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Quality control.
- Thread starter hibanzai
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As Apple's gross profit has increased, they've become even more aware of what the customers will put up with. Since the general American public is not one to demand much, Apple has learned what they can get away with.
As a result, Apple slowly began reducing the quality of the product. I speak from personal experience since 1991. The first year I became a hard core Apple enthusiast. Years of really great products built the reputation they are now letting slide.
I would imagine at some time now that the super egotistical arrogant CEO is gone, the new man will be more responsible when it comes to quality. We are being charged top prices and getting mediocre quality. That's got to improve.
As a result, Apple slowly began reducing the quality of the product. I speak from personal experience since 1991. The first year I became a hard core Apple enthusiast. Years of really great products built the reputation they are now letting slide.
I would imagine at some time now that the super egotistical arrogant CEO is gone, the new man will be more responsible when it comes to quality. We are being charged top prices and getting mediocre quality. That's got to improve.
add another to QC. Just got a brand new white 32GB. I accidentally chipped the border around the screen with my nails. Shrugged it off as my screen tint was finally like my old launch day 4.
Well looking around, there are chips that are pieced off all over the white border!
Not a deal breaker for me because of the screen though.
Well looking around, there are chips that are pieced off all over the white border!
Not a deal breaker for me because of the screen though.
i must be one lucky dude. All of my Apple products have worked flawlessly.
I read all these threads about people just agonizing over their phone, laptop whatever and I just look at my Apple stuff and just wonder, cause it always just worked for me and did what it was supposed to.
I read all these threads about people just agonizing over their phone, laptop whatever and I just look at my Apple stuff and just wonder, cause it always just worked for me and did what it was supposed to.
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Oh wow. I am quite surprised that many people complain about the quality control. I have so many iPhones that only the first generation come with no flaw. The 3G and 3GS come with unevenly placed screen. iPhone 4's assembling is good but my first one is dead on arrival. My first 4s come with a slight gap on the right side of the screen.
I do not expect much better experience. Even my 3000 dollar watch hand made in Germany has production flaws that I have to make an exchange. Apple has been produced in China since long ago so I can't blame the Chinese factory as well. I've got used to the minor flaws as long as it doesn't affect my usage. Especially apple has quite convenient return policy.
I am more concerned about the bugs in software or design flaws rather than assembling quality.
Oh wow. I am quite surprised that many people complain about the quality control. I have so many iPhones that only the first generation come with no flaw. The 3G and 3GS come with unevenly placed screen. iPhone 4's assembling is good but my first one is dead on arrival. My first 4s come with a slight gap on the right side of the screen.
I do not expect much better experience. Even my 3000 dollar watch hand made in Germany has production flaws that I have to make an exchange. Apple has been produced in China since long ago so I can't blame the Chinese factory as well. I've got used to the minor flaws as long as it doesn't affect my usage. Especially apple has quite convenient return policy.
I am more concerned about the bugs in software or design flaws rather than assembling quality.
If only that were true.... I have gone through 3 phones within a week without receiving a satisfactory product. Clearly the QC levels are subpar and one way to increase that is to 'pay' more for QC, which in turn requires higher revenues, etc. resuting in a higher price to the consumer.
So yes, I would pay more if the result of paying less is a crappy product.
For the record, my issues with each instance of the iPhone 4S that I have had (in order of annoyance):
1 (retail):
- Green / dim / low-contrast / difficult to read screen
- Static in earpiece
- Loudly buzzing / loose vibrate
2 (refurb 1):
- Glass separating from body in top-left corner
- Intermittent inability to hear other side while making calls
- Distorted earpiece sounds on occasion
- Static in earpiece (when functional)
- Blue screen (tint, not in terms of color temp, readability ok)
3 (refurb 2):
- Dimmer top-half of screen with dark blue blob in top-left (overall 'tint' was ok)
- Static in earpiece
- Buzzing vibrate
- Nicks in steel antenna
I remember shortly after Apple switching most of its production from Taiwan to China, there was a marked drop in QC.
I cannot remember exact dates but around 2007 buying a MBP I had lots of problems, replacing my laptop twice, through the biggest QC issue was the tolerance surrounding the gap between screen and keyboard which varied significantly between various replacements. (This was not why I was exchanging the laptop but why I was able to see the issue over my various replacements.)
Subsequently I've had several new laptops and iPhones but have never experienced any QC problems.
Before purchasing new items I would read here, checking to see if there were any major issues, but by doing so I think I was then receiving things and looking for faults rather than just enjoying what I'd received.
You already pay a premium for Apple products, and as other posters have said Apple's QC is much higher than its cheaper competitors offer. Unfortunately with mass production there is always going to be an element which does't meet ideal standards. With Apple I am sure this is less than their competitors.
There's always a risk your purchase won't live up to your expectations then there's also simply looking for faults cause you've read a post by the 0.1% who have actually received a defective product.
I cannot remember exact dates but around 2007 buying a MBP I had lots of problems, replacing my laptop twice, through the biggest QC issue was the tolerance surrounding the gap between screen and keyboard which varied significantly between various replacements. (This was not why I was exchanging the laptop but why I was able to see the issue over my various replacements.)
Subsequently I've had several new laptops and iPhones but have never experienced any QC problems.
Before purchasing new items I would read here, checking to see if there were any major issues, but by doing so I think I was then receiving things and looking for faults rather than just enjoying what I'd received.
You already pay a premium for Apple products, and as other posters have said Apple's QC is much higher than its cheaper competitors offer. Unfortunately with mass production there is always going to be an element which does't meet ideal standards. With Apple I am sure this is less than their competitors.
There's always a risk your purchase won't live up to your expectations then there's also simply looking for faults cause you've read a post by the 0.1% who have actually received a defective product.
maybe go to a different apple store, maybe they got a shoddy batch all from the same supplier so going for another replacement wouldn't really help as much.
guess its also the price you pay for being early adopter of new toys too.
guess its also the price you pay for being early adopter of new toys too.
What I find that is really funny is Apple will be re boxing these phone you OCD people are returning and giving it to someone else. They will not notice that the color is not just like their previous screen or there is a tiny scratch on the bottom side at the plug or that it rattles when you tap the back or it SMELLS funny.
My store has refurbs waiting on YOU!
My store has refurbs waiting on YOU!
What I find that is really funny is Apple will be re boxing these phone you OCD people are returning and giving it to someone else. They will not notice that the color is not just like their previous screen or there is a tiny scratch on the bottom side at the plug or that it rattles when you tap the back or it SMELLS funny.
My store has refurbs waiting on YOU!
I don't know that Apple would blatantly break consumer protection laws, as last time I checked it was illegal to repackage a used item and sell it as "new". Now I would bet that they are taking those returns and putting them into the refurb pile or something to that effect.
Unfortunately, my experience has been that it is not easy to take care of this under a warranty swap. The replacement units are just as bad if not worse and it is hit-or-miss to find retail stock in my area at this time.
I am probably going to end up paying 100% more, actually, since I am only considering the unlocked phones from this point onward. Given my difficulty in finding a good one I will likely hang on to any unit I am happy with for much longer and given the extra effort to find one I do not want to have it tied to a particular carrier.
If you are so unhappy with Apple quality don't but their products.
Yes, there may have been some minor issues on some products. Apple will make that right. I have owned many Apple products and have never had an issue. I would hold Apple's quality up to any other company out there.
yellow screens, messed up home buttons, this is minor? not sure if serious?
Thats's true i don't think there is another company that makes phones that has a store were if there was an issue with it you could go there and walk out the same day with a replacement.
Based on my conversation with the genius they don't have to replace screens that are yellow. They don't recognize that as a defect and simply state that there are slight differences in each phones LCD panels.
That's not what I agree with but what i was told.
I must agree with the OP. I went through two iPhone 4Ss to get a perfect example for my $299 spent on contract I am getting fed up.
October 14: Confirmed battery defect getting three hours usage. Soft home button with no click.
October 23: No oleophobic coating and speaker grill was half-white, half-silver. Dust under screen in several spots.
November 12: What I consider to be flawless.
October 14: Confirmed battery defect getting three hours usage. Soft home button with no click.
October 23: No oleophobic coating and speaker grill was half-white, half-silver. Dust under screen in several spots.
November 12: What I consider to be flawless.
It definitely isn't sustainable. These things are being produced by the same companies that manufacture HPs and Dells. The difference might be that they don't skimp on parts like power supplies, but the manufacturing consistency isn't there. Every time I've had a problem with one of my Macs, the genius bar has been entirely useless.
I believe it will take as much as three months or longer before we see what effect Tim Cook has (if any) on Apple's rather inconsistent quality. It's got to be hard to maintain a standard now that Apple is a mass market product.
They are selling to mainstream customers who simply don't care all that much.
They are selling to mainstream customers who simply don't care all that much.
I understand slight differences. I put my HTC Thunderbolt up next to another Thunderbolt and my screen was slightly brighter even with both phones on the lowest settings. That happens. Differences in one being Yellow, Blue, White is to much of a gap in quality control.
The screens should all be the same color im sorry. I know some might be a little brighter or more vibrant or whatever by a very very slight margin.
I know you're not defending it, just going by what you were told by the Apple Genius or whatever. He could be right if that is acceptable to Apples standards, I know alot of People disagree though and this is based on other phone makers standards.
Quality control in every company can be better, Unfortunately all companies from HP to GE to Boeing etc,etc, all suffer from the same problem.
The big advantage with Apple is that they have Old World customer service that keeps their customers happy.
The big advantage with Apple is that they have Old World customer service that keeps their customers happy.