iPhone 5 - just out of manufacturers warranty

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Level 1

4 points

iPhone 5 - just out of manufacturers warranty

My iPhone 5 was purchased sim free from carphone warehouse (because they could supply it on day of release), so is about 15 months old. It has developed a fault where the screen is super sensitive (intermittently) and so if I hover over certain parts of the screen, it activates it without having to make contact!

I've been in to see a couple of Genius' at the Cambridge store, and although have received conflicting info, it sounds as if the screen needs replacing at their OOW cost of £129, or get a replacement for £229. I don't see how a product that costs over £500 can only be expected to last 12 months though - surely it's not fit for purpose. We've always received good care from Apple before and are really questioning our faith in their products.

I'm going to contact carphone warehouse tomorrow and see what they can do as the actual retailer. I really don't mind spending £500 every couple of years, then my wife has the old one and I get a new one, but if they are going to stop working soon after the warranty runs out, it will become far too expensive.

Any suggestions? I don't really want to pay the OOW service fee as they have said it may not fix it still, and presumably the phone could develop further faults and cost more. The replacement is an option, but then what would the warranty be on that?

Really not sure I even want to give Apple any more of my cash when they just want to cash-in on repair costs!

Any suggestions out there?

Thanks

Richard

Posted on Dec 15, 2013 12:32 PM

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Answer 1

wegras

Level 6

15,305 points

Dec 15, 2013 12:39 PM in response to Frewinr

You clearly decided that Apple Care was not worth taking up during the first year of ownership ,then

12 months warranty is 12 months warranty

An out of warranty exchange in UK is £219 for an iPhone 5 over the counter ,if they are offering a screen repacement that is a good option

Good luck with CPW

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Answer 2

Limnos

Level 10

411,217 points

Dec 15, 2013 12:58 PM in response to Frewinr

It isn't designed to last only 12 months, it's just that you got one of those few percent that don't. That's the gamble you take vs. paying for AppleCare. In terms of economics there's probably some extra amount they could charge to make it a two year warranty (and then people with broken phones 2 years + 1 day would fuss), but then people would complain about phones costing £600.

For what it's worth, when we bought an iPhone 4s two years ago I asked about replacing the battery. The Apple Store person said, "Oh, not for at least two years by which time you will be thinking about a newer model anyway." There's no formal lifespan for products but their perceptive lifespan for Apple is short. For a while new operating system versions came out every 2 years and Apple would support the last 2 versions which meant after roughtly 4 years you could no longer expect routine system support for a computer. That's for $1500+ computers. Oh, the computers often last much longer than the support period. Mine is 12 years old, but if I were to take it into an Apple Service Center they would look at it like I had walked in with a dinosaur.

Vintage and obsolete products - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1752

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Answer 3

Frewinr Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 15, 2013 1:12 PM in response to wegras

I've never been one for extra insurance - I expect a warranty to cover the reasonable life of a product (eg for a phone, 2 years which is what most contracts are sold on) and for accidental damage, well, that's the risk I take and if I drop it or similar, expect to have to pay for a new one or repair.

I'm not keen on the screen repair as its £129 and not a new phone, so potentially another fault may develop - also I've been informed by the genius that it may not work and could make the phone unusable. Thus my options are to first contact carphone warehouse about possible repair (2yr EU warranty potentially), else pay the replacement costs.

Suspect I will follow either of these two routes - warranty if care phone warehouse will replace/repair, or Apple replacement. Apple have previously been very customer orientated and kept their customer base (and increased it) through recommendations for their service. I for one have had issues in the past (in warranty though) and have commended and recommended them for how quick and easy the replacement was. I certainly wouldn't recommend them based on this 'minimum' requirements attitude - the iPhone is priced as a premium product, so if you buy into the brand, you do expect a certain about of above and above the legal minimum. But that's my opinion, but why I for one have always brought into the brand.

Just feeling bitter and angry with Apple!

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Answer 4

wegras

Level 6

15,305 points

Dec 15, 2013 1:19 PM in response to Frewinr

Your choice just don't let it develope into a rant 😉

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Answer 5

Frewinr Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 15, 2013 1:22 PM in response to wegras

Cheers then guys, think I'd better stop there then:-)

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Answer 6

Kash23

Level 1

0 points

Feb 26, 2014 5:05 AM in response to Frewinr

Hi Frewinr

Looks like you havent received much advice here.

I also have a iphone 5 and it OOWs (14 months old). I smashed my screen about a year ago but recently the power button has developed a fault meaning mine is a nightmare to switch on and off, standby or even screen shot.

As mine has a massive crack down the middile i havent bothered going to the apple store as they will almost instantly say that it will cost me a bomb to repair. And also for that reason its not worth my time suggesting this option which might benefit you.

If you iphone is in decent condition, no outside damage, scratches or anything apple could use to say you developed the fault urself, then you could try using the Sale of Goods Act. I have used this before on my mac mini a few years ago when OOW and it worked beautifully (at the time apple quoted me £150 before doing it for free). Google Sale of goods act template online, these are pre made letters where you just add details about your circumstance. They generally state that for a electircal good worth more then £500 and less then 2 years old it should be reasonable to say it would last longer then 15 months without a fault (words to that effect).

Then send this to apple (maybe even CFWH) along with proof of purchase and see what they say. With mine they said they would repair it for free as long as i took it into the store.

Its worth a try, good luck!

The Sikh

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Answer 7

wegras

Level 6

15,305 points

Feb 26, 2014 11:10 AM in response to Kash23

Since the OP purchased from Carphonewarehouse any Sale of goods act debate is with them .as in Sale of Goods

Apple make them CPW sold it

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