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Is your black iPhone 5 scuffed, chipped or scratched?

  • Flawless

    Votes: 1,158 46.1%
  • Flawless because I put a case on it.

    Votes: 198 7.9%
  • Scuffed out of the box

    Votes: 820 32.7%
  • Scuffed/scratched shortly after

    Votes: 334 13.3%

  • Total voters
    2,510
I've thought about Schiller's comments and they still astonish me.

I've owned the iPhone 3G, 3GS & now 4S (so 3 of the 6 models so far) and if someone had asked me three months ago, I would have told them I can't see myself ever changing.

Since then we've had Apple make a corporate decision & remove the extremely useful mapping application and now we've got a phone where the company believes it's normal for scratches to appear within 48 hours, or even delivered damaged.

My contract is up for renewal within the year. If this doesn't turn out to be merely production anomalies & the iPhone 5 really is going to be scratched soon after I purchase it, then I will probably have to go elsewhere.

That would prove a very disappointing conclusion.
 
Based on Schiller's comment and common sense it is pretty obvious that the scuffing will eventually befall every device. Apple can't change the laws of physics here. With that in mind do you guys believe Apple can honestly prevent this from happening during the manufacturing process and still meet their profit quota?

I'm sure they could prevent this from happening if they had someone manually check every device as the aluminum is being edged and possibly clean the machine after a small batch as well, but think of how much time that would add to the entire process! Therefore it would seem unrealistic for them to instantly fix this problem and still meet the demand.

And so if this is something that will end up happening then how does that change your opinion of the phone? Do you still prefer the aluminum and glass device over a plastic one despite the flaws? Is this flaw enough to sway you to bypass this phone despite the other amazing qualities?

There are vision systems using cameras than can do QC checks while the product is heading down high speed conveyors toward the packing palletizing stations/robots. I've written software for systems to do just this exact thing.
 
I'm really surprised at people actually being this shocked to find that these phones scratch. Remember the first iPhone and the 3G/3GS? Even the 4/4Sa little. Those scratched too, because that's what happens when you use things. They don't and won't stay in perfect condition.
 
I'm really surprised at people actually being this shocked to find that these phones scratch. Remember the first iPhone and the 3G/3GS? Even the 4/4Sa little. Those scratched too, because that's what happens when you use things. They don't and won't stay in perfect condition.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I agree phones being scratched out of the box isn't acceptable, but normal wear and tear is just that...normal ;)
 
I'm really surprised at people actually being this shocked to find that these phones scratch. Remember the first iPhone and the 3G/3GS? Even the 4/4Sa little. Those scratched too, because that's what happens when you use things. They don't and won't stay in perfect condition.

Most are talking about the phones being scratched/scuffed/nicked right out of the box, not when the owner does it themselves. :p
 
Couldn't have said it better myself. I agree phones being scratched out of the box isn't acceptable, but normal wear and tear is just that...normal ;)

I mean yeah I'd be mad if my brand new phone had a big scratch on it, which I'm lucky mine didn't, but a lot of these pictures people are posting have literally like a speck or dot of paint missing and they're sending them back. It just seems a bit overboard. But whatever it's not up to me to make decisions for anyone else.

Most are talking about the phones being scratched/scuffed/nicked right out of the box, not when the owner does it themselves. :p
I understand that but there's also a lot of people who seem to be saying they won't buy the phone because of this "issue."
 
I'm really surprised at people actually being this shocked to find that these phones scratch. Remember the first iPhone and the 3G/3GS? Even the 4/4Sa little. Those scratched too, because that's what happens when you use things. They don't and won't stay in perfect condition.

That was certainly not my experience.

My iPhone 3G & 3GS had virtually no scratches on them at all after over 18 months and I'm a heavy user who travels a lot.

The people I sold them onto over eBay were delighted and told me they couldn't believe the condition of the phones. Being glass, my 4S has a tiny bit of damage about 2mm wide.

I don't think people are shocked that aluminium products will eventually scratch, but the key word is eventually. They're shocked that they are receiving goods like this and also that the company thinks it's acceptable for it to happen anyway within 48/72 hours on an initially flawless phone.
 
Thats my point. What if they can't? What would you do?

Keep making a stink until they address the issue. When you build your name on quality products and people grow accustomed to that, then you put out damaged products, expect a backlash.
 
Anyone been to the genius bar lately? I'm going tonight to try and swap my nicked up iPhone5. How was the condition of the replacements?
 
I'm really surprised at people actually being this shocked to find that these phones scratch. Remember the first iPhone and the 3G/3GS? Even the 4/4Sa little. Those scratched too, because that's what happens when you use things. They don't and won't stay in perfect condition.

No one is shocked phones scratch. People are shocked they shell out good money to find a BRAND NEW PHONE IN THE BOX is SCRATCHED. Big difference.
 
No one is shocked phones scratch. People are shocked they shell out good money to find a BRAND NEW PHONE IN THE BOX is SCRATCHED. Big difference.

What I posted right after that one was that it sounds like people aren't going to buy this phone because it scratches. And that people are sending them back with miniscule marks on the phone.
 
I've been keeping an eye on the past few pages of this thread since I discovered what I can only imagine is some factory damage on my phone yesterday afternoon. I haven't gotten it anywhere near any sort of material that could scuff or gouge like what I've found on my phone. My concern is about the fact that I didn't find it until 3 days after I unboxed it and the reaction and level of sympathy (vs cynicism) I'll get.

Has anyone been taking their phones in after having it for 2-3 days claiming "factory damage" and what kind of experience have you been getting? Also, any thoughts/opinions on whether I'm better off going into my local store or calling customer service?

I've yet to see anyone say Apple *hasn't* helped them, which is actually surprising to me. But I'm wondering if the only folks chiming in are ones that literally unboxed them & found the damage immediately after receiving them or buying at Apple retail, and if anyone has tried getting a swap after a day or two of ownership & use?

Thanks!
 
I've been keeping an eye on the past few pages of this thread since I discovered what I can only imagine is some factory damage on my phone yesterday afternoon. I haven't gotten it anywhere near any sort of material that could scuff or gouge like what I've found on my phone. My concern is about the fact that I didn't find it until 3 days after I unboxed it and the reaction and level of sympathy (vs cynicism) I'll get.

Has anyone been taking their phones in after having it for 2-3 days claiming "factory damage" and what kind of experience have you been getting? Also, any thoughts/opinions on whether I'm better off going into my local store or calling customer service?

I've yet to see anyone say Apple *hasn't* helped them, which is actually surprising to me. But I'm wondering if the only folks chiming in are ones that literally unboxed them & found the damage immediately after receiving them or buying at Apple retail, and if anyone has tried getting a swap after a day or two of ownership & use?

Thanks!

They give you a 14 days return window as long as it is in "like new" condition. Worst case scenario, you just return it and rebuy it.
 
What I posted right after that one was that it sounds like people aren't going to buy this phone because it scratches. And that people are sending them back with miniscule marks on the phone.

Some are small, some are large dents. Apple sets high standards, so do it's customers.
 
Some are small, some are large dents. Apple sets high standards, so do it's customers.
Well you also missed me say if I had a big mark on mine I'd be pissed. Again, just saying there seems to be a general overreaction, and I obviously have no intention of stopping people from returning them.
 
I've thought about Schiller's comments and they still astonish me.

I've owned the iPhone 3G, 3GS & now 4S (so 3 of the 6 models so far) and if someone had asked me three months ago, I would have told them I can't see myself ever changing.

Since then we've had Apple make a corporate decision & remove the extremely useful mapping application and now we've got a phone where the company believes it's normal for scratches to appear within 48 hours, or even delivered damaged.

My contract is up for renewal within the year. If this doesn't turn out to be merely production anomalies & the iPhone 5 really is going to be scratched soon after I purchase it, then I will probably have to go elsewhere.

That would prove a very disappointing conclusion.

I agree with everything you said there mate.

I think it's quite disappointing to hear of that response from Schiller, it's almost as if he's saying, we've got your money and we don't give a *****. It's similar to what the "Antennagate" issue when the iPhone 4 was released and Apple's initial response was "You're holding it wrong" and then proceeded to educate us how a phone should be held and how their antennas compared to their competition.

I hope that if everyone complains for long enough, and the media blows it up, possibly out of proportion, Apple may do what they did with the iPhone 4 and offer free cases :D (but I doubt that'll happen as I personally see Apple as being a bit stubborn when admitting to problems with their products).

And to anyone saying that Aluminium does scratch, just like glass smashes and the like, well, if you're going to pay £600 for a phone, you'd expect it to be durable and long lasting. A thicker coat on the aluminium or more resistant coating or anything which would have minimised the chances of noticeable scratching wouldn't have hurt - you'll have much more customer satisfaction from those who've spent an arm and a leg to buy the iPhone 5. The least consumers expect is for their device to be scratched up so soon from so little or 'normal' use.

I'm sticking with my iPhone 4 for now, together with iOS 5.

/rant
 
So I opened up my iPhone 5 today, took the plastic cover off, and immediately saw scratches on opposite ends of the phone (in almost exactly the same place, actually). Called Apple, and they just asked me to send photos of the scratches, then initiated a priority replacement. No mention of any charge (but I haven't gotten a shipment notification yet either).
 
GRRR

My overnight replacement just came and oh looky!

I'm just going to go to the apple store tomorrow like the senior advisor suggested and have them just give me a replacement and inspect it in store until I find one that isn't messed up out of the box. Because I do not feel like shipping back and forth over this.

AR3r9.jpg

VvKSO.jpg


Somehow I think this is a lie...

ZQOUb.jpg
 
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I'v been getting the run around by apple care. I call apple care they tell me to go to the apple store, I go to the apple store they say to go where you bought it since they don't cover physical damage anyway. I call apple care again they say to go to futureshop also. I go there they pretty much call me a liar and say they pre inspect all the phones before selling them and close them up again. Which I know was total BS. So now I am once again waiting to be called by Apple Care. I'm getting really tired of this BS. I just want a perfect condition iPhone...
 
Posted previously that my 16Gb model is pretty much ok. Was only looking for the gouges along the sharp edges, though. Didn't pay much attention to the antenna bands.

Upon closer inspection, noticed same as others have shown.

This doesn't really bother me nearly as much as the nicks and dings others have shown. The chunks out of the finish look like something that is much more lkely to be weak and get worse over time.
 

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The black iPhone 5 is garbage. I would only buy a White 5, or the iPhone 4 or 4s.

Also Apple seems like it is faltering now. Unbelievable.

There are going to be millions of shabby black iPhones in about a month.
 
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GRRR

My overnight replacement just came and oh looky!

I'm just going to go to the apple store tomorrow like the senior advisor suggested and have them just give me a replacement and inspect it in store until I find one that isn't messed up out of the box. Because I do not feel like shipping back and forth over this.

AR3r9.jpg

VvKSO.jpg


Somehow I think this is a lie...

ZQOUb.jpg

I could almost let go the discoloration near the banding break, but near the headphone jack??! Yeah, speck of dust you trolls. Insane. Send it back and keep sending it back on their dime.
 
I could almost let go the discoloration near the banding break, but near the headphone jack??! Yeah, speck of dust you trolls. Insane. Send it back and keep sending it back on their dime.

Uh, look again. That's an obvious scratch -- the chamfer is broken and the result is aluminum shining through.
 
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