Q: Significant light leakage, few light botches on sides/corners  - defective?

Obviously I can only go off what has been told to me at the store.

Even the manager at the apple store was involved though, which he also confirmed what I have already stated.

Miss-informed or not, As a consumer we only know what they tell us & this whole incident has pit me off, pure and simple.

Even if the manager was involved it still doesn't confirm anything. I've went through 3 replacements of the original iPad when that first came out, and I've gone through 2 replacements for the iPad 2, I've also went through 2 replacements for the iPhone 4. Since we have 4 Apple stores at my location, I've went through different ones and have asked my fair amount of employees and managers to come to the conclusion that basically none of the employees and managers really know if these replacements are refurbs or not, in other words, they are basically speculating just as most if not all of the folks on this thread are. If you find that hard to believe, that Apple employees are left in the dark as much as the consumers, then you obviously haven't been paying attention to how Apple operates as this is quite common and at this point a given. Apple never admits flaws nor do they ever issue a recall nor do they do redesigns unless it's for a next gen product (aka, a new model of something).

It's understandable that you are upset over the issue but you're not helping by coming on here and stating things that the store told you as the ultimate truth because right off the bat, the fact that the store employee told you the warranty on the replacement is only 90 days is completely wrong and from that alone it's quite obvious that they are speculating just as much as you and it also shows that they have only skimmed the policy (if you actually read the policy, it's clear as day that warranty on replacements and repairs are 90 days from the service/repacement OR the remainder of the warranty, whichever one is longer).

I'm not in any way trying to tell you that you are at fault for being upset or anything, you have all the right to be, but simply it's inconsiderate to not weight the facts and take common sense into consideration and instead come on here giving misinformation (which of course isn't wholely your fault but if you had just paused for a moment and think about what they were telling you, especially the bit about the 90 days warranty, it would have been completely obvious to you that they really don't know what they were talking about, I know it's ironic that they are called Geniuses but it is what it is).

Why does it feel like whenever a person posts opinion on here or posts being upset about the quality of Apple. People jump on the defend Apple bandwagon.

This is why Apple do not need to apologise with statements it's consumer base defends them to death even when what they are defending is ludicrous.

Staff are surely trained to know policies. Yes? That manager needs the sack then giving false information.

I was asked my Story from another forumer I told it. Simple.

It's not like I made it all up, it's complete fact from my experience. That I believe is important to share with the community.

Obviously you disagree.

You're allowed an opinion so long as its 'Gee, Apple are great". Anything else and you'll be shot down in flames.

Again, I'm not saying you're at fault. I've also stated that you have EVERY RIGHT to be upset and to be perfectly honest, you SHOULD be upset. Apple isn't a very transparent company and the majority of the time, their store reps are pretty clueless.

The problem is that you are stating things that you heard from the store clerks as absolute fact (as in this is their policy, this is how they operate, etc.) even though right off the bat it was obvious that they did not know what they were talking about (that 90 days thing should have set off the alarms in your head at that point as to just how clueless they are).

How am I defending Apple here? All I'm doing is pointing out the discrepancies in your experience and how you really shouldn't have believed everything the store clerk was telling you. I've also demonstrated how clueless the store clerks are as I've stated my experiences with FOUR different Apple stores. Depending on the person you are asking, you end up with completely contradicting information and most times within the same store!

I'm not sticking up for Apple, I'm simply pointing out the fact that one really can not take the store clerk's words at face value since they vary from person to person (not even store to store, what they tell you basically changes from person to person, depending on whom you have spoken to).

To be perfectly honest, apart from the simple things, I don't think that Apple store employees are that well trained. However, Apple still does have the best stores since the service (however negligible that could be at times) are still heads and shoulders above other big box electronic retailers. The only other types of stores which one can get better service at are mom and pop stores. It's not that Apple is flawless, it's just that compared to all the other options out their, they might as well be flawless because they are quite a number of notches better (though again, they are pretty clueless, but I'm a techie so I rarely actually ask the clerks for help).

I think that both RandomPhil86 and dookster are correct and both point to important facts.  We in Portugal are having the same issues, however we tend to be passive towards this issues and that is why I keep saying and writting that we have the market that we wan't.

At least I see a pattern here of people assuring for their rights to have an zero fault iPad2.~

Just let me point ou the argumments that both of you write and that (in my opinion) are relevant:

1) Each shop tends to state their own understanding regarding this issue, so it is important to inform everyone of what to do. I think it is important to alert for "attemps" to force people to take wrong decisions based on incorrect information transmited by some shops. 

I do not know what is stated on the US Law regarding warranties, but the portuguese law clearly states:

a) There is always a 2 year warranty for any product

b) For online purchases we have the right to return the item up to 14 days for a full refund

c) If there is some problem with a product and you have to send it to be repaired, the company has 30 days to give you back the product with zero problems.  If the company takes more than 30 days to do the repair then you have te right to a full refund

Based on those facts I always say that no matter what Apple, HP, Dell, etc says , the law is above all misinterpretations.  Keep to the law and make your rights.

2) Based on my previous point It is a fact that you cannot take conclusions based on a statement made by one , two or three employees.  And I still didn't get the "all picture" of the brown boxes, because I think it doesn't matter if it is refurbished or not as long as it looks like brand new and the warranty period is extend based on the date of delivery of the faulty unit.

I would much prefer to have a refurbished brand new looking unit with zero deffects than having to spend my time exchaging over and over again waiting to have a perfect unit.

3) What I don't get is the silence from Apple regarding this issue (is it because the most majority of consumers is accepting the faulty units since they consider that light bleeding is not a serious issue ?). 

Perhaps it is like dookster states: "Apple never admits flaws nor do they ever issue a recall nor do they do redesigns unless it's for a next gen product (aka, a new model of something)."

However I am an extremelly demanding customer and I will keep demanding for new units until I get a zero fault one or I just quit and have a refund.

The fact is that this is a known problem and when iPad3 gets on the market you will have many people selling their iPad2 , and surprise will be when the potential buyer does the light bleeding and dead pixel test and rejects the unit (this is just an example).

Bottom line: the main issue here is a total and complete absense of quality control from a company that used to sell first class material.  What have we all done to state our insatisfaction regrading this issue ? Well I sent an email (that was stated as Steve Jobs email) showing my disapointment with this issue and asking what Apple was doing to correct this situation.  Answer = 0 (perhaps the email address is incorrect).

My advise is to fight for your rights and redirect all your energy to Apple, demanding for good products (the iPad2 64 GB 3G version costs 799 Euros in Europe which is something like 1.139 USD).

Have a nice weekend ! (Tuesday I will get my forth unit....)

I Spoke to support about my iPad 2 and was told to visit store for replacement, got there and was told all the new and service spares have to same issue. Complete waste if time. Sort it out apple!

You know i was given the same answer. The apple store employee told me that the replacement would have the same exact problem. So then i went home saying i would never buy another apple product and what do I do I buy the digital av adaptor a few days later. I'm suprised that there isnt talk of a lawsuit yet. Then we might actually get non defective products.

Mine has the same problem. I bought 16gb wifi two weeks ago, and I found the light bleeding after a week when I was watching movie in the dark (I usually use it during the day time). I made an appointment and got my second iPad 2. The light bleeding was even worse! I immediately took it back and returned it. Now I don't have iPad, all I have is the smart cover and case...and I don't know if I should get another new one or not:( Guess I just have to wait until apple fix this problem...return iPad to apple store is really wasting time!!!

Got my third iPad 2 white 32GB wifi only...still bleeding all the way cross the bottom!!! Returned it today!!! Apple won't fix this problem ever!!! I'm very angry!!!

Best Buy opened all 6 iPad 2s(3G AT&T 64GB) for me and only 1 had no light bleeding

I found this link an interesting read:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1161754

Good Luck Everyone.

Best Regards

I returned my third 64CG Wifi 3G unit and got a local from the shop I bought and exchanged all the units stating that they didn't had any more stock so they had to issue a refund. 

At this moment I am in the same state of many unhappy users: I am a proud owner of a smartcover......

Very, very disappointed with Apple. 

I think we should some how demonstrate our disappointment with Apple by signing a global worlwide petition for Apple to explain their customers what is happening.

What do you think of this idea ? Does anyone know of sites where we could write a petition and then send the link to our friends ?

Let me state that the idea of the petition is to send a very polite, educated statement to Apple.

I do think they should issue an explanation of this issue and what measures have been taken.  Having demanding customers is good for a brand which is known to have good quality products.

Good idea.

Really agree with you. However, most of the ipad users are not noticing the screen bleeding problem...some users want to live with it because they got ipads as gifts from friends, families, and companies...and they think it won't last for a year and ipad 3 is gonna come out soon...so they don't care about this issue as long as ipad does it job!

I'm very mad every time when I see my stupid smart cover can case! Apple really need to improve their quality control!