Wait Times for iPhone Battery Replacements Increasing

[Lancer]

A couple of years ago we got the battery replaced in a iPhone 5, now this might have not been a genuine part as it was not an Apple shop, but the point is we didn't have to book or wait weeks. Took a day from memory, they also replaced the screen at the same time. Why is it taking Apple so long to ramp up supplies of the parts needed?
[doublepost=1520059236][/doublepost]

I didn't realise iPhone batteries are only good for 18 months. I guess you and I have very different expectations.

I had an iPhone 5s lasted me 4 years, battery still usable after over 1200 cycles. Its still in the family and being used with its original battery. Before that I had a 3Gs that lasted 3 years before I sold it on eBay, was working fine for all that time. Maybe I'm a lite user or some just expect too much from their smart phone?

 

[chatin]

I said, when the battery replacement program was announced, that Apple was in no way equipped to do replacements. Another spot on prediction from May, 2017.


"Time to level with customers about how this battery switch will play out. They are in no way equipped to change a bunch of batteries at $29. You can get a "compatible" online for $5 but it will not be original. Non-original batteries sometimes cause more problems.

Then there is the problem of doing the actual replacement. All a genius does at the Apple store is put your phone in a repair robot. The robot handles the battery replacement as a repair not replacement. The robots are in short supply and are used for repairs first. What about doing it yourself? Every phone since the 6S has had a strong glue seal that breaks when opened. Third party battery switches rarely return the phones to their original water resistant state."

 

[Corgirat]

if there is an issue then it should be warning folks. and if that issue is the battery then it should be replaced.

and they are probably offering the $29 battery to entice folks to do it so that they don't qualify for any class in all the lawsuits. although they shouldn't anyway unless they have some smoking gun that the whole thing was to get folks to buy a new phone which is a hard thing to prove without hacking into Apple's email or such. i mean they have been swapping batteries since the iPhone 4 and if someone bothered to seek service they would have been told that the battery in their 3 year old iphone was basically dead. if folks choose not to ask but upgraded that's not on

if there is an issue then it should be warning folks. and if that issue is the battery then it should be replaced.

and they are probably offering the $29 battery to entice folks to do it so that they don't qualify for any class in all the lawsuits. although they shouldn't anyway unless they have some smoking gun that the whole thing was to get folks to buy a new phone which is a hard thing to prove without hacking into Apple's email or such. i mean they have been swapping batteries since the iPhone 4 and if someone bothered to seek service they would have been told that the battery in their 3 year old iphone was basically dead. if folks choose not to ask but upgraded that's not on apple

Now I can understand why iPhone batteries are not replaceable by consumers and softwhere doesn’t tell you when to replace the batteries! Cause that way, people wouldn’t think to ask for a new battery at the apple store, they’ll ask for new models! Thanks, you just made me realize this. Probably I’m the last person to figure this out LOL

 

[827538]

A couple of years ago we got the battery replaced in a iPhone 5, now this might have not been a genuine part as it was not an Apple shop, but the point is we didn't have to book or wait weeks. Took a day from memory, they also replaced the screen at the same time. Why is it taking Apple so long to ramp up supplies of the parts needed?
[doublepost=1520059236][/doublepost]
I had an iPhone 5s lasted me 4 years, battery still usable after over 1200 cycles. Its still in the family and being used with its original battery. Before that I had a 3Gs that lasted 3 years before I sold it on eBay, was working fine for all that time. Maybe I'm a lite user or some just expect too much from their smart phone?

I’ve alwats tried to look after the battery, I almost never let it fully drain and I would say I’m an average user. The fact it literally went from fine to crippled in a single update tells me this is a software issue as has been reported numerous times now.

 

[xmen171]

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.

MacRumors has received complaints from customers who are facing long wait times for replacements and who have, in some cases, been waiting for weeks to hear back from Apple about previously requested battery replacements.

When you initiate a battery replacement from Apple, stores typically need to order the part from Apple and then let you know when the new battery arrives, so getting a fresh battery isn't as simple as scheduling a Genius Bar appointment.

Wait times vary based on location and by the device that needs the battery replacement. Batteries for devices like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s are harder to come by than batteries for the iPhone 7, and for some devices, like the iPhone 6 Plus, battery wait times have ranged into months.

Back in January, Apple said that for the iPhone 6 Plus, which is no longer being sold, replacement batteries are in such short supply that customers will need to wait until March or April for a new battery.

Customers who are seeking Genius Bar appointments for battery replacements are also crowding out appointment slots for customers with other issues, which is a problem in areas with few Apple Stores.

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.

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:Apple has been offering $29 battery replacements for the iPhone 6 and newer since the beginning of the year. Apple implemented the program after facing backlash from power management features that were introduced in iOS 10.2.1.

The power management features have the potential to slow down older iPhones with degraded batteries in order to prevent unexpected shutdowns, and after the issue faced widespread media attention in late 2017, Apple apologized for its lack of transparency and implemented new policies.

In addition to offering reduced cost battery replacements through the end of 2018, Apple is also introducing a new Battery Health feature in iOS 11.3 that lets customers see more detailed information about the status of their iPhone's battery.

For batteries that are degraded enough to be impacted by throttling, Apple also offers an option to turn off the performance management all together.

Power management features impact the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus, and for any affected iPhone, a new battery effectively fixes the issue.

Article Link: Wait Times for iPhone Battery Replacements Increasing

[doublepost=1520723994][/doublepost]Here's an actual example of wait times:

I ordered a replacement battery for my iPhone 6S plus on February 9.

I received an email that it was received at my local Apple Store (Valencia, CA) on March 8 (literally, 28 days later or 4 weeks).

The bummer for me was actually taking my phone in for the replacement: a 5-hour wait was quoted!

 

[coolspot18]

What's the wait time like in Toronto? I ordered 2 replacements end of Feb ... so about 3.5 weeks and I have not heard back from the Apple Store yet. So if I'm estimating ... it's probably 2 to 3 months to get a replacement if not longer?