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now i see it

macrumors G4
Original poster
Jan 2, 2002
11,302
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My iPhone 7 worked perfectly but the screen got cracked. Still worked perfectly with the cracked screen.
Finally decided to take it to Apple to replace the screen and in the process of the repair, they borked the audio circuitry and the phone speaker no longer works.

Their answer to that is that's the risk YOU take when the screen gets removed by them (for anything- including battery swap). Not their fault if the phone doesn't work after they pry off the screen.
Those were the words from the repair tech and in fact a customer must sign off a release of liability if the repair goes wrong and the phone ends up a brick. -- Not their fault.

So when it comes down to it - iPhones for most intents & purposes are disposable & not repairable. Battery replacements are EXTREMELY risky (his words) because the screen has to come off.

Apple borked my iPhone 7. And I still had to pay for the new screen.
 
hmmmm.. well at least for my wife when we replaced the battery during the battery replacement program. Somehow, a speck of dust got inside the screen and was clearly visible after the repair. At least they covered the cost of the repairs, despite the fact it the phone was out of warranty. Clearly wasn't there before the replacement but after the replacment, was clearly there, and the store manage agreed to to replace the screen at no cost.
 
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Strange. I live in a country where Apple is supported via Aithorised Resellers, and even here they take full responsibility for any problems during repairs. I have gotten a refurb unit twice before because something went wrong during repair, and they replaced no questions asked.

Where did this happen? I’m pretty sure that if you escalate they will sort you out.
 
To OP, I am surprised at how badly your iPhone 7 repair went. My experience has been exceptionally good, when I have brought anything in to the Apple Store for repair. As oVerboost mentioned, this is not normal Apple behavior. I would escalate as well. Good luck.
 
That doesn’t sound right. In the US I got a battery changed in a 6s, the screen stopped working afterward, so they gave me a new iPhone.
 
If someone damages your property regardless of pretty much any circumstance they are responsible for damages.

Matter of fact, even if you sign something explicitly stating the opposite there is a good chance that document would not hold up in court if you can prove the damage was caused by the defendant.

Apple (and other companies) with typically skirt around the truth and say "We were unable to repair your original phone, we need to do an out of warranty replacement".

Is there anything more to this story? What does the audio do now that makes it "borked"? Was this an APPLE STORE or authorized repair place?

The reason I ask is because repairability is a moot point, the screen needs to be removed regardless. Even if the logic board was totally modular the screen still needs to be removed. Its not modular however the logic board is not easy to damage when only going screen (even battery) deep. It is covered with an RF shield with a protective non conductive layer on top of that.

Screen Shot 2019-10-13 at 8.29.59 AM.png

On top of that the "audio circuitry" (audio processor and AMP) are on the opposite side of the logic board facing the rear of the phone.

To "bork" the audio system during a screen replacement would be quite the feat and at the very least is pure neglect on the technician.
 
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That doesn’t sound right. In the US I got a battery changed in a 6s, the screen stopped working afterward, so they gave me a new iPhone.

I second this, I went to an Apple store to get my aging 6s plus battery replaced earlier this year. I was told to return an hour later to pick it up. Upon returning I was told upon completion of changing the battery, the phone refused to power back on. Apple handed me a new phone + waived the $29 fee for the swap.
 
My iPhone 7 worked perfectly but the screen got cracked. Still worked perfectly with the cracked screen.
Finally decided to take it to Apple to replace the screen and in the process of the repair, they borked the audio circuitry and the phone speaker no longer works.

Their answer to that is that's the risk YOU take when the screen gets removed by them (for anything- including battery swap). Not their fault if the phone doesn't work after they pry off the screen.
Those were the words from the repair tech and in fact a customer must sign off a release of liability if the repair goes wrong and the phone ends up a brick. -- Not their fault.

So when it comes down to it - iPhones for most intents & purposes are disposable & not repairable. Battery replacements are EXTREMELY risky (his words) because the screen has to come off.

Apple borked my iPhone 7. And I still had to pay for the new screen.

Which country/city is this?
 
This is opposite my experience. When replacing my 6S battery (for dirt-cheap, thanks throttlegate!) they managed to break the screen backlight (it had been occasionally finicky before this, even). I got a new/refurbished unit instead. I wouldn't expect anything else from Apple.
 
Manhattan Beach Apple Store. Southern California. iPhone was taken there THREE times and the first 2 times they said the iPhone worked fine when they gave it back - said to go to AT&T store.
Did that TWICE as AT&T said phone worked fine (but refused to put a sim in it to see if phone actually worked).

Then back to Apple Store third time to get the "if the screen is removed, anything can happen and it's not our fault" story.

Finally a different tech actually tested the phone and ... Gee whiz- it didn't work. Not our fault.

The first two times there was a LOT of pressure to sell me a new phone or even buy a new iPhone 7.

Absolutely a miserable experience. Total runaround.

Grade F-
 
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Manhattan Beach Apple Store. Southern California. iPhone was taken there THREE times and the first 2 times they said the iPhone worked fine when they gave it back - said to go to AT&T store.
Did that TWICE as AT&T said phone worked fine (but refused to put a sim in it to see if phone actually worked).

Then back to Apple Store third time to get the "if the screen is removed, anything can happen and it's not our fault" story.

Finally a different tech actually tested the phone and ... Gee whiz- it didn't work. Not our fault.

The first two times there was a LOT of pressure to sell me a new phone or even buy a new iPhone 7.

Absolutely a miserable experience. Total runaround.

Grade F-

Escalate this to Customer Relations or higher. Report that employee/store.
 
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I had a similar experience, but with my MacBook...

A few years ago, I took my 12" MacBook to the Apple store for keyboard repair. This was essentially the start of the faulty keys gate that plagued the rest of the MacBook line. However, there was no official recall issued at the time and my MacBook just ran out of warranty.

Long story story, I was told that they can try to repair my keyboard, but at my own risk. There was a possibility that while repairing some of the keys, they can permanently damage the keyboard and that's the risk I was taking. If this happened, I would need to fork out another several hundred dollars to have a functioning laptop again.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but it was basically along those same lines: "we can try, but if we break something, you will have to spend a lot more". Who does that?!

Seriously?
 
My iPhone 7 worked perfectly but the screen got cracked. Still worked perfectly with the cracked screen.
Finally decided to take it to Apple to replace the screen and in the process of the repair, they borked the audio circuitry and the phone speaker no longer works.

Their answer to that is that's the risk YOU take when the screen gets removed by them (for anything- including battery swap). Not their fault if the phone doesn't work after they pry off the screen.
Those were the words from the repair tech and in fact a customer must sign off a release of liability if the repair goes wrong and the phone ends up a brick. -- Not their fault.

So when it comes down to it - iPhones for most intents & purposes are disposable & not repairable. Battery replacements are EXTREMELY risky (his words) because the screen has to come off.

Apple borked my iPhone 7. And I still had to pay for the new screen.
Call Apple and site every consumer law that protects you, and threatens them with legal action..
Theirs removing liability and then breaking your device and blaming YOU! I get sick of this world where it’s always ‘blame someone else not me’.. attitude.
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Doubt this happened.
Really? I took my MacBook Pro years ago to a Genius Bar, they never fitted the top plate back on properly, I was straight on the phone to Apple and was offered the choice of going to an authorised store or send it in! Their are some right ham fisted repair techs at Apple stores!
Personally I’d rather fix it myself. Do a better job then.
 
I had a similar experience, but with my MacBook...

A few years ago, I took my 12" MacBook to the Apple store for keyboard repair. This was essentially the start of the faulty keys gate that plagued the rest of the MacBook line. However, there was no official recall issued at the time and my MacBook just ran out of warranty.

Long story story, I was told that they can try to repair my keyboard, but at my own risk. There was a possibility that while repairing some of the keys, they can permanently damage the keyboard and that's the risk I was taking. If this happened, I would need to fork out another several hundred dollars to have a functioning laptop again.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but it was basically along those same lines: "we can try, but if we break something, you will have to spend a lot more". Who does that?!

Seriously?

I had quite the opposite experience with my MacBook pro

Early 2013 model. Was recalled as part of the motherboard/graphics card recall. Took it to an authorised centre first as it was closer. They replaced the motherboard, which then went faulty within two days. Second replacement rendered my CTRL key inoperable.

Annoyed with the authorised repairer, I took it to apple and they replaced the entire top cover inc batteries FOC.

Bearing in mind, this is a 2013 model, and repairs were done 3/4 yrs AFTER warranty had expired.

If I was in your shoes, I would suggest ringing up apple support.
 
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