Other Canada - Battery Replacement via App?

[Bazza1]

I got in early January via the online support.apple.com and booked an appointment at a local Apple Store for a replacement on my iPhone 6. Settings > Battery was already telling me this battery was toast before the proverbial hit the fan for Apple, so I lucked out as far as the price drop was concerned.

I understand this can be no longer the case (as far as finding an available battery / a speedy turnaround is concerned), but now I hear - in Canada - that thru the Apple Support App, you can actually book your battery online, and they'll let you know when one is in and have you set a time for the swap. Not sure if this is live yet, but worth noting? And yeah sorry, apparently only in Canada so far.

Via the App, users wanting to replace their battery select Get Support, select the phone in question, choose battery, power, charging as a service desired, then they are presented the option to Reserve a Battery

 

[jav6454]

I would tell you to take it as Genius Bar issue rather than battery replacement protocol. That way you will most likely get perference as it's a warranty issue.

 

[Bazza1]

I would tell you to take it as Genius Bar issue rather than battery replacement protocol. That way you will most likely get perference as it's a warranty issue.

Thing is jav6454, even when looking at swapping out my battery a month ago, not every Apple Store (or approved 3rd Party repair locations) reported they had the batteries in stock - and not for every model. Going online, you could see which locations had them and available times to book to do the swap.

Warranty is not in play here (aside from it would be free rather than $CDN35) as Apple has said they'll replace the battery in any 6 and newer - regardless of what their Diagnostic test tells them. Simply going to the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store and assuming you'll get preferential treatment - AppleCare or not - is flawed, if the store doesn't have the batteries in stock to begin with. You'll waste time to stand in line to talk to someone, only to be told they have no idea when the next delivery is due - and all of those have already been spoken for.

 

[jav6454]

That is where you are mistaken. Apple will tend to honor their stocks towards AppleCare recipients more so than the battery frenzy we have right now.

In your case, you already have a (for lack of a better word) case open on your device. There is precedent which means Apple will prioritize you over a walk-in.

 

[Bazza1]

That is where you are mistaken. Apple will tend to honor their stocks towards AppleCare recipients more so than the battery frenzy we have right now.

In your case, you already have a (for lack of a better word) case open on your device. There is precedent which means Apple will prioritize you over a walk-in.

But still a moot point if the store doesn't have the battery. Like I said, not all stores have stock for every phone - especially after the initial rush - and Apple themselves have admitted to a stock / delivery bottleneck.

I'll suggest that swapping out batteries wasn't a big Genius Bar item (a part of that being what Apple is now being investigated for), but to then offer to replace all batteries to 6 and newer (220 million units sold worldwide just of 6 / 6+) is gonna create some delivery issues.

Best intentions sure at Genius Bar - but if they ain't got the battery, your AppleCare ain't gonna help. And pushing to the front of the line ahead of people who have already made appointments ain't gonna endear you to anyone, either.

 

[jav6454]

But still a moot point if the store doesn't have the battery. Like I said, not all stores have stock for every phone - especially after the initial rush - and Apple themselves have admitted to a stock / delivery bottleneck.

All I'm saying is that you will be given priority if you do it via your warranty claim.