardware damage when asked about it.
 
Antares said:
Well, more information is always better. It may help determine why a device is failing or has failed. Actually, such technology could be really good. Especially with the idea of devices being able to detect an "abuse event."Automatically cutting-off electricity if a liquid is detected could save the device from damage. Shorts due to contact with a liquid cause many failures in mobile devices. The possibilities are endless. This is great!
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Yeh , no one has ever invented a device that cuts off electricity in the event of a short circuit before. Genius.
 
*LTD* said:
Part of the problem are the myriad customers who abuse the system.

I'm sure Apple has had quite enough of bogus claims.
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Myriad implies that there are a large number of people doing this - how do you know how many people are abusing the system? Because Apple is looking into this technology, you assume there are a large number, but how do you know, really? By the same token, I can say there are a myriad of iPods exploding in peoples pockets and on their car seats.

Sure there are going to be people who abuse the return policy, but what I'm trying to say is that Apple does not trust the rest of you, they're already assuming that every single person who buys an Apple product is going to abuse the return policy. I don't think that's something to nod your head in approval at.
 
I suppose other companies would put in "sensors" in their products in the near future:

Baseball bats
Mattresses
screwdrivers
cooling fans
staplers
pencils
blow-up dolls

Abuse 'em too much and your warranty will be voided!!!

:D
 
VenusianSky said:
Don't always believe what you see in surveys and polls. It is well-known that surveys can be "fixed". By this I mean, the group performing the survey can target specific people that which they already know what to expect in the results. Companies themselves will pay for surveys, that which just happens to show favorable results. Also, the sample size is very important.
I am not speaking about the survey you referenced specifically, it could be a legit, I am just speaking in general.
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These surveys are consistent, and regular. Apple year after year, is tops in customer service and customer satisfaction. Apple's reputation in this area goes back quite a ways. it's no secret. They continue to be a model for the rest of the industry.

I've seen so many already over the past 4-5 years that it's hardly a surprise when I see yet another one:

http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?p=1460855&posted=1#post1460855
 
LOLaMac said:
Translation : "I have no idea what I am saying and am just talking out my a**"

I am guessing you have absolutely no evidence whatsoever on how many people are and are not, abusing Apple's return policy. I can't believe people are for this sort of thing. Basically, Apple is saying they don't trust you. They're telling you that right from the moment they sell you something, they think you are an underhanded scammer who will be abusing their warranty; I can't understand all the "rah rah, go Apple!" talk from some people over this. Personally, I am insulted by it.
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Haha. Ok. Sure...

I posted this simple little probability before. I'm not sure what percentage of iPhones are actually faulty. I know many people with them that have not had problems at all and a couple that have. A HIGH estimate would be 10% of all iPhones are faulty.

Now. If there are people on these forums (simple search will show) that get 6-10 replacement phones then something is seriously crazy here.

Probability of 6 phones in a row being faulty is (1/10)^6 which is so ridiculously small.

Also, you seem to agree that Apple is doing this to save themselves money but don't believe that just as many individuals do the same on the other end of the Genius Bar to save themselves a buck? Stop kidding yourself.

So no. No fancy chart to show you. Nobody is sitting outside the Apple Store to take a survey of whether or not people lied about their warranty issues.

LOLaMac said:
Sure there are going to be people who abuse the return policy, but what I'm trying to say is that Apple does not trust the rest of you, they're already assuming that every single person who buys an Apple product is going to abuse the return policy. I don't think that's something to nod your head in approval at.
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You're making vast generalizations here.

They aren't assuming that EVERYONE is going to abuse the return policy. The fact that they are researching this only means they think that it's more people abusing it than get unfairly stopped by it.

If it is something that is going to catch the moderate number of people who do it and raise the bottom line, Apple will do it.

It has nothing to do with Trust. Why should it?
 
I think we all know that all the liquid. dropping, etc. stuff is just a canard or a smokescreen to obfuscate the real purpose of the plan which is to void warranties for software mods.
 
ViViDboarder said:
Haha. Ok. Sure...

I posted this simple little probability before. I'm not sure what percentage of iPhones are actually faulty.
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Exactly. Nothing after that is worth reading.

ViViDboarder said:
They aren't assuming that EVERYONE is going to abuse the return policy. The fact that they are researching this only means they think that it's more people abusing it than get unfairly stopped by it.

If it is something that is going to catch the moderate number of people who do it and raise the bottom line, Apple will do it.

It has nothing to do with Trust. Why should it?
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Oh, but they are in fact assuming that EVERYONE is going to abuse the return policy, else they wouldn't be looking into something like this. By putting it into every Apple product at the time of sale, they are already assuming that if you break your iPod/iPhone/Macbook/whatever, you are going to try and cash in with Apple and get a new one. What a load of crap. And as for why should it be about trust, you're right. I sure as heck wouldn't trust any "anti abuse" technology from Apple to be 100% reliable.
 
I haven't read all the post, but it's more than just "dropping the phone" - AT&T is smiling at this one...

Just think - try to unlock the phone, and Apple can shut your phone down - lovely...

That's what success does to ya... :rolleyes:
 
ActionJax said:
FYI, the supported operating temperature range of the iPhone is listed as "32° to 95° F."

So if you use your iPhone outside on just about any day in the winter (in many parts of the country), or a hot summer day (in almost any part of the country), then Apple could conceivably call this "Consumer Abuse."

I see Apple's point here, but this could get ugly. Apple's been perpetrating all kinds of consumer abuse lately if you ask me.
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"Operating temperature" means: You can use an iPhone at 32F for weeks and weeks and weeks, and then use it at 95F for months, and it will not be / is not supposed to be damaged by this. Whether something outside that range is "abuse" would depend on how long and how far outside the range it is used. There will be considerable leeway. If 32F for months is Ok, then 14F (-10C) for a short while shouldn't hurt the iPhone at all.

And if Apple can build a sensor that tells accurately that your iPhone is "operating" outside that range, they can just turn the phone off, non-operating range is -4F (-20C) to +113F (+45C). Or turn it off when the iPhone gets too cold/hot inside.
 
The only people who are scared of this new detection system are those who abuse their products and return them to Apple to get a new one under warranty. Regular consumers who take care of their products shouldn't have to worry about a thing.

However, I hope Apple continues to make their products more durable or at least make this consumer abuse detection system accurate and have reasonable thresholds.
 
kockgunner said:
The only people who are scared of this new detection system are those who abuse their products and return them to Apple to get a new one under warranty. Regular consumers who take care of their products shouldn't have to worry about a thing.
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Right, just like everyone who is in favor of the Fourth Amendment must be involved in, or plans to be involved in, a criminal act.:rolleyes:


Lethal
 
benflick said:
This is great!
Now Apple can tell someone wether or not a crack is caused by a drop. Should help some people out.
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I agree with this, in that when you tell apple the crack wasnt due to being dropped you van prove it, but i wonder how far these things will go. Will they be used to tell if you decided to put in your own internal hardrive, or non apple RAM? It could be a way of making everyone buy apple parts fitted by apple = $$$.
 
Vercingetorix said:
Absolutely. "We can't cover this problem because the sensor indicates that you dropped the device."

"But that was four months ago! It's been working great since then."

"I'm sorry, but we can't cover this problem because the sensor indicates that you dropped the device."
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I would assume it would take the date and time of when you dropped you're device. so if it is 4 months later, it wouldn't be a problem.
 
This is actually the most exciting news I have read from Apple in a long time. It will drive up the value of Apple shares without a question. Staff will be empowered to make certain only the most necessary cases result in having to issue costly replacement products and repairs.

Consumers should be happy too. You should see a small reduction in the cost of AppleCare warranties because there's less valid claims being issued.

This is an exciting technology that Apple may even want to license to other manufacturers for a generous royalty.

Very very exciting!!!
 
Vote with your pocket book

Me, I have a certain respect for the delicacy of electronic devices and try to sheath them in something to protect them from any unnecessary abuse.
On the rare instance I do drop mine, I go through an "Oh S**t" moment, fearing that the product is dead. I don't think, "Wow! The Manufacturer owes me a replacement!" If it is broken, I go to the store, admit to my screw-up and see what my options are.
If Apple can corroborate that I screwed up, but was honest, and they decide to throw me a bone because I fessed up, then I'll be a loyal customer. If however I am lying like a rug, and Apple catches me dead to rights, I'm going to feel pretty foolish making a stink at the Genius bar and either take my lumps or shop somewhere else.

Imagine you were a manufacturer and you were being eaten alive by returned goods that were not your manufacturing defect, but from consumer abuse; I bet you would wish you had never gone into business.

If Apple is too draconian with this and does not provide the geniuses some discretion when to help an honest customer, customers will go to a vendor who is free and easy with the replacements. I just can't imagine how such a company could stay in business for too long by issuing replacements all the time and paying customer service folks to handle all these swaps.

Only time and the market will tell...
 
Wow

I was thinking about going Apple on my next computer either a laptop or a Mac Mini and breaking away from my 30 year pc run. now I have to rethink this again say what you want about pc there is allot more freedom are OS sucks Microsoft but we can always go Linux. I think Apple is taking this to far. warrenty the parts not the software. I will watch this for now but if it gets worse I am staying pc.
 
Dmac77 said:
I still don't want a sensor that records everything that happens to a device. Granted, a sensor would have helped my situation. But it's not much of an issue anymore.

Anytime the the Genius Bar gives me any trouble, I just have to have a lawyer call Apple, and guess what, I can go in and get a new whatever.

I did it with my iMac, and I did it with my iPhone, that they refused to replace, because "Black iPhones don't get the cracks."

I've had my fair share of bad experiences at the genius bar, and I find that a lawyer makes a huge difference.

I don't want Apple knowing every time my iPhone falls two feet onto carpet, so they can use that as justification to deny a replacement. They're turning into big brother.

Don
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You need to:

1) Stop (over)reacting to events that haven't happened.

2) Look up the definition of "Big Brother."
 
DesignerOnMac said:
I hate to burst someone's balloon, but back in the 90s, IBM and NEC could access your computer when you called tech support for a machine that was malfunctioning!

I don't remember any outcry that this was Big Brother then! Various invasions of your privacy and your computer has been going on for years!
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Perhaps you missed one very famous super-bowl tv add...
 
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