At this point I'm just documenting the "journey". Forgive me for the upcoming wall of text.
Called with Apple today to have my phone replaced. I think I've spoken to about 7 people in total, they kept transferring me to other departments from aftersales to Apple care to tech support. Promises were made and broken the next transfer, everybody made notes in the system but never could the next person see these notes. At this time I'm pretty annoyed.
I requested Apple to send a new phone first so I wouldn't be without a phone for a week; one of the persons I spoke strongly hinted that this would be no problem but then the next one said that was never an option and is never done. Which is 100% untrue; I had something with my iPhone 5/6/7 or so at the time and back then I was sent a new phone without a problem and I returned the faulty one in the same box it came in. But ok.
So my replacement will come "probably" within a week or 2, 3. Meanwhile I'm supposed to be... unreachable? I happen to have my 13 Pro Max still but what if I sold it? (In fact, I actually had to return in to the company, but we still had it in storage). Nobody would budge. Ok. "Then can I go to the store and swap it there?" First I was told no (because somehow they thought I was from Belgium even though they all asked for the Invoice ID and address and also had my +31 (Netherlands) phone number on display 🤪) and when they found out I was from the Netherlands then suddenly it was possible. But then the phone would be credited to the original (company) creditcard and I would have to pay from my own pocket (and somehow get the money back, which is a hassle, from the company). Also they couldn't guarantee they'd have my model and wouldn't inquire and maybe have them put one aside for me. Since it's a 2hrs drive (4hrs both ways) I didn't want to risk heading over there for nothing.
In the end I gave in. I got exhausted of Apple not wanting to cooperate and I gave up after over an hour on my (quickly draining and heating) phone (that had to be put on a charger midway the call). Even though I logged my issue with Apple over a week ago (well within the 14 day return period) they kept insisting that I was over the 14 day return period (which is 3 days over now). They then offered me a 'gesture' for all my trouble. They were very secretive of it, wouldn't say what it was, but I'm 99% sure it's something like 'free 6 months Apple Music' or something. I. Don't. Care. I don't need your 'gesture', I want a working phone. Typing this all out makes me wonder why I even still want an Apple phone... Gues I'm too deep (like elbow deep) in the Apple ecosystem and I'm sort-of hostage.
Anyway. I took my iPhone 13 Pro Max, restored it from backup, factory reset the 15 Pro Max and, lo and behold, even after being factory reset hours ago it's still warm (31 degrees celcius (actually measured) currently) to the touch and doing absolutely nothing. This also rules out anything in my settings / profile. UPS will pick it up tomorrow; I put it back in the original packaging it came in and I'll try to remember to take one last glance at the battery state (even though it won't show a percentage at the "Hello" screen) before I hand it over to the delivery person tomorrow. I'm convinced it will be on low battery, if not 100% drained by then.
I hope this is the end of it. My replacement should arrive in "2 to 3 weeks max.", even thought I received an email that says 14-21 november. I was assured, and I believe this although I don't know why, that the return would be handled with priority and I wouldn't have to wait 5 weeks for my replacement. We'll see. At this point I'm just tired, weary from dealing with Apple today, weary from trying everything under the sun to figure out what was wrong with it for the past 2 weeks and just want it to be over. I understand Apple has a popular product, a huge customer base and loyal fans. I've been one since the iPhone 3. Watches, macbooks, tablets, phones, you-name-it and I've owned it at some point or still do. I have a literal "shrine" with empty Apple packaging from all the products I've owned over the years. But, now, honestly, I feel mostly very disappointed by Apple and especially by Apple Customer Care. Let's hope the replacement functions properly.
