Promised an upgrade free of charge?

***I HAVE NEVER DROPPED MY PHONE OR GOTTEN IT WET***

I spoke to various Apple support people, on the phone and online, and finally one told me that they would ship me an upgrade (an iPhone 6) free of charge, without having to pay the upgrade price or anything as an 'apology' for 2 iPhones breaking within less than 2 months, and both were due to faulty manufacturing and not normal wear and tear. I was elated, as this allowed me to keep up with my schooling and work assignments, I would no longer have to deal with the unreliable and faulty 5S, and would hopefully not have to complain to Apple once a week after they promised to call me with in the next 3 days regarding my issue and never did.


I called back to inquire about when the replacement 6 would be sent out, and was told that they would not do that. They belittled me on the phone, spoke in a very condescending manner, and yelled at me when I expressed my dismay and disappointment in Apple taking back their word. This is incredibly unprofessional and disappointing. I'm still stuck with a faulty 5S that craps out on me when I need it for my job, and no resolution in sight.


They've offered me a replacement if I head into the store (which is impossible as I have no transportation and cannot travel 5 hours to the local Apple Store), and they offered to ship me a new one but need a credit card. No one in my family has a credit card that I could use, so that's out of the question as well.


Thats why when I was offered a 6 free of charge, just having to send in my 5S when it got there, I was so thrilled. It seemed like the perfect solution, win-win for everyone.


Apple promises me a free upgrade replacement phone will be shipped out as 2 of my brand new phones have crapped out on me. Apple then rescinds the offer.


If anyone else has dealt with a situation like this, how did you resolve it?


Thanks.


<Edited by Host>

iPhone 5s, iOS 9.2.1, null

Posted on Jan 24, 2016 3:32 PM

Reply
6 replies

Jan 24, 2016 5:24 PM in response to katiiie t

Any Apple advisor empowered to do what you suggest, would have given you their personal contact details, a case number and other such traceable items. You would have received an email from them clearly spelling out what you had been promised.


If you have had these issues ongoing, you should have a case # or maybe even several to prove your claim(s).


This is what they do. They create a paper trail to avoid exactly what you suggest has happened. To accept that you have none of this is tough.


Is/was your phone under warranty at the time? That would be the only reason to advocate going in to a store to get a new device. And they swap like for like unless a senior advisor has authorized something else.


Maybe there are parts of your story you haven't told us?

Jan 27, 2016 9:21 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Meg St._Clair wrote:


I've never personally heard of Apple doing anything like this. You would need to discuss it with whoever promised it to you in the first place. If it's not documented in you records, there's not going to be a whole lot anyone else can do about it. However, ask to speak to a supervisor when you call back.

I have to agree with Meg on this one. I have asked about swapping from a white to a black iPod nano years ago and more recently from a gray to a black iPad Smart Cover under warranty issues. They said that they could only do like for like. I'm thinking that the agent may have communicated something incorrectly to you as it wouldn't take them 3 days to call you back regarding the issue. They would have been able to issue the warranty replacement on the spot, confirmed shipping details, and sent it out. I have had items replaced (Apple Remote and Power Adapter) over the phone and I received the items within two days. Of course I can only speculate but the agent may have meant that they were going to look into doing a free upgrade and get back to you within three days. At that point I would have asked for the agent's name and extension or badge number so you could speak to the same person again. Anytime someone is offering something out of the ordinary make sure you get their information. Now at this point you are talking to employees that know that Apple doesn't do free upgrades for customers and the agent didn't make any notes on the ticket that they were looking into a free upgrade.


I know my thought it only speculation but in dealing with Apple Support for many issues in retail Apple Stores, over the phone, and over chat, I can say that the scenario I mentioned is probably very likely. The agent may have even meant that they were going to look into it but it came out wrong as they said it. At this point, your best bet is to get the replacement. There has to be someone that you know that can give Apple a credit card number (even a debit card will work). That will only be charged if you fail to return the old device.

Jan 27, 2016 2:27 PM in response to katiiie t

Sorry.. but if you have case #s and were treated rudely on the phone, call Apple, ask for a senior advisor and give them the case #s ands tell them how you were treated. Apple records *every* call.


The "send a phone ahead of time" option you talk about costs $29 for shipping and they hold the value of the replacement device against a credit card until your arrives back at the repair depot. And it is always like for like.There is still a chance the replacement won't be free if they detect any damage to the phone you returned.


As well, no phone advisor would ever tell you then phone has a manufacturing defect, as there is no way to determine over the phone what is causing your issue(s). If they did say that to you, during which call? Tell Apple.


This forum is not the place to pursue this. If you have all the case #s and can tell them of your experience(s), tell Apple. Call and tell them.

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