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Level 1

119 points

Where to Buy a Rear Glass Cover for the iPhone 4 from?

Hi,

I really need some help, please. My nephew, who lives outside North America, in a country where is no Apple Store, has an iPhone 4 phone that I bought for him in Canada. He now tells me that, by some accident (he dropped the phone on a hardwood floor from about a foot high!), he got a crack in the glass on the rear panel. The back panel is very simple to replace but where could I buy an _original Apple_ rear panel from (not a Chinese, etc. copy that might not fit that well) to send it to him?

I went to an Apple Store, here in Canada, and was told that they don't sell parts and don't do such repairs to the iPhone 4, just exchanges for a fee due to accidental damage (but then the phone is overseas and not easy to have it shipped here).

Please help! Where could I buy the original part from?

Thank you, you could really make a kid happy!...

Posted on Nov 15, 2010 5:54 PM

23 replies

Kwopau

Level 4

1,742 points

Nov 17, 2010 5:00 PM in response to Michael9009

Michael9009 wrote:
wjosten, so if I go to an Apple store in the US, they would not give me the part itself even if I pay $29 for replacement? You know, the phone is not in North America and it would be very risky to have it shipped by mail to here.

The warranty is only valid in Canada, as you said you have purchased in Canada. I'm sure the apple store in canada do have the back replacement, but they don't sell them to customers. They have the back, just so that in case if any of the customers come in with the broken back glass that they can replace it.

Now, did your son get the iphone in Canada and took it over there? Or did you send your son the iphone? If you did send the iphone to your son, then why would it be risky?

I've sent my old iphone 3G to someone that I sold to, from Central US to the West coast, he e-mailed me that he had received the shipment. I've also sent the 3G S to my sister, and no problem there, as she told me that she received it. Of course shipping international is different but not really that different.

If your son sends you the iphone via UPS, or Fedex, I would not worry about it. What he can do is, if he has the original box, he can put it there, wrap a few papers around it, and a few of those air bubbles (popping bubbles, whatever they are called) around it, and put it in a box securely and tight, and ship it out to you. UPS nor Fedex opens them and they do know what is inside. Plus he can put the insurance on it while it is being shipped and delivered, that way if anything goes wrong that they will cover the lost.

Michael9009 Author

Level 1

119 points

Nov 17, 2010 6:39 PM in response to Kwopau

My nephew visited me here, in Canada, last summer. When he returned, he took the phone with him. Shipping the phone by mail is risky (from Romania) as many items sent by mail from/to there either not make it or arrive damaged. Shipping by courier is prohibitively expensive for a high school student in a country where the average monthly salary is $200.

The bad thing is that the guy from the Apple Store here in Canada told me that Apple does not even replace the back plate here (in Canada) but only the entire phone for a fee ($199, I believe). $199 is not the same as $29!!! Oh, boy, what a problem!...

Kwopau

Level 4

1,742 points

Nov 18, 2010 5:34 AM in response to Michael9009

wow. So your saying that in Canada, if only the back glass is broken that, Apple does not replaced just the back? That is rediculous in my point of view. Do you know when he plans on visiting Canada again? Anyways as you mentioned, it's not worth paying $199, as the front screen is fine.

There are 2 options depending on how severe the damage is. If it's just a crack like a spider web, then I assume he can use a case over it? but then that will probably make it worse, but the case is still protecting his hand from being cut. 2. This one will probably void the warranty, but maybe he can go into ebay or any site that sells the back glass part (ifixit.com) and he will have to fix it himself.

Feb 8, 2011 1:35 PM in response to kyleluft420

you should read the whole thread BEFORE responding Silly

tonefox

Level 6

9,362 points

Feb 8, 2011 2:11 PM in response to combatbarbie69

combatbarbie69 wrote:
you should read the whole thread BEFORE responding Silly

You're the one responding to posts almost three months old.....

rupp1974

Level 1

0 points

Feb 1, 2012 6:31 PM in response to Michael9009

i live no where near an apple store and my back glass broke too. i ordered one from ifixit.com and it looks legit and fits real nice but now my pictures are terrible. does anyone know where i can just order the oem glass?

tonefox

Level 6

9,362 points

Feb 2, 2012 12:40 PM in response to rupp1974

The back glass has no function except to close the big hole on the back of the phone. If any function is now working differently, you must have disturbed something within the phone.

Feb 2, 2012 12:49 PM in response to tonefox

iphones4u

Where to Buy a Rear Glass Cover for the iPhone 4 from?