iStore Third Party Battery Replacement Fiasco

rbrylawski wrote:

Again, you seem to not know what you're speaking about. This is what Apple's Warranty says "exactly."

The Apple warranty specifically says the limited warranty for iPhone excludes coverage for (and I quote), "damage resulting from accident, disassembly, UNAUTHORIZED SERVICE and UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS."

I don't know how it could be more specific. If you take your phone to an aftermarket service provider, one not authorized by Apple, the warranty is no longer available.

Again - "damage resulting from". The issue is that customers have been denied warranty service for an unrelated issue on the basis that there was an aftermarket battery or an aftermarket part that wasn't causing any problems, but because it was simply there. The FTC has been warning companies in the United States that have been saying just what you state - that warranty is void if there's any aftermarket service or part.

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/business-blog/2018/04/ftc-staff-sends-warr anty-warnings

Section 5’s prohibition on deception applies to misleading warranty claims. A violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act. But separate and apart from Mag-Moss, a claim that creates a false impression that a warranty would be void due to the use of unauthorized parts or service may be a stand-alone deceptive practice under the FTC Act.

Now Apple hasn't actually stated that in their warranty terms. I've looked them up and down and everything in the US version of the iPhone warranty says "damage caused by" or something similar. However, the experiences (along with known service guidelines) have been that they will consider an aftermarket battery to be a disqualifying condition for any repair service in or out of warranty.

I did find the repair terms, although they also make no mention about service being denied solely on the basis of an aftermarket part or service. They have the typical legalese that the "unauthorized modification" has to be responsible.

Legal - Repair Terms and Conditions - Apple

Here's one mention of "unauthorized modifications":

An original product that is inoperable due to unauthorized modifications or has failed due to catastrophic damage, such as the product separating into multiple pieces, are examples of a product that is ineligible for Out of Warranty Service.

Strangely enough this would be legal in most places since no manufacturer is actually required to provide service out of warranty, except maybe in California. Or at least we have a law in California that if a manufacturer provides repair parts and service at all, they must do so for at least 7 years after the manufacturing date.

During the service ordering process, you must notify Apple of any unauthorized modifications, or any repairs or replacements not performed by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”), that have been made to your product. Apple will not be responsible for any damage to the product that occurs during the repair process that is a result of any unauthorized modifications or repairs or replacements not performed by Apple or an AASP. If damage results, Apple will seek your authorization for any additional costs for completing service even if the product is covered by warranty or an AppleCare service plan. If you decline authorization, Apple may return your product unrepaired in the damaged condition without any responsibility.

That's the closest to saying anything about 3rd party parts/service possibly being an issue. But the language sets a requirement for cause and effect and not simply that it's there.

piggoroh wrote:

That is actually not true. Apple will do work on third party serviced devices, just not if specifically the battery has been replaced. They will for instance, remove and replace broken third party screens.

People affected by this new replacement policy may have had other options, but that is a rather moot point considering they didn't have any GOOD options.

Theoretically no, other than the known exception of aftermarket glass, and then if it's done correctly. The word is that in the warranty/AppleCare period they'll overlook it, but after the warranty period they will only proceed if the customer is willing pay the OEM glass replacement fee on top of any other service.

I do understand the issues with warranty laws, such as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act, as well as moves for "Right to Repair" laws in several states. The biggest issue is that often an attorney is needed to attain cooperation in accordance with the law. The cost of a device such as an iPhone is relatively small considering the cost hiring an attorney. Also - there is no legal obligation for anyone to service a device post-warranty, and that's when customers are more likely to need a replacement battery

It's an interesting dilemma. The wholesale price of a battery is probably less than $8 (USD). I know people who will get their batteries replaced with an aftermarket equivalent in Asia for maybe $15. Maybe replace the glass for about the same cost. At that point Apple isn't going to repair it any more, but when you're permanently located in a place where such "unauthorized" repairs are cheap it's tempting.

johnmccullough123 wrote:

Apple is overcharging all of us, we´re in the same boat here.

Apple has never overcharged me for any repair so, no, we're not.

Second, this quote you listed is for Iphone´s still in their warranty periods, no? Is there anywhere in their policies that states they won´t touch let alone do any work at all on an iphone after it´s had a repair (for example battery replacement) from a third party store?

Apple will only do work on a phone if it is warrantiable after the repair as all repairs have a 90-day warranty. Apple will cannot warranty anything that has had third party repairs done. You are free to use third party repair services if you don't like Apple's terms and don't want to buy a new phone.

You DID have other options. You could have had the battery replaced by Apple to begin with. Apple won't touch an iPhone that's been tempered with by an unauthorized party.

The choice was yours. You'll have to live with your decision.

That is actually not true. Apple will do work on third party serviced devices, just not if specifically the battery has been replaced. They will for instance, remove and replace broken third party screens.

People affected by this new replacement policy may have had other options, but that is a rather moot point considering they didn't have any GOOD options.

deggie wrote:

1. The disclaimer you are asking for is in your warranty.

There really is no disclaimer in the warranty terms I've seen. I don't know of any place where it's even public information provided by Apple that an aftermarket battery means Apple considers it unserviceable. The only thing that I've ever seen is those infamous leaked service guidelines. And we know this from reports of people who were denied warranty claims or even out of warranty repair.

The warranty terms are pretty standard. Disclaimers such as "damage caused by" shows up a lot. If I didn't know how Apple operated, I would have assumed that an aftermarket battery or screen would be treated the same as a car manufacturer noticing an aftermarket windshield or the aftermarket replacement battery that I bought at Costco.

1. The disclaimer you are asking for is in your warranty.

2. Unless you told them that you put in a 3rd party battery they don't know until they open the iPhone. When they took your iPhone to the back it doesn't mean they started right then. There are other people also wanting service.

3. They do have an option now to turn off throttling.

Again, you seem to not know what you're speaking about. This is what Apple's Warranty says "exactly."

The Apple warranty specifically says the limited warranty for iPhone excludes coverage for (and I quote), "damage resulting from accident, disassembly, UNAUTHORIZED SERVICE and UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS."

I don't know how it could be more specific. If you take your phone to an aftermarket service provider, one not authorized by Apple, the warranty is no longer available.

bruhle wrote:

First, the phone belongs to ME! I'M the one who decides who is and isn't authorized to crack it open to replace the battery! I, THE OWNER, AUTHORIZED the other phone repair shop to work on it!

I certainly don't feel that an aftermarket battery should be a disqualifying factor for manufacturer's approved service. I believe I've made my case that certainly for warranty service that shouldn't be the case. However, no manufacturer is required to repair a device out of warranty.

If I bring my car to a dealer service department, they might look at my high performance radiator and say that we can deal with. If it's got a modification with a turbo and an aftermarket ECU, they're going to look at it funny. Now I suppose they might work on it since that is where the dealer is making money. However, I look at Apple's repair service as more customer support than anything else. It's $29 (USD) or the equivalent now to replace a battery.

This isn't any kind of big secret. If you choose to get an aftermarket battery, you're basically locked into it for any future battery replacement.

Yeah, Apple won't even touch a device that's had third party work done on it. Instantly voids the warranty.

You did have other options. All the other posters on here are correct.

christenafromokemos wrote:

3rd party battery was installed because of Apple having problems with batteries in the first place...

Apple wasn't having problems with batteries. People were unhappy that Apple had chosen to, under certain conditions, throttle phones with aging batteries rather than let them die suddenly.

And, yes, bad things can happen to lithium ion batteries even if they won't hold a charge. That's why you're not supposed to dispose of them by tossing them in a fire.

piggoroh wrote:

The entire problem is that Apple's batteries were insufficient to begin with. You would be a fool to have gone back to Apple and gotten a second battery for $99, when you could have one for $29 at the repair shop in the same mall.

I'm not sure where you get this notion that Apple's batteries were "insufficient to begin with"? Do they last as long as some of Motorola Droids? No. But they are fit for the purpose. You would indeed be a fool to render your iPhone unserviceable by Apple just to save $50 (the battery replacement cost in the U.S. is usually $79). Talk about being penny wise and pound foolish.

piggoroh wrote:

If you were to have it replaced by Apple, then you would not be able to take part in this current replacement program anyway. Do you not understand?

As long as the battery had been installed by Apple, you should be eligible for the current battery replacement. So, no, that doesn't make any sense.

Do you or have you owned an iPhone 6? I'm surprised you're not more upset if you have/do. Practically everyone I have known with one has had the battery fail on them spectacularly, slightly before or after their 2 years marks.

Yes. The original battery is still working fine. I do plan on having it tested by Apple later in the year when the demand dies down, though. Apple isn't replacing batteries because they failed unusually quickly or were in some other way defective. Apple is replacing batteries that are experiencing normal aging. I have no idea why I should be upset.

First, you can give people information without being condescending. Apple is overcharging all of us, we´re in the same boat here. Second, this quote you listed is for Iphone´s still in their warranty periods, no? Is there anywhere in their policies that states they won´t touch let alone do any work at all on an iphone after it´s had a repair (for example battery replacement) from a third party store? Real reason seems they want people to buy a new phone.