Wait Times for iPhone Battery Replacements Increasing

[Shelby0614]

Pretty sure they meant the disrespect shown towards the Apple store employees. It’s pretty bad, I get that people are frustrated, but don’t take it out on employees that don’t have any say in the matter.
As far as the rest of it, I see both sides
[doublepost=1519805263][/doublepost]

Apple is a multi-billion dollar company, not my local charity. Give me a break.

Pretty sure they meant the disrespect shown towards the Apple store employees. It’s pretty bad, I get that people are frustrated, but don’t take it out on employees that don’t have any say in the matter.
As far as the rest of it, I see both sides

 

[Altis]

Your post highlights a critical issue which has been noted elsewhere yet some people here still fail to see:

Apple’s 80% diagnostic test was and probably still is deeply flawed. Apple knows it. If it wasn’t, why did batteries with hundreds of cycles on them (> 600 in my case) that could barely last an hour or two pass the test? Why did batteries suffering automatic shutdowns with 20-30% remaining pass the test? Why, as in your case, was a battery that’s supposedly 89% of original capacity which passes the test and is therefore considered by them to be sufficiently “healthy” require a 30% throttle, with the user (until now) not even offered the chance to pay full-price for a retail replacement?

The answer to all these questions is of course that Apple want(ed) you to suffer degraded battery and device performance for as long as possible, and for it to gradually worsen until the only solution was to buy a new phone. There is simply no other logical or sane explanation for their behaviour. Apple for a long time sneakily used battery life and, more recently, device performance as their main tools of “planned obsolescence” until they were caught out. Now, as I said above, they seem hell-bent on trying to cling on to it as much as they can by making the replacement program as slow and difficult to access as possible without risking further lawsuits. I fully expect them to develop new software-based strategies to implement planned obsolescence again in future.

It seems that the proportion of maximum charge capacity compared with new was either poorly measured or understood, and/or (more likely) has little to do with the overall health of a battery. For example, the battery may “think” it’s been charged to that capacity, and possibly even has, but the chemistry may be such that it can’t deliver anywhere near it, and especially not in a stable stream.

This person is asking the real questions that are not adequately answered by Apple. I would even add:

Why are the devices throttled even when 100% charged and plugged in? Why did Apple deliberately remove access to battery health information? Why did Apple not inform their technicians who could then inform users that the battery could be the culprit of poor performance? If the throttling is done because the batteries are "old", why does the throttling start well into the "Healthy" diagnostic range, especially when many are still under warranty? If batteries are meant to be such disposable items, why do they make them so difficult to change?

And so on...

 

[ibuyufo]

Barclays previously said that Apple's program could result in millions of fewer iPhone purchases during 2018, something Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said Apple did not take into account when choosing to implement the program in the first place. From Cook:
Quote
We did it because we thought it was the right thing to do for our customers. I don't know what effect it will have for our investors. It was not in our thought process of deciding to do what we've done.

Apple is full of BS. Pigs can fly if I ever believe this. They have a wing full of financial analysts calculating the outcome for everything and for a multi-billion company not to know or to expect this outcome is truly unimaginable. I bet they didn't think they would get caught this fast and they were hoping that the iPhone 6, 6s would just be phased out over time as people upgrade to newer phones.

 

[riverfreak]

And if you don't live anywhere near an Apple Store? How's the turn-around time?

 

[2ilent8cho]

"MacRumors has received complaints from customers who are facing long wait times for replacements"

Why are they complaining to MacRumors? They are not Apple. They are not providing the replacement battery service.

 

[pratikindia]

Apple should invest in new battery technology as Samsung did. Samsung's batteries post Note 7 fiasco have been proved much better and kept better charging capacity.

 

[Jesse Waugh]

I went in early January to get my iPhone 6 Plus battery replaced at the Apple Store in Barcelona. Now two months and six visits later, they broke the internals of my phone while trying to replace the battery, and said they’re going to give me a newer model as replacement. I’m happy to get a new phone. But the speaker and front camera on this one are broken, so I can only use speaker phone and back camera. And they haven’t emailed about the replacement yet.

 

[LessO2]

I'm in the U.S., I went in for a diagnostic in mid-January, told it would be April until the battery would arrive. I got a notification on February 18th my battery was ready. Installed a few days later. 6 Plus.

 

[toschlebelge]

Quick info here from Germany:
Had my iPhone 6S Battery replaced two weeks ago, by sending it in.
Thursday: Pickup by UPS in Germans
Friday: Arrival Notification, Repair notification, Ready notification, shipped notification from Czech Republic
Monday morning: Delivery of repaired iPhone.

I can not complain.

 

[Robert.Walter]

{{ According to Barclays, the increased battery wait time suggests demand for replacement batteries remains strong, and it indicates an increasing number of iPhone users are opting to take advantage of Apple's $29 battery replacements instead of purchasing a new iPhone. }}

Absolutely nobody can make that statement, and have it be true, on a single data point (lengthening delivery tines).

Its more likely that older batteries (iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S) are no longer in production. After all, these are proprietary to iPhone. There is no point continuing production for an item that has been out of production 5 years and hasn't been offered for two (counting this year).

Funny, Apple still lists the 6S for sale on their website. No way they stockpiled 2+ years of stock at end of production.
[doublepost=1519813825][/doublepost]

What world do you live in! What other phone in the world makes you wait that long for a replacement. You know how easy it is to change most phone batteries? Apple is the one who decided to start using adhesives on batteries and wanting to change out all batteries themselves!

The premise of your complaint is flawed.

Actually, any person who can follow simple instructions and good fine motor control of their hands can replace an iPhone battery in under 2 (going very slow) to 1 hour, for under 50$ Tools included.
[doublepost=1519814023][/doublepost]

Apple should invest in new battery technology as Samsung did. Samsung's batteries post Note 7 fiasco have been proved much better and kept better charging capacity.

Given that phone manufacturers purchase their batteries from 1st tier suppliers, who specialize in batteries and sell to any OEM handset maker, please provide data to support your unplausible claim.
[doublepost=1519814364][/doublepost]

Barclays previously said that Apple's program could result in millions of fewer iPhone purchases during 2018, something Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said Apple did not take into account when choosing to implement the program in the first place. From Cook:
Quote
We did it because we thought it was the right thing to do for our customers. I don't know what effect it will have for our investors. It was not in our thought process of deciding to do what we've done.

Apple is full of BS. Pigs can fly if I ever believe this. They have a wing full of financial analysts calculating the outcome for everything and for a multi-billion company not to know or to expect this outcome is truly unimaginable. I bet they didn't think they would get caught this fast and they were hoping that the iPhone 6, 6s would just be phased out over time as people upgrade to newer phones.

I think bunk the original motivation was different. I think as batteriessaged in otherwise still physical handsets and started experiencing random shut-offs, Apple probably got some lawsuits where folks were stranded without a functional phone at a critical moment. So, in order to improve general experience as well as to avoid lawsuits for random shutoffs, Apple demonstrated diligence in implementing the throttle in tired battery subroutine; Apple just did a ****** job of selling it and an even worse job of offering customers a manual opt out switch and thus turned a silk purse virtue into a sow’s ear liability and pr fiasco.
[doublepost=1519814771][/doublepost]

May I say 100%
Nope make that 1000% Serves Apple right.

Why do I say that?

Because Apple (Steve Jobs) Started this bloody stupid/dumb concept of lets seal in a battery to a phone.
Then, as consumers bought the dam things without thinking, other companies saw this, and like idiots copied Apple, and now we are in the mess we are, thanks to bloody Apple and Steve Jobs.

The very very VERT best thing that could ever come out of this fiasco, for the consumer, would be a redesign of the iPhone, which meant it was easy to replace the battery without taking the device apart.

Be that a removable back, a slide out side option. Anything.
We had thin phones and removable/user replaceable batteries for years and no one complained.

Of course, I don't think this will happen as we are too far down the road now, with the "let's glue it all together" mind-set.
But I live in hope that one day, sensible people will get listened to, and not dumb "aesthetic only matters "designers, and, like way a few years ago, batteries will be easy to replace again.

You do realize that battery tech has evolved and replacement is less common today than in the past, right? Or that the way the battery is packaged in the iPhone makes it unnecessary to seal the battery inside a thickening plastic outer case to prevent accidental punctures? I’d also ask that you show me any phone as thin as today’s iPhone with a slide/snap out/in battery. Even Today’s iPhone is about1/2 as thick as the first iPhone generations.
[doublepost=1519814944][/doublepost]

I have worked for an Apple Premium Service Provider for 8 months. And I have seen the absolute worst out of people because of this battery fiasco. It’s completely asinine the way that people act about this, and it has completely changed my view of people. As many are crying over nothing, and there is no excuse for people to act as horribly as they do to me and my coworkers. People should be very grateful that Apple gave them an opportunity to do this because other companies would have never done that. It’s made our workplace a living hell from literal mountains of battery paperwork and boxes, and almost everyone yelling to the point where people want to quit. So maybe when you walk into an Apple Store or Premium Service Provider, you should think about how awful it has been and will continue to be bad for us. Because Apple never gave us a heads up. They just threw us under the bus, and we are all suffering for it.

I feel sorry for you and your coworkers. That said, I don’t really care if you have paperwork or empty boxes. And the fiasco is totally if Apples making they did a logical thing in a tin-eared way and it pissed of everybody.

 

[Onexy]

Apple is failing hard even while making more money off their terrible batteries.

 

[Phonephreak]

nope. It was an extra service. They are doing the best they can.
Other companies wont even do that.

Do what? Cripple your phone and hen when caught offering a discount battery.
[doublepost=1519817690][/doublepost]

I have worked for an Apple Premium Service Provider for 8 months. And I have seen the absolute worst out of people because of this battery fiasco. It’s completely asinine the way that people act about this, and it has completely changed my view of people. As many are crying over nothing, and there is no excuse for people to act as horribly as they do to me and my coworkers. People should be very grateful that Apple gave them an opportunity to do this because other companies would have never done that. It’s made our workplace a living hell from literal mountains of battery paperwork and boxes, and almost everyone yelling to the point where people want to quit. So maybe when you walk into an Apple Store or Premium Service Provider, you should think about how awful it has been and will continue to be bad for us. Because Apple never gave us a heads up. They just threw us under the bus, and we are all suffering for it.

No offense but it’s your job. Apple threw you under the bus. Not your customers. They just want their battery replaced after Apple was caught throttling their phone.

 

[[AUT] Thomas]

Good for them. That at least means they are getting a brand new battery not one that has been sitting on the shelf for 1+ years already (very likely at old devices), which already at installation might have only 95% capacity left.

 

[Wanted797]

BS... Apple won’t even provide this if there wasn’t 60 plus lawsuits from the throttling. Apple got caught for throttling customers phone without their consent. The fact they even charge for the repair is disgraceful

Which is why in 11.3 you’ll be able to turn it off and everyone can stop complaining.

They have no obligation to replace the physical batteries.

 

[I7guy]

Do what? Cripple your phone and hen when caught offering a discount battery

Correct, with the competition if your phone is crippled due to a dead or deteriorating battery after warranty, you are paying for the repair.

 

[Phonephreak]

Which is why in 11.3 you’ll be able to turn it off and everyone can stop complaining.

They have no obligation to replace the physical batteries.

They didn’t have a obligation to replace batteries until they got caught trying to keep the throttle under wraps. Apples arrogance, and I love their ecosystem, is biting them in the ass.

They need to replace batterys and put it behind them. They just keeping hoping it fades away. I still say Apple will recall all these battery to settle everything. The next phone release will easily make the settlement look minuscule in comparison to the phone profits.
[doublepost=1519818799][/doublepost]

Correct, with the competition if your phone is crippled due to a dead or deteriorating battery after warranty, you are paying for the repair.

Battery should be a free replacement. I sorry that we will never agree on this topic. I have been affected by it. You haven’t. I wish I was either. Apple took a dump on some of its customers. People fee duped and are upset.

 

[I7guy]

[doublepost=1519818799][/doublepost]
Battery should be a free replacement. I sorry that we will never agree on this topic. I have been affected by it. You haven’t. I wish I was either. Apple took a dump on some of its customers. People fee duped and are upset.

All I know is my battery replacement was free. All it cost was gas to the store and $1,000 repair on my car (not going into it). Batteries are not warrantied for ever andnthe cost is less than some light bulbs out there.

But I get your point....

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Customers aiming to get a battery replacement for an older iPhone with a degraded battery are facing longer wait times than ever, according to new data shared by Barclays.

Average wait times for a new battery have jumped up to 2.7 to 4.5 weeks based on a series of Apple Store checks conducted by Barclays analyst Mark Moskowitz (via Business Insider). That's up from around 2.3 to 4.5 weeks earlier in the year.

Kinda click-baity. The longest wait remains 4.5 weeks. The soonest wait went from 2 weeks, 3 days to 2 weeks, 7 days. 4 days difference. Longer sure, but hardly an eternity if you are lucky enough to been on the "soonest" end. Think of the poor schlubs that have to wait it out the entire 4.5 weeks.

 

[tino1970]

nope. It was an extra service. They are doing the best they can.
Other companies wont even do that.

Apple need more customers like you. Blindingly loyal.
[doublepost=1519821495][/doublepost]

Maybe those people own AAPL stock. Owning AAPL stock = owning (a piece of) the company.

Most of them just own an iPhone, and think they are Tim's friend.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Lesson learned is don't cheapen out on critical components like battery.

Literally every battery made does this.
[doublepost=1519821932][/doublepost]

Apple need more customers like you. Blindingly loyal.
[doublepost=1519821495][/doublepost]

Most of them just own an iPhone, and think they are Tim's friend.

There's nothing blindly loyal about it. All batteries degrade. Apple made a fix to keep phones from having issues. All they really had to do once everyone started being stupid and complained that Apple stopped making their phones randomly restart was to give them the dumb option to let their phones randomly shut off if they choose to do so. But, no, Apple didn't stop at that. They replaced (for free) a part that goes bad over time on EVERY SINGLE PHONE MADE. Go buy a new car and try to get them to give you a new battery once the warranty is up. Go ahead, try it.

 

[827538]

The lack of respect people feel they should give the people servicing these phones is mind boggling. People acting like they’re owed something, when the company is basically doing an extraordinary act of goodwill, replacing often perfectly healthy batteries at a loss just so the owners of the devices can berate and belittle people.

If you’re calling this a debacle, you should take a long hard look at how you appreciate those working around you.

If I pay for a car and take it in for it’s sevice and all of a sudden the horsepower has been halved then you can be dam sure I’ll be angry and pissed off. I paid for a phone with xyz specs and it’s currently running below that without my consent. That’s deceit, especially when Apple was not forward about it.

Also this isn’t some cheap Chinese knockoff, these phones are getting into the thousands of dollars/pounds. This is serious money and customers rightfully expect a certain level of service and support for that.

Those batteries will cost less than the £29 I’m paying. Also it’s not goodwill. Apple is in a serious legal mess with this. Apple tried to deceive their customers and only came clean once caught, this has the same sort of hubris that led VW into their nightmare.

My phone went from perfectly functional and working just fine to a laggy mess in the space of a single update. Apple has a responsibility to make that right. Stop being so sanctimonious. I’m a long time Apple buyer and have always liked their products but this was absolutely not ok what they did.
[doublepost=1519822139][/doublepost]

Literally every battery made does this.
[doublepost=1519821932][/doublepost]
There's nothing blindly loyal about it. All batteries degrade. Apple made a fix to keep phones from having issues. All they really had to do once everyone started being stupid and complained that Apple stopped making their phones randomly restart was to give them the dumb option to let their phones randomly shut off if they choose to do so. But, no, Apple didn't stop at that. They replaced (for free) a part that goes bad over time on EVERY SINGLE PHONE MADE. Go buy a new car and try to get them to give you a new battery once the warranty is up. Go ahead, try it.

You’ve not had many expensive cars go wrong have you? I’ve had two cars fixed just out of warranty under good Will claims. A Volvo power steering unit and a Range Rover rear differential component. When it comes to premium manufacturers it’s quite common to get things fixed out of warranty within reason.

 

[redbill2]

Weird timing. I called the day it was reported that 6+ batteries were low (4-5 weeks ago?). They did the remote diagnostic and told me it would be late-March/April before they had the replacements. Just got the call on tuesday that they have the stock, and I scheduled 6+ replacement for Sunday.

 

[MrGuder]

If that's the case then I'll probably wait till the fall to get my battery changed on my 6s.

 

[apolloa]

Really bad service, this will impact sales and deservedly so. Worst thing Apple has ever done IMO. They should be offering free batteries if it gets worst with this issue. What happens if you take your phone in October, then get told you can have a replacement in January but because it’s out of the cheaper replacement timescale you have to pay full price?
[doublepost=1519822539][/doublepost]

Lesson learned is don't cheapen out on critical components like battery.

Well Cook is about the monies so.... He is no Jobs that’s damn sure!!

 

[I7guy]

Really bad service, this will impact sales and deservedly so. Worst thing Apple has ever done

Well no it won’t impact sales. Sure there is a certain amount of churn, but for every time saoneone said, “this will impact sales”, Apple would be driven into the ground, if that actually happened.