Adivce About A New Iphone 3gs

[Scrubber]

Just wanted to get some opinions (hopefully) about a problem I have at the moment.

Two days ago, I bought a brand new iPhone 3GS from the True shop in Cetnral Airport Plaza, Chiang Mai. I took the phone home, unboxed it and noticed a small hair inside the screen. Not a major problem, but irritating to see every time I use the phone. So yesterday I took it back to the shop expecting them to replace the phone for me. "Sorry, can't do that" was the answer. "Have to send it to Bangkok" the saleswoman added. She said to me that Bangkok has to issue the replacements and they can't do it here in CM. I asked her if she was sure that would send me a new handset and not just replace the screen.

What I want to get some opinions on is if it comes back with a new screen, should I accept it or 'demand' a new phone? After all, I paid for a new phone, not a faulty one that's been repaired.

Cheers.

[siamect]

Yes that is an annoying thing...

Personally I think they should take the thing apart in a professional manner and clean out the contamination and then deliver it to back you.

And I think they should give you some kind of compensation, maybe a cheap phone that you can use while you IPhone is being in the repair shop and you can use as a spare in the future when the IPhone breaks next time

Martin

[buckhumyai]

You are about to discover how bad Apples warranty and backup service are. The retailer does not make the rules regarding warranty, it is up to the manufacturer. If they insist on it going to Bangkok then it must. Apples warranty policy is one of the worst around. Certainly in Australia, they DO NOT do replacement phones at all. The best you can hope for is that your brand new phone is repaired properly. Most phone companies have a DOA policy of replacing a phone if found faulty within either 7 or 30 days depending. NOT APPLE.

Just to ask a really silly question. Have you taken the protective sticker off the screen? The hair may actually be under the protective sticker?

Just a thought.

Good luck.

[bartender100]

Maybe its just a new application?, don't send to Bangkok, because it might "be hare today, gone tomorrow" Maybe it will just grow on you!! Sorry lol

[mrclough]

Can't you just get a refund for the faulty product then buy a new one? I personaly wouldn't trust it going to bangkok. Considering the fact that it's a war zone right now it may be months before your phone comes back. Also consider the fact that it's common practice for them to replace the inner workings of the phones with cheap copy parts then sell on the genuine bits.

If you think this would never happen with an iPhone ...... good luck is all i say!

[nikster]

Quite annoying, you'll have to let them send it to BKK. iPhone warranties are unfortunately different from other Apple products, Apple warranty in general is fantastic as long as there are Apple stores around, but there are none in Thailand so we're in the dark ages here.

And don't complain about the war in bkk - when people are getting killed and houses are set on fire, a hair in an iPhone is a truly minor inconvenience that you will have to put up with a little bit longer than usual. You have to see things in perspective a bit. Live with the hair, and when things get back to normal in BKK get it replaced at the shop.

You could also take a chance and get one of the mobile shops to take it apart and remove the hair. Saves lots of hassle and time, and probably doesn't cost much - but it might void the warranty.

[siamect]

iPhone warranties are unfortunately different from other Apple products, Apple warranty in general is fantastic as long as there are Apple stores around, but there are none in Thailand so we're in the dark ages here.

Really???! Have you been to Thailand?

[Scrubber]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

I know, I know - a hair under my phone's screen is very trivial, especially at the moment.

I'll just be patient and wait for it to come back from BKK. With what you've all said on here, it seems I should just be happy with it being removed and not expect a new phone.

Cheers.

[nikster]

iPhone warranties are unfortunately different from other Apple products, Apple warranty in general is fantastic as long as there are Apple stores around, but there are none in Thailand so we're in the dark ages here.

Really???! Have you been to Thailand?

Hmmmhm. What part of my statement do you dispute? There are no Apple stores here (by which I mean Apple stores owned by Apple) - that makes warranty a bit more difficult. But by and large, Apple warranty will cover anything and everything, within reason.

Apple quality has gone up and down over the years, the new MacBook Pros definitely a huge UP(!!), the older ones had many issues so I got to use my warranty quite a bit and the company always came through. Even in Thailand, where admittedly you have to either go to a GOOD authorized dealership, or spend a lot of time making your case. I have done the latter a few times. Once the machines actually go to Apple, there are no problems. They'll do anything for you. It's the local dealers that make things hard, why I have no idea. My guess is it's just the general attitude towards warranty in Thailand - which is not shared by Apple, the company. I could give you many examples...

[siamect]

Hmmmhm. What part of my statement do you dispute? There are no Apple stores here (by which I mean Apple stores owned by Apple) - that makes warranty a bit more difficult. But by and large, Apple warranty will cover anything and everything, within reason.

Well I see these iStudios http://www.istudio.in.th wherever I go and they sell nothing but Apple products...

I'm sure they are authorized to deal with warranty issues as well and I'm sure they do it according to Apples directives.

Of course you may have a point that Apple may not be the owner of the shops, I don't know that and I cannot imagine it would have any importance to customers with warranty issues... Does BMW own the local BMW showroom?

There may be difficult people in one or two of these shops like everywhere else.

Martin