I just e-mailed "The National"

[samiwas]

Advising him to lower his 'high standards' just beggars belief to be honest and seems typical of the attitude of 'defend Apple at all costs'. Spending several hundred dollars on a phone which he then has to replace three times due to faulty components/shoddy workmanship is a disgrace, especially for a phone which costs so much more than others.

In many cases, it's not simply about "defending Apple" as it is about battling some people's ridiculously out-of-touch standards for the products they buy.

I do not know exactly what was wrong with the OP's phones, as he has only mentioned broad generalizations...so this is not directed directly at him. But there have been countless threads with people blowing a gasket because they noticed that if they hold their phone at a precise angle in sunlight, they can see a miniscule scratch in the body (i made that up, but it's close to many posts on here), and think it should be exchanged.

Some people really do have standards that just simply can't be attained, and then they expect the rest of the world to join their plight of self despair and comfort them, instead of telling them that their problem is really not an issue in the real world. But many hold Apple to a much higher standard than anything else. I paid over $2000 for the video projector that hangs in my media room now, and guess what...it had a few small defects when I pulled it out of the box. Did I care? No, because it still works absolutely perfectly, and a small scuff isn't going to change anything.

The problem with a lot of people is themselves, not everyone else. If you hold ridiculously high standards, you will almost always be disappointed.

 

[crazylegsmurphy]

Wow...

I think what floors me the most is how so many of you simply accept (could care less) when a product you spend money on is flawed in some way. I simply don't understand why anyone would simply shrug their shoulders and say, "Oh well, that's what we get for making things in China!"

No offense to anyone, but I think that is a load of bull.

What it sounds like to me, is an excuse for laziness. It's an excuse to not stand up for your rights as a consumer and demand that a product be what it claims to be. It's a reason to simply keep buying things, regardless of how poor the standards are simply because you "Have to have it!"

I look at my desk and I have a computer, Nikon D80 camera, Bose headphones, a cordless phone, Creative Zen MP3 player....ALL of them made in China, and all of them "perfect" from a manufacturing standpoint.

The funny thing is, the only thing on this desk I had to replace was my 24" monitor from Dell because the first two they sent me had dead pixels. They replaced it without question, and with BRAND NEW product...not some refurbished thing to save money.

The point is that when you take a company like Apple for example, and you accept a product they offer when it clearly has defects, what you are saying to them indirectly is that they can afford to make things like crap, because no one will care. People are too busy and too lazy to pursue it, so they sit back, get rich, while all of you "look past" the things that should bother you.

It's not about an unrealistic sense of perfection, it's about being treated with respect as a consumer.

With that said, I encourage some of you commenting to actually read what is being said here. Making comments like, "Just drive to the apple store man!" after I have addressed that issue multiple times not only shows your laziness, but helps to further prove my point.

For those of you, who need to know the issues I have had, here is a breakdown.

1. First phone (store bought)

- Noticed a crack between the headphone jack and chrome bezel on day 4.
- Large amount of light leak on left hand side of screen.
- Laggy Camera.

Why are these issues you ask?

- On principal the plastic should NOT crack by plugging in the headphones supplied with the product, that is simply ridiculous. More importantly, in electronic devices, cracks spread, they let in dust and moisture, and they can weaken the devices ability to withstand normal use.

- Light leak means there is an open gap in the device. This is a problem because it can let in foreign particles dangerous to electronic equipment. Moisture, dust, etc can get in the player, settle under the screen and threaten the life of the device.

- The laggy camera made it almost impossible to take a photo. At my brothers Stag I wasn't able to catch a single image all night due to the camera not being able to "catch up" to what I was trying to shoot. It made it twice as annoying to see that his facebook is now full of photos taken from blackberries which are totally usable.

1. Phone 2 (replacement)

- Light leak on left side of screen.
- Chrome Bezel not installed correctly causing a sharp edge on both the outside, and where you swipe to unlock the phone.
- Plastic cracked when stock headphones were plugged in.

- Some of you laugh when I said that the chrome threatened to cut me, but the fact is that the incorrectly installed plastic was quite sharp. It may never have done anything to me, but it's not a chance I want to take on myself, or the members of my family with much smaller hands.

That of course isn't the major reason, but more so because the misaligned bezel made it impossible to install my Zagg IS. It also was collecting skin/dust/lint which made the phone look ugly and threatened to work it's way into the phone.


Now.....


Many of you might be saying..."Why the hell do you care so much if it breaks or whatever...it's just a phone!"

The reason as I have said before, is that I am bound to a 3 year contract with this damn thing and I don't have $755 that I feel like spending to replace it every year until I can get out of it, or move onto something different. I want to have confidence that the device will last for the duration of the contract, but it's hard when things break in a matter of days, or come out of the box with defects.

Anyway, I encourage you all to either A. read fully what is in this post before you reply, OR, and better yet, take that energy and go rectify what is wrong with your device. You shouldn't have to live with a dead pixel, you shouldn't have to live with a crack in the case due to normal use of the phone.

If your phone is under warranty, take it back and demand that you get a phone that is built to the specifications they told you when they sold you the idea. I never saw, "New iPhone 3G with dead pixel feature!!" or, "The new iPhone 3G, totally redesigned to crack when you use it!"

You love Apple so much, and you love the company so much....then demand the standards are ABOVE the rest. Pressure the company to produce flawless products so first time buyers like me don't have a leg to stand on. You can sit back in your chair, holding your Apple products like a new born baby and giggle yourself silly that people like me have to accept that "it just works".....but from what I have seen..."It's just mass produced, design over functionality, overpriced, factory produced junk, that will continue to sell in the millions because people care more for "looking cool" than having something that actually works"

 

[Hutch1]

I could understand you anger if they gave you some form of hassle.

These are cosmetic defects, sans the so called 'laggy' camera, which might because you have 50 wallpapers stored in your phone, who knows.

Apple seems to be honoring your requests and replacing your phone.

On that same note should all of us who have perfectly working and perfect cosmetic phones call the National too. I have 2, there are another 12 or so in the office, plus another 4 with my family and they all are fine, no problems with any since the first update that got rid of the keyboard lag and contact lag.

 

[crazylegsmurphy]

I could understand you anger if they gave you some form of hassle.

These are cosmetic defects, sans the so called 'laggy' camera, which might because you have 50 wallpapers stored in your phone, who knows.

Apple seems to be honoring your requests and replacing your phone.

If it were my hobby to get replacements, then sure...it would be all fine and dandy.

Let me break something down for you....so you might better understand why I might be upset.

Consider that there is more to dealing with this than simply getting a good phone. If you add up the time/cost to drive to the Apple store, sit on the phone, wait for replacements, package replacements, call UPS for a pickup, wait for UPS, test the phone, writing on forums, writing Apple directly, going back to the store where I bought the phone and so on and so fourth.

You see pretty quickly that to simply get a phone that works correctly it has cost me way more time and money than it should have. If you simply add up the gas involved to drive to the Apple store (3 hours one way) it cost me almost a tank of gas ($85) just to do that.

Now the phone has cost me $435. Add on the gas to drive to the Rogers store (1 hour drive)....there is another cost.

It just adds up and adds up...all because Apple decided it was alright to put out products that were defective.

These are cosmetic defects, sans the so called 'laggy' camera, which might because you have 50 wallpapers stored in your phone, who knows.

Cosmetic defects or not. One of the reasons I went with the iPhone is for it's "cosmetic" features. I can get all the features in the iPhone in many other phones, but what pushed me over the top was it's design. Why would I settle for a phone that is put together all wrong, has cracks, dead pixels, scratches, dust under the screen?

No offense to anyone here, but I'm not in high school and I don't gain popularity simply because I can afford an iPhone. My friends are all 30+ years old, they don't give a crap if I have an iPhone, so I'm not simply content to flash it around like I'm part of some elite group of people in some club.

The iPhone is an electronic device to me and that is all. I don't care who the company is, how cool it makes me look, or how jealous it makes high school kids, I simply want the device to look and work how it was advertised to me.

As for the "50 wallpapers" comment. Where in the fine print does it state that if I have over 50 wallpapers that I can expect the camera to not function correctly?

 

[alFR]

The iPhone is an electronic device to me and that is all.

Then why are you spending so much time on here ranting about it?

 

[crazylegsmurphy]

Then why are you spending so much time on here ranting about it?

I think you know the answer to that one, and I think you know taking that statement out of context doesn't really help to strengthen your statement.

I'll explain it again for you though.

Just because I don't have any emotional attachment to the phone doesn't mean I still didn't pay for it.

In all honesty, IF I could just take it back to the store, like any other product and get a full refund I would without a second thought. I would pack this thing up in the box, drive down to the store, get my money refunded and put it into a company that I trust or at least has policies to protect the consumer.

I can't though. I'm stuck in a contract, and I'm stuck with the phone. Unless I want to pay MORE money to get out, I have to take it in the butt as long as the contract is valid (3 more years).

Maybe all you guys are so rich and prosperous that you can afford to just buy whatever you like without a care in the world if it works or not. Maybe you guys are driving around in Lamborghini's but care not at all if trucks kick up rocks and hit the paint.

Maybe you guys are buying brand new houses and simply shrug if the water heater doesn't work, or the electrical is wrong and it's costing you $300 extra a month.

I don't really know, but I'm not made of money and so when I spend $350+ on something I really would like it to be made correctly, and work correctly. I really want to be able to use the product as intended without it breaking in my hands...because breaking, means replacing.

I want to be confident that when I give my money to a company, that the products it makes are safe, reliable, and don't cost me even more money to make right.

Sure, Apple keeps replacing phones, but after the 3rd phone you think maybe they might offer a 10% discount on say a case...or maybe say, "We're really sorry you're having so much trouble, how about we extend the warranty for a year"

What about for the people who are on their 6th, or 8th replacement? If I were Apple I would be giving them a $350 or more credit on their cellphone accounts.

It's understandable that when a company makes a product in mass production that there are bound to be a few mistakes. But when a company keeps making those mistakes, but does nothing to show the customer they're truly sorry, then you can expect some people to be a little cranky.

You ask why I complain...because now it's a matter of principal. The company has wasted so much of my time without even offering some sort of compensation for my time (or to simply do some damage control), that now I have decided to take it to a forum (the news) where perhaps others can be better informed.

I wrote a letter to Apple and Rogers 2 weeks ago before any of this, I explained my situation and you know what I heard back? Rogers e-mailed me back saying, "Sorry, we'll look into it!" and Apple, said nothing.

 

[samiwas]

Man you write some long posts...

As you may or may not have noted, my post was not directed at you per se, because I hadn't yet heard exactly what your issues were. Indeed, if the body actually cracks, or the bezel is sharp and nearly taking the end of your finger off, this is an honest issue that warrants a replacement.

Now, one thought: many people have said that they simply call Apple, have a replacement sent to them, and they send the broken one back. I don't have time to go back and reread each of your lengthy posts, but was this not available to you (maybe not in Canada?). I know you are waiting on UPS to deliver, but as memory serves, that was after you went to Rogers.

Another thing, like I said before, your problems may warrant a replacement and warrant the feelings you have. However, what has turned so many people from this forum off towards posts like yours are the people who are flipping a lid over truly insignificant cosmetic blemishes, and many of those are the ones you mention who are on their 6th and 8th replacements. If you require 100% absolute perfection, you will be upset over and over. I would bet that if you REALLY got down and started looking in detail at the other things you have that you claim to be perfect, you would indeed find something with each of them. Obviously, the 3G's weren't made as well as they should have been, and Apple is slowly replacing them. Unfortunately, they seem to spending a lot of time replacing minor cosmetic issues.

As for those of us who don't go crazy if there is a minor blemish on something we bought. No, it's not always because we have tons of money to throw around. It's not because we "don't know our rights as consumers". It's simply because there actually ARE people out there who have better things to pay attention to then if their (even $350) phone has a little scratch on it. I simply do not care even if it came out of the box with a minor scuff on the body. It just does not matter. But to others, the very thought of that is an abominable consumer ripoff. I'm sorry if you think I'm wrong for not caring, but in the same light, I don't care if you think I'm wrong.

Again, before you post another diatribe...I think your sharp edges on the bezel should be replaced. Cracks should be replaced. I've seen light leaks from barely noticeable to highly annoying...I haven't seen one in person, so I cannot comment. But don't act as if every person out there who claims to have a problem actually does have a legitimate problem. Most of the "problems" are complete crap.

Oh, and as for dead pixels...there has always been an "acceptable number" of dead pixels in the building of LCD screens. I know it's annoying (I would try to get it replaced too), but no company has ever claimed that you will receive a unit without dead pixels. So that argument is void.

 

[sir Mudkip]

Holy wowzers batman am I reading your 2nd post right.....you bought your first iPhone in 1008?

On a more serious not, I think you are not being victimized by Steve jobs and the ininjas, you are just dreadfully unlucky. I an in high school but what gives you the conception that iPhone users are an "elite group?". I am currently hijacking my dads 3g iPhone to see if they furfill my needs for a phone. Which it does.

 

[crazylegsmurphy]

Samiwas, yes....yes I do.

I wanted to touch on the dead pixel policy quickly. Here is the link to the apply dead pixel policy.

Dead pixel policy

Currently it doesn't mention the iPhone (or iPod), but I'm sure they'll include them eventually under this legal document.

I suppose at this point one could assume that since there is no official policy that it either falls under the current policy, or doesn't meaning all iPhones should be covered under warranty.

Now, one thought: many people have said that they simply call Apple, have a replacement sent to them, and they send the broken one back. I don't have time to go back and reread each of your lengthy posts, but was this not available to you (maybe not in Canada?). I know you are waiting on UPS to deliver, but as memory serves, that was after you went to Rogers.

It may have been, but Apple didn't offer it when I called them for some reason. Rogers did yes. The first time I ordered a replacement they told me it would be delivered on a Tuesday, I waited for it (I don't have anyone who can take the order for me, and live too far from the office to pick it up after work), but it never showed up.

A few days later I called back and was told that they had canceled the order because they sent me the wrong phone, and were waiting for me to call back. I redid the entire replacement request (having to explain yet again why), and they said they would send out a new one.

Of course, they also told me that it might not be shipped until the 10th of October because of a stock shortage due to the power adapter replacement. As this was two weeks away I was a little cranky, and said, "So should I wait for it or not?"

I was told, "Well, wait for it, and it doesn't show up, you'll know why."

So I waited, but not only that my SIM card went dead because the new phone was sitting in the mail waiting to be delivered with an activated SIM card.

The third replacement I was told was going to arrive on Tuesday (last Tuesday), but it actually arrived late Thursday...and once again the SIM card was shut off for three days.

So technically, ya...they just send me a new phone and I send the other one back, but by no means is it a smooth process.

However, what has turned so many people from this forum off towards posts like yours are the people who are flipping a lid over truly insignificant cosmetic blemishes, and many of those are the ones you mention who are on their 6th and 8th replacements.

I still find this a hard call. Some people are unreasonable yes....but at the same time to some people things like iPhones and such are treats. They're things that kids mow lawns for, and adults treat themselves too. It really is a "toy" in a way because so much of what it does is geared towards entertainment.

To many people, the act of owning a phone like this is what it's all about. It may be hard for some to understand but for some it's a major disappointment when that thing you worked so hard to get is flawed in some way.

It's the same thing as why it bothers some people when people talk at the movies, and others seem oblivious that it annoys anyone. Some people just have different levels of tolerance for things. If iPhone made you sign a waver saying that not all iPhones will be perfect as shown, (like when toy companies put, paint may vary in retail versions), then people know what to expect.

If I had known it was Apple policy that minor cosmetic issues are considered reasonable and acceptable, then I would have chosen another phone, simple as that.

 

[crazylegsmurphy]

Holy wowzers batman am I reading your 2nd post right.....you bought your first iPhone in 1008?

On a more serious not, I think you are not being victimized by Steve jobs and the ininjas, you are just dreadfully unlucky. I an in high school but what gives you the conception that iPhone users are an "elite group?". I am currently hijacking my dads 3g iPhone to see if they furfill my needs for a phone. Which it does.

Yes, I am a time traveler and I wanted to impress the peasants!

I only base that on my experience with the iPhone. I took it out at my brothers wedding last week and everyone under the age of 16 was in awe at the phone. My 14 year old cousin HAD to have an iPod...simply had to have one.

When I tried to explain there are better players out there, she simply wouldn't listen and didn't care what she had to do to get one, but she would....and she did.

When I was standing at the kiosk buying this phone, adults would walk up, pick it up, smile and move on...little kids however, they were bouncing around, tearing it out of each others hands, calling, "Dad, dad it's a iPhone!!"

 

[MacsBestFriend]

Wow, I am on my original two 3G iPhones and I couldn't be happier. The iPhone is neraly perfect.

but with most phones you never need a replacement (says the teenager that smashes their cellphone when their board)