Follow up #3 to my original post seen here:
So basically to recap.. and explain my life story lol
About a month ago I purchased an iPhone 13 PRO from BestBuy. Shortly after I noticed the screen clicked and there was a noticeable gap on the top of the phone.
The First Time
When they finally returned... they CLAIMED that the phone had a "ton of issues causing the noise" however
To my disappointment, the clicking was still there and I think there was still a gap. I asked for a replacement and was firm. They only agreed to reopen the phone again and recheck. when they brought it back they left Epoxy hanging out the edge of the phone (like where does epoxy even go lol.)
Anyways I left with the issue not fixed. I went back the next day hoping for a shift change. I talked to the manager who, after some debating, he agreed to replace it ONE time and he would even have to lie about the repair in the computer and the tech would get in trouble but he did it anyway. I got the replacement. Gap at the bottom of the phone. and screen clicks.
So basically the new device has
Around this time I bought apple care
replacement fine for a few weeks until I dropped my phone and cracked it ironically (a couple of days ago)
The Third Time
I bought it back. they were not happy to see me but I paid the money and got the screen replaced.
The new screen is the worst one yet. It has a massive gap at the top and the earpiece speaker moves up and down between the area where the gap is easy. (Maybe cause I was messing with it but it shouldn't do that regardless) Also the Rude employee made a suprise experience by bringing out my "repaired" device. I mentioned the gap and the glass clicking and he literally blew me off AGAIN and said that they wont repair devices cause I will keep finding issues with them. oh and also they scratched tf out of the frame on the side
I also went to Bestbuy right before going to the different apple store. (The place where I bought it) At this point it's only like 2 or 3 weeks out of the return period. I brought it up to the Geek Squad guy.
He was the nicest person yet. He clearly said there was an issue and it could be exchanged through the store using the Verizon warranty, I asked to downgrade to an iPhone 12 which did not have the earpiece speaker in that location. He agreed to do that.
They unboxed a brand-new iPhone 12 and BAM they said they could not continue the replacement since Apple did not change the serial number of the original phone to the replacement. and hence, they did not match
Anyways he said that he could not and would not replace the device or the screen because the issue was "cosmetic" including the scratches they caused as well as the speaker grill being loose.
I was very very persistent. I mentioned the trouble at BestBuy trying to exchange because of the serial numbers not matching the original. Apparently apple only updated the serial internally and would not share any of the notes with me. However at this point the amount of notes on the Apple account was over a couple pages.
He basically explained there was nothing he could do at all. the only way to repair or replace is to have an issue with the phone. (as if the speaker was not an "issue" to him apparently)
Bestbuy Trip #2 (different store)
After retrieving the original box for the ORIGINAL phone I went to a different BestBuy. He explained since the serial number on the phone does not match the entire BestBuy warranty is void and I HAVE TO go through Apple.
So that bring's me to now
After spending the whole day trying to resolve this I have gotten nowhere. At this point im only mad about the device being scratched and the phone having a loose earpiece. I am slightly worried about the fact I can move the screen a bit with only the forces of
my hands
The "Gap" is extremely annoying to think about all the dust and dirt that gets in it especially near the earpiece, which, keep in mind has a gap at the bottom too.
What I have discovered from the display models
If anyone else has any similar experiences or tips just let me know ill be here.
At this point I might just wait and try to trade in for iPhone 14 and maybe break even on the 13 Pro idk
So basically to recap.. and explain my life story lol
About a month ago I purchased an iPhone 13 PRO from BestBuy. Shortly after I noticed the screen clicked and there was a noticeable gap on the top of the phone.
The First Time
- The person at the apple store said the screen clicking was normal ( I believe this all the store models do it)
- The original representative agreed the gap was a defect and decided to replace the screen. I really wanted a replacement but he said it would fix the gap.
When they finally returned... they CLAIMED that the phone had a "ton of issues causing the noise" however
To my disappointment, the clicking was still there and I think there was still a gap. I asked for a replacement and was firm. They only agreed to reopen the phone again and recheck. when they brought it back they left Epoxy hanging out the edge of the phone (like where does epoxy even go lol.)
- Around this time. A certain employee was helping me that sorta had an attitude with me where I would ask about an issue, and she would just say NOOOOO it's fineee
- she told me "It's just your perception of the gap"
Anyways I left with the issue not fixed. I went back the next day hoping for a shift change. I talked to the manager who, after some debating, he agreed to replace it ONE time and he would even have to lie about the repair in the computer and the tech would get in trouble but he did it anyway. I got the replacement. Gap at the bottom of the phone. and screen clicks.
So basically the new device has
- A gap at the bottom
- The glass back of the phone clicks and makes a squishy sound even in loud rooms
Around this time I bought apple care
replacement fine for a few weeks until I dropped my phone and cracked it ironically (a couple of days ago)
The Third Time
I bought it back. they were not happy to see me but I paid the money and got the screen replaced.
The new screen is the worst one yet. It has a massive gap at the top and the earpiece speaker moves up and down between the area where the gap is easy. (Maybe cause I was messing with it but it shouldn't do that regardless) Also the Rude employee made a suprise experience by bringing out my "repaired" device. I mentioned the gap and the glass clicking and he literally blew me off AGAIN and said that they wont repair devices cause I will keep finding issues with them. oh and also they scratched tf out of the frame on the side
- To be fair the gap is only big at the top and left side. the other sides are completely flush
- Also to add onto another poster. I did notice that I can "move" the display around with my fingers
- I understand the amount it's moving is very very minimal. maybe .20 MM at most thanks rafal886 for pointing that out.
Fast Forward to today The Bestbuy Experience
I also went to Bestbuy right before going to the different apple store. (The place where I bought it) At this point it's only like 2 or 3 weeks out of the return period. I brought it up to the Geek Squad guy.
He was the nicest person yet. He clearly said there was an issue and it could be exchanged through the store using the Verizon warranty, I asked to downgrade to an iPhone 12 which did not have the earpiece speaker in that location. He agreed to do that.
They unboxed a brand-new iPhone 12 and BAM they said they could not continue the replacement since Apple did not change the serial number of the original phone to the replacement. and hence, they did not match
(Different Apple Store) Trip #4
I went to the next Apple store over (45 min's away) upon arriving I explained the story again. she went to go ask the technicians and came back with the manager who looked like the dude from YouTube who hosts "Tech Quickie"Anyways he said that he could not and would not replace the device or the screen because the issue was "cosmetic" including the scratches they caused as well as the speaker grill being loose.
I was very very persistent. I mentioned the trouble at BestBuy trying to exchange because of the serial numbers not matching the original. Apparently apple only updated the serial internally and would not share any of the notes with me. However at this point the amount of notes on the Apple account was over a couple pages.
He basically explained there was nothing he could do at all. the only way to repair or replace is to have an issue with the phone. (as if the speaker was not an "issue" to him apparently)
Bestbuy Trip #2 (different store)
After retrieving the original box for the ORIGINAL phone I went to a different BestBuy. He explained since the serial number on the phone does not match the entire BestBuy warranty is void and I HAVE TO go through Apple.
So that bring's me to now
After spending the whole day trying to resolve this I have gotten nowhere. At this point im only mad about the device being scratched and the phone having a loose earpiece. I am slightly worried about the fact I can move the screen a bit with only the forces of
my hands
The "Gap" is extremely annoying to think about all the dust and dirt that gets in it especially near the earpiece, which, keep in mind has a gap at the bottom too.
What I have discovered from the display models
- ALMOST all of them have some kind of gap. I probably looked at a dozen or 2 recently and at least 3 had a pretty big gap at the top of the phone.
- The earpiece will be a little loose especially on ones with top gaps. some of them you can move the earpiece some of them not. but not as bad as mine (Not sure how it's adhered down if at all)
- All of the ones from iPhone 12 and up do make a clicking sound near the bottom of the screen
- None of them make noise on the back glass like mine does
- You can move the display a bit even on the display models even if it's only a small amount.
- A few of the display models had a minimal gap if at all. completely sealed and flush those ones the earpiece is solid af
- Calling Verizon and asking about the device warranty through them
- Calling Apple care and literally begging them for a new device express replaced without a CC hold (I don't have funds for a charge hold)
- Third Apple store ("Which won't work cause they have a small essay about me in the computer system" )
If anyone else has any similar experiences or tips just let me know ill be here.
At this point I might just wait and try to trade in for iPhone 14 and maybe break even on the 13 Pro idk
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