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Buying the iPhone = OCD nightmare?

T

techiebug

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 20, 2013
730
259
I have severe OCD. (insert joke here)

Last year I pre ordered like 5 or 6 iphone 6 plus. I found micro scratches on ALL of them (I checked them under direct lamp light so yeah). It was a painful period of waiting for them to ship. Eventually I was sick of it and bought the Note 4 instead. This year I'm buying the smaller 6s. Won't make same mistake being too picky again. But I'll still check for dead pixels and screen quality.

Any severe OCD? Lol
 
Glad you're making progress and have a plan to deal with the OCD :)

IMO there are a couple of things you can do maximize your enjoyment of your phone:
1) Put a screen protector on the moment you get it out of the box
2) Put it in a case the moment you get it out of the box
3) Don't compare it side by side with other phones, simply enjoy and use it for at least the first month without comparing it against other phones

Good luck!
 
techiebug said:
I have severe OCD. (insert joke here)

Last year I pre ordered like 5 or 6 iphone 6 plus. I found micro scratches on ALL of them (I checked them under direct lamp light so yeah). It was a painful period of waiting for them to ship. Eventually I was sick of it and bought the Note 4 instead. This year I'm buying the smaller 6s. Won't make same mistake being too picky again. But I'll still check for dead pixels and screen quality.

Any severe OCD? Lol
Click to expand...

The best solution for this is to buy cheap used iPhones from friends and family. Low cost and used means no expectation of perfection, as the device probably comes pre-dented and scratched.

The downside of this is you don't get the latest and greatest.
 
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techiebug said:
I have severe OCD. (insert joke here)

Last year I pre ordered like 5 or 6 iphone 6 plus. I found micro scratches on ALL of them (I checked them under direct lamp light so yeah). It was a painful period of waiting for them to ship. Eventually I was sick of it and bought the Note 4 instead. This year I'm buying the smaller 6s. Won't make same mistake being too picky again. But I'll still check for dead pixels and screen quality.

Any severe OCD? Lol
Click to expand...

I have diagnosed OCD myself (on meds). Through the years of getting phones I have come to train myself to keep calm and realize I have no control over what phone I get. Don't look for issues. Use it as normal and if you find something - fine - but just use it and love it until it gives you a reason for an anxiety attack. I have never had an iPhone that had an issue immediately out of the box for what it's worth.
 
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techiebug said:
I have severe OCD. (insert joke here)

Last year I pre ordered like 5 or 6 iphone 6 plus. I found micro scratches on ALL of them (I checked them under direct lamp light so yeah). It was a painful period of waiting for them to ship. Eventually I was sick of it and bought the Note 4 instead. This year I'm buying the smaller 6s. Won't make same mistake being too picky again. But I'll still check for dead pixels and screen quality.

Any severe OCD? Lol
Click to expand...

Here's my story:

iPhone 5 - 16x service replacements nicked out of box (black)
iPhone 5s - 3x Dead pixels on display
iPhone 6 - 5x Oleophobic scratches out of box and backlight bleed
iPhone 6 Plus - 3x 1 Oleophobic scratch out of box and two loose home buttons (double click)
iPhone 6S Plus - Defect in Oleophobic coating. Waiting 2 - 4 weeks for new one.
Apple Watch Space Gray - 9x All had chipped anodized layer out of the box. Apple swapped with regular silver, no issues.
iPad 4th G - 4x Dust under the glass

Now. Looking at that list makes it look like I have a major problem, which I do. Every single one of these exchanges/replacements were verified issues. I expect a high level of quality from Apple products. Before anyone flames me, I wish (WISH) this stuff wouldn't bother me, but I treat my devices so well, that when they are damaged out of the box, it's like finding out your wife cheated on you after saying "I Do". It's like, well this really sucks. If it was damaged by me, then fine, I'd deal with it. But it of the box?! I have now switched to only buying silver devices, as it takes away a level of defect (no anodizing).

I have stopped looking for issues, but yet they still find me. I have Aspergers, ADHD and Anxiety. The last two I takes meds for. I've never been diagnosed with OCD.

With all of that being said. I really do think I have horrible luck. To the point that I dread buying a new iPhone or really anything that turns on.

The only device that wasn't messed up out of the box was my XBOX One.

There was one time when I was getting my iPhone 5S swapped out that I told the guy "whichever one (replacement) you are going to take take a different one". Sure enough it was perfect.

Please be kind in your comments, this is very depressing and I basically no longer enjoy buying new gadgets.

I included a picture of the defect on my 6S plus. Tell me, would you be OK with this?

- Adam
 
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I don't have OCD but there are 2 things I look for when buying a new iPhone.

1. Screen-is it piss yellow? If it is, it goes back.
2. Does the home button wiggle? I had a 6 with a home button that moved by shaking the phone. And the "Genius" told me its normal. Lol
 
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I kept my first iPhone 3GS, my first iPhone 4, my first 6+ and my first 6S+. However, I swapped my iPhone 5 six times because each one was genuinely faulty. I do dread buying a new phone after my experiences with the iPhone 5 but thankfully with two first timers under my belt since, that dread is beginning to wear off...
 
_AdamTheGreat_ said:
Here's my story:

iPhone 5 - 16x service replacements nicked out of box (black)
iPhone 5s - 3x Dead pixels on display
iPhone 6 - 5x Oleophobic scratches out of box and backlight bleed
iPhone 6 Plus - 3x 1 Oleophobic scratch out of box and two loose home buttons (double click)
iPhone 6S Plus - Defect in Oleophobic coating. Waiting 2 - 4 weeks for new one.
Apple Watch Space Gray - 9x All had chipped anodized layer out of the box. Apple swapped with regular silver, no issues.
iPad 4th G - 4x Dust under the glass

Now. Looking at that list makes it look like I have a major problem, which I do. Every single one of these exchanges/replacements were verified issues. I expect a high level of quality from Apple products. Before anyone flames me, I wish (WISH) this stuff wouldn't bother me, but I treat my devices so well, that when they are damaged out of the box, it's like finding out your wife cheated on you after saying "I Do". It's like, well this really sucks. If it was damaged by me, then fine, I'd deal with it. But it of the box?! I have now switched to only buying silver devices, as it takes away a level of defect (no anodizing).

I have stopped looking for issues, but yet they still find me. I have Aspergers, ADHD and Anxiety. The last two I takes meds for. I've never been diagnosed with OCD.

With all of that being said. I really do think I have horrible luck. To the point that I dread buying a new iPhone or really anything that turns on.

The only device that wasn't messed up out of the box was my XBOX One.

There was one time when I was getting my iPhone 5S swapped out that I told the guy "whichever one (replacement) you are going to take take a different one". Sure enough it was perfect.

Please be kind in your comments, this is very depressing and I basically no longer enjoy buying new gadgets.

I included a picture of the defect on my 6S plus. Tell me, would you be OK with this?

- Adam
Click to expand...
Wow. I value my time too much to continually get replacements. Isn't this tiresome?
 
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dukebound85 said:
Wow. I value my time too much to continually get replacements. Isn't this tiresome?
Click to expand...

Very tiresome. The iPhone 5 was more of a opening one after another.

I'm an engineer with a wife and two kids, so I'm already short on time as it is.

Your observation is exactly correct.
 
_AdamTheGreat_ said:
Here's my story:

iPhone 5 - 16x service replacements nicked out of box (black)
iPhone 5s - 3x Dead pixels on display
iPhone 6 - 5x Oleophobic scratches out of box and backlight bleed
iPhone 6 Plus - 3x 1 Oleophobic scratch out of box and two loose home buttons (double click)
iPhone 6S Plus - Defect in Oleophobic coating. Waiting 2 - 4 weeks for new one.
Apple Watch Space Gray - 9x All had chipped anodized layer out of the box. Apple swapped with regular silver, no issues.
iPad 4th G - 4x Dust under the glass

Now. Looking at that list makes it look like I have a major problem, which I do. Every single one of these exchanges/replacements were verified issues. I expect a high level of quality from Apple products. Before anyone flames me, I wish (WISH) this stuff wouldn't bother me, but I treat my devices so well, that when they are damaged out of the box, it's like finding out your wife cheated on you after saying "I Do". It's like, well this really sucks. If it was damaged by me, then fine, I'd deal with it. But it of the box?! I have now switched to only buying silver devices, as it takes away a level of defect (no anodizing).

I have stopped looking for issues, but yet they still find me. I have Aspergers, ADHD and Anxiety. The last two I takes meds for. I've never been diagnosed with OCD.

With all of that being said. I really do think I have horrible luck. To the point that I dread buying a new iPhone or really anything that turns on.

The only device that wasn't messed up out of the box was my XBOX One.

There was one time when I was getting my iPhone 5S swapped out that I told the guy "whichever one (replacement) you are going to take take a different one". Sure enough it was perfect.

Please be kind in your comments, this is very depressing and I basically no longer enjoy buying new gadgets.

I included a picture of the defect on my 6S plus. Tell me, would you be OK with this?

- Adam
Click to expand...

This just seems extremely selfish to me. Have you ever thought of the hell you are putting the Apple Store employees through? Life isn't perfect. It's not the end of the world if there is a tiny chip in the coating of a device. You will end up getting more dings in it with normal use. After a few dings from use, the one out of the box ding will be insignificant.
 
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techiebug said:
I have severe OCD. (insert joke here)

Last year I pre ordered like 5 or 6 iphone 6 plus. I found micro scratches on ALL of them (I checked them under direct lamp light so yeah). It was a painful period of waiting for them to ship. Eventually I was sick of it and bought the Note 4 instead. This year I'm buying the smaller 6s. Won't make same mistake being too picky again. But I'll still check for dead pixels and screen quality.

Any severe OCD? Lol
Click to expand...
guessing your not the only one with OCD
Me to been through quite a few exchanges in the last few years.
iPhone 3G perfect on the first try.
iPhone 4 perfect on the first try.
iPhone 4s broken vibration second exchange perfect.
iPhone 5 opened up six boxes instore due to scuffs at the end I ended up getting a full refund and skip this generation.
iPhone 5s perfect on the first try.
iPhone 6 took me 6 exchanges all due to
Dead/stuck pixels and dust under screen.
iPhone 6 plus work phone took me two exchanges due to dust under screen.
iPhone 6s perfect on the first try.
 
I have only had clicky home button. However, once I moved to jump or next plans I stopped caring and being OCD. you can always get a new phone each release. This should reduce your OCD issue. Unless it's sever issue just enjoy the phone and trade it in when Apple releases the next one..
 
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_AdamTheGreat_ said:
Here's my story:

iPhone 5 - 16x service replacements nicked out of box (black)
iPhone 5s - 3x Dead pixels on display
iPhone 6 - 5x Oleophobic scratches out of box and backlight bleed
iPhone 6 Plus - 3x 1 Oleophobic scratch out of box and two loose home buttons (double click)
iPhone 6S Plus - Defect in Oleophobic coating. Waiting 2 - 4 weeks for new one.
Apple Watch Space Gray - 9x All had chipped anodized layer out of the box. Apple swapped with regular silver, no issues.
iPad 4th G - 4x Dust under the glass

Now. Looking at that list makes it look like I have a major problem, which I do. Every single one of these exchanges/replacements were verified issues. I expect a high level of quality from Apple products. Before anyone flames me, I wish (WISH) this stuff wouldn't bother me, but I treat my devices so well, that when they are damaged out of the box, it's like finding out your wife cheated on you after saying "I Do". It's like, well this really sucks. If it was damaged by me, then fine, I'd deal with it. But it of the box?! I have now switched to only buying silver devices, as it takes away a level of defect (no anodizing).

I have stopped looking for issues, but yet they still find me. I have Aspergers, ADHD and Anxiety. The last two I takes meds for. I've never been diagnosed with OCD.

With all of that being said. I really do think I have horrible luck. To the point that I dread buying a new iPhone or really anything that turns on.

The only device that wasn't messed up out of the box was my XBOX One.

There was one time when I was getting my iPhone 5S swapped out that I told the guy "whichever one (replacement) you are going to take take a different one". Sure enough it was perfect.

Please be kind in your comments, this is very depressing and I basically no longer enjoy buying new gadgets.

I included a picture of the defect on my 6S plus. Tell me, would you be OK with this?

- Adam
Click to expand...
I see nothing wrong with the coating. Its not magic. It resists oil but can still get smudges and fingerprints.

I agree with many of the posts here. You have ocd if diagnosed by a doctor. Not by yourself.

That said I think you have a problem going through that many devices. Maybe apple products aren't for you. The expectation is one of 110% perfection but the actual production is complex so microscopic flaws do exist. Its like the whole thing where the black watch was chipped so you went for the silver. If you have problems you have to manage it rather than trying to bend the world to your crazy ways (be honest, this behaviour is a little bit mental).
 
_AdamTheGreat_ said:
Here's my story:

iPhone 5 - 16x service replacements nicked out of box (black)
iPhone 5s - 3x Dead pixels on display
iPhone 6 - 5x Oleophobic scratches out of box and backlight bleed
iPhone 6 Plus - 3x 1 Oleophobic scratch out of box and two loose home buttons (double click)
iPhone 6S Plus - Defect in Oleophobic coating. Waiting 2 - 4 weeks for new one.
Apple Watch Space Gray - 9x All had chipped anodized layer out of the box. Apple swapped with regular silver, no issues.
iPad 4th G - 4x Dust under the glass

Now. Looking at that list makes it look like I have a major problem, which I do. Every single one of these exchanges/replacements were verified issues. I expect a high level of quality from Apple products. Before anyone flames me, I wish (WISH) this stuff wouldn't bother me, but I treat my devices so well, that when they are damaged out of the box, it's like finding out your wife cheated on you after saying "I Do". It's like, well this really sucks. If it was damaged by me, then fine, I'd deal with it. But it of the box?! I have now switched to only buying silver devices, as it takes away a level of defect (no anodizing).

I have stopped looking for issues, but yet they still find me. I have Aspergers, ADHD and Anxiety. The last two I takes meds for. I've never been diagnosed with OCD.

With all of that being said. I really do think I have horrible luck. To the point that I dread buying a new iPhone or really anything that turns on.

The only device that wasn't messed up out of the box was my XBOX One.

There was one time when I was getting my iPhone 5S swapped out that I told the guy "whichever one (replacement) you are going to take take a different one". Sure enough it was perfect.

Please be kind in your comments, this is very depressing and I basically no longer enjoy buying new gadgets.

I included a picture of the defect on my 6S plus. Tell me, would you be OK with this?

- Adam
Click to expand...

Looking at the attached image, wouldn't that clean up with the Apple cloth? Maybe use approved cleaner to "degrease" it? I have two major coatings on my eye glasses, and use a mixture of alcohol, distilled water, and a smidgen of dawn (for babies) soap. This gets my classes super clean/clear, without harming the coatings.

To me, i don't see a defect, I see a contamination, oil palm print etc. This could have been caused by the assembler, and not properly cleaned. It's just an observation, from the photo.
 
My 6 was perfect out of box last year (Sadly a couple months later it got the obstructed front camera), and I feel like my 6S plus is perfect out of the box this year too (knocking on wood something doesn't pop up).

However, I know what you mean. I had to get two replacements for my 6 this summer due to the front camera obstruction, and both replacements had physical damage, had to live with the last one.

Furthermore, I tried to get an iPad Air 2 back in February, tried two, and both had dual inch-long scratches on the back (side by side), in the exact same place as each other. The second one I opened in front of the Best Buy workers and their jaws dropped.
 
brand said:
If you have not been diagnosed as having OCD by a doctor then you do not have OCD.

OCD is not the same thing as being anal retentive. Almost everyone on Mac Rumors that claims they have OCD don't have a clue what they are talking about and are really just being anal retentive.
Click to expand...
This post should be a sticky in every forum here.
 
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Mercenary said:
I see nothing wrong with the coating. Its not magic. It resists oil but can still get smudges and fingerprints.

I agree with many of the posts here. You have ocd if diagnosed by a doctor. Not by yourself.

That said I think you have a problem going through that many devices. Maybe apple products aren't for you. The expectation is one of 110% perfection but the actual production is complex so microscopic flaws do exist. Its like the whole thing where the black watch was chipped so you went for the silver. If you have problems you have to manage it rather than trying to bend the world to your crazy ways (be honest, this behaviour is a little bit mental).
Click to expand...

It isn't the smudges. The silvery upside down U shape that's the problem. It actually looks like it is under the glass.
 
techiebug said:
I have severe OCD. (insert joke here)

Last year I pre ordered like 5 or 6 iphone 6 plus. I found micro scratches on ALL of them (I checked them under direct lamp light so yeah). It was a painful period of waiting for them to ship. Eventually I was sick of it and bought the Note 4 instead. This year I'm buying the smaller 6s. Won't make same mistake being too picky again. But I'll still check for dead pixels and screen quality.

Any severe OCD? Lol
Click to expand...

I love how people jump all over you for expecting that when you pay $900 for a phone that it be properly made.

I ordered 4 phones, and 2 arrived in less than stellar condition. One the sim card tray was recessed, which was painfully obvious to the finger running along the side. Another had a hairline scratch on the side metal. So I took them back and swapped them. Now the replacement they gave me the screen is noticeably raised. It'd not flush with the body of the phone.

I guess these are the results of rushed mass production. But to answer your question no that's not OCD... if you spend money you are buying a product that should look and function like new and like it was designed. Anyone who says otherwise should be the ones buying old used phones. If you bought a new car would you drive it off the lot with a dent in it? Or a wheel that was installed crooked? No, of course not.
 
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This does not bother me, but how quickly does the polished strip around your lightning port get little marks that catch the line if held at the right angle? I've charged my phone 3x, and despite inserting the cable carefully, it definitely has a couple. Again, does not bother me, but I wonder why they make it that shiny strip that is going to do that?
 
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