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I got mugged for my iPhone. Tips on getting a new one?

M

mloudin

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 6, 2009
3
0
Hey everyone,

Sorry to make my first post a somber one, but I wanted to share my experience with the experts on this form and try to get some advice for what I can do next.

Two weeks ago, I was hit over the head with a cane outside my apartment and a robber got away with my phone as I was stunned. The whole experience was fairly traumatic. I thought getting a new phone wouldn't be a big deal, but I've run into serious troubles.

First off, to get a new phone, I need to pony up $600. Second, when I try to speak to a manager at Apple or AT&T, each tells me to go to the other company because, in their words "they set the price". However, recently, I found out that Apple offers a reduced $200 replacement phone fee if you HAVE the phone, leading me to believe that it's Apple that sets the price, which is why I'm here.

Has anyone heard of a story where someone gets mugged and they receive a new phone for the $200 price? I have a police report if anyone needs evidence. I'm not asking for a free phone - I'm just asking that I get a replacement at the same rate that I bought the phone for. I think this is fair considering the fact that it was stolen from me and I also feel that Apple is acting a bit greedy. They could definitely lower the price of the phone and help me out, but they are selectively choosing not to do so.

Could anyone point me in the right direction here? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
I'm glad you are alright. You could try and take the police report in, however, I don't think that either Apple or at&t will do anything for you. It sucks, but life is like that sometimes.
 
The problem is that Bob Jones over here drops his iPhone in the pool and tells Apple that he was mugged and had his iPhone stolen as well. It's the bad apples ( no pun intended ) that prevent Apple from being more generous.



*ANY LIKENESS OR SIMILARITIES TO ACTUAL EVENTS, PEOPLE, PLACES, OR ENTITIES, AND ANY SUCH LIKENESS OR SIMILARITIES ARE UNINTENTIONAL AND PURELY COINCIDENTAL.
 
Sadly I don't think you have much of a chance.

You can try at an Apple Store but don't expect to walk out of there with one.

Please though remember the Apple Store manager says no that he isn't trying to "not help you" he probably will want to help you but Corporate rules are the rules and it's either help you or lose his job.
 
Hindsight is 20/20
1. Get a broke iPhone off eBay or CL for cheap and go the $200 replacement route. The whole total shouldn't be more then $300~
2. Use the Locate feature on the phone and help the local LEO track it down, or send msgs to the phone saying your willing to offer a reward for its return. Of course use some common sense and don't meet them in a dark alley :rolleyes:
3. Get a cane and jack the thug back :p <NOT recommend!>
4. Situational awareness is the key to survival in the urban jungle. :)
 
The thing is that the iPhone's real price is $600. You got the iPhone for $200 because AT&T subsidized it for you when you signed a 2-year contract, because they profit enough from you over those two years to make up for the price of the iPhone. If they offer you another phone for $200 they will be losing money.

Apple, on the other hand, offers the $200 replacement if you give them your old iPhone back, because they can refurbish it and sell it again. You if you don't have the iPhone to give back to them there's no reason for them to sell you another one for $200 since, again, the iPhone's commercial price is $600.

I think you're out of luck.
 
I'm also glad that you are OK. I know that the experience was bad but it does look humorous when you say you got hit by a cane. Did the old guy teeter away after getting your phone?

I would insure the new phone. Mine is insured under a rider my Condo owners policy for $25.00 for the life of the policy. Thats covers all ways that I could damage, lose, or be robbed of the phone. Cheap coverage really, but I know that if I ever have to use it the rate will most likely go up.
 
mloudin said:
Has anyone heard of a story where someone gets mugged and they receive a new phone for the $200 price? I have a police report if anyone needs evidence. I'm not asking for a free phone - I'm just asking that I get a replacement at the same rate that I bought the phone for. I think this is fair considering the fact that it was stolen from me and I also feel that Apple is acting a bit greedy. They could definitely lower the price of the phone and help me out, but they are selectively choosing not to do so.
Click to expand...


Sorry about you getting mugged. That really sucks.

Not quite sure why you think you should be entitled to a reduced price phone.
 
I am glad that you are ok. It's is very traumatic to have something taken from you.

I like the suggestion that you buy a broken iPhone, and then exchange it at the apple store.

And I know this sound cliche, but please remember the big picture: you are ok, and it could have been worse.
 
maybe you can spend some money on a helmet? :) Really though - sorry to hear. I hope you can find humour in this somehow.

I haven't heard of a way to get money off a new iphone. I guess this is like anything else - you just have to buy a new one.

Next time is get mobileme and 'find my phone' That way you can track the robbers down and beat them...or at least, get the police involved to raid them
 
have you checked

by chance do you have renters insurance have you checked with them, just a thought glad you are ok as well. geesh crazy damn world
 
Thanks for the replies, everyone. It looks like I'm out of luck. At this point, I think I might switch - I don't want to make the same mistake twice and I just don't have the money to shell out for another iPhone.

The idea to buy a broken one and get the replacement fee is a good idea, though. I'll definitely check out the logistics to see if it's viable or if I'll run into other problems.

And as for the incident - I'm definitely not taking it too seriously. I'm VERY happy that nothing worse happened and in the end, it's just a phone that I lost. I'm just trying to figure out how I can avoid paying an arm and a leg for a new one!
 
Sucks that you got mugged.

Try your insurance company.

Where does this idea come from that if one looses, damages or has their phone stolen that either Apple or AT&T should somehow compensate you? Apple nor AT&T responsible for the lose of the phone yet they should take a hit for it?
 
before giving up

just for shoots and grins try going to AT&T explain what happened. The chance of them doing anything honestly slim and none, but still slim what the heck they have blogger dude trying to give them good pr this would give them allot better PR if they at least tried to help you in some way shape or form. I say go for it and let us know what they say good or bad. Personally I like AT&T I will still be very surprised if they do anything. but still say it's worth the try it will only cost you a little time!
 
xbuddycorex said:
Thanks for being cordial and not being mad at us for not telling you what you wanted to hear, sadly that's rare around here.
Click to expand...

I will also admit he has been a great sport about the whole thing. You sound like a great guy...to bad things like this happen to the best of us.
 
Which version did you have? An 8gb 3G can be had for $300 on ebay. Use advanced search to your advantage or you won't find it at that price though.
 
Another option you may think about is this:

How far are you in you AT&T contract? Depending on where you are at in your contract you could always cancel that one buy it out and then just restart with a new contract. That way you are getting a new phone and don't have to worry about issues with a refurb.

Second option would be you could just open a second line on your account, works best if you know someone else to help split the bill.
 
If you get a police report you might well be able to get a new one for $200, I'm not sure to be honest.

You're probably better off trying to claim it on your home insurance if its insured under all risks.
 
Thanks again for the kind words! Right now, the cheapest option is to cancel my contract with AT&T and start from scratch! I find this extremely amusing since it's a significantly cheaper way of going about getting a new phone. I mean, it's still $400, but it's better than $600 for a new one under the same contract.

I also think that it's healthy to discuss what to do in these types of situations. I'm definitely not looking to AT&T or Apple for a handout. I mean, it's not their fault I was mugged. However, I just felt like the way their fee systems are structured raise some customer service concerns. For instance, the MobileMe application should be a part of EVERY phone for free. If this was the case, then I would have my phone back and the robber would be in prison right now! Why would they want to charge $100 extra for unlocking features that already ship with every phone?

The same thing goes for not "bricking" your phone when you cancel service. When you report your phone lost or stolen, AT&T just disables the data network. Hence, the thieves are using my phone right now as an iPod Touch. Apple has the capability to brick phones when you jailbreak them, so why not brick them when they are stolen?

I think these questions are more for Apple's corporate board then anyone at their stores or anyone here, but they're good things to keep in mind.

Before I cancel with AT&T, I'll try some of the other suggestions. At this point, I'm interested in minimizing my financial loss in any way possible. I'll report back with the results. Thanks again for your help, everyone!

bluedukies8 said:
Another option you may think about is this:

How far are you in you AT&T contract? Depending on where you are at in your contract you could always cancel that one buy it out and then just restart with a new contract. That way you are getting a new phone and don't have to worry about issues with a refurb.

Second option would be you could just open a second line on your account, works best if you know someone else to help split the bill.
Click to expand...

I got it just 2 months ago, unfortunately. Adding a second line would add at least $250 to the bill over the next 22 months. Canceling and starting over is just $175.

Also, I got a iPhone 3GS, so the options on ebay are fairly limited.
 
mloudin said:
Apple has the capability to brick phones when you jailbreak them, so why not brick them when they are stolen?
Click to expand...

Apple doesn't brick the iPhone when you jailbreak them. But when you mess with that kind of stuff you can ruin something making the iPhone "brick". It's nothing on Apple's part.
 
mloudin said:
I got it just 2 months ago, unfortunately. Adding a second line would add at least $250 to the bill over the next 22 months. Canceling and starting over is just $175.

Also, I got a iPhone 3GS, so the options on ebay are fairly limited.
Click to expand...

But I believe that if you cancel your contract you're "blacklisted" for a certain period of time.
 
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