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**The I returned my Iphone 4 Thread***

I don't think anyone planning on getting a white after purchasing black is ridiculous enough to go and try to exchange (to those that keep mentioning they won't exchange).

I love the black and white. In fact, I would be perfectly happy with my black unit if the home button did not wiggle. I went in to get it replaced while the black boxed units were still new and the first one opened also had a wiggly button (as did about 50% of display units).

Only reason I will return and wait for white in a week or two is because I hope that small OCDish issues like that might be resolved by then.
 
Well, I hate to sound mean but I really hope Apple blocks people who bought a black and want to switch to white from doing so, at least on launch day (for the white).

Several people are already anticipating lines just as bad as they were last week when the white one comes out, and if there's 300 people in front of me who are switching colors I'd be pissed.

So, hopefully Apple figures out a way to make this painless, e.g. online pre-orders again.
 
I think with the recent news that apple will be accepting returns without restocking fees, I would just return the phone on the last day of your return period and then buy a white one when it comes out
 
Thank you everyone that was too impatient to wait for a white version like I was, you are driving up the cost of Apple products!
 
Stein357 said:
Thank you everyone that was too impatient to wait for a white version like I was, you are driving up the cost of Apple products!
Click to expand...

Trust me, apple knows this is happening and accounts for these costs as part of new product development. Don't worry apple will continue to build that over 10 billion in cash reserves it has.
 
BigOrangeSU said:
I think with the recent news that apple will be accepting returns without restocking fees, I would just return the phone on the last day of your return period and then buy a white one when it comes out
Click to expand...

That's pretty much the way around it.

On the other hand I want to exchange my 16GB for a 32GB so why would they not let me get a white 32GB?
 
BigOrangeSU said:
Trust me, apple knows this is happening and accounts for these costs as part of new product development. Don't worry apple will continue to build that over 10 billion in cash reserves it has.
Click to expand...

I'm not trying to be funny or sarcastic here, so hopefully I don't come across as such. But the way I read that statement, you're agreeing with Stein aren't you? As I do, for what it's worth :)
 
allmIne said:
I'm not trying to be funny or sarcastic here, so hopefully I don't come across as such. But the way I read that statement, you're agreeing with Stein aren't you? As I do, for what it's worth :)
Click to expand...


im justifying his sarcasm with additional thoughts
 
BigOrangeSU said:
Trust me, apple knows this is happening and accounts for these costs as part of new product development. Don't worry apple will continue to build that over 10 billion in cash reserves it has.
Click to expand...

Again, they're obligated to allow you to return your phone, not exchange it because you don't like the color. I expect them to outright deny exchanges, and make returns and re-buys as difficult as possible.

JoJoCal19 said:
That's pretty much the way around it.

On the other hand I want to exchange my 16GB for a 32GB so why would they not let me get a white 32GB?
Click to expand...

Apple only does like for like exchanges, I'd expect them to do like for like upgrades such as the one you want to do. Expect them to only offer you black.

BigOrangeSU said:
they will
Click to expand...

Probably not, at least without a significant amount of work on your end.

BigOrangeSU said:
I think with the recent news that apple will be accepting returns without restocking fees, I would just return the phone on the last day of your return period and then buy a white one when it comes out
Click to expand...

Probably would work, but no guarantee how quickly AT&T will reinstate your upgrade. Don't expect to return the phone, and walk over to a different store and have your upgrade ready and waiting.
 
Apple dropped the restocking fee

What are the positives to returning your iPhone? I don't see the reason for dropping the restocking fee.
 
OP i don't understand your question. Apple dropped the restocking fee for those people who are having reception issues.
 
It's for all the whiners.... that was one of the reason's they wouldn't bring the i-4 back is r/t restocking fee. Now they have no reason not to bring it back, get their money and move onto another phone that works for them. Of course if they don't do that then we know they're full of poo.
 
army91c said:
It's for all the whiners.... that was one of the reason's they wouldn't bring the i-4 back is r/t restocking fee. Now they have no reason not to bring it back, get their money and move onto another phone that works for them. Of course if they don't do that then we know they're full of poo.
Click to expand...

Yes...according to the posts and threads here, we should now be seeing HUGE return lines stretching for miles around every Apple and AT&T store...
(no offense to those that are truly suffering form dropped calls and dropped data, but the way some of these people have been posting you'd think the phone was a complete and utter disaster and every person that bought one is just itching to return the device as sonn as possible)...
 
Returned to AT&T store

Returned to AT&T retail store closest to me. I'd purchased online from AT&T. They accepted it without question. OK, one question. Why are you returning it? Asked if it was defective. Hard to answer that one. I guess it works like it's supposed to, just not up to my expectations, for a PHONE....:rolleyes:

Anyway, they initially wanted to charge me a restocking fee. But I said that Apple wasn't, and wondered why they were. The salesguy was very nice and called the manager who had to call someone else, and they waived the restocking fee. Full refund.

The salesguy also went out of his way to ensure that I retained my unlimited data plan, and got a new standard sized SIM card for the loaner Samsung Blackjack II that I borrowed from work until I can decide which Android device to get. I have had iPhones since the launch in 2007. Time to try something different, and give Apple a chance to fix the hardware design defect in the current iPhone, and maybe catch up a little more software-wise to the customizability of Android.

Anyway, the whole return process took about 30 minutes, and all the while, there was a guy picking up a new iPhone at the register station next to me, paying a lot of attention to my return, and what I was saying... about the dropped calls, the loss of signal, the proximity sensor, etc. He looked a little uncomfortable.
 
Other threads with iphone 4 return nightmares

OP, there are two other threads with iphone 4 return stories/nightmares.

1. Return iPhone 4 to Apple Store Nightmare
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/955044/

2. My Experience returning iPhone 4
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/967504/

and here's my story (apologies for repost from #20 in second thread, i guessed its easier to read here for folks who haven't seen it than put the link)

I had a very similar experience, when I returned my iphone 4 today.
1. Called apple (wait time 22 minutes). Advisor says "easiest way to return your phone is to take it to the nearest apple store. But remember to port your number to the old phone before you take it to the apple store"

2. Called AT&T, they said "No you return the phone to apple and then come to us; we'll give you a new sim as we cannot activate the old sim".

3. I took my old phone to AT&T first. They give a little resistance about not being able to port the number. I told them that I spoke to apple support and they asked me to get the number ported before returning so I have a working phone after I return. They grumble and replace the old SIM on my 3G. No additional charge.

** Now my 3G phone works and the iphone 4 does not. I reset the iphone 4.

4. I take the iphone 4 to apple store and they tell me that they cannot process the return of an online ordered iphone 4. They show me a device that they use for managing iphone orders and tell me that the device does not recognize online orders. So I have to call online support. I tell them that online support asked me to take it to the apple store in the first place!

5. Apple store calls apple online store (45 minutes wait time). They haggle and fight between themselves. I overhear the online store wanting a 10% restocking fee and shipping for the return. Apple store supervisor gets involved at this point; she explains some internal memo on July 10th that indicates no restocking fee or shipping; and how they have processed similar returns. Some silence and am informed that I will get two emails, one from apple online store confirming the return and the second from fedex with the shipping label.

6. The 2 said emails arrive in my inbox. I thank the (friendly) apple store employee and supervisor for putting up with me at the cash counter for an hour and 30 minutes. Get to fedex, print the shipping label, pay $10 for packaging and ship the iphone 4 to the online store returns center in PA.

So if anyone else reading this thread, planning to return the iphone 4. Please call them during odd hours (say 1 AM or 6AM) to have a shorter wait time. Else you have a 45 minute wait time. Please don't fall into the trap of paying the restocking fee or shipping the product back. Its defective, its does not work for you and its not right for you to pay for the shipping or restocking. And plan on spending atleast half your day completing the return!
 
Apple Fanboys unite!

It's amazing how badly iPhone 4 sucks. It's also amazing how Apple Fanboys will defend it until the end of time. I will freely note first off that I am not a fanboy by any stretch, however I do have the 3GS, which I love. I did buy the iPhone 4, and it was so terrible that I returned it and went back to my current 3GS. It was just that bad. It's hilarious to me what Apple fanboys are saying in forums and blogs all across the web, defending this thing like it's some sacred gem, pretending all its issues don't even exist. Ridiculous. Check out the video I made on YouTube about "An Apple Fanboy's take on Life...". It's at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPcQ-cYg8iA
 
istariphoenix said:
It's amazing how badly iPhone 4 sucks. It's also amazing how Apple Fanboys will defend it until the end of time. I will freely note first off that I am not a fanboy by any stretch, however I do have the 3GS, which I love. I did buy the iPhone 4, and it was so terrible that I returned it and went back to my current 3GS. It was just that bad. It's hilarious to me what Apple fanboys are saying in forums and blogs all across the web, defending this thing like it's some sacred gem, pretending all its issues don't even exist. Ridiculous. Check out the video I made on YouTube about "An Apple Fanboy's take on Life...". It's at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPcQ-cYg8iA
Click to expand...

Maybe I am punch drunk, but when that box dude was rattling off all the problems, I admit, I laughed..... hard.
 
geiko9 said:
OP, there are two other threads with iphone 4 return stories/nightmares.

1. Return iPhone 4 to Apple Store Nightmare
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/955044/

2. My Experience returning iPhone 4
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/967504/

and here's my story (apologies for repost from #20 in second thread, i guessed its easier to read here for folks who haven't seen it than put the link)

I had a very similar experience, when I returned my iphone 4 today.
1. Called apple (wait time 22 minutes). Advisor says "easiest way to return your phone is to take it to the nearest apple store. But remember to port your number to the old phone before you take it to the apple store"

2. Called AT&T, they said "No you return the phone to apple and then come to us; we'll give you a new sim as we cannot activate the old sim".

3. I took my old phone to AT&T first. They give a little resistance about not being able to port the number. I told them that I spoke to apple support and they asked me to get the number ported before returning so I have a working phone after I return. They grumble and replace the old SIM on my 3G. No additional charge.

** Now my 3G phone works and the iphone 4 does not. I reset the iphone 4.

4. I take the iphone 4 to apple store and they tell me that they cannot process the return of an online ordered iphone 4. They show me a device that they use for managing iphone orders and tell me that the device does not recognize online orders. So I have to call online support. I tell them that online support asked me to take it to the apple store in the first place!

5. Apple store calls apple online store (45 minutes wait time). They haggle and fight between themselves. I overhear the online store wanting a 10% restocking fee and shipping for the return. Apple store supervisor gets involved at this point; she explains some internal memo on July 10th that indicates no restocking fee or shipping; and how they have processed similar returns. Some silence and am informed that I will get two emails, one from apple online store confirming the return and the second from fedex with the shipping label.

6. The 2 said emails arrive in my inbox. I thank the (friendly) apple store employee and supervisor for putting up with me at the cash counter for an hour and 30 minutes. Get to fedex, print the shipping label, pay $10 for packaging and ship the iphone 4 to the online store returns center in PA.

So if anyone else reading this thread, planning to return the iphone 4. Please call them during odd hours (say 1 AM or 6AM) to have a shorter wait time. Else you have a 45 minute wait time. Please don't fall into the trap of paying the restocking fee or shipping the product back. Its defective, its does not work for you and its not right for you to pay for the shipping or restocking. And plan on spending atleast half your day completing the return!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'm going to hear what they have to say in the conference in a few minutes. I'm not expecting them to say anything that will change my mind, but I'm going to give them one last chance. The iP4 is an awesome "gadget" if you don't need a phone, but is sucks as a phone.
 
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