iPhone 3G - Quality question.

Question

Level 1

1 points

iPhone 3G - Quality question.

Well, 2008.09.10 I've bought my first apple product - iPhone 3G 16Gb. I was relly happy with it, but a few days ago when I've inspect my phone I saw that there is a small space on left side - so that the "screen glass" wasn't perfectly matched with metal frame :((. It's perfectly seen at night / or in the dark room... I'm really worried that for example if it's raining some whater can fall there and it can damage the phone...same goes to dirt...

My phone was bought in Hungary, where I'm currently leaving. When I came to T-mobile office they've told me that they won't change it and that the maximum thing that can be done - to bring the phone and send it to apple, but they don't know and don't care what will be the result. Also I've to wait minimum for 15 days for any answer/result.

Am I the only one who met such problem? And can anyone suggest me what should I do in my case...

Photos of my iPhone (sry for poor quality, but don't have any good camera now 🙂 )

http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphone1pp1.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphone2xf8.jpg

p.s. BTW I'm really wondering about my customer rights.... :/

Windows XP

Posted on Sep 18, 2008 11:53 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 18, 2008 12:07 PM in response to kaminokage

well, the reality of it is that all waranty issues you must take up with Apple. its the same here in the US, AT&T, the service provider for the iPhone, will do nothing if your phone is defective. you either need to bring it in to apple or send it away.

i know thats not the answer you wanted, but its the way it is.

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Answer 2

Sep 18, 2008 1:24 PM in response to locondcoco

If i watch a video in a dark room then i can see a light like this around most of my screen - i imagine that most iphone's will show the same in a dark room - maybe it is worth other people checking in a dark room to see if this happens on other phones.

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Answer 3

Sep 18, 2008 1:43 PM in response to kaminokage

kaminokage wrote:
Well, 2008.09.10 I've bought my first apple product - iPhone 3G 16Gb. I was relly happy with it, but a few days ago when I've inspect my phone I saw that there is a small space on left side - so that the "screen glass" wasn't perfectly matched with metal frame :((. It's perfectly seen at night / or in the dark room... I'm really worried that for example if it's raining some whater can fall there and it can damage the phone...same goes to dirt...

My phone was bought in Hungary, where I'm currently leaving. When I came to T-mobile office they've told me that they won't change it and that the maximum thing that can be done - to bring the phone and send it to apple, but they don't know and don't care what will be the result. Also I've to wait minimum for 15 days for any answer/result.

Am I the only one who met such problem? And can anyone suggest me what should I do in my case...

Photos of my iPhone (sry for poor quality, but don't have any good camera now 🙂 )

http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphone1pp1.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphone2xf8.jpg

p.s. BTW I'm really wondering about my customer rights.... :/

Take it back to an Apple Store and ask them to look at it. Warranty should cover that.

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Answer 4

kaminokage Author

Level 1

1 points

Sep 18, 2008 2:10 PM in response to kaminokage

Thanks a lot for your advices 😉 On saturday I'll try to go to T-mobile and we will see what's gonna happen 🙂

p.s. BTW on other forums some people replyed on my post - they have the same issue with their iPhones...what happend with apple quality check?

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Answer 5

musicvan

Level 1

140 points

Sep 18, 2008 2:14 PM in response to kaminokage

I believe Hungary has no Apple stores? So this is not an option for you. The point of sale company, in this case T mobile is responsible for the service you receive. Every country will some some form of consumer law that covers problems like this. Here in the UK O2 provide 14 days to allow the contract to be cancelled without penalty then 28 days phone replacement if it is defective. Then we have the usual apple warranty for one year. Hopefully t mobile will have some contract terms , check your paperwork. I had a problem with the screen being not level with the chrome surround and I got a replacement from O2 with no problems. Go back with your terms and local consumer law to get another phone.

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Answer 6

kaminokage Author

Level 1

1 points

Sep 19, 2008 4:48 AM in response to kaminokage

I've read some topics on this forum and as I can understand now - my brand new iPhone might be replaced by refurbished iPhone? :/

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Answer 7

Sep 19, 2008 5:42 AM in response to kaminokage

Replacement for issues related to warranted products are almost always replaced with refurbished units. This is a standard industry wide. Especially for electronic devices. Although psychologically problematic, it usually gets you a phone that has been tested to a higher quality standard. I would not be concerned about the refurbished issue. I had a first generation phone replaced because of a software issues. It worked perfectly well. I could not tell the difference either, esthetically speaking.

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Answer 8

kaminokage Author

Level 1

1 points

Sep 20, 2008 6:13 AM in response to Robert Rogers

Today I was in T-mobile office. I met a nice guy from technical support and he took my phone without any problems and told me that this might take about a week to solve the case. We will see what's gonna happen 🙂

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Answer 9

kaminokage Author

Level 1

1 points

Oct 1, 2008 10:44 AM in response to kaminokage

Well, I did receive another iPhone...refurbished. But the funniest thing is not that it wasn't new, but that it has the same problem )) though it cannot be seen so clearly, but...it's there. Apple was a synonym of quality for me, but now...heh. "Change your mind about Apple - buy iPhone" ))

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Answer 10

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Oct 1, 2008 11:01 AM in response to kaminokage

Both our iPhones are good quality and so are our friend's iPhones. I'm guessing that your country got a bad lot.

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Answer 11

kaminokage Author

Level 1

1 points

Oct 1, 2008 11:09 AM in response to Tamara

Well, the one I've received now has USA (AT&T) Model/part number: MB048LL. So...i just might be 2 lucky in this case ))

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Answer 12

js202

Level 1

10 points

Oct 1, 2008 11:17 AM in response to kaminokage

Out of curiosity, kaminokage, how do you know that your replacement is a refurb?

As you may have heard, this equation of a serial number beginning with 5K = refurb, is not necessarily the case.

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Answer 13

Oct 1, 2008 12:17 PM in response to kaminokage

I wouldn't worry too much about the backlight leakage until you start noticing problems. I'm on my 6th iPhone now and have seen many defects such as:

Scratches on the chrome bezel
Creaky chrome bezel
Backlight leakage from left side of the handset
Poorly fitted rubber gasket
Dust trapped underneath the screen
Cracks
Chunks of plastic/glue stuck in random places
Out of sync accelerometer
Rough edges (poorly aligned back cover and chrome bezel)
Dead pixels
Crooked screen
Yellow LCD tint
Sticky and misaligned buttons

The only problem (touch wood) I have with my 6th iPhone is backlight leakage on the left hand side, but there is no way I'm going to take another gamble and go for a 7th replacement. Seriously if it's not causing you any problems what so ever, just persevere with it.

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