Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

cardfan

macrumors 601
Mar 23, 2012
4,431
5,627
I thought they were joking at first but obviously not. I have made a complaint so we will see what the outcome is but if this is what they are like towards their customers I think it's not on at all.

I've always replaced batteries myself but apple makes that hard these days as the device has extended Apple Care Paid for I'm not willing to do it.

Regards

Then stomp on it and get a new one. Not rocket science.
 

henrikhelmers

macrumors regular
Nov 22, 2017
179
277
That % is dangerous. Period. If the phone had been under full warranty they should have replaced the hole thing however, but if not then I get it. There's something very bad for it to be that low.
Then why not inform the user on device? "Battery service is recommended when battery health drops below 80%. If it drops below 60% it can no longer be serviced."
 

cptcaveman

macrumors regular
Jun 6, 2005
204
261
Howdy folks,

I though i'd post this just to let users know before you request Apple to replace the Battery in your Apple device, however I booked a appointment online to get the battery replaced in my nearest Apple Store here in the UK.

I took my iPhone SE to the Apple Store to get the battery replaced, they refused to do it because the battery is at 57% I asked them what difference does that make? they replied with Oh it's more dangerous for our team to replace the battery. Not sure about you but this seems a bit dodgy, The Phone had extended Apple care on it and they would not replace the battery due to the Battery Health reported by the device. I asked them what's the other alternative and they just said oh better to buy a new Phone.

Not sure about you but the device has Apple Care and I was willing to pay £69 to get the battery replaced. I think this is wrong and it's more down to spending the money than repairing the device.

What do you all think?

Regards
Apple staff in store regularly lie to discourage or prevent battery replacement. Given how widespread this behavior is, I am positive that they receive training on this.

Apple would much rather you buy a new phone.

The classic lie is “ohh your phone must be below 80% battery health for a replacement”.

This is of course incorrect and related only to their rules for battery replacement under AppleCare. If you are willing to pay and don’t buy the ******** you can replace a battery at 99% health if you want.
 

d5aqoëp

macrumors 68000
Feb 9, 2016
1,796
3,149
@violetdragon
Since you are already under Apple Care+, your phone cannot be older than 2 years. So post a screenshot of battery page along with Coconut Battery screenshot if on Mac or 3uTools Battery info page if on Windows for us to see how many charge cycles you have completed in these 2 years.

When battery health falls below 80, iOS mostly shows "Service" there. So you need to use Coconut Battery or 3uTools with phone connected via USB cable to tell you what the real battery health and charge cycles are. Come on OP. Post the info here. Battery at 57% in less than 2 years is kinda SUS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: _Mitchan1999

macdaddy43

macrumors member
May 5, 2021
80
216
Apple staff in store regularly lie to discourage or prevent battery replacement. Given how widespread this behavior is, I am positive that they receive training on this.

Apple would much rather you buy a new phone.

The classic lie is “ohh your phone must be below 80% battery health for a replacement”.

This is of course incorrect and related only to their rules for battery replacement under AppleCare. If you are willing to pay and don’t buy the ******** you can replace a battery at 99% health if you want.
Interestingly, the Apple store near me told me that I don't need to replace my battery on my 12 Pro - while my battery health was at 87%. The apple 'Genius' told me that my poor battery life was due to a bug and that I needed to do a factory reset on the phone. That was the fix according to them. i was happily willing to pay for a new battery simply to have a new battery but they told me time and time again that I don't need one.
 

philosopherdog

macrumors 6502a
Dec 29, 2008
759
532
get another opinion. 1 person doesn't represent apple. if it's still serviceable then it's up to you if you want to put a new battery in the phone. once they are obsolete then they don't have to service it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JonnyBlaze

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,469
26,071
That % is dangerous. Period. If the phone had been under full warranty they should have replaced the hole thing however, but if not then I get it. There's something very bad for it to be that low.

It’s uninformed comments like these that make people scared of batteries for no good reason. Reminds me of those who put wet phones in rice.
 

eyoungren

macrumors Penryn
Aug 31, 2011
29,603
28,365
Apple staff in store regularly lie to discourage or prevent battery replacement. Given how widespread this behavior is, I am positive that they receive training on this.

Apple would much rather you buy a new phone.

The classic lie is “ohh your phone must be below 80% battery health for a replacement”.

This is of course incorrect and related only to their rules for battery replacement under AppleCare. If you are willing to pay and don’t buy the ******** you can replace a battery at 99% health if you want.
I would tend to agree with you. A year or so ago I bought a 6 Plus off eBay. Good price, functional and in good condition. Only had three problems, a small dent in the back, a bad battery and a blown headphone jack. I can live with the dent (it's small) and I use BT for headsets. But I needed to replace the battery.

Despite letting me schedule an appointment, assessing the phone and initially indicating that the battery could be replaced, the Apple genius ultimately told me they could not replace it. Why? Because I argued with his assessment that the LB was failing. And, I had started out by declaring that I wasn't in a rush because this phone wasn't even a backup to a backup. I'd just bought it to have it and play around with it. No sale of a new phone to him - no battery replacement for me.

I went somewhere else and the phone has been fine ever since. Apple is really pushing sales of new phones. Well, I'll get one on my schedule not theirs.
 
Last edited:

AlanMarron

macrumors regular
Jan 31, 2023
150
261
Before there were Apple retail stores, I did work for Apple through a contractor at Sears/CompUSA stores supporting iMacs, primarily restoring scrambled machines on a weekly basis.

When Apple opened its own retail stores, I applied to be a genius. Though I was COMPTIA A+ certified and had completed coursework toward a CCNA, I was not hired. At that time—before DEI was codified—I was openly told that Apple wanted a diverse genius workforce, so the company preferred to hire people with liberal arts degrees (and green hair and a nose ring) and send them to Cupertino for training.

You reap what you sow.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: LockOn2B

eyoungren

macrumors Penryn
Aug 31, 2011
29,603
28,365
Before there were Apple retail stores, I did work for Apple through a contractor at Sears/CompUSA stores supporting iMacs, primarily restoring scrambled machines on a weekly basis.

When Apple opened its own retail stores, I applied to be a genius. Though I was COMPTIA A+ certified and had completed coursework toward a CCNA, I was not hired. At that time—before DEI was codified—I was openly told that Apple wanted a diverse genius workforce, so the company preferred to hire people with liberal arts degrees (and green hair and a nose ring) and send them to Cupertino for training.

You reap what you sow.
I only started noticing a turn once Angela Ahrendts was hired. She started focusing more on sales and instituted sales metrics. Training of the geniuses began focusing more on selling people stuff over training them on Apple's products and services. Before that, I didn't have any issues.

My first visit to an Apple store was before Ahrendts. I was there to see if they had any spare screws for a 17" PowerBook G4. This would have been early 2010 and my Mac was obsolete then. The genius that helped me was able to provide a couple of the screws I needed but couldn't provide all of them. He had helpful suggestions though and he spent some time with me.

That was the attitude I expected going forward - until Ahrendts happened.
 
Last edited:

monstermash

macrumors 6502a
Apr 21, 2020
974
1,059
When Apple opened its own retail stores, I applied to be a genius. Though I was COMPTIA A+ certified and had completed coursework toward a CCNA, I was not hired.
Neither of which have anything to do with iPhones. I can see why they took a pass on you. You were clearly destined for bigger and better things and Apple didn't want to stand in your way.
 

contacos

macrumors 603
Nov 11, 2020
5,446
20,735
Mexico City living in Berlin
@violetdragon
Since you are already under Apple Care+, your phone cannot be older than 2 years. So post a screenshot of battery page along with Coconut Battery screenshot if on Mac or 3uTools Battery info page if on Windows for us to see how many charge cycles you have completed in these 2 years.

When battery health falls below 80, iOS mostly shows "Service" there. So you need to use Coconut Battery or 3uTools with phone connected via USB cable to tell you what the real battery health and charge cycles are. Come on OP. Post the info here. Battery at 57% in less than 2 years is kinda SUS.

Depends. If you pay AppleCare+ monthly, it does not expire until you cancel the renewal
 

Mr_Brightside_@

macrumors 68040
Sep 23, 2005
3,798
2,167
Toronto
Before there were Apple retail stores, I did work for Apple through a contractor at Sears/CompUSA stores supporting iMacs, primarily restoring scrambled machines on a weekly basis.

When Apple opened its own retail stores, I applied to be a genius. Though I was COMPTIA A+ certified and had completed coursework toward a CCNA, I was not hired. At that time—before DEI was codified—I was openly told that Apple wanted a diverse genius workforce, so the company preferred to hire people with liberal arts degrees (and green hair and a nose ring) and send them to Cupertino for training.

You reap what you sow.
r/thathappened
 

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,291
25,432
Wales, United Kingdom
I’d have asked to speak to the manager I think as refusing a service they offer and pushing you towards buying a new phone suits them, but not the customer if they require a simple service. Sounds like an employee seized the opportunity to upsell rather than offer good customer service.
 

GMShadow

macrumors 68020
Jun 8, 2021
2,112
8,631
I only started noticing a turn once Angela Ahrendts was hired. She started focusing more on sales and instituted sales metrics. Training of the geniuses began focusing more on selling people stuff over training them on Apple's products and services. Before that, I didn't have any issues.

My first visit to an Apple store was before Ahrendts. I was there to see if they had any spare screws for a 17" PowerBook G4. This would have been early 2010 and my Mac was obsolete then. The genius that helped me was able to provide a couple of the screws I needed but couldn't provide all of them. He had helpful suggestions though and he spent some time with me.

That was the attitude I expected going forward - until Ahrendts happened.

I took my 2019 MBP in last year with a misaligned lid from a drop, and it looked like I'd bent stuff. I had AC+ so I expected I'd need to pay the deductible and be without my Mac for a week or so. The Genius started the process, then stopped, asked if I had five minutes for him to take it in the back and try something. Took it in the back, pulled the bottom case and display screws, realigned the lid using their tools, vacuumed out the little bit of dust, and returned it to me free of charge. We chatted for a bit and I went on my way.

I've had more middling experiences at times but I'd say it's less of a corporate policy and more their hiring pool being...not the best anymore. But that's not unique to Apple - customer service across the board has declined markedly the past few years.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.