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Hummmm..... seems as if we would have heard of this by now (on this forum) if there was a hardware swap going on.... not saying you're wrong, but usually MacRumors hears these sort of things the minute they happen.

Yeah I understand and Im not saying that they have changed hardware in the newer ones, Im just saying that the women on the other end said that the new ones will not have the same problem. All I can go off is what she she tells me.
 
Yeah I understand and Im not saying that they have changed hardware in the newer ones, Im just saying that the women on the other end said that the new ones will not have the same problem. All I can go off is what she she tells me.

Random answers. If you call back you're just as likely to get:

1) we'll send you a new one
2) i'll make an appointment for you at a genius bar
3) there's no issue
4) here's a free bumper
 
I haven't received my phone yet but Friday I decided to call and talk to Apple customer support anyway. I just explained I had a phone ordered but I had been hearing a lot about signal problems and needed to cancel my order if there was a problem. The conversation that proceeded was quite funny! Basically, the guy denied it from the start. He said no one had called in to complain about that certain problem and he asked me where I heard the "rumors". I told him online, from friends, and major news stations. After a pause he just said "Oh well yeah there are rumors going around about signal problems but it is just a myth, you have nothing to worry about". I might have laughed out loud...maybe...Anyway, I ask him why Steve Jobs would personally send out emails addressing the issues if it was only a myth. After stuttering for a little while he said something along the lines of "Well there is a possibility of that being an issue but as of right now there is no problem". Overall, it was a good 10 minutes of entertainment haha.
 
After a pause he just said "Oh well yeah there are rumors going around about signal problems but it is just a myth, you have nothing to worry about". I might have laughed out loud...maybe...Anyway, I ask him why Steve Jobs would personally send out emails addressing the issues if it was only a myth. After stuttering for a little while he said something along the lines of "Well there is a possibility of that being an issue but as of right now there is no problem". Overall, it was a good 10 minutes of entertainment haha.

:D Love it! Whoever Apple hires to do their Customer Service and Sales should be shot! What a pathetic set of answers! I know I've heard some good ones out of the phone sales people too. Talk about denial... that guy should be a politician! LOL!
 
Hey

First time poster here as this is my first apple product.

Anyway just been on the phone to customer service, the first guy sounded like he wanted to kill himself (guess he’s getting allot of angry customers) and wasn't very helpful at all. The second person however seemed very helpful, I told her I was having problems with my signal when holding the phone. She said that a temporary solution is to buy a bumper as it "sometimes" works, I told her that I wasn't paying £20 for a temporary solution. She then took the serial number of the phone and my name/email address and said that I was eligible to get a new phone and the new ones (apparently) don’t have the signal issues. She said there on back order as there having to replace allot of faulty phones but I should get an email soon saying when I can pick up my new phone.

Not sure If this will fix the problem but she was very intent that the new ones do work properly and do not lose signal, so we will have to see.

I also asked about the software fix and she said she hasn't heard anything about that.

Anyway so I thought I would just post to let you no that they seem to be replacing faulty handsets, whether they will be fixed is something else but I suppose its better than being told to grip it different or they don’t have any news on a future fix.

Ste

The heterogeneity in responses is quite interesting. The guy I've been talking to (a supervisor) seems very aware of the issue and has moved on to the 'free bumper' stage for me. However, I am thinking of swapping it out and hoping the new model doesn't have the same issue.

The only problem is that I keep missing his calls because I have no reception in my office - an area that was crystal clear with my 3G model. I just keep having voice mails from him pop up today.
 
Hummmm..... seems as if we would have heard of this by now (on this forum) if there was a hardware swap going on.... not saying you're wrong, but usually MacRumors hears these sort of things the minute they happen.

There was a post several pages back from a guy in the UK. He said basically the same thing. Once he provided his serial number they said they would replace his phone. This makes me think they had a problem in manufacturing or assembly for a batch of phones. It is strange that this has not been confirmed on MR. MR is typically able to confirm this stuff quickly. Time will tell I guess.
 
There was a post several pages back from a guy in the UK. He said basically the same thing. Once he provided his serial number they said they would replace his phone. This makes me think they had a problem in manufacturing or assembly for a batch of phones. It is strange that this has not been confirmed on MR. MR is typically able to confirm this stuff quickly. Time will tell I guess.


Yeah I was reading through the thread and came across that post and thats what made me ring customer services. At first she said to get the bumper as a temporary solution but I said no to that. As soon as i gave her my serial number she pretty much immeaditly said that I was eligable for a new phone, basically took some details and said i should get an email soon. Dont no if it makes a difference but i did get my phone on thursday so im guessing it was one of teh origional batch made so maybe it is faulty.
 
There was a post several pages back from a guy in the UK. He said basically the same thing. Once he provided his serial number they said they would replace his phone. This makes me think they had a problem in manufacturing or assembly for a batch of phones. It is strange that this has not been confirmed on MR. MR is typically able to confirm this stuff quickly. Time will tell I guess.

You'd think if anything they would contact us if we had a bad phone... they know who we are... they could even send us a txt message to call in for a reaplacement. I know I have a bad phone as I have very sporadic reception and I never had this issue with my old 3G iPhone... especially since this was suppose to get better reception than the old.

I think that tactic may just be a way the phone companies are deflecting customer complaints until Apple does have a real fix... I think we'd know about it here within minutes after a solution is found.
 
Yeah I was reading through the thread and came across that post and thats what made me ring customer services. At first she said to get the bumper as a temporary solution but I said no to that. As soon as i gave her my serial number she pretty much immeaditly said that I was eligable for a new phone, basically took some details and said i should get an email soon. Dont no if it makes a difference but i did get my phone on thursday so im guessing it was one of teh origional batch made so maybe it is faulty.

just curious did she say "new" phone or replacement? I wil post more later on my conversation with them from an hour ago, but i was told i could get a replacement.. but it was refurbished (scarey response involved here)
 
You'd think if anything they would contact us if we had a bad phone... they know who we are... they could even send us a txt message to call in for a reaplacement. I know I have a bad phone as I have very sporadic reception and I never had this issue with my old 3G iPhone... especially since this was suppose to get better reception than the old.

I think that tactic may just be a way the phone companies are deflecting customer complaints until Apple does have a real fix... I think we'd know about it here within minutes after a solution is found.

You would think so. Have you called Apple today? It might be worth a shot just to see what they say. Given that you are having problems, you could be in the magic serial number range. It would be an interesting data point to see what they say.
 
You would think so. Have you called Apple today? It might be worth a shot just to see what they say. Given that you are having problems, you could be in the magic serial number range. It would be an interesting data point to see what they say.

I called them again today and was told to just keep trying back in a couple of days. They still don't know if it's a software or hardware issue, but they are working on a solution. At least that's what the Level 2 Apple Care person told me.
 
just curious did she say "new" phone or replacement? I wil post more later on my conversation with them from an hour ago, but i was told i could get a replacement.. but it was refurbished (scarey response involved here)

Ill be honest i cant actually remember and that has got me thinking. I did recieve a case number so i am tempted to rinf up and ask if i would be getting a refurbished or a new one. I dont really want a refurbished one if thats the case (i dont like knowing someone else has had it before me :p)
 
RMA'd my s/o's phone a few minutes ago. The guy didn't sound surprised once i mentioned 'antenna issue' he said 'ok' and organized the return straight away. The line was busy too, i was on hold for about 15 mins.

Me thinks a significant amount of people are returning their units.
 
Here's the problem, you are replacing units that will behave just like the units you are sending them. You are sending a message to Apple which is good, sadly your phone won't operate any differently until they release a patch.
 
I called them again today and was told to just keep trying back in a couple of days. They still don't know if it's a software or hardware issue, but they are working on a solution. At least that's what the Level 2 Apple Care person told me.

Just what you want to hear when your new phone is not working correctly. I feel sure they will figure it out and make it right (ether software release or replacement of hardware) but every day that goes by without a solution is very bad for business and customer satisfaction. I really feel for everyone who's having trouble. Hopefully Apple will fix it soon.
 
Here's the problem, you are replacing units that will behave just like the units you are sending them. You are sending a message to Apple which is good, sadly your phone won't operate any differently until they release a patch.
The bold made it all so clear. I see now. :)

just curious did she say "new" phone or replacement? I wil post more later on my conversation with them from an hour ago, but i was told i could get a replacement.. but it was refurbished (scarey response involved here)

There is no way they’re going to have refurbs this early. They have to send the returns back. They then take it apart, replace the battery and case, etc., and then send it out as a refurb.
 
Here's the problem, you are replacing units that will behave just like the units you are sending them. You are sending a message to Apple which is good, sadly your phone won't operate any differently until they release a patch.

I'll agree with you if the problem is software. If it's hardware, they might have already taken care of it so the new unit would be okay. Apple would get beat up even more if people get two phones that were bad. I hope they have enough sense not to compound the problem by sending out a 2nd bad phone.
 
There is no way they’re going to have refurbs this early. They have to send the returns back. They then take it apart, replace the battery and case, etc., and then send it out as a refurb.

hi Aggie,
oh i know that,, here is the saga, read the last 2 paragraphs

My phone call with Apple,,
But First, i love apple products, i have a 3G, 3GS and an ipad 3g. i love all 3. So i decided to upgrade the 2 phones to 4's. At first i preordered 1, then decided an hour later to order another.
On Wednesday i received both in separate boxes. I didnt actually try the phone or web functionality until thursday, i was too into the resolution the cams, and speed .
Thursday i tried to download apps, took ages, my GF called me i kept dropping calls every time i touched the phone. She got pissed saying i was hanging up intentionally. Then i read of others having the same problem.
So after talking to apple, (hours on hold) no answer. So i tired again Friday ,, Apple says i should restore the both phones. that should fix it.I told them others are having issues with the signal, it was flat out denied. end of call.
Got return numbers for both, and said i want to cancel the contracts also. i refused to buy a case to make my iphone a phone. I only had enough shipping material to send 1 back. I tossed the shipping boxes in recycling on thursday morning, thinking i wouldn't need to return these cool things.i kept the phones boxes.

So i sent one back friday. and called saturday just to see if they would admit there was an issue before i mailed the other one back. I was told, there are a few reports of problems and IF there was a software problem Apple would address it, but denied there was a problem or fix in the works.

so today for a laugh before i went to ship the other one back , i called, and asked if there was going to be fix for the antenna issue before i sent the other one back.

I was told there are extremely few calls on signal problems almost non existent, and there are no known issues with the phone itself. I said i heard there was a software fix being worked on, she said she has no knowledge of this, but apple does issue software updates as needed but none are listed for the near future. Then she said she could send me a replacement phone to fix my problem. I said replacement? she said yes a refurbished phone, and i wouldnt have to send in my cables etc.

I said isnt it early for replacements to be available, typical silence no repsonce .Then i said do refurbished phones include phones that were returned but tested okay so reboxed. She said it is possible, all replacement refurbished are fully tested before sent out.

So i said, if a phone was returned due to the signal issue that doesn't exist, it could be tested on the bench (right next to a tower) and be deemed okay and sent to me?
She stumbled a little and repeated and said all refurbished phones are tested before be sent out

my other iphone 4 is now on its way for a full refund.
 
I'll agree with you if the problem is software. If it's hardware, they might have already taken care of it so the new unit would be okay. Apple would get beat up even more if people get two phones that were bad. I hope they have enough sense not to compound the problem by sending out a 2nd bad phone.

People have already had multiple replacement devices, but they don't usually fix the problem.
 
my other iphone 4 is now on its way for a full refund.

I don't get it with people wanting to return their i4 for a full refund. Even with a bumper, or held only by the top or the right side, the i4 still seems like a far better product than the 3GS or any Android (Palm, Nokia, BB, etc.) device.

Switching my grip during a call (which I had to do a couple times yesterday when I had my i4 out of its bumper to show it off) doesn't seem like a big enough price to pay to give up the other features of my i4.
 
I don't get it with people wanting to return their i4 for a full refund. Even with a bumper, or held only by the top or the right side, the i4 still seems like a far better product than the 3GS or any Android (Palm, Nokia, BB, etc.) device.

Switching my grip during a call (which I had to do a couple times yesterday when I had my i4 out of its bumper to show it off) doesn't seem like a big enough price to pay to give up the other features of my i4.

The phone is excellent, yet if you can't use it because there is no signal then it makes the phone pretty worthless. If Apple fixes this problem then it's clearly the best phone on the Market.
 
I don't get it with people wanting to return their i4 for a full refund. Even with a bumper, or held only by the top or the right side, the i4 still seems like a far better product than the 3GS or any Android (Palm, Nokia, BB, etc.) device.

Switching my grip during a call (which I had to do a couple times yesterday when I had my i4 out of its bumper to show it off) doesn't seem like a big enough price to pay to give up the other features of my i4.

It's a pretty big price. If you're right handed, you hold the phone in your left hand to use it when not using it as a phone (i.e.: when surfing or using the 3G connection for data). And many (me included) hold the phone in our left hands when making calls, and there is no way to hold it that doesn't drop the call unless you're willing to hold it by your finger tips and risk dropping it - I assume Apple won't give me a new one for free every time I smash one because I had to hold it unnaturally in order to get a dial tone.
 
I don't get it with people wanting to return their i4 for a full refund. Even with a bumper, or held only by the top or the right side, the i4 still seems like a far better product than the 3GS or any Android (Palm, Nokia, BB, etc.) device.

Switching my grip during a call (which I had to do a couple times yesterday when I had my i4 out of its bumper to show it off) doesn't seem like a big enough price to pay to give up the other features of my i4.

Hi Firewood,
personally i dont have a prblem with people who do something like that.
but i will not spend more money or change my lifestlye to make a phone work like a phone. I wont deny i loved every other thing that iphone 4 offered, but i also pride myself in being a smart consumer. Yes i do toss money out alot on stuff.
one iphone is my "home" phone. i got rid of my land line years ago. I do not see why i need to buy a case to make that phone work.
Also i am 52, and if i have a heart attack or something, while my phone is out of the case and need to call 911, i doubt i will be able to read the "bars" and move my hands around in contortions to call for help

if it was advertised as an Itouch 4 that can or might make calls at times , i would accept that.

that is just me,,
 
Add me to the list of disappointed iphone4 owners.

I was out of town and I just activated my phone last night and notice I only had one bar. I moved around and played with it a bit and it would bounce up and down but it was way weaker than my 3gs. So I call at&t and get the Applecare guy and he has me turn it off and on and switch to Airplane mode. That seemed to help but then it would drop out again. I went to the at&t store and walked in with full bars and then it would drop to two. Showed the guy what was going on and all he could say is my issue was recorded and there should be a fix for it. Kinda sux because I was hoping the 4 would be better than the 3, not worst. I'm glad I didn't sell my 3gs because I may be going back to it if they don't fix this soon.
 
You'd think if anything they would contact us if we had a bad phone... they know who we are... they could even send us a txt message to call in for a reaplacement. I know I have a bad phone as I have very sporadic reception and I never had this issue with my old 3G iPhone... especially since this was suppose to get better reception than the old.

I think that tactic may just be a way the phone companies are deflecting customer complaints until Apple does have a real fix... I think we'd know about it here within minutes after a solution is found.


I had a pre-order phone and exchanged it for a replacement phone a few days later. Same issues with both - so I doubt there was a manufacturing thing.

Jeff
 
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