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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > iPhone, iPad & iPod > Hidden $85.95 fee for iPhone

Hidden $85.95 fee for iPhone (Page 2)
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vln2  (op)
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Status: Offline
Jul 11, 2007, 10:43 PM
 
Originally Posted by BRussell View Post
vln2: The exact price of the battery replacement plan wasn't known until the release of the iPhone, but we knew it wouldn't have a user-replaceable battery, and that you'd therefore have to send it in to Apple to be replaced (or use another company providing the service). To equate not knowing the exact dollar amount to "hiding the battery issue" seems to me to be dishonest. You make it sound as if there was a bait-and-switch, but there was not.
Well, every feature of iPhone was analyzed before release and the hype was clearly high. It was not convenient to mention the cost of the battery replacement (equal to average cell phone with 2-year plan) then from the marketing point. The fact that Apple announced cost details on July 2nd when most of iPhones were sold out and record sales were announced warrants this discussion.
Obviously we know that the battery needs to be replaced by a specialist. Even I would not do it myself and I will be charging it every night.
We have talked on the forum before about Apple covering battery replacement within 1 year period. Apple statements are not clear on that. There is talk about defect in materials or workmanship.
Apple Care 2 year plan (still not available) includes more specific 50% charge definition.
Personally I am done with this issue. I will get next 3G version when it comes out and I suspect the battery will last that long.
     
Hi I'm Ben
Mac Elite
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Chicago
Status: Offline
Jul 11, 2007, 10:48 PM
 
vln2 shut up already and start saving some cash to replace your battery... this thread title is misleading and the content is garbage.
     
scubus
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Sebastian, FL
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Jul 11, 2007, 11:07 PM
 
the battery is not excluded if defective. If the battery fails prior to 400 full discharge - recharge cycles it has not met its design requirements. Not normal wear and tear. Covered under warranty.

It is fairly obvious the battery is not user replacable just by looking at the device but a simple question on the 29th would have revealed that information. If the info you needed to make an informed purchase was not available in time for a June 29th purchase you should have waited.

Now you seem angry about an issue that does not exist. No iPhone batteries have failed, Apple has denied no warranty claims as far as we know. Right now the problem appears to be nothing but a figment of your imagination.

You also seem angry that few people share your anger - most, myself included, just don't see a big issue. The battery WILL wear out. If I choose to keepmy phone I'll have to pay to replace it. I will have had warning since I'd doesn't happen all at once.

This whole thing gets a BFD at this point. You aren't dissenting, you're arguing about made up problems and speculation.
( Last edited by scubus; Jul 11, 2007 at 11:12 PM. Reason: fat fingers and little keys)
Democracy: two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for lunch
Liberty: a well armed sheep expressing his rights.
Anarchy: a planet full of well-armed sheep who all claim to be expressing their 'rights'.
     
BRussell
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: The Rockies
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Jul 11, 2007, 11:09 PM
 
Originally Posted by vln2 View Post
Well, every feature of iPhone was analyzed before release and the hype was clearly high. It was not convenient to mention the cost of the battery replacement (equal to average cell phone with 2-year plan) then from the marketing point. The fact that Apple announced cost details on July 2nd when most of iPhones were sold out and record sales were announced warrants this discussion.
Obviously we know that the battery needs to be replaced by a specialist. Even I would not do it myself and I will be charging it every night.
We have talked on the forum before about Apple covering battery replacement within 1 year period. Apple statements are not clear on that. There is talk about defect in materials or workmanship.
Apple Care 2 year plan (still not available) includes more specific 50% charge definition.
Personally I am done with this issue. I will get next 3G version when it comes out and I suspect the battery will last that long.
It wouldn't surprise me if they didn't want to bring attention to it until after it was out. But again, we all knew it was going to happen, it wasn't a surprise like you make it sound. BTW, if you think the battery in the 3G phone is going to be longer-lasting, you're going to be very disappointed.
     
palane
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Join Date: Feb 2005
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Jul 11, 2007, 11:57 PM
 
Originally Posted by vln2 View Post
Since you are charging let’s get couple answers from you:

- Did you know details of iPhone warranty before June 29th?
- Have you heard about $85 charge for iPhone battery replacement before June 29th?
- Did you bother to read your warranty now?

I suspect your answer is going to be 3x NO but please surprise me. If you would read your warranty yourself you would not scribble those things.
You see I did take time to research the iPhone before buying it. I make large purchases of technology equipment at work and naturally check things well before making any decisions. My PocketPC screen broke and I needed new PDA quickly. iPhone seemed to be best choice at the time.
I used Apple products since Mac Plus but always kept the open mind. Apple made some great products and some duds. Actually I wish their support would be even close to the level of their engineering. I have hundreds of their products at work and even though we have extended warranties support is dismal. That is subject for another forum.
No, let's make it a subject for this forum. The best and unbiased source of information on customer support is Consumer Reports. Apple is the best amongst computer companies. So, let's just dismiss that complaint straightaway. Furthermore, you're not complaining about Apple support as you haven't even had the need to use it (in this case).

Originally Posted by vln2 View Post
If you would take time to read this thread you would know that I called Apple and asked about their iPhone warranty before June 29th. They refused to answer any questions.
I also did what 90% of people reading this did not: I saved and printed every statement from the screen I came across during iTunes Activation.
Then why on earth did you buy the iPhone? You state that Apple refused to answer any questions about the warranty--something that should have set off every warning bell you had--and you still went and bought the damn thing. Is there a "Kick Me" sign I'm not seeing?

Originally Posted by vln2 View Post
Let’s get some facts straight...

...I hear you…iPod has the same thing and it was not an issue. Yes, but none of us depend on iPod every day for communication, scheduling and many other things iPhone was designed for. That is why PDAs and cell phones have replaceable batteries. Until Apple changes the design to make battery easily replaceable this is going to be an issue.
As we can see Apple was hiding the battery issue from us and we have a right to bring it up now. I like my dissenting role, I am not “Yes, Master” man.
Prior to iPod, other MP3 players had replaceable batteries as well. This has nothing to do with the quality of the iPhone battery. All of your issues became evident within several days of the iPhone release. It's a little peculiar. All you had to do was wait a few days and all would have become evident. Instead, you jumped in the pool at the first chance (Cowabunga!) and are now complaining loudly. It just doesn't wash.

In case I'm accused of being a fanboy, I'm lusting after a RAZR myself. I live in No. Virginia and AT&T converage isn't that good. So, I won't be going that direction myself.
     
Andru
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Join Date: Apr 2007
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Jul 12, 2007, 01:46 AM
 
People who whine about spending $600 for a multifunction device like the iPhone just don't get it. I feel it's a reasonable price to pay for a device that does so many things, and does it well. I like that I don't have to read a manual to use all of its functions. Try that with a BlackBerry or a Windows Mobile Device.

So what if the battery dies in a year? By that time you would have moved on to a new device, and even if you don't I think a year is pretty good. You would already have extracted most if not all of the value associated with the device by then.
     
chipchen
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2002
Status: Offline
Jul 12, 2007, 03:08 AM
 
Vin, I think most people would agree with me to say that you're an idiot.

You try to talk about how smart of a consumer you are, about doing all your research and crap... and when it comes down to it, you spend $600 a product when you weren't satisfied with the amount of information released on it at launch time. Ultimately, that makes you a dumb consumer. If you're going to bitch and moan about how inadequate the information was, then don't buy it.

Second, you're missing COMMON SENSE. Come on... You knew there were certain facts about the iPhone, like it had no user-replaceable battery and that Apple historically does not cover batteries. You also know that batteries have a life-span and will eventually die. And yet, you couldn't put two and two together and say, oh, I might be concerned about the battery life later on. Instead you complain AFTER they tell you the battery may die later on... like that's the first time you ever heard a battery would eventually die.

Please PLEASE do not buy the 3G iPhone, you're just going to complain more.
     
vln2  (op)
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Jul 12, 2007, 09:44 AM
 
Originally Posted by chipchen View Post
Today , 02:08 AM
I think staying up is clouding your senses. Perhaps good sleep would help. Sorry to dissapoint but my purchasing decisions are based on facts not personal opinions even as colorful as yours. Those opinions only reinforce some stereotypes about certain crowds.
     
chipchen
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2002
Status: Offline
Jul 12, 2007, 10:11 AM
 
Originally Posted by vln2 View Post
I think staying up is clouding your senses. Perhaps good sleep would help. Sorry to dissapoint but my purchasing decisions are based on facts not personal opinions even as colorful as yours. Those opinions only reinforce some stereotypes about certain crowds.
Ahh! A perfect example of the skewed facts you see!

You ASSUME for everyone that we aren't night people? The night is when I do my best thinking!

And the funny thing is... you think that everyone is on your time zone. I posted it at 12:08AM my time.

See how your AUTOMATIC assumptions and LACK OF COMPLETE facts get you into these situations? (By the way, it's just after 7am here)
     
vln2  (op)
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Jul 12, 2007, 10:56 AM
 
Originally Posted by chipchen View Post
Ahh! A perfect example of the skewed facts you see! You ASSUME for everyone that we aren't night people? The night is when I do my best thinking!
Hey, you like Joda's grammar!!! The example of that night thinking everyone can read above. Still, it looks like you are not sleeping much and can't wait to get to the computer in the morning. Lot of twisting and turning you do but few facts you list.

Thank God I am in summer lull otherwise I would not be here. Soon it will change.
You remind me of some Mac users at work. They refuse to login to Active Directory and backup their work trusting in the superiority of their systems. Then their hard drives crash and they run for help. My Tech is overwhelmed just trying to recover data from Apple machines. On PCs I have all machines configured to replicate everything in My Documents folder to the server at login and logout. If one computer messes up, you go to the next and get all your stuff there. I do not have preferences for platforms. They all have good things and many issues. Service is something I do pay attention to.

This spring some overzealous Apple Techs started replacing hard drives in every laptop we sent for service with unrelated issues. It caused huge uproar among our Apple faithful who lost massive amounts of data. But their blind trust is clouding their senses.
     
icruise
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Illinois
Status: Offline
Jul 12, 2007, 11:01 AM
 
I think that all of the points that are going to be made have already been made. Now it's mostly just name calling, so let's move on.
     
 
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