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Just wondering if anyone else went in on this plan. For $10 a month the phone is covered and insured with no dedudtible for any reason (as long as you bring ima piece of the phone in. Also is covered for scratches or anything else. Anyone have this or have negative reasons on it? JW as I'm fairly skeptical even though I put in for it. (Cancel at any time)
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk
I'm glad there are other people that brought this up. I have this too and fully intend to utilize it, as the damn platinum case has scratched my phone and I'm anal about that. They will surely lose money off me from this. I'm wondering how hard a replacement will be to get with the black tie protection. Also, once you make a claim, can you make another down the road or is it one and done?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
I bought it. for $10 a month with no deductible I totally think it's worth it. and it's so much easier just bringing it in the store as opposed to having to send it to tmobile.
I'm glad you guys have utilized the plan. As a mobile manager for best buy i can assure you that your phone will be covered for repairs and accidental damage. Water damage is covered also. I recommend filing a claim for battery replacement right away since it is part of the coverage, so now you'll have an extra battery (which you only paid $10 for). Let me know if you guys got any questions.
I did too. I got the impression that the it would always be required to be sent out to see if it can be fixed or needs replacement. Not like the iPhone where they give a refurbished at the register. But, better than tmobiles warranty. Probably keep it no longer than 6 months.. diminishing returns and all that.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
We usually give you a comparable loaner phone depending on which model you have. Obviously it won't be a high end android but it's better than nothing. Here's the loaner phone lineup in my store.
Sprint - Samsung Intercept, HTC Hero or LG Optimus
T Mobile - MyTouch Slide, LG Optimus T
At&T - HTC Aria
VZW - Moto Devour, Moto Droid
Greenarcher707 said:
I recommend filing a claim for battery replacement right away since it is part of the coverage, so now you'll have an extra battery (which you only paid $10 for). Let me know if you guys got any questions.
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How do you do that?
When you make a claim they have to order a phone? As in it's done through the mail?
The warranty is nice but since I've already gone through 3 exchanges for defects, I'd be worried about getting another with banding, creased glass, or unresponsive back button if I can't actually see the phone in person.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Thanks greenarcher. I didn't know that.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
I bought a SquareTrade warranty. $99 for 2 years, and you can get a refund anytime and the unused portion is refunded back to you.
anyone have horror stories with the Black Tie Protection plans?
Anymore info on the black tie plan? I've got my new accessories on order and I need to know if there's any stipulations with the warranty
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
robstunner said:
How do you do that?
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Call the 800 number on your black tie protection brochure and request for a battery replacement. They will mail you the battery, no other steps needed. Verify your mailing address to be on the safe side.
Jayrod1980 said:
When you make a claim they have to order a phone? As in it's done through the mail?
The warranty is nice but since I've already gone through 3 exchanges for defects, I'd be worried about getting another with banding, creased glass, or unresponsive back button if I can't actually see the phone in person.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
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You will have to visit a Best Buy store so you can get a loaner phone while your device is out for repair. We have a strict no lemon policy so if it's considered defective 3 times / or deemed unrepairable you are eligible for a replacement for the same phone or get credit towards a device of your choice.
looking for a horror story? right this way sir....
i had a problem with white spots on my screen and the usb port on the phone not charging. i took it into best buy so the could send it off for repair. what these guys are failing to tell you about the loaner phones is that a $150 deposit is required. anyhow, 2 weeks later i get a call that my phone is in. well, the screen issues weren't even addressed and while the usb port now charges, i can't transfer data using my pc. so i had it right back, while still in the store. they said it would have to be sent out again, but will be marked for escalation, which i'm told means it will be sent overnight, bumped up in que for immediate repair and sent back overnight. flash forward one week and i find out that my phone was sent through general mail, meaning it took the phone one week to arrive at the tech center. i asked why it wasn't overnighted. yesterday i got an email from a geek squad representative saying that while they apologize for the inconvienence, the store's request that my phone be escalated was denied. no reason given when asked why. so i am going to be without my phone for at least a month, which i am finding out is the norm when dealing with BB and black tie protection. my advice would be to avoid BB altogether.
if we dont opt in for the store insurance, do we call google or samsung if the phone breaks down from anything besides user wear?
BrianDigital said:
if we dont opt in for the store insurance, do we call google or samsung if the phone breaks down from anything besides user wear?
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yes, they may or may not re-direct you to samsung though.
jackpearce said:
looking for a horror story? right this way sir....
i had a problem with white spots on my screen and the usb port on the phone not charging. i took it into best buy so the could send it off for repair. what these guys are failing to tell you about the loaner phones is that a $150 deposit is required. anyhow, 2 weeks later i get a call that my phone is in. well, the screen issues weren't even addressed and while the usb port now charges, i can't transfer data using my pc. so i had it right back, while still in the store. they said it would have to be sent out again, but will be marked for escalation, which i'm told means it will be sent overnight, bumped up in que for immediate repair and sent back overnight. flash forward one week and i find out that my phone was sent through general mail, meaning it took the phone one week to arrive at the tech center. i asked why it wasn't overnighted. yesterday i got an email from a geek squad representative saying that while they apologize for the inconvienence, the store's request that my phone be escalated was denied. no reason given when asked why. so i am going to be without my phone for at least a month, which i am finding out is the norm when dealing with BB and black tie protection. my advice would be to avoid BB altogether.
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Thats a little hard to do if you live in America and want a Nexus S. People often forget that stores are chains and that while service might be horrible at one location, it will be different at another. I used to work for BB (I quit because I hated the corporate morality towards their employees) but our store had amazing customer service which is still does (I bought my Nexus S there). However, the BB in the next city of sucks donkey balls. We very often had people coming from that BB into ours and telling us how incompetent we were until they realized we were different than the other store.
I've known a lot of people who have had great luck with black tie. And a few who had bad luck. Its people, not the company. If you have an issue with a location, complain to corporate or don't buy from that one and go to another.
Go to BB own website. Visit their community forums, especially the Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies. You will find that black tie protection and BB customer service is going down the drain at a record pace. Not every complaint is legitimate for sure, but notice that on not 1 single complaint does BB take responsibility for anything. It is always just a mistake, a error on someone else's part or it is beyond their control. Never a "whoops, sorry about that. Here, let us make that up to you."
jackpearce said:
Go to BB own website. Visit their community forums, especially the Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies. You will find that black tie protection and BB customer service is going down the drain at a record pace. Not every complaint is legitimate for sure, but notice that on not 1 single complaint does BB take responsibility for anything. It is always just a mistake, a error on someone else's part or it is beyond their control. Never a "whoops, sorry about that. Here, let us make that up to you."
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Have you ever heard a corporation say that publicly? I saw and made sure every customer walked out happy when I worked there (again, I left because of corporates attitude towards us, the employee). I happily got the protection because I know the store to which I would be going and I know they will have my ass.
So, Just though I'd let you all know about what happens if you ever have your phone stolen.
So a few weeks ago my house got broke into and stole all of our electronics, and among those stolen was my G2x, after a police report and some time on the phone with the phone insurance company they were very quick on approving my claim and getting my phone out to me.
I asked the rep "Will the replacement phone be re-manufactured or brand new?" The rep replied "We have no way of knowing what is sent out, it all comes from T-Mobiles warehouse."
I didn't think anything more about it and paid my deductible of $130.00. Now keep in mind I have ALWAYS had insurance on my phone since 2006.
So after paying $5.00 a month for 5 years over $300, and then paying $130.00 so $430.00 for a replacement phone. I was excited to see the UPS guy deliver me a phone and went into tearing it open... only to see that it was a re-manufactured for with;
Scratches on the glass screen
dents and dings all over the sides of the phone
wear and tear near the charging port
wear damage on the back case where the phone has been laid down a lot
and the phone wouldn't even TURN ON! (I put the battery in and let it charge for 25 minutes before attempting)
SO after all of this I went and gave T-Mobile/insurance company a call and the rep stated "All of our re-manned phones have the plastic, glass replaced, and software reformatted on the phone before shipout, we have a strong 150 point inspection where we lay a brand new phone next to a re-manned and see if we can tell the difference" then they're shipped out.
Well I can DEFINITELY see the difference, I called again and am having them send me out another one to replace the one i replaced, I asked if they could please request a BRAND NEW one and they said "We can't guarantee its going to be new, but if there are any issues please call us back and we'll replace".
I'm very frustrated because i'm almost positive i'll end up getting ANOTHER re-manned with issues.
correct me if i'm wrong, if you pay for car insurance and you're in an auto accident, they fix the car to NEW standards, if you have home owners insurance and you brake a window, door, a/c unit etc, they dont send you a USED window, door, a/c unit, its all NEW. If you have health insurance they use NEW products on your body not ones that have already been used.
WHY the hell would a phone be any different?!!?!?
Just an FYI and a little venting If you're the type of person who loses their phones, drops it, water damage etc, its probably good to have insurance, if you're like me and wont use it for years at a time, don't waste your money, just buy a brand new one.. it will save you the hassle...
Thanks for letting me vent.
javolin13 said:
So, Just though I'd let you all know about what happens if you ever have your phone stolen.
So a few weeks ago my house got broke into and stole all of our electronics, and among those stolen was my G2x, after a police report and some time on the phone with the phone insurance company they were very quick on approving my claim and getting my phone out to me.
I asked the rep "Will the replacement phone be re-manufactured or brand new?" The rep replied "We have no way of knowing what is sent out, it all comes from T-Mobiles warehouse."
I didn't think anything more about it and paid my deductible of $130.00. Now keep in mind I have ALWAYS had insurance on my phone since 2006.
So after paying $5.00 a month for 5 years over $300, and then paying $130.00 so $430.00 for a replacement phone. I was excited to see the UPS guy deliver me a phone and went into tearing it open... only to see that it was a re-manufactured for with;
Scratches on the glass screen
dents and dings all over the sides of the phone
wear and tear near the charging port
wear damage on the back case where the phone has been laid down a lot
and the phone wouldn't even TURN ON! (I put the battery in and let it charge for 25 minutes before attempting)
SO after all of this I went and gave T-Mobile/insurance company a call and the rep stated "All of our re-manned phones have the plastic, glass replaced, and software reformatted on the phone before shipout, we have a strong 150 point inspection where we lay a brand new phone next to a re-manned and see if we can tell the difference" then they're shipped out.
Well I can DEFINITELY see the difference, I called again and am having them send me out another one to replace the one i replaced, I asked if they could please request a BRAND NEW one and they said "We can't guarantee its going to be new, but if there are any issues please call us back and we'll replace".
I'm very frustrated because i'm almost positive i'll end up getting ANOTHER re-manned with issues.
correct me if i'm wrong, if you pay for car insurance and you're in an auto accident, they fix the car to NEW standards, if you have home owners insurance and you brake a window, door, a/c unit etc, they dont send you a USED window, door, a/c unit, its all NEW. If you have health insurance they use NEW products on your body not ones that have already been used.
WHY the hell would a phone be any different?!!?!?
Just an FYI and a little venting If you're the type of person who loses their phones, drops it, water damage etc, its probably good to have insurance, if you're like me and wont use it for years at a time, don't waste your money, just buy a brand new one.. it will save you the hassle...
Thanks for letting me vent.
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I see why your frustrated, but having a remanufactured phone isn't so bad. The reason why I say that is because they are gonna do there honest best to try and fix the known issues that 90% of the G2x owners are experiencing. I just gotten a remanufactured phone and I can honestly say I have no screen bleeding issues at all! I also have no scratches either! Although I do understand your frustration about paying monthly on insurance and getting a used phone.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
I just received my phone from asurion 2 days ago, and I have no problems like the ones you mentioned. The casing is in immaculate shape, and there are no scratches anywhere. It even has a couple of the adhesives still on there. The only problem I did have with it, is that it has a bit more light bleed than my original one had.
TurboTsi said:
I just received my phone from asurion 2 days ago, and I have no problems like the ones you mentioned. The casing is in immaculate shape, and there are no scratches anywhere. It even has a couple of the adhesives still on there. The only problem I did have with it, is that it has a bit more light bleed than my original one had.
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Not to jump off topic, but you own a Talon or a Starion? I love DSM.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
You should not be able to tell the difference between reman and brand new from Asurion. If you can you definitely have a right to complain. I wouldn't worry about the second phone being in bad shape too, that must be a total fluke. As far as how much premium you have spent on insurance since whenever date, all that is irrelevant. You should receive the same level of indemnity as the guy who signed up for his policy 6 months ago. Some people pay their whole lives and never need to make a claim. Insurance is simply peace of mind. The insurance company bears the majority of risk when they write policies. You pay a tiny amount monthly and they will give you a $500 phone for $130 any time you jack your **** up. You burn through 2 insurance replacements and Asurion has lost money most likely writing your policy.
Anyway, you have a right to ***** about them sending you a messed up refurb, and they have a responsibility to make it right. Good luck.
Sent from my LG G2x
I've only had 1 insurance replacement with a Behold back in the day and it looked brand new! So I think they shipped you the wrong phone!
....
I'd say get another replacement. They weren't lying when they told you about their QC procedure; your example is simply one that got overlooked. A mistake, an exception. Something that almost certainly won't happen again.
I had T-Mobile since voicestream and Asurion since it they got with T-Mobile and after loosing my phone and my wife hers years after I did I've never had that happen .....my question is y even put a battery in and chrage it if there was damage on the phone already I woukdbif just saw it packed it right up and called Asurion .......I even had them replace me my nexus one after I dropped it and broke it and I bought that from Google not from T-Mobile ........
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Refurbs usually run real well since they fixed the problems
Dsm all day! When it wants to run....
Call back and get the replacement, shouldn't take more than two days
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
So my mom managed to bend the prongs in the charging port so she cant charge her MT4GS.... She went into t-mobile and they said that they wont replace it because it was her fault. Is there something else we could say like it always drops signal or something so they will replace it for? She spent a lot on this phone back in August and she would hate for it to be useless already.... -_-
Tell them that the touch screen isn't responding and freezes a lot that's it.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
And do it over the phone instead of going in.
Thats not right Xo My dad works in construction. He got a Otterbox Defender Series for his GSII. He wanted to test is out, ran it over with a semi. Screen broke got a huge crack #phone worked perfectly# they replaced it. Just say that your earphone jack wont work. The camera freezes. Youve restored it. Then it worked for a while, but it started acting up. Blame it on the software.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA App
Since this device charges over the micro-usb connection, you're telling me she managed to break the internal connector?
That takes talent. You have to really try to break that. Really force the UBS plug in backwards.
I hate to tell you but unless she has insurance on it, she's screwed. Even if they process a warranty, if they find physical damage (and what you described is certainly physical damage) they will consider the device out of warranty and charge her account the out of warranty fee.
These devices are reviewed by a team given specifications by the manufacturer to look for specific things that the manufacturer deems physical damage, liquid damage, excessive use, etc.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA App
itsomaryo said:
.... She went into t-mobile and they said that they wont replace it because it was her fault. Is there something else we could say like it always drops signal or something so they will replace it for? ....
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I didn't want to come off as a **** and tell you to suck it up and pay for it, but the thing is, she did break it and T-Mo or HTC shouldn't be on the hook for the cost of replacement.
Blue6IX said:
...
"big snip"
...
If this is in fact the case, USB host support will probably be much trickier to implement, and a lot more risky to use. A hardware pathway will always be what it is. Software is more fickle, and has to be very closely checked and managed when dealing with something like this. If it's software that's regulating your power flow, you can very easily send too much to the wrong place and permanently break something.
Breaking a whole series of phones because we were too eager to release software that wasn't tested thoroughly enough would be a heavy blow to manufacturers agreeing to ship devices with S-OFF bootloaders.
I don't know if people have read up on that struggle, but one of the primary concerns against doing so was people overclocking their devices way above manufacturer specs, breaking them because they didn't know better, and manufacturers seeing a dramatic increase in returns. The cost to the companies like HTC for dealing with irresponsible end users was always one of the shields thrown up to justify shipping S-ON.
Since this is an overclock thread, and discussing USB host support is something else that could physically damage/destroy the device hardware - this is worth mentioning and making people aware of.
Search around on XDA and you'll see threads here and there over the last few years about what we've had to go through to get phones shipped S-OFF. The MT4GS wasn't, but the time is now for that to start happening. In the future most (if not all) phones will be coming S-OFF fresh out of the box.
I strongly urge anyone involved in overclocking or USB host support to be very cautious about what they are doing, and very aware of the potential damage they can do not just to a few peoples phones (which is bad enough) but to un-do years of hard work and lobbying by the open source community as a whole.
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While i'm waiting for a big download to finish on my slow-as-dialup (literally) home internet connection, i'd just like to repost here part of what I just posted in the dev section.
Phone manufacturers seeing an increase of returned phones that they have to eat the cost for because of something brain-dead or irresponsible the end user has done really hurts everyone.
The cost of phones go up, and while in this case specifically it has little to do with us finally getting S-OFF bootloaders on retail phones - the RMA total is just a number and isn't always broken down to specific causes when used as a statistic.
Any phones being returned that shouldn't be gets tallied up on a specific section of the balance sheet of a phone manufacturers (and to a smaller degree, cellular providers).
Now that we are finally starting to get phones shipped with S-OFF bootloaders, and the need for the amazingly brilliant work the Revolutionary release represents is fading, something like this is one small blow to that achievement.
The level of brilliance, creativity and dedication that had to come together for the MT4GS to get an aftermarket S-OFF bootloader blows my mind. The people who came up with the Revolutionary exploit are the kind of people that rocket scientists get intimidated by intellectually. (no exaggeration, they are the literal select few)
Think about how much more would be available to us as a community that we could do with our devices if people like that could focus their time on developing end-user applications or other software for the phone. Instead they are set with the next-to-impossible task of making it possible for all the rest of us to develop for these devices.
I know you don't see it as a big deal about finding a way for T-Mo or HTC to eat the cost of the broken phone, but the ripple effect of many people doing what is being suggested in this thread impacts issues most people would never think about, probably not even aware of.
I know it sucks to be saddled with the cost of breaking such an expensive piece of equipment. ultimately, though, the responsibility needs to rest on the shoulders of the person who actually caused it to happen.
What I would recommend is to look into an aftermarket repair service. There are some really good ones out there that specialize in high-end phones like the MT4GS.
This link:
verne2k said:
afaik no its not
http://www.ifixsmartphone.com/smartphone_repair/MyTouch_4G_Slide_teardown.html
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Is to a place (in california, I think) that repairs phones - and shows a step by step on how to replace the screen on the MT4GS specifically.
I would start on their site, and see what it would cost to repair the USB port on the phone. It might not turn out to be that much, but this would be a great first step to take in finding out.
Like I started with, didn't want to just come out and say "too bad", I wanted to really explain why it's not a good thing for all of us to try to find a way to make the manufacturer pay for something that isn't their fault. I hope that providing you with a starting point to finding the resolution of the problem softens the blow a bit of having to hear that.
I wish the best of luck to you, and if you do get it repaired, maybe share the experience and the cost here for others to be made aware of.
I walked into my local tmo store, said "my phone is all messed up from the ota update, it doesn't even boot up all the way, I need it replaced under warranty since its been less than a year"
They asked for an address. I got the new phone in the mail a couple days later then brought my old one in so they could send it back for me.
They didn't even check out my phone in the first place. Look for the lazy employee
Sent from my RubiX CubeD MT4GS using XDA App
also a temporary fix would be getting an external battery charger.
Ya I've done 4 exchanged for my chicks mytouch and they never ask to ts.. we just say it keeps getting a deadstop on the screen..
Sent from my RubiX CubeD MT4GS using xda premium
Just tell them it's having an issue that you know they can't/won't spend the time to replicate.
My phone randomly restarts
My screen goes blank and I have to take the battery out
When I click the camera it always tells me "Cannot connect to camera"
OP, your mom broke the phone - plain and simple. It's not a hardware failure, and as much as it sucks she needs to suck it up and buy a new one.
People bullshitting warranty returns on items they broke only drive up the costs for everyone else.
Alright.. well I'll be straight up honest with you.
I can't imagine how that happened to your phone. Obviously it is a user mistake, and thus it doesn't legitimately qualify for a warranty replacement.
You have the choice to take it in to get fixed, I'm sure there are many people who can do the repairs in your area. It might cost you upwards of $50 (don't quote me on that)
You can call T-mobile, and BS your way through the warranty department to get them to send you a new one, like everyone else has said. From an ethical stand point, you don't need me to tell you that's wrong, because it's lying and essentially cheating. If you choose to go that way, you will be required to pay $15 for shipping and handling, however that does not stop there. T-mobile WILL inspect your phone. Most of the time, people get away with it, but I have had a friend who tried to cut through the system and got caught (he cracked his screen and filed it as the OTA update ruined his phone). The consequence is simple, you pay full price for your replacement phone (which would be several hundred dollars). Moreover, your replacement phone isn't even a new phone, it is a refurbished device which might only just look new. Back in the day when I still had my G1, the sliding hinge came loose like it did on a bunch of them so I got a warranty replacement on it. The one they sent me came with two dead pixels on the screen, but I just didn't want to fork out another $15 to get a replacement.
So really, you can pay the money to get it fixed, and it'll still be your phone, the new phone that you paid for. Or you can cheat and send it back, pay the $15 and risk getting caught and having to pay a couple hundred for a refurbished phone.
Yeap, Its ALWAYS better to do it over the phone. Sound frustrated but not angry and they'll always kiss your butt.
Actually they chargre 130 if the phone has damage and u lie to get a warranty replacement. They don't charge full price
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using xda premium
androidfeen809 said:
Actually they chargre 130 if the phone has damage and u lie to get a warranty replacement. They don't charge full price
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using xda premium
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I can confirm this. However, in my case it was legit. I was charged for the water detector sticker being pink although it was never dropped in water and the reason for my returning the phone wasn't water related at all. The hinge was loose as hell on my phone and I wanted this taken care of. The only reason why the sticker was pink was due to having wet hands when inserting my battery into the phone since I don't ever charge my phone via USB and use a separate wall charger and just swap batteries when I need to charge my batteries.
Well sorry to the people who are against wasting warranty replacements but money is tight and the replacement is on the way and believe me I was post when I found out she some how broke the USB port -.- but she said my little sister tripped on it while it was charging and that's when it broke!
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Wierd enough i just came home to find my warranty replacement from asurion.... And to my suprise they sent me a new phone in the mytouch box with the important stickers on the side of the box. I lost my phone and i decide to file a claim which i had to pay 130. However the first phone they sent me was a refurbish one it did not came in the mytouch box and looked used. I found out it had 4 missing pixels so i call asurion to get a warranty replacement and they send me a new one. Now i get to keep the 2 batteries and 2 chargers because they say they only want the phone not the battery or back cover or charger. Anyone experience something like this before?
Like really they decide to send me a refurb phone after i paid for a new phone because i lost my phone and i get a brand new warranty replacement? Wtf thats just so wierd to me
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using xda premium
androidfeen809 said:
Wierd enough i just came home to find my warranty replacement from asurion.... And to my suprise they sent me a new phone in the mytouch box with the important stickers on the side of the box. I lost my phone and i decide to file a claim which i had to pay 130. However the first phone they sent me was a refurbish one it did not came in the mytouch box and looked used. I found out it had 4 missing pixels so i call asurion to get a warranty replacement and they send me a new one. Now i get to keep the 2 batteries and 2 chargers because they say they only want the phone not the battery or back cover or charger. Anyone experience something like this before?
Like really they decide to send me a refurb phone after i paid for a new phone because i lost my phone and i get a brand new warranty replacement? Wtf thats just so wierd to me
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using xda premium
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Warranty replacement is different...you had an insurance claim and yes Asurion will usually send a refurbished but I have yet to get a refurb that wasn't obviously flawed within an hour of use...you call and complain they will overnight a new one at that point. Warranty would be if it broke and not your fault...and I have only had to pay 5 bucks for the both my replacement phones but I think it is cause i have the full insurance plan...warranty should cover all fees to replace but oh well. You agree when they go to send you a replacement that there is not physical damage or such so don't be surprised when you get a nasty charge on your bill....
beezie916 said:
Warranty replacement is different...you had an insurance claim and yes Asurion will usually send a refurbished but I have yet to get a refurb that wasn't obviously flawed within an hour of use...you call and complain they will overnight a new one at that point. Warranty would be if it broke and not your fault...and I have only had to pay 5 bucks for the both my replacement phones but I think it is cause i have the full insurance plan...warranty should cover all fees to replace but oh well. You agree when they go to send you a replacement that there is not physical damage or such so don't be surprised when you get a nasty charge on your bill....
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Well it was for dead pixels on the screen so the phone isnt damage or anything. They cant charge me anything.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using xda premium
androidfeen809 said:
Well it was for dead pixels on the screen so the phone isnt damage or anything. They cant charge me anything.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using xda premium
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Sorry i was talking about the OP on that one
Due to unresolved billing issues with T-Mobile and now to add injury to insult, the dang phone fell 2.5ft while i was getting out of the car...and guess what?
Gorilla glass is not all it's cracked up to be (pun intended)
Im thinking this is a final sign that i need to bail ship and move onwards.
What is an otherwise perfectly working stock G2X running GB worth?
Do you have the insurance on the phone? It covers drops.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Nope, no ins. Never broke a phone before...normally pretty careful dude so didnt think it was necessary. I was really really surprised, especially how bad it shattered from a short fall.
Isnt there like a $50 deductable for that anyway? the Screen's + Digi go for less on ebay.
How about this one?
It doesn not say it has the digitizer is what's stopping me from pulling the trigger right now.
any opinion on this??
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LCD-Display...042?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c05e642a
I was under the impression that the two terms; touchscreen and digitizer could be used interchangably. I may be wrong though. That item would work in my mind but I would see what other members had to say.
Well nevermind the idea of a sale or value for the phone. It is worth nothing according to LG.
I sent the phone in for repair and it was returned today. I asked why nobody contacted me and was told becuase they had received the phone physically damaged and it was unrepairable. I asked for a photo but the one they sent was pretty small and shows really nothing plus i am not sure what im supposed to be looking for anyway.
So are they sending you a new one or just keeping yours?
Sent from my HTC Glacier using xda premium
I posted here today prior to receiving my phone back from repair. I was posting trying to figure out what my options were going to be in advance of things.
I was not expecting to receive the phone back as i had not been notified, no calls or anything from stellar/LG...
Surprised to see teh fedex man with a package for me...it was my phone...broke.
So no, They are not sending me a new one. I am bummed. I have a nice fancy broken g2x that stellar/LG deems unrepairable!
Hendge said:
I posted here today prior to receiving my phone back from repair. I was posting trying to figure out what my options were going to be in advance of things.
I was not expecting to receive the phone back as i had not been notified, no calls or anything from stellar/LG...
Surprised to see teh fedex man with a package for me...it was my phone...broke.
So no, They are not sending me a new one. I am bummed. I have a nice fancy broken g2x that stellar/LG deems unrepairable!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your G2X is not unrepairable.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/archive/index.php/t-1207651.html
There is plenty of information on the internet about repairing it including videos on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDUPPzbQKTI
Here's where to purchase parts http://www.repairsuniverse.com/lg-g2x-p999-screen-replacement-repair-parts.html
http://www.cell-phoneparts.com/lg-tmobile-g2x-touch-screen-digitizer-replacement-p999-p-623.html
http://www.globaldirectparts.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=p999
There are other sources of parts too.
People make this mistake all the time. Hardness and strength are not interchangable. Gorilla glass is hard, great for scratch resistance but terrible for shatter resistance.
Basic metallurgy. Applies to metals too.
Hendge said:
Gorilla glass is not all it's cracked up to be (pun intended)
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Click to collapse
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Corememory - I just received the phone back from it's authorized repair center and they say the phone was sent back to me "as is" because they do not replace phones, only repair...and mine in non repairable.
I will post the pic they sent if you still dispute it's fixable and undertstand circuit board repair or whatever the issue is.
TerryM - yes.My mistake as well as many others too. Also surprsing is in the reference thread posted it was also noted by another poster the extremely short fall it took to break.
Possibly the 'Gorilla Glass' is a worse alternative after all...more susceptble to shattering than Non gorilla or standard display glass.
Hendge said:
Well nevermind the idea of a sale or value for the phone. It is worth nothing according to LG.
I sent the phone in for repair and it was returned today. I asked why nobody contacted me and was told becuase they had received the phone physically damaged and it was unrepairable. I asked for a photo but the one they sent was pretty small and shows really nothing plus i am not sure what im supposed to be looking for anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LG (and pretty much every other manufacturer) covers repairs for manufacturing defects. They have no responsibility to repair a phone that was broken otherwise, and there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to expect LG to do so.
Being as you didn't purchase insurance, that means you get to find someone to fix it for you, or fix it yourself. It isn't that difficult or expensive.
TL;DR: You broke your phone. You don't have insurance. Fix it.
Ummm...thanks i know it's tough luck and am aware of SOP's for getting my situation str8. What i am NOT getting is prior to sending it in i read on here as well as other sites the costs and procedures involved. So why then are two members directing me to repair on my own or find someone, if the actual USA LG auth repair facility is saying it's non??
I do not want to spend anymore time or money. I would just assume move on to the next phone and carrier. Screw t-mobile. The phone was great aside from the fragility.
Hendge said:
Ummm...thanks i know it's tough luck and am aware of SOP's for getting my situation str8. What i am NOT getting is prior to sending it in i read on here as well as other sites the costs and procedures involved. So why then are two members directing me to repair on my own or find someone, if the actual USA LG auth repair facility is saying it's non??
I do not want to spend anymore time or money. I would just assume move on to the next phone and carrier. Screw t-mobile. The phone was great aside from the fragility.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If all that was broken is the screen, it isn't by any means unrepairable (no matter what LG's authorized repair facility says), but you would need to check it out for yourself in order to find out the extent of the damage, unless you already know. Without pictures or details of what is damaged, we can't exactly tell you if it is fixable or not. The way it was worded sounded a bit like you attempted to get a warranty repair rather than something you would have had to pay for.
The thing is throughout the thread your attitude towards T-Mobile and LG already shows more than a little animosity and it colors how we read your posts as a whole, or at least how I read it. I don't know what your issue with them is exactly, and I don't want to. You flat out say you don't want to spend any more time or money on this problem, so...Hope you know that moving to another phone and carrier is going to cost you (either you pay for the phone up front or you pay for it in your contract, dearly, and in the US there aren't any better deals than Sprint or T-Mobile). Either way, without more details there isn't much we can tell you.
Also, this phone isn't any more 'fragile' than any other thin slab of glass attached to metal and plastic that is less than an inch thick.
Hendge said:
Screw t-mobile. The phone was great aside from the fragility.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ummmm. This phone is no more fragile than the next. I actually stood on my phone and ground it into limestone rocks. I ended up with just a couple of scratches. It isn't unbreakable, but there is no issue that makes it more fragile than any other phone. It isn't T-Mobile's fault that 1) you didn't buy insurance and 2) glass can be broken.
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk
JaiaV said:
If all that was broken is the screen, it isn't by any means unrepairable (no matter what LG's authorized repair facility says), but you would need to check it out for yourself in order to find out the extent of the damage, unless you already know. Without pictures or details of what is damaged, we can't exactly tell you if it is fixable or not. The way it was worded sounded a bit like you attempted to get a warranty repair rather than something you would have had to pay for.
The thing is throughout the thread your attitude towards T-Mobile and LG already shows more than a little animosity and it colors how we read your posts as a whole, or at least how I read it. I don't know what your issue with them is exactly, and I don't want to. You flat out say you don't want to spend any more time or money on this problem, so...Hope you know that moving to another phone and carrier is going to cost you (either you pay for the phone up front or you pay for it in your contract, dearly, and in the US there aren't any better deals than Sprint or T-Mobile). Either way, without more details there isn't much we can tell you.
Also, this phone isn't any more 'fragile' than any other thin slab of glass attached to metal and plastic that is less than an inch thick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what exactly you are reading into...ive stated that the phone was dropped and was surprised the repair facility intimated their inability to repair.
Maybe i exagerrated when i mentioned i am normally careful. I am, but sheet happens and i have dropped other phones w/out damage. My first smartphone was the mytouch3g, it was dropped a few times from greater distances with only a few nicks and a crack in the casing. All i have is my own experience to draw from, and in this case the other thread posted where another member also complained about a short fall and the resulting damage. In my experience the phone is fragile due to completely shattering from a small fall!
I understand your lack of interest in my issues with T-Mobile. So all i can do is say: BEWARE
What i would REALLY like is info/help on determining if this phone is fixable. I assume i can go to simple mobile and buy a SIM or would anyone possibly l know if i quit on a contract with T-Mobile and could care less what they do to my credit, can i get on one of their pre-paid plans via wal-mart or something?
So, should i post the photo they sent me, take the phone apart and look for something?? how to save myself from ordering a display/digitizer and coming to the same conclusion as stellar?
lotherius said:
Ummmm. This phone is no more fragile than the next. I actually stood on my phone and ground it into limestone rocks. I ended up with just a couple of scratches. It isn't unbreakable, but there is no issue that makes it more fragile than any other phone. It isn't T-Mobile's fault that 1) you didn't buy insurance and 2) glass can be broken.
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In this case, and my experience dropping other phones, you are proven incorrect - hopefully you'll never have to deal firsthand.
I know and said nothing about this being T-Mobiles fault. I have posted on here in the past some detail so no need to go into it. All i can say is WATCHOUT FOR THEM. Be very careful and cautious if ever doing any business with them. TRUST ME please and save yourself the frustration.
as for insurance, just a risk i take. I would prefer no auto/home any kind whatsoever. That's just me, foolish or not i'd rather not pay monthly. Most insurances will look for any way not to pay. I only purchase required insurance.
Hendge said:
In this case, and my experience dropping other phones, you are proven incorrect - hopefully you'll never have to deal firsthand.
I know and said nothing about this being T-Mobiles fault. I have posted on here in the past some detail so no need to go into it. All i can say is WATCHOUT FOR THEM. Be very careful and cautious if ever doing any business with them. TRUST ME please and save yourself the frustration.
as for insurance, just a risk i take. I would prefer no auto/home any kind whatsoever. That's just me, foolish or not i'd rather not pay monthly. Most insurances will look for any way not to pay. I only purchase required insurance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After reading your other threads and going over the things you ask about (like getting a Simple Mobile SIM and putting it in the phone to 'fix' the screen, wanting to know how to get out of your contract, complaining that LG and T-Mobile won't just magically replace your $15-20 battery at your whim) it sounds like all you want is out of a contract you signed with no repercussions, or ETF. You give absolutely no details, pictures, proof of correspondence with LG's repair facility, or any necessary information required to help you figure out just how damaged your phone is. You state you have read about and even checked prices on how to fix your screen.
I want to help you, but you don't seem to want help. All you seem to want is a way out of your contract and an easy way to chum up with another carrier without spending any money. Sorry, but you won't find help for that here.
JaiaV said:
After reading your other threads and going over the things you ask about (like getting a Simple Mobile SIM and putting it in the phone to 'fix' the screen, wanting to know how to get out of your contract, complaining that LG and T-Mobile won't just magically replace your $15-20 battery at your whim) it sounds like all you want is out of a contract you signed with no repercussions, or ETF. You give absolutely no details, pictures, proof of correspondence with LG's repair facility, or any necessary information required to help you figure out just how damaged your phone is. You state you have read about and even checked prices on how to fix your screen.
I want to help you, but you don't seem to want help. All you seem to want is a way out of your contract and an easy way to chum up with another carrier without spending any money. Sorry, but you won't find help for that here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, you seem to want to draw your own conclusions, nitpick and challenge whne i have no interest in any of that. Tell ya what, i was under impression you were trying to help. If so, check the pic stellar sent me today that i have attached and comment if you have any expertise on the subject.
If not, have a great night and myob next time
Hendge said:
In this case, and my experience dropping other phones, you are proven incorrect - hopefully you'll never have to deal firsthand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually. If you read what I wrote, I mentioned that I dropped my phone onto onto limestone gravel and then proceeded to STAND ON IT. And I weigh 260 lb. Screen scratched but unbroken. Does that prove it is unbreakable? Nope. In any single incident all kinds of things are possible. I used to work for tmo, I know this firsthand. You'd be surprised, even with those old "indestructible" Nokias, how many people dropped their phones a "couple of feet" onto the carpet and ended up with something broke. It happens. Shut up and deal with it like a man.
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk
Sorry for the rant; but I have to vent!
I ordered my new Samsung Galaxy S4 on August 2nd. It got here 4 days later. It was in a Trdent Kracken case in minutes. Loved it! Screwed up and let the dreaded update pass through, so no root. Sucks to be me.
Sucked worse today. I have no idea how many times I used it this morning, but it's NEVER been dropped - in or out of the case. Kid gloves all the way. The phone is pristine. I went to a friends house and tried to use my flashlight on it, and no joy. (This was about 4 minutes after talking to him on it while I was on the way.) No nothing for that matter. My friend, who obviously has better sight than me said: "The face is cracked." No way! Went out into the sunlight to take a better look. WAY!
It wouldn't do anything. I took it out of the case and it was hot as hell. Removed the battery. Put the battery back in and on came the flashlight, but nothing else. I called AT&T and was told: "We only have a 14 day return policy, now." It will have to be handled under warranty. We'll be glad to ship you a REFURBISHED one STANDARD MAIL! Oh; and by the way, cracked screens aren't covered under warranty. That will be $639.00 on your next bill. It's physical damage. " Huh??? If I left the battery in the phone there would be a hell of a lot more physical damage, because FIRE causes physical damage, too. Not a concept that he understood.
Anyone have any suggestions? Similar experiences? I'm stunned. 100% stock battery, no mods, no nothing. If they think I'm going to pay for a factory defect, they're nuts. BTW; the "cracks" are under the screen. Weirdest thing I've ever seen. I have an attorney with one eye if they want to play drop the hammer. I've carefully photographed it from every angle to document the physical condition. Come Tuesday; I'll find someone who is able to examine the phone for abuse and issue a report - which I fully expect AT&T to call "physical damage".
Again; any ideas?
Thanks!
You can get Samsung to repair it for cheaper than the cost of a new phone. Search the forum and you will find similar cases and how much they paid for the repair. Or you could repair it yourself. Again, search the forum and you can see how much the parts cost (usually $200 - $250), where to buy them from, and tutorials on exactly how to make the repair. Of course, if you do it yourself, you need to be sure a cracked screen and / or Digitizer is all that is wrong with it or it might need addition parts / repairs. And, you also need to make sure you are comfortable doing repairs on your own. The tutorials / videos are pretty straight forward but I have herd that taking the screen / digitizer off of the phone can be tricky.
As far as the attorney goes, don't waste your time. Everyone (including AT&T) knows it would do you no good even if you really did try it.
Personally, I would let Samsung do the repair, since you already took the MF3 update you have nothing to lose. Again, if you are interested in this route, search the forum for more info. Good luck.
Nothing you can do unless you get a real sympathetic store manager to give you new one but that's rare especially if it's out of the 14 day return window . I would do what the other guy said and get it repaired by Samsung. It's cheaper and your warranty stays intact.
Get insurance on your phone next time. I never let customers out of my store without insurance because stuff happens.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
Dang sucks. Bad batch. I dropped mine face first from standing to concrete. Scuffs on bezel but its going. Nothing wrong with the screen or anything
So sorry to hear that, sometimes it hits the fan and explodes all over the room. you can try to call samsung and see what can be done or if there is an at&t repair center near you prehaps you can show them in person what happened so they can see it IS a warranty issue. -paul
AT&T
No way in hell I'm going to pay one cent. This would not be my first entry into the civil arena. I bought the phone without a contract (full price) and have the unlimited insurance as part of my monthly gouge. So, what should I do? Run over it with my car? That WOULD be covered under my insurance.. But, a factory defect; no? Doesn't pass the sanity test. I know I may be banging my head against the wall, but; I'll fight them - and am 100% confident that I would prevail - but I'm tired of the AT&T "My Mistake; Your Problem" attitude.
OP, you will have to have a damn good lawyer. If you really push this, they might settle. That is a very small might. Also, there is root for MF3,just no recoveries yet.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Sometimes I've heard going over their heads to the people at the top is helpful. Look to email every VP and Chief X Officer they have with something like this. If you can't find a directory, figure out how they construct their emails and figure it out yourself. I've heard positive results come out of this many times - it's worth a shot!
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
find your local at&t service center and go there. I had this happen with an s3, it developed a mysterious crack. I basically told the manager of the service center that if my phone is determined to be "out of warranty" because of a mysterious crack AND NO OTHER SIGNS OF DAMAGE (sorry for caps but that part is important) I would cancel my account. I got the manager to speak to someone in the warranty department and left there with an order for a refurb replacement and a written assurance that it in no way would be found to be out of warranty.
Glass, especially gorilla glass (I design high speed train parts - I deal w/ this stuff regularly), is subject to considerable internal stresses and ANY manufacturing defect such as a microscopic chip, edge scratch, or overheating from polishing is just a crack waiting to happen.
if that doesnt go anywhere call 611 and threaten to cancel, take it all the way to the retention department. they will make far more $$ off you if they ship you a new device and keep you vs. you paying ETF and walking away.
ssuitan
graydiggy said:
OP, you will have to have a damn good lawyer. If you really push this, they might settle. That is a very small might. Also, there is root for MF3,just no recoveries yet.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't take a good attorney to present the obvious. But, yes; I do have a good attorney. My point is: "Prove it!" I could care less if they settle, or not. I've been a communications design engineer for 32 years +. This is like obtaining a murder conviction based solely on eyewitness testimony. The onus is on THEM to prove that I am responsible.
Believe it or not; assuming you don't have a complete dolt for representation; THEY have to prove THIER point. If I strike first; I'm what's known as "The Plaintiff". THEY have to disprove MY claim!
It may suck to be me today, but; if they impose unreasonable sanctions against me - IE: cut off my service; it's going to suck a lot more to be them. Because then; I have punitive damages.
"Can You Hear Me Now; AT&T?" In a battle of wits against me, gentlemen (AT&T); YOU are unarmed!
I would take this directly to samsung and skip att here. you probably got a better shot of getting a replacement at samsung.
This could get amusing. AT&T is certainly ascarred! Good luck OP...if Luke could destroy the Death Star, I guess you could certainly take AT&T to their knees.
I still think I would go with the Samsung repair option and then get insurance.
OP, you are failing to see the bigger picture. If you take AT&T to court, they will bring their lawyers and Samsung's lawyers if they have any trouble taking care of it themselves. It is not the carriers problem. They sold you the device, this is considered a manufacturer defect. They are not the ones you want to get involved with. They could care less what you have been doing for a majority of your life. They are both huge companies with incredible legal teams. Unless you have been injured by the product they provide, you are not likely to get much of anything at all. Personally, I wouldn't go so far as taking this that far.
Also, take into account that the crack could be something that you did. Maybe it was in your pocket and you bumped into a chair, or you exposed it to pressure by sitting/squatting. Technically the burden of proof is not on the accused, it is on you to prove that you are not at fault, be it intentional or otherwise. Just like when someone gets accused of murder, it is up to the plaintiff to prove their guilt.
I am not saying that it is impossible for you to have a defective device. But there could be other unknown factors that you don't even know about.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added 1st September 2013 at 12:00 AM ---------- Previous post was 31st August 2013 at 11:54 PM ----------
I also believe that there is a line in the terms and conditions that states that warranty does not cover physical damage. You mentioned the battery. The battery and the device itself fall under two separate warranties. So your argument with the battery is null and void.
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---------- Post added at 12:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 AM ----------
One more thing. Since you bought the device for MSRP outside of contract, it is no longer the providers problem.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
ntiJnomi
graydiggy said:
OP, you are failing to see the bigger picture. If you take AT&T to court, they will bring their lawyers and Samsung's lawyers if they have any trouble taking care of it themselves. It is not the carriers problem. They sold you the device, this is considered a manufacturer defect. They are not the ones you want to get involved with. They could care less what you have been doing for a majority of your life. They are both huge companies with incredible legal teams. Unless you have been injured by the product they provide, you are not likely to get much of anything at all. Personally, I wouldn't go so far as taking this that far.
Also, take into account that the crack could be something that you did. Maybe it was in your pocket and you bumped into a chair, or you exposed it to pressure by sitting/squatting. Technically the burden of proof is not on the accused, it is on you to prove that you are not at fault, be it intentional or otherwise. Just like when someone gets accused of murder, it is up to the plaintiff to prove their guilt.
I am not saying that it is impossible for you to have a defective device. But there could be other unknown factors that you don't even know about.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added 1st September 2013 at 12:00 AM ---------- Previous post was 31st August 2013 at 11:54 PM ----------
I also believe that there is a line in the terms and conditions that states that warranty does not cover physical damage. You mentioned the battery. The battery and the device itself fall under two separate warranties. So your argument with the battery is null and void.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added at 12:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 AM ----------
One more thing. Since you bought the device for MSRP outside of contract, it is no longer the providers problem.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll take my chances. When a thermal defect occurred from the inside out - such as this; it's as plain as the peach fuzz on your chin. $639.00; or hundreds of thousands of dollars? It's sure not going to cost me that much. FWIW; I've taken Subaru (Fuji Heavy Metals) to court and won with far less obvious evidence. I'm just pissed at AT&T right now. Another FWIW: Samsung didn't sell me the phone. AT&T did. It rolls down hill. That's between them. Samsung ISN'T charging me for the replacement - AT&T is. Oops! Back to law school. Hopefully; they'll get their heads out of their collective asses and just say: "Well, Just damn!"
If you think it is worth all the trouble, that's on you. I think that logically, you should just bite the bullet and get it fixed out of your pocket, it would be a $200 fix and a weeks time vs possible thousands of dollars and potentially getting your ass handed to you over months and by that time I can bet that you would have already switched providers and got a new phone and spent more money. I would take the hit and be done with it.
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Thats just pissed poor service on att and samsung.
I wonder how Apple would have handle the OPs issues.
Flame on
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Papi4baby said:
Thats just pissed poor service on att and samsung.
I wonder how Apple would have handle the OPs issues.
Flame on
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They wouldn't have to. They don't have this hardware defect. They focus on one phone so it's a lot easier to manage. Regarding the iPhone 4 reception quality defect, was handled well through updates and even offered a bumper case free for the trouble. Plus location and service provider also played a role in that situation.
Me experience
Where/when has ATT explicitly/implicitly approved the use of the Kraken case you are claiming to have had the phone in when the crack was observed? Could the additional heat buildup of being enclosed in that case have contributed to the crack? Could the liability for the damage somehow be transferred to the case manufacturer?
Aside from that, here is my personal experience with ATT:
I had purchased a Nokia Lumia 920 for full price from ATT back near last Thanksgiving. After 26 days, the LCD display developed a line of stuck pixels that no amount of resetting/etc would get rid of. I went to the store I purchased it from and explained the situation. They explained to me the 14 day return policy and that I would have to have it repaired/exchanged under warranty. Needless to say, I was NOT ok with getting a refurbished unit on a device I had paid over 500.00 for less than 30 days ago.
I called customer care and explained the situation. They said there was nothing they could do other than a warranty exchange. I explained that this was unacceptable and that if they couldn't do anything, I would like to speak with someone who could.
I was transferred to the "manager" who told me the same thing. I repeated that I was unwilling to accept that proposition, and that I needed to talk to the person who could help me.
I was transferred again, and was again told that warranty exchange was the only way. After 10 minutes of calmly (and this is key) explaining that I was NOT ok with their "customer service" they offered an alternative. They did an "early upgrade" and provided me with a new phone, waiving the upgrade and activation fee. The caveat here is that it reset my upgrade timer on that line, but I did get to keep the defective phone (which I sent off to Nokia for warranty repair).
The most important thing to remember with ATT customer support is that as long as you don't get hostile, they can not end the call without your consent. Keep pressing and hold your ground, and as long as you don't agree or get frustrated (outwardly, at least), they will eventually work with you to find a way to help.
Just my experience, good luck with whatever avenue you persue!
triumvirant has some good suggestions as well.
also, did you purchase the phone on a credit card? does that card give you some sort of purchase protection? you may want to give them a call.
Let's put this in to comparative perspective.
If you buy a vehicle and then 3 weeks later you notice a crack in the windshield, do you really think the dealer is going to pay for it? They won't give you a new vehicle, or even fix it. There's no proof that you can provide that it is a defect and came this way from the factory.
Same for your device - you cannot prove this is a defect without thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to examine the structural integrity of your device and prove it to the court/jurors. Without proof to show anything, you're SOL.
Just get it fixed, you'll have less gray hairs, and may live longer from less stress.
I think manufacturers should start placing pressure sensors within the devices to see whether people are telling the truth or not - we have no reason to not believe you OP, but then again, we've all been told as younglings "Never trust anyone."