iPhone 5 - black version scuffs (merged)

[itjw]

Silver showing on antenna: have a case on it anyway

Tiny piece of debris under screen: can deal, I just pay no mind to it.

Chipped home button: NO.

Not all of us are over the top OCD as you may be imagining where a tiny nick that is only visible at a certain angle is bothering us. These are real pieces of messed up merchandise.

I witnessed a Genius open an "Inspected by AppleCare" box only to open the worst damage to a newly opened iphone 5 I had ever seen: one side of the antenna was almost all silver, like it had been sanded.

Yes, every item one buys comes with imperfections but the damage that the iPhone 5 has been coming with OUT OF THE BOX has been unacceptable. If anybody thinks that a person who pays for their iphone should accept it with:

Deep gashes in the antenna/bezel
Chipped screens
Chipped home buttons
Dirt/debris under the screen

Is wrong. I understand just dealing with minor nicks but NO: I refuse to accept a phone that is clearly DAMAGED.

We're not all over the top OCD. Some of us genuinely got screwed over time and time again.

Except the damage you describe is NOT what 99% of this thread is about.

The vast majority of this thread deals with mm sized "scuffs" of the aluminum. Not severe damage like chipped or broken glass.

Those who return multiple phones over speck sized silver showing on the chamfer or tiny marks on the anodizing are arguably "over the top OCD". Even out of the box.

If tiny cosmetic damage, that normal people cannot notice without CLOSE inspection, is what most returns are over (which they are, according to TWO Apple store managers I have spoken personally with) I would tend to agree. One even showed me a couple "defective" units and I was unable to find anything wrong. He showed me one spot on one, and couldn't find anything on the other.

They exchanged them anyway because Apple is an extraordinary company.

He said they usually just laugh about it and move on. "Fanboys are "unique"" and "we still love them anyway" were his exact words.

Interesting stuff. Still over the top OCD, but interesting none the less...

 

[robert15rus]

Hi, I'm writing from Russia. The official sales of the new iPhone haven't started in Russia yet, that's why I want to ask my friends to buy one for me somewhere in Europe or in New-York. But I see that more and more people are getting scuffed iPhones. Is it possible that the problem with the scuffs will be solved after the New Year or it can't be solved at all? Should I buy it now ot should I wait for the next year? Thnx.

 

[logicpro7]

Just picked up my new black i5 today. Perfect out of the box same as the two white ones my wife and daughter have.

Maybe i just got lucky.

 

[aliensporebomb]

Sigh

I picked mine up October 5th. Slate.

It's perfect and has stayed that way.

And I expect minor scuffs or wear over time. It's a phone - are you going to put it in a blanket and give it a goodnight story?

 

[Alfonsomac]

Guys those are my iPhone scratches:

When it was out of the box there were just two points on both sides...
What do you say? Should i replace it?

Edit: i can return the iPhone until the 31 october (that's wrote on the receipt). Can i go at the Apple Store the 14th day without any kind of problem? I mean, can i return the iPhone the 14th day?

Thanks

 

[forthenguyen]

abc

Mine seems good besides a scratch right above the charger port. Don't really have the best of cameras, just my laptop. It's kind of a white shine in the middle but you guys probably can't see it

It's a week 39 and not really too bothered and it's a pain to get it exchanged since no Best Buys around here have any in stock. It's kind of annoying that there is a scratch but it's so small and I'll scratch it sooner or later anyway, and it's just probably my "new device" OCD acting up.

 

[xfuz1on]

Guys those are my iPhone scratches:

Image

Image

When it was out of the box there were just two points on both sides...
What do you say? Should i replace it?

Edit: i can return the iPhone until the 31 october (that's wrote on the receipt). Can i go at the Apple Store the 14th day without any kind of problem? I mean, can i return the iPhone the 14th day?

Thanks

Dude.... you seriously want to return that ? That's not even bad at all. You may end up with a worse one I tell you that.

 

[Bear87]

Dude.... you seriously want to return that ? That's not even bad at all. You may end up with a worse one I tell you that.

Wow, second that! This is exactly what I wanted to say with my earlier post. Those scratches are microscopical, really really minimal...if your buttons are ok, your screen isn't scratched, no dead pixels: Start enjoying your device!

Come on, keep it real: this is no problem, is it?

 

[enophi1]

Guys those are my iPhone scratches:

Image

Image

When it was out of the box there were just two points on both sides...
What do you say? Should i replace it?

Edit: i can return the iPhone until the 31 october (that's wrote on the receipt). Can i go at the Apple Store the 14th day without any kind of problem? I mean, can i return the iPhone the 14th day?

Thanks

I wouldn't return that! it's a keeper. You wouldn't even notice the teeny tiny scratches in daily use anyway. You can play the iphone lottery but it won't be worth it.

 

[kellte2]

I wouldn't return that! it's a keeper. You wouldn't even notice the teeny tiny scratches in daily use anyway. You can play the iphone lottery but it won't be worth it.

Keep it, as everyone else here seems to be saying. The iPhone Lottery is a fool's game - and one I've played. Even if you manage to get a pristine phone out of the box, you'll eventually get a ding, scuff, or scratch on it eventually, and at that point, you'll feel even more foolish. Take it from me...

 

[Alfonsomac]

I know guys, i asked because i can return it until the 31.


It's perfect, it has no dead pixel or any kind of scratches on the screen or on the back.
But at first there were just two micro dot around the sim tray insert, now a whole scraping on one side.
The only thing that stops me, it's the condition of the new one. Unfortunately i can't know how it will be.

But i've just decided to use it with the invisibleshield back coverage, without any case, so it doesn't worth to change it.

 

[enophi1]

I know guys, i asked because i can return it until the 31.


It's perfect, it has no dead pixel or any kind of scratches on the screen or on the back.
But at first there were just two micro dot around the sim tray insert, now a whole scraping on one side.
The only thing that stops me, it's the condition of the new one. Unfortunately i can't know how it will be.

But i've just decided to use it with the invisibleshield back coverage, without any case, so it doesn't worth to change it.

If I am completely honest.... Scuffs, dents and nicks are the least of your worries.

You will need to check out Battery Life, Camera Function, Tint of the display (yellow, blue tints / Interlacing) , app functionality , etc.

The list of defects go on and on, and they are not limited to the outer body.

I would stick with the one you have .

I've changed mine twice and finally got a phone that is flawless even down to the software and functionality, but that's a rarity.

I spent a month since Launch Day dicking around with my delusion of the "perfect iphone" (Thanks OCD'ers ) and that's a month I could of spent enjoying the phone instead of waiting around

 

[mjpearce023]

Mine seems good besides a scratch right above the charger port. Don't really have the best of cameras, just my laptop. It's kind of a white shine in the middle but you guys probably can't see it

It's a week 39 and not really too bothered and it's a pain to get it exchanged since no Best Buys around here have any in stock. It's kind of annoying that there is a scratch but it's so small and I'll scratch it sooner or later anyway, and it's just probably my "new device" OCD acting up.

I think I would be more worried about your aluminum being bright blue than the scratches!

Seriously though if 1 small scratch is all you have then you are doing pretty well. My first phone had 3 and the 1st replacement had 5. The second replacement has one very small one and I'm very happy with it.

 

[Alfonsomac]

If I am completely honest.... Scuffs, dents and nicks are the least of your worries.

You will need to check out Battery Life, Camera Function, Tint of the display (yellow, blue tints / Interlacing) , app functionality , etc.

The list of defects go on and on, and they are not limited to the outer body.

I would stick with the one you have .

I've changed mine twice and finally got a phone that is flawless even down to the software and functionality, but that's a rarity.

I spent a month since Launch Day dicking around with my delusion of the "perfect iphone" (Thanks OCD'ers ) and that's a month I could of spent enjoying the phone instead of waiting around

You're convincing me.
That's my second iPhone 5. The first one, which i got at the day one, was flawless out of the box but it had some problem with the backlight. I returned it the day after.
The current one is perfect, really.

So i will keep your advices

 

[enophi1]

You're convincing me.
That's my second iPhone 5. The first one, which i got at the day one, was flawless out of the box but it had some problem with the backlight. I returned it the day after.
The current one is perfect, really.

So i will keep your advices

I would

My second one is perfect, I am not going to tempt fate and order another one!

Check your phone for the list of defects, light leaks, functionality etc, and if you are really adamant that a swap out will be a good idea, go for it.!

 

[enophi1]

If it helps, one thing I did was ask Apple for a replacement and they allowed me to keep the other one until I could choose between them.

This gave me 2 weeks to test each model out side by side , then I made my decision

 

[Alfonsomac]

If it helps, one thing I did was ask Apple for a replacement and they allowed me to keep the other one until I could choose between them.

This gave me 2 weeks to test each model out side by side , then I made my decision

You've been lucky

However i really appreciated your help
Thanks

 

[enophi1]

You've been lucky

However i really appreciated your help
Thanks

No problem, hope it all works out.

 

[mjpearce023]

If it helps, one thing I did was ask Apple for a replacement and they allowed me to keep the other one until I could choose between them.

This gave me 2 weeks to test each model out side by side , then I made my decision

Wow, that's some good customer service right there!

 

[dominion155]

I first got a faulty home button. Got a replacement with a severly bad rattle and scratches. Third replacement is flawless, week 36. So happy.

 

[enophi1]

Wow, that's some good customer service right there!

Oh I can't fault Apple customer service. It's amazing!

They didn't put any hold on my card either. They trust you to send the other one back.

 

[mjpearce023]

Oh I can't fault Apple customer service. It's amazing!

They didn't put any hold on my card either. They trust you to send the other one back.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to come off as being sarcastic, I was actually being serious. I love apple's customer service. It’s one of many reasons why I continue to buy their products.

 

[bushman4]

Apple customer service is TOP NOTCH. Their goal is to make us happy and they strive hard to accomplish this.

 

[forthenguyen]

I think I would be more worried about your aluminum being bright blue than the scratches!

Seriously though if 1 small scratch is all you have then you are doing pretty well. My first phone had 3 and the 1st replacement had 5. The second replacement has one very small one and I'm very happy with it.

yeah, I don't really have a quality camera. I always just used my phone. I'm not worried it'll get scratched sooner or later. If I have to examine my phone very closely to find a scratch then it's not a big deal.

 

[enophi1]

Sorry, I didn’t mean to come off as being sarcastic, I was actually being serious. I love apple's customer service. It’s one of many reasons why I continue to buy their products.

lol i didn't even suspect you were being sarcastic. I knew you meant it.