can one return to the apple store if they buy the phone at an at&t store?

Question

can one return to the apple store if they buy the phone at an at&t store?

I wonder if you all could help answer this question? I am stuck with buying the phone from an at&t store, because I switched 5 days before the launch and they gave me a free phone, to switch when the i-phone came out. Well as everyone knows, at&t ran out of phones, and wont let me buy the phone from apple as my upgrade eligibility wont show up on apples computers. Therefore I am now waiting for a DF from at&t. Have no idea how long that will take!!! My biggest concern is, if the i-phone keeps getting poor reception and the battery doesn't function or anything other than misuse happens, can I get it exchanged at the apple store, even if I didn't buy it from them? I am going to buy apple care for it, which I will buy from the apple store.....Do apple ask for a receipt when you go in with an issue? and have they sent people back to the at&t store? Thanks

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Jul 19, 2008 8:45 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 19, 2008 9:00 AM in response to seabreeze1982

If there is a problem, it HAS to be exchanged at the Apple Store, so you will be good to go. ATT does not repair them, swap them out for new ones, or do anything to advise you about your iPhone except to refer you directly to the Apple Store or Apple Support online.

Second -- I wouldn't worry so much about the performance of your iPhone 3G when you get it. A Million users are having no problems. A few thousand (including the hundreds that post here) are. This is a discussion forum that is skewed toward only those who are having problems, not the other satisfied users who are not.

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Answer 2

Funnone

Level 1

20 points

Jul 19, 2008 9:01 AM in response to seabreeze1982

You can EXCHANGE it, at an apple store!!! Just did it yesterday.

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Answer 3

Jul 19, 2008 9:17 AM in response to RonAnnArbor

Great thank you so much for answering. And yes I agree that there are many people with no issues, except on the reception front, that concerns me as all the other apple forums are talking about it. I think people are posting elsewhere because those don't get deleted by apple, whereas I keep hearing apple deletes posts on this forum. I think apple will bring out a fix as they kept doing on the 1st Gen
I-phone and it kept getting better and better. Until the 2.0 software....which seems to be glitchy. Then there is the hardware issue of the antenna being weak....That's why I was concerned about returns...But yes in actual fact, hopefully there wont be an issue... Thanks again

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Answer 4

Jul 19, 2008 9:18 AM in response to seabreeze1982

The reception isn't an iPhone thing -- it's an ATT 3G thing -- there is no such thing as a stable 3G network anywhere in the USA, not matter what ATT implies.

That being said, I have had zero issues with my 3G on the iPhone 3G. It is identical to the reception I get with my work att 3G phones.

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Answer 5

Jul 19, 2008 9:36 AM in response to RonAnnArbor

RonAnnArbor, thanks, I think you should post your point about the 3G reception on the reception thread, which seems to be the longest thread on this site. I think they would all want to know that it's an at&t problem and not a hardware issue. I feel much better after you have told me that it's to do with at&t and their towers.... Thanks

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Answer 6

Nathan C

Level 5

6,266 points

Jul 19, 2008 9:39 AM in response to Funnone

Funnone,

Warranty service and replacements can be handled by the Apple Retail Store.

Hope this helps,

Nathan C.

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Answer 7

Jul 19, 2008 9:43 AM in response to seabreeze1982

It's not worth posting in that thread anymore. Nobody is reading what is there, and all people are doing is arguing. That type of thing always happens when a handful of people DO experience real problems (antennas can go bad on any phone, not just the iPhone and arrive somewhat DOA) and then not listening to people who offer help.

3G IS spotty in some areas (it's only available in less than 20 percent of the USA)
The new cases DO cover up the antenna, which causes problems. The new antenna is in the circle around the camera opening, and in the metal bezal that goes around the rim of the phone. If you completely cover that with a cover, and then your hand on top of that, the reception is going to be poor no matter how strong your 3G signal is. People have been arguing that and ignoring the people who confirm that taking their cases off actually resolves their reception problems. That can go on for dozens of threads until someone changes the topic.
3G in the US can drop out from block to block, neighborhood to neighborhood, even where ATT indicates that it is "best coverage". Their maps on their website are completely innacurate and have not been accurate throughout the 3G rollout the last three years.

And worst offenders: people clearly indicate that there might be something wrong with THEIR iPhone (not the worlds iPhones) and tell them to take it to Apple for repair or exchange, and that sets off a bewildering furor in the original complainer. Sometimes things just are what they are, or don't work and need repair. Arguing about it for dozens of threads is going to do nothing to resolve that stubbornness.

Welcome to the forum -- but take some of what you read with a grain of salt.

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