Light leak problem

I looked at a lot of the demos in the store and none of them had leaks that I could see. I do feel a little stupid for returning mine, though. I always wondered why people who buy new cars are always hyper sensitive about every little ding and scratch, and now I'm one of those guys too.

Also, I got suckered into getting a gift card for the amount instead of insisting on a replacement (I know they keep units in stock for replacements).

Went to pick up my replacement iPad 2 and it was far worse than the original. It had a half inch band down the left side of the screen. When I said I didn't want it they implied that they wouldn't do another swap unless I agreed that I'd either accept #3 or else take a store credit. "We're not comfortable burning through stock that other customers might be willing to accept." This was the first of several insinuations that the problem was that I was expecting too much and that they were doing me some kind of favor by helping me with my defective 700 dollar mobile device.

They agreed to do another swap but wrote on my work order that the replacement, which would never have passed even the most perfunctory QC, was within spec and that they were doing a 2nd swap as a courtesy. I asked about the 'spec' and what it allowed for. They said that Apple hasn't published one and that "they let us decide." I respectfully pointed out that it made no sense that the manufacturer would let their front end retail operation decide what the design spec was and he said that "based on the fact that more than half the ones we see have bleed, they let us decide." I told him this was a policy, not a spec, and asked again how much bleed was considered acceptable. AlI he'd say was that it's part of the manufacturing process (i.e a feature). I was also annoyed that the manager-- who was not present when we tested the replacement and never saw how awful it was, wrote that it was 'within spec.' The person who helped me when I went in the first time to arrange the swap had written "confirmed light leak issue, wil replace as defective" on the first workorder. How was it possible that the original had an issue but that the far-worse replacement was deemed 'within spec?'

This is hardly the end of the world and I doubt Ill end up pursuing more than 1-2 more swaps (life is just too short and at the end of the day the issues does not really affect the functionality of the device), but even tho the light bleed is likely just a 'feature' I refuse to just let them off the hook, especially after the idiotic runaround I was given at a usually first rate Genius Bar in NYC. Haggling with customer service is a pointless exercise. The only meaningful communication most of have with the companies who make all the crap we use is when we buy something or return something. If you let them pretend it's a non-issue they'll continue to put the blame on their users.

picked up my 2nd replacement today and was pleased to see that it was near perfect. this was an extremely pleasant development considering that my original appeared to be getting worse and i was no longer willing to even entertain the idea of keeping it. #3 is probably among the best ones i've seen so far (the slightest bleed on one side, maybe a mm or so, almost impossible to see, even with the brightness cranked up). also had a much more pleasant experience at the genius bar. the manager who helped me asked to take a look at my original and was like "yikes, i think we can do better than that." at the end of the day they took care of me and it was worth the hassle of multiple returns.

I just got a 32 gig black ipad 2 on Saturday May 7th.

My light leakage is really bad so I'll say that the problem hasn't been fixed or there's still LG units for sale out there.

I posted my results on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8dYnNpj8sI

m.arms wrote:

I just got a 32 gig black ipad 2 on Saturday May 7th.

My light leakage is really bad so I'll say that the problem hasn't been fixed or there's still LG units for sale out there.

I posted my results on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8dYnNpj8sI

Wow! I saw your video. You really have a big leaking problem. My first one (25th march) has half of that. And the second I got this mondag (9th May) has zero leaking. If I go to 100% Brightness you just see a very,very,very tiny light on the left bottom, but you really have to search for it.

I guess they are starting to ship with Samsung screen already here in Euorope. Or I am just lucky, on of those will be it. I waited 5 weeks for a new one.

Hopefully you will get a better one next time. Good Luck

Yeah, I got iPad 2 from mid May 2011, and it's got light leaking at three of the four corners.

I've been waiting to know if it's been fixed by now (mid June) before I go and ask for an exchange...

Anyone know?

Got my 6th replacement today. Sadly it is not fixed. Brand new out of the box has 5 leaks across the bottom wide side. No QC at Apple iPad China facility ...... Back it goes for another till I get a good one..........

m.arms wrote:

I just got a 32 gig black ipad 2 on Saturday May 7th.

My light leakage is really bad so I'll say that the problem hasn't been fixed or there's still LG units for sale out there.

I posted my results on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8dYnNpj8sI

Dude your brightness was turned almost all the way up before you turned it up to max. Next time try to scam someone else. Try doing a video with 50% brightness instead of 90% where you had it before you turned it all the way up.

How did you get it replaced?

Via mail (send it back, get replacement?)

Or visit Apple Store? If so, where the Geniuses friendly about it? Did they take yours and give you a new iPad 2 in a box or just itself bare?

Great, this sounds good that your latest replacement is finally "good."

Hopefully they got this "light leak" problem fixed/resolved by now.

Sounds like I should open up a ticket on their website, instead of going to Apple Store (saves time and gas).

:-)