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What are my options.

Gen

Gen

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 15, 2008
902
223
I dropped my iPhone 4 without my cover - and it cracked the screen in the top left corner.
I'm wondering which is my best options;

1 - wait until September and buy a new iPhone. However, I won't be able to resell my old 32GB iP4.

2 - buy a Squaretrade warranty for $99, and pay the $50 deductible for drops. I'll be out $150 to get my iPhone fixed, and a total of $450 investment with the phone. However, I will be able to resell when the new one comes out - hopefully for still around $300-$400.

3 - use a 3rd party, like; http://www.fix-iphones.com/iphone-4-broken-glass.html - they charge $115.

4 - try and a find a good replacement and do the fix myself - I'm very capable of doing it. However, most screens on Amazon are not OEM - and I absolutely love my current screen.


I'm leaning towards doing it myself. But I'm having a hard time finding the OEM screen - since the LCD is glued to the glass screen.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

Looks like you already know what all of your options are.
 
The Californian said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

Looks like you already know what all of your options are.
Click to expand...

I tried to do some research before I asked. :p

However, I'm really leaning towards the Squaretrade or fix-iphones (3rd party repair). My only concern is if they use the OEM screen.

iFixIt is selling the screen assembly for $150 - which I trust 100% that it's OEM. However, it's very pricy.

If I use fix-iphones, they'll only charge $115 to fix it. If they use the OEM screen I'll most likely go with their service.
 
I would first attempt to go to an Apple Store and see if you can get lucky on a free replacement.

Last year I had an issue with my iPad, the LCD screen had cracked internally but the glass had no signs of physical damage, but the first genius employee insisted that I had caused the damage and that it would be a $300 fee. I returned 3 weeks later with the the money prepared to pay the fee, the genius employee (different person) walked over to me and without me ever saying a word (other than hello) I handed him my iPad, he didn't even scan the serial number, he just looked at it and said "Ok, I'll go ahead a replace this for you at no charge"

it is a gamble, but could be worth a shot before you spend all that money to fix your iPhone.
 
I might like to point out to you that option 2 is fraud and square trade could and should deny you claim.
 
Gen said:
I tried to do some research before I asked. :p
iFixIt is selling the screen assembly for $150 - which I trust 100% that it's OEM. However, it's very pricy.
Click to expand...

Same price as the Square Trade option, no?
 
Last edited:
Sorry if I missed this, but why not take it to Apple and pay $200 for a replacement?
 
Rodimus Prime said:
I might like to point out to you that option 2 is fraud and square trade could and should deny you claim.
Click to expand...

What's the difference between me buying the warranty before it breaks or after? It's the same price - and same coverage; two years after original date of purchase of iPhone. If anything, my breaking the phone has made me buy their warranty and use their service.

iMJustAGuy said:
Same price as the Square Trade option, no?
Click to expand...

It is.
And actually I'm leaning more towards Squaretrade now. They'l fix the phone and I'll still have a warranty come end of September (Apple's 1-year runs out). That will also greatly help with the resale value of the phone.

wordoflife said:
Sorry if I missed this, but why not take it to Apple and pay $200 for a replacement?
Click to expand...

Because Squaretrade is cheaper, and will provide an additional one year coverage after Apple's runs out.

Their plan is only $99 - however, a $50 deductible is required for drops; cracked screens, etc.
 
wordoflife said:
Sorry if I missed this, but why not take it to Apple and pay $200 for a replacement?
Click to expand...

Also, I just called and got some clarifications on their pricing.

The $99 price is only for a "new-iPhoes" (purchased within 30 days of warranty). For older phones, like mine, it will actually cost $149. But, the warranty gets extended from the purchase day of the warranty. The deductible will still be the same, $50.

So it's actually going to cost me $200 to go through Squaretrade. However, I really like the fact that after fixing my screen I will still have a warranty. I'm actually pretty set on Squaretrade now. Only thing is, I will have to wait 30 days before sending it off to get fixed after I buy the warranty.
 
Gen,

If you don't know why you should not defraud a company selling accident insurance then what could we tell you. You are of ill repute and would not listen to good counsel anyway.
 
If the crack is not over the area where the LCD is, why not just leave it as is?

Sept is not so far away anyway. Keep the 4 as a back-up then. Or sell it for cheap then. Someone will buy it regardless, as long as it works.
 
the.sheepdog said:
Gen,

If you don't know why you should not defraud a company selling accident insurance then what could we tell you. You are of ill repute and would not listen to good counsel anyway.
Click to expand...

Get off your high-horse. A warranty is bought to be used when your item breaks - why else would you have a warranty, to cover the item if you break it. In this situation, people have an option of buying the warranty before or after it breaks. It is illogical and a waste to buy a warranty, when you have a choice, if you don't need it. However, when you do need it - you can purchase it.

Squaretrade is getting $200 to fix my screen - same price Apple is charging.
 
vincenz said:
If the crack is not over the area where the LCD is, why not just leave it as is?

Sept is not so far away anyway. Keep the 4 as a back-up then. Or sell it for cheap then. Someone will buy it regardless, as long as it works.
Click to expand...

Photoon2011-06-04at1613.jpg


If I can sell this 32GB iPhone 4 for $200 when the new comes out I will hold on to it. However, I doubt - since I wouldn't - pay more than $50 for that. Even though the phone works great.
 
Did you buy your iPhone 4 at an Apple Store?

I did, and, when my screen got broken, they just replaced it for free. However, they did say that it would be 200 dollars plus tax if it happened again.
 
Gen said:
Get off your high-horse. A warranty is bought to be used when your item breaks - why else would you have a warranty, to cover the item if you break it. In this situation, people have an option of buying the warranty before or after it breaks. It is illogical and a waste to buy a warranty, when you have a choice, if you don't need it. However, when you do need it - you can purchase it.

Squaretrade is getting $200 to fix my screen - same price Apple is charging.
Click to expand...
You don't really understand how insurance works do you?
 
Gen said:
What's the difference between me buying the warranty before it breaks or after? It's the same price - and same coverage; two years after original date of purchase of iPhone. If anything, my breaking the phone has made me buy their warranty and use their service.
Click to expand...

The very difference is when you buy the insurance you are gambling that you will break your phone and square soft is gambling that you will not break the phone.

If you buy it after the fact then the have change the rules because you know it is broken. The phone should and chances are in the fine print is required that the phone be in good shape and working order when you buy it.

In your case you are costing them money in the replacement. They lost money on you because they lost their bet. Like I said it is fraud and they would be in every right and they should deny your claim followed by keeping your money.
 
Gen said:
What's the difference between me buying the warranty before it breaks or after? It's the same price - and same coverage; two years after original date of purchase of iPhone. If anything, my breaking the phone has made me buy their warranty and use their service.
Click to expand...

What's the difference if my house burns down and afterwards I get insurance for fire damage? What's the difference if I get into a car accident and afterwards get insurance for my car?

It's fraud, plain and simple. The point of insurance is to purchase it before something happens, in case something happens. Not to let something happen and then purchase it.
 
Gen said:
Image

If I can sell this 32GB iPhone 4 for $200 when the new comes out I will hold on to it. However, I doubt - since I wouldn't - pay more than $50 for that. Even though the phone works great.
Click to expand...

You'll definitely get 200 for that.
 
Gen said:
Get off your high-horse. A warranty is bought to be used when your item breaks - why else would you have a warranty, to cover the item if you break it. In this situation, people have an option of buying the warranty before or after it breaks. It is illogical and a waste to buy a warranty, when you have a choice, if you don't need it. However, when you do need it - you can purchase it.

Squaretrade is getting $200 to fix my screen - same price Apple is charging.
Click to expand...

Your's has to be one of the most ridiculous reasons that I have ever read to justify becoming a thief and a fraudster.
 
iMJustAGuy said:
You'll definitely get 200 for that.
Click to expand...

The more I thought about it the more I've realized that spending $200 to fix just a cosmetic issue is kind of ridiculous.
I'm holding on to this until the new one is released - and then just selling it for whatever I can get.
 
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If it's black convert it to white. :D
 
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