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iPhone 5 (HK model) water damage - need replacement but located in Canada

Please advise on the following situation:


I have purchased an iPhone 5 in Dec 2012 through a carrier located in Hong Kong.

Most recently I have cancelled my contract with them and have immigrated back to Canada.


During last week I dropped my iPhone in the water and now the phone will not turn on (but will attempt recovering the phone when plugged into the comptuer - which ultimately fails).


Here are the steps that I took:


1. I went to Apple store in Canada for assessment of the phone. They suggested getting a replacement phone but cannot do so because my phone (purchased from HK) is apparently built differently from the models sold in North America. They advised me to contact Apple HK


2. Contacted Apple HK through phone; advised me to contact carrier which I got the iPhone from because apparently they will not offer a replacement phone without first attempting to resolve the issue with the carrier - i.e. Apple will replace / fix it when there's some sort of proof from the carrier that they will not / coudln't fix it (the representative I was talking with on the phone sound limited in terms of knowledge in this area). I asked for the cost of a replacement phone in HK and no price was given (unlike the time when I asked in the Toronto store).


3. Called phone carrier at which I got the phone from: told me to bring the phone to store and have them take a look at it. Carrier would not issue replacement phones, but can attempt to fix it (for a fee of course).


Now before mailing my phone back to my relatives in Hong Kong and have them resolve the issue through the carrier (which would likely end up with an expensive repairment cost that is more than a replacement phone from Apple), I am wondering if there is something that can be worked out with Apple directly.


Has anyone here gotten into the same situation with me that can offer me some advice on what I can do? i.e. Can I...

a) request to have a replacement phone (HK model) sent to the Apple store in Toronto, Canada and pay for the replacement cost there?

b) replace my iPhone 5 HK model with an iPhone 5 North American model?


Any help would be appreciated.


Thanks,



Felix

iPhone 5, iOS 6.1.3

Posted on Apr 30, 2013 11:05 PM

Reply
2 replies

May 1, 2013 2:41 AM in response to xilef0610

Hi Felix,


We are all Apple-products users here.


As per terms of sale none of the two requests can be met. Warranty or Out-of-Warranty services are available only in the Country of first sale, HK in the present context. The iPhone needs to be hand carried to HK now, so that Carrier or Apple there can assess the damage and offer a replacement of similar model.


it appears that in the present situation you will not be able use the HK model in Canada. Therefore, your options are limited.

May 1, 2013 3:30 AM in response to xilef0610

RajaRani provided you with excellent advise. If you want to know the cost of the replacement iPhone in HK, you'll need to log onto the Apple HK website, and go to SUPPORT. The replacement iPhone will be exactly the same as you originally purchased. HK uses GSM, and Canada uses both GSM and CDMA. It's up to you locate and contact the appropriate carrier in Canada.

iPhone 5 (HK model) water damage - need replacement but located in Canada

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