**The "I called Apple and got a FREE bumper" Thread***

[_Matt]

With all due respect, we also had to pay $10 a month more for our data plans, adding an extra $240 to that $199 cost. So if my math is right (after they dropped the original iPhone to $399, and you hopefully receiving a $100 Gift Card to the Apple Store)

The original iPhone cost $400
The 3G cost $200 + $240 in extra data plan charges = $440 and NO DOCK.

Sorry sir, but we all ended up paying more for our precious 3G than the original iPhone.

I definitely see your argument in your math, but I was just trying to focus on the physical product because rate plans vary all over the world and in customized contracts in the U.S.

I'm upgrading from a 3G without a case ($199) to a 4 with a bumper ($228). The only physical things I lack from 3G are the cloth and the sim pin. (Which I still have but don't even use or need.)

My iPhone 4 arrives on June 30th, so I'll change my position if I have any defects or antenna issues, but as of right now I don't think Apple has shorted me in any way.

 

[_Matt]

The last time I checked the iPhones are actually getting more expensive.

499/599
599/699

And with each one we get less stuff. What are you smoking?

You are making a slippery slope argument.

We can debate subsidized/unsubsidized all day, most people are upgrading with contract and the prices are $199 and $299.

How are you getting less stuff in the iPhone 4 than the previous iPhones? Maybe you should share some of what you're smoking with me.

 

[skafia]

Been on the phone with Apple and I never demanded a free bumper, I was offered. After a few transfers, and when it came down to authorizing the shipment the guy couldn't do it.

So I was transferred back to tech support and she said although a bumper would temporarily relieve the issue, stay tuned until Monday or Tuesday for a permanent fix, if not then call back.

I think that is fair, given them a chance to fix it before demanding something for free.

 

[Fidget08]

I'm getting really sick of people using this god damn entitle talking. They SHOULD NOT have sold us a phone that does not have good service.

+1

I can't believe some of you feel entitled to free items and furthermore are proud enough to post about it. Glad I am not like you

 

[skafia]

You are making a slippery slope argument.

We can debate subsidized/unsubsidized all day, most people are upgrading with contract and the prices are $199 and $299.

How are you getting less stuff in the iPhone 4 than the previous iPhones? Maybe you should share some of what you're smoking with me.

Regardless that most people upgrade with contracts the list price is still 599/699 therefore it is not cheaper. You paid more taxes on this one than the 1st gen.



Yes, no more dock, microfiber, stickers, sim tool... They are taking from us to keep profits high, I may be wrong but that's what common sense tells me.

And I hope you aren't going to say we get more with the iPhone 4 in features and hardware.

I don't smoke BTW--I snort.

 

[zerostar]

I thought the iPhone 4 came with the sim ejector in the paper holder? Not home to check but I thought .i saw it, no?

Anyway, the entitlement and twisting of logic is hilarious, now Apple owes you something, or ripped you off because you CHOSE to buy that product? You knew what was in the box, you knew the rate plans...

I don't know about you, but if i feel a product is not worth it, not enough features or accessories, I DONT BUY IT.. Simple as that.

I do however agree if the bumper fixes the issue and the issue is affecting you they can certainly afford to make you happy until there is a fix/recall.

 

[MH01]

You are making a slippery slope argument.

We can debate subsidized/unsubsidized all day, most people are upgrading with contract and the prices are $199 and $299.

How are you getting less stuff in the iPhone 4 than the previous iPhones? Maybe you should share some of what you're smoking with me.

Ummmmm cause the outright cost of the phone went up.

 

[_Matt]

Regardless that most people upgrade with contracts the list price is still 599/699 therefore it is not cheaper. You paid more taxes on this one than the 1st gen.

Yes, no more dock, microfiber, stickers, sim tool... They are taking from us to keep profits high, I may be wrong but that's what common sense tells me.

I don't smoke BTW--I snort.

No, we are paying more taxes on our new iPhones because we both live in California.

I mean I really REALLY understand your argument but it's a more advanced phone at the same subsidized price. And it still comes with the stickers.

Did I mention the stickers?

When my iPhone shows up and I test it with and without the bumper I'll come back on here and change my argument if I think Apple scammed me.

Most Apple users have basically been scammed for years with the outrageous price leaps from PC to Mac, but I don't see many people on these forums calling up Apple asking for a free adapter or Cinema Display for their MacBook Pros. Why? Because we have Macs and iPhones. We're better than everyone else and apparently we all seem to be buying despite the economy and our lack of trust in Apple.

From my seat, it's all going according to plan...

 

[rumorman69]

Yay! So I called apple and managed to get a free bumper. I just have a quick question for the other users that managed to get one for free: did you get an email confirming your order? How long (minutes, hours, etc) did it take for you to get the confirmation email?

 

[twigg]

my dad is left handed and has had multiple problems with dropping calls since he got his new phone.

Everyone is saying that lefties have more trouble because they hold it with their left hand. But I'm right handed and hold it with my left hand so I can type, etc with my right hand. Weird, wouldn't it make sense for your dominant hand to be the one interacting with the phone more?

 

[Worf]

exactly i find myself holding my phone with my left hand and tapping with my right hand (main hand). How is your dad not holding it right and tapping on it left ?

 

[iMetalG5]

i was about to order my bumper earlier but made the call. transfer here and there and they would not budge on free bump. a super did tell me that there will be an announcement on Monday and asked me to please wait????? whatever. i wonder what will be said on monday?

 

[violaguy5]

i got one, but they didn't let me choose the color, they are sending black

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

Soon we will hear that since u touch the antenna u get cancer then everyone will sew apple for everything and then they will be sad be use apple will close. Then they would be like I dident know, well apple is fixing this with a software update. This is explained in this posted by a guy in another thread:

Quote:
Originally Posted by shakenmartini
What is funny is that every since internal antennas became the norm (cira 1997) there has ALWAYS been an issue with covering the antenna and attenuating the signal. This applies to Razrs, iPhones, blackberries etc.

The thing is that the baseband firmware is written such that the bars don't "show" you the actual signal variance in dB.

What makes the biggest difference if the signal is being attenuated is whether you are on 850 or a 1900-2100 band.

If you are in an area of mostly 850 you won't have as big of a problem as 1900, which is more sensitive to physical things getting in the way.

This is why there is a Tmo poster complaining, Tmo is on 1900 and I remember when I had Tmo and having an internal antenna was a problem in medium signal areas if you held the phone to your ear vs. using a headset. If you bought an internal antenna phone you were guaranteed a call drop vs. phones with an extendable antanna.

Likewise, if you are ATT 1900 you'll probably have slight attenuation that is normally not shown to you despite it happening and the baseband firmware adjusting to compensate. The baseband has to ramp up antenna power when you hold it, and the iPhone 4 is probably not doing this quickly enough.

Again, this applies to all phones with internal antennas, not just the iPhone. My guess is that they didn't quite get the baseband firmware tweaked to amp up the power fast enough when the antenna is covered since a major design goal of the iPhone 4 was to conserve battery as much as possible.

On Monday, 4.0.1 will be released and everyone except a very vocal minority of people, many blessed with poor videography skills and YouTube accounts. An even smaller minority will return their phones before the software is updated and move on with their lives. Another minority will troll engadget, gizmodo and macrumors (among others) for the next year about this solved issue.

The majority will sit back and enjoy an greatly improved iPhone experience.

So well im not going to call but u know if they offer a program at the apple store and they give u one I'll be fine

 

[timeconsumer]

I didn't think I had the issue until I was talking on the phone last night and was told I was cutting out and then the call dropped... So apparently I do in fact have this issue.

First call: Explained to the rep the issue with the reception I was having, told her that I don't think I should have to pay an additional fee for the bumper case so I can hold the phone in the way I want to. She said that she can't offer me a bumper and proceeded to transfer my call to a "Senior Adviser." While on hold my iPhone dropped the call (guess I was holding the phone incorrectly.)

Second call: Explained to the new rep that I dropped the previous call while on hold for a "Senior Adviser" and she confirmed that apple is giving away bumpers for people who are having reception issues. Puts me on hold, I waited about 10 minutes she comes back on the line and says she's still holding for a senior adviser. Then after about 5-10 more minutes I drop the call again. Apparently I screwed up holding it again.

Third call: Explained to this rep what happened, he pulled up my case number and continued to add on to it. This time I was able to keep my hands correctly on my phone and get transferred to a Senior Adviser. The Senior Adviser told me that I apple is not offering any type of compensation for the bumper case and proceeded to tell me that I should pick up an alternative case instead. He said that he doesn't think the bumper cases are that good anyway. This guy also claimed that apple should be releasing a software fix in the next week. I didn't take this with much authority but he still wouldn't budge on the bumper case.

Probably TL;DR but whatever just wanted to share my experience. So for those of you who got a free bumper, I hope it solves your reception issues, and I guess I'm stuck spending $29 or holding the phone differently.

 

[rmwhite]

We should all remember that there is a room of engineers at Apple who haven't slept since Wednesday. There are surely a lot of people working very hard to fix this problem for you.

 

[PNutts]

...colored rubber band...

Wrong. Please don't spread FUD.

But $30, for a .20 cent product?

Citation, please.

 

[Luminyx]

When I called earlier, the guy was pretty clueless about the signal problem which I was pretty frustrated over, and he told me to do something along the lines of resetting the network settings (which I ignored completely).

 

[iBookG4user]

I called three times, asking for a supervisor each time. The first two said that there was nothing they could do because the bumpers where backordered. The third said that it would be fine and he could get one out to me without a problem.

 

[Chellek87]

Everyone is saying that lefties have more trouble because they hold it with their left hand. But I'm right handed and hold it with my left hand so I can type, etc with my right hand. Weird, wouldn't it make sense for your dominant hand to be the one interacting with the phone more?

It is when you talk on the phone, so you are holding the phone with your dominant hand, and for some reason it affects the lefties more than the righties, in some way that we hold it.

 

[SFGiantsfan]

I bought my phone on launch and got a free bumper when I bought it. The guy who was helping me just slipped it in the bag with the phone

 

[gehrbox]

Yes, no more dock, microfiber, stickers, sim tool... They are taking from us to keep profits high, I may be wrong but that's what common sense tells me.

And I hope you aren't going to say we get more with the iPhone 4 in features and hardware.

I don't smoke BTW--I snort.

Didn't get a free dock with the 3GS. The sim tool is not needed as a common paper clip does the job. You didn't get Apple stickers with your iP4? I did. Whybdo you need a microfiber rag? I use my pant leg.

 

[gehrbox]

honestly that thing is made with like 50 cents.... with one person purchasing one they can give 50 of those out. plus i think keeping a customer happy is more important than anything when it comes to business

I think the packaging costs more to produce then the bumper does.

 

[gehrbox]

its a rectangular rubber.........

Dude it costs $29 because it's magical rectangular rubber

 

[skafia]

Didn't get a free dock with the 3GS. The sim tool is not needed as a common paper clip does the job. You didn't get Apple stickers with your iP4? I did. Whybdo you need a microfiber rag? I use my pant leg.

Its not the point, the point is they are skimping to make more profit.

This is pointless. FML.