"light fissure" on the left side of the iphone

Question

Level 1

10 points

"light fissure" on the left side of the iphone

i've bought the phone on monday, so it'll be 7 days when i have the chance to talk to the phone company. (haven't noticed it before and couldn't go today due to work)

http://home.comcast.net/~yan31/ll.jpg

(not mine but mine looks very similar)

my question is rather simple: can i demand a new iphone from the phone company? i mean, they sold me a faulty one and i don't want a refurbished one from apple tbh - i've paid for something brand new but received something...faulty. i also don't want to wait days or weeks for a new one. i'm currently with orange france and it was horrible when my blackberry had a small software problem - RIm immediately dispatched a new one when I called them and didn't even ask to send the BB back immediately. well, so i'm afraid of them telling me once again "**** off and ask %companyname%". i honestly don't care about the light...but i care about the water and dust within the phone.

did anyone have a similar problem and got it replaced by the phone company?

x86 / lots of different machines :), Other OS, I'm with the penguin.

Posted on May 16, 2009 2:41 PM

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Answer 1

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

May 16, 2009 2:43 PM in response to scuzzilla

A warranty replacement is either new or refurb. You won't be able to tell the difference since they come in white boxes.

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Answer 2

scuzzilla Author

Level 1

10 points

May 16, 2009 3:15 PM in response to Tamara

can't i demand a new one from apple? i mean, i've paid 150 euros for a NEW device and got some piece of ****, sorry. 🙂

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Answer 3

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

May 16, 2009 3:29 PM in response to scuzzilla

You can demand all you want (seems kind of childish though) but you'll get a device in a white box and there is no way to tell if it is new or refurb.

If you want a guaranteed new phone, return the one you bought for a cash refund and then buy another phone.

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Answer 4

scuzzilla Author

Level 1

10 points

May 16, 2009 3:40 PM in response to Tamara

indeed, it was my question if they'd do that. 🙂

and i can't see why this may be childish - i've spent money on a device, a new device, that i expect to be without any issues. that's something i can expect when i'm buying a brand new device. but what i've got is a black brick, that isn't even shut. i can already see the dust on the display. 🙂

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Answer 5

JoeZinVA

Level 2

431 points

May 16, 2009 4:26 PM in response to scuzzilla

The "light fissure" won't hurt anything though. It is a distraction as the seal between the cracks is gone.

I broke mine with my fingernail trying to clean the dirt in there but i'm sure if you use care like don't use it in the rain or near water sources it'll be fine.

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Answer 6

scuzzilla Author

Level 1

10 points

May 16, 2009 5:02 PM in response to JoeZinVA

indeed but i paid for a new device - not for a device that's sold as new but not even sealed. 🙂

on the other hand - it can always happen that you have to get it out of your pocket and a rain drop is falling down on it, i don't want to trash my phone like that. 🙂

everything i was initially interested in was, if i have to call apple or ask my carrier - and i wanted to hear how other people solved it. i think i'll ask my carrier first then, the frenchmen here are always afraid of people getting angry...that might help with it. 🙂

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Answer 7

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

May 16, 2009 5:08 PM in response to scuzzilla

I honestly don't see what the big deal is. The refurb is in a new case and has been more thoroughly tested that a new unit as you discovered with your light leakage.

I feel bad for customer service people in your country if the general attitude is throw a tantrum to get what you want especially where it isn't the CS person's fault to begin with. It kind of makes the French seem immature 😟.

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Answer 8

May 16, 2009 9:01 PM in response to scuzzilla

I just bought mine a week ago as well. I have the same issue. Is this a big deal? Will it hurt anything? Should I return it or can I?

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Answer 9

scuzzilla Author

Level 1

10 points

May 17, 2009 1:15 AM in response to Tamara

I'm not French, I'm German. 😉

On the other side: is it immature to expect what I've paid for? I don't think so. 😉 And some people working in CS positions simply always tell you to shut the **** up and live with everything - that's something I can't accept. It's no problem if they tell you that they can't help you but maybe this or that person can or that is's simply not possible due to <insert reason here> - but I'm expecting a polite person...especially when it's not my fault that I have to contact them.

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Answer 10

scuzzilla Author

Level 1

10 points

May 17, 2009 3:22 AM in response to ClintonJames

Your device isn't sealed - microchips don't like dust and humidity. the fissure isn't the issue - but what it's causing in the end. 🙂

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Answer 11

scuzzilla Author

Level 1

10 points

May 18, 2009 5:43 AM in response to Tamara

ok, issue solved. 🙂

the people at the store couldn't believe that it looks like that and immediately wanted to give me a new one - they had to make several calls to get it approved but it worked out in the end and here i am, a completely new iphone, out of the box. 🙂

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Answer 12

May 18, 2009 6:28 PM in response to scuzzilla

Well, I just called AT&T about this issue. Seeing as its still within the thirty day return limit you will be able to return it and get a new device as long as you have the receipt of purchase and the original packaging. You will have to pay a 10% restocking fee, which is a little ridiculous considering the fact that its defective in away. Why would they restock something that wasn't built right in the first place? I don't know, anyhow I will have a new one tomorrow.

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