>>> Possible Forthcoming Apple Scam for Reception issues

[WeylandYutani]

Apple MUST know by know whether it is a hardware or software problem.

Their silence on the issue is disturbing.

Perhaps they have realised it is indeed a hardware issue so to reduce costs they will WAIT until after the 14 days right for full refund expires.

Then they will give you REFURBISHED iPhones NOT new ones - thereby reducing their own costs.

This will also deter people with the reception problem from getting an exchange and putting up with a lesser evil - who knows what you may be getting as a refurbished unit.

Your views?

 

[outphase]

Yes, it's clear that Apple planned for people to have bad reception when holding the phone.

 

[WeylandYutani]

Yes, it's clear that Apple planned for people to have bad reception when holding the phone.

That's not the point.

The point is they have realised they have made a boo boo (post release) and are going to try to minimise THEIR OWN damage by putting it on the customers - with refurbished phones.

 

[TheBama]

Counting only presales: that means they need to have 600,000 refurbs of a brand new item laying around somewhere

 

[ucfgrad93]

That's not the point.

The point is they have realised they have made a boo boo (post release) and are going to try to minimise THEIR OWN damage by putting it on the customers - with refurbished phones.

Personally, I would rather Apple take a few days to figure out what is really causing the problem.

 

[canyonblue737]

Apple MUST know by know whether it is a hardware or software problem.

Their silence on the issue is disturbing.

Perhaps they have realised it is indeed a hardware issue so to reduce costs they will WAIT until after the 14 days right for full refund expires.

Then they will give you REFURBISHED iPhones NOT new ones - thereby reducing their own costs.

This will also deter people with the reception problem from getting an exchange and putting up with a lesser evil - who knows what you may be getting as a refurbished unit.

Your views?

You're way off base. Clearly Apple didn't see this issue coming and the phone launched only on Wednesday / Thursday with the major media and customer pressure about this problem kicking in only in the last 48 hours. Apple's initial off the cuff comments, one from Steve Jobs and a quick PR paragraph were huge disasters. Apple can see that now as the media coverage only increases. Apple has smartly retreated to really look into if the problem is a hardware issue, a production issue, a software issue, or a combination of them. They may well find it can be fixed or heavily mitigated through software, or they might find they have to recall the whole batch of phones. If it is software they need at least few days to find the issue and test and approve a patch. If it is hardware they can't admit that until they have fully thought through the process of how they are going to replace 1 to 2 million phones, and how that affects production, future countries launches etc. The worst thing they could do now is say "It's hardware and we can't tell you how or when we are going to fix it." People would go crazy! Instead they are being smart, finding a COMPLETE fix (software OR hardware) and a COMPLETE way to implement that fix in a way that keeps the Apple name as unblemished as possible. Apple will address this, likely next week, but when they talk next about this issue they will have complete answers because they have already see what happens when their comments are half baked.

Calm down, Apple will make this right.

 

[Jr1985]

You're way off base. Clearly Apple didn't see this issue coming and the phone launched only on Wednesday / Thursday with the major media and customer pressure about this problem kicking in only in the last 48 hours. Apple's initial off the cuff comments, one from Steve Jobs and a quick PR paragraph were huge disasters. Apple can see that now as the media coverage only increases. Apple has smartly retreated to really look into if the problem is a hardware issue, a production issue, a software issue, or a combination of them. They may well find it can be fixed or heavily mitigated through software, or they might find they have to recall the whole batch of phones. If it is software they need at least few days to find the issue and test and approve a patch. If it is hardware they can't admit that until they have fully thought through the process of how they are going to replace 1 to 2 million phones, and how that affects production, future countries launches etc. The worst thing they could do now is say "It's hardware and we can't tell you how or when we are going to fix it." People would go crazy! Instead they are being smart, finding a COMPLETE fix (software OR hardware) and a COMPLETE way to implement that fix in a way that keeps the Apple name as unblemished as possible. Apple will address this, likely next week, but when they talk next about this issue they will have complete answers because they have already see what happens when their comments are half baked.

Calm down, Apple will make this right.

Agreed, I reckon Steve (assuming it really was him) made those comments before he realized the extent of the problem, because it is true that phones lose signal quality when you cover the antenna.

I will wait until Apple make an actual announcement before joining the angry mob.

 

[acfusion29]

Apple MUST know by know whether it is a hardware or software problem.

Their silence on the issue is disturbing.

Perhaps they have realised it is indeed a hardware issue so to reduce costs they will WAIT until after the 14 days right for full refund expires.

Then they will give you REFURBISHED iPhones NOT new ones - thereby reducing their own costs.

This will also deter people with the reception problem from getting an exchange and putting up with a lesser evil - who knows what you may be getting as a refurbished unit.

Your views?

I don't think they have refurbished phones just yet, and won't for a while.

 

[synagence]

Don't know about US law, but UK law has a nice provision in that an item must last a reasonable amount of time for the type of device and be free of manufacturer defects.... in the UK if a device was found to be faulty at manufacture Apple would be liable for repair (or other remedy) up to 5 years down the line ...

Consumer law in the UK is pretty strong and it just wouldn't fly....
If Apple admitted in a month that it was a design defect then anyone on a contract in the UK at least would be able to break the contract unless Apple made suitable remedies to the situation

 

[WeylandYutani]

Don't know about US law, but UK law has a nice provision in that an item must last a reasonable amount of time for the type of device and be free of manufacturer defects.... in the UK if a device was found to be faulty at manufacture Apple would be liable for repair (or other remedy) up to 5 years down the line ...

Consumer law in the UK is pretty strong and it just wouldn't fly....
If Apple admitted in a month that it was a design defect then anyone on a contract in the UK at least would be able to break the contract unless Apple made suitable remedies to the situation

Thanks for that info!

Didn't know about the 5 year period. Are you positive about that?

Cheers,

 

[Fuchal]

A senior rep just called me to provide me an update and he said that engineering is still investigating, they have a sufficient sample size so they do not need any more broken phones, and that there is no further information at this time + to check back in 48 hours.

 

[beamer8912]

Apple has always replaced faulty phones with refurbs.

I don't see how this is a scam. In many cases refurbs are BETTER phones than new ones. New phones undergo minimal testing, refurbs are put through much more significant testing.

I bet if I put a refurb and a new phone side by side, you couldn't tell the difference.

Many, many other manufacturers do this. Microsoft did it with the Xbox 360 during the red ring of death fiasco.

 

[WeylandYutani]

Apple has always replaced faulty phones with refurbs.

I don't see how this is a scam. In many cases refurbs are BETTER phones than new ones. New phones undergo minimal testing, refurbs are put through much more significant testing.

I bet if I put a refurb and a new phone side by side, you couldn't tell the difference.

Many, many other manufacturers do this. Microsoft did it with the Xbox 360 during the red ring of death fiasco.

That's not true.

If you phone breaks down within 14 days you can get a NEW ONE according to Apple Support.

Not a refurb with dust under the screen and a 'special' refurb serial number with a few dead pixels to spare.

Paleeease. Typical experience of refurbs is that you will end up spending most of your days re-visiting the Apple store to replace your refurb with another refurb. That's a fact. Look at all the forums about refurbs.

 

[GinoDotCom]

Well i'm obviously all for a fix as long as Apple doesn't stick us with a phony software update that did nothing but change the behavior in the way our cellular bars are visually read.

 

[dukebound85]

That's not the point.

The point is they have realised they have made a boo boo (post release) and are going to try to minimise THEIR OWN damage by putting it on the customers - with refurbished phones.

what refurb phones? they cant keep pace as is LOL

 

[synagence]

Thanks for that info!

Didn't know about the 5 year period. Are you positive about that?

Cheers,

http://webarchive.nationalarchives....whatwedo/consumers/fact-sheets/page38311.html

Sale of Goods Act 1979. Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982. Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994. The Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002.

Key Facts:
• Wherever goods are bought they must "conform to contract". This means they must be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality (i.e. not inherently faulty at the time of sale).

• Goods are of satisfactory quality if they reach the standard that a reasonable person would regard as satisfactory, taking into account the price and any description.

• Aspects of quality include fitness for purpose, freedom from minor defects, appearance and finish, durability and safety.

• It is the seller, not the manufacturer, who is responsible if goods do not conform to contract.

• If goods do not conform to contract at the time of sale, purchasers can request their money back "within a reasonable time". (This is not defined and will depend on circumstances)

• For up to six years after purchase (five years from discovery in Scotland) purchasers can demand damages (which a court would equate to the cost of a repair or replacement).

What is an inherent fault?
A fault present at the time of purchase. Examples are:
• an error in design so that a product is manufactured incorrectly
• an error in manufacturing where a faulty component was inserted.
The "fault" may not become apparent immediately but it was there at the time of sale and so the product was not of satisfactory standard.

All you need to know

 

[jbachandouris]

That's not true.

If you phone breaks down within 14 days you can get a NEW ONE according to Apple Support.

Not a refurb with dust under the screen and a 'special' refurb serial number with a few dead pixels to spare.

Paleeease. Typical experience of refurbs is that you will end up spending most of your days re-visiting the Apple store to replace your refurb with another refurb. That's a fact. Look at all the forums about refurbs.

You're crazy. I have not seen any such threads. I have a refub MBP and I have NO issues and it is cosmetically PERFECT.

 

[sinsin07]

Apple MUST know by know whether it is a hardware or software problem.

Their silence on the issue is disturbing.

Perhaps they have realised it is indeed a hardware issue so to reduce costs they will WAIT until after the 14 days right for full refund expires.

Then they will give you REFURBISHED iPhones NOT new ones - thereby reducing their own costs.

This will also deter people with the reception problem from getting an exchange and putting up with a lesser evil - who knows what you may be getting as a refurbished unit.

Your views?

One question. On day 15 where will Apple be getting all these refurbished iPhone 4's from>

 

[Goodeye]

All this thread is summed up right here:

 

[MikePA]

A senior rep just called me to provide me an update and he said that engineering is still investigating, they have a sufficient sample size so they do not need any more broken phones, and that there is no further information at this time + to check back in 48 hours.

A senior rep just called me and said all comments by other senior reps are wrong.

 

[shadygrove]

In all honesty as much as I love iOS, there are more bugs within it than with the phone itself from my experience. I have noticed safari hanging up in various instances. I am still totally satisfied and understand nothing is perfect.