Scratched your iPhone? It will cost you $199 to fix

[billyripkin]

So the other day I accidently rubbed my iPhone against my older powerbook and it left a one inch silver paint scratch on the screen. I tried to clean it off but it seems to be stuck on there for good. I thought to myself no big deal because the phone is only a week and half old and apple has always been good about fixing issues quickly. I took the phone to the Woodfield apple store in IL and was told by 3 different employees that sorry that happened but it will cost $199 to get a new phone for replacement. I just can't believe that they expect me to spend another $199 on this phone less than 2 weeks after purchase. I have used macs all my life and love apple products but this has really left me feeling angry with apple. I just wanted to let you all know that the screen does scratch and when it does it will cost you dearly.

 

[SpaceMagic]

Why should apple pay out of its own pocket for something you did?

If it truely was an accident look into your liability insurance. Otherwise... Apple is giving you the phone at cost price. That's very nice of them.

 

[Cleverboy]

So the other day I accidently rubbed my iPhone against my older powerbook and it left a one inch silver paint scratch on the screen. I tried to clean it off but it seems to be stuck on there for good. I thought to myself no big deal because the phone is only a week and half old and apple has always been good about fixing issues quickly. I took the phone to the Woodfield apple store in IL and was told by 3 different employees that sorry that happened but it will cost $199 to get a new phone for replacement. I just can't believe that they expect me to spend another $199 on this phone less than 2 weeks after purchase. I have used macs all my life and love apple products but this has really left me feeling angry with apple. I just wanted to let you all know that the screen does scratch and when it does it will cost you dearly.

$199. Interesting. I was told $249 for a shattered screen. I've also heard $199 for 4GB model and $249 for the 8 GB model.

Also? Dude, you damaged... your... screen. Read this thread for a preview of likely comments:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/327665/
Chris would like Apple to foot the bill for his repairs too. Could you imagine if you could do that with a new car? Or maybe if you scratched the front of your new plasma tv without buying insurance...

~ CB

 

[wongulous]

Okay, why don't we think about this a little bit more maturely?

You've damaged your item because of either negligence or a simple mistake--but in a way that is DEFINITELY physical abuse of the item and that VERY FEW other people have damaged theirs. Obviously if the scratch won't come off, they'll have to replace the whole touchscreen, so what do you expect them to do? GIVE you a free touchscreen, because YOU had an accident? Why the heck is that Apple's problem?

I'd like to see you take your Chocolate back to Verizon and say "Zomg, I'm so sorry, I cracked the LCD. Can I have another one? Or can you fix it for free, or just peanuts?" Or the same with a car, a plasma TV, an apartment, an ice cream cone that you dropped on the ground, etc.

How is this the problem of the company that made the item? It is NOT a defect in materials or workmanship! WHY WOULD THEY PAY FOR IT?!

What planet are these people from asking this kind of stuff!?

 

[Hunts121]

Okay, why don't we think about this a little bit more maturely?

You've damaged your item because of either negligence or a simple mistake--but in a way that is DEFINITELY physical abuse of the item and that VERY FEW other people have damaged theirs. Obviously if the scratch won't come off, they'll have to replace the whole touchscreen, so what do you expect them to do? GIVE you a free touchscreen, because YOU had an accident? Why the heck is that Apple's problem?

I'd like to see you take your Chocolate back to Verizon and say "Zomg, I'm so sorry, I cracked the LCD. Can I have another one? Or can you fix it for free, or just peanuts?" Or the same with a car, a plasma TV, an apartment, an ice cream cone that you dropped on the ground, etc.

How is this the problem of the company that made the item? It is NOT a defect in materials or workmanship! WHY WOULD THEY PAY FOR IT?!

What planet are these people from asking this kind of stuff!?

actually if you have insurance on the phone (bout 4 bucks a month) you do get it for free...least I did. I accidentally damaged a verizon phone recently. It wasn't a chocolate it was an LG VX8600. The screen cracked and I was given another one. My brother had a razr (big mistake haha) and has been through a few of them though he had to pay a 50 dollar deductible for some reason. Anyway THAT is what phone insurance is for.

From what I've heard you can't get AT&T insurance on the iPhone you must use AppleCare which last time I checked doesn't cover accidental damage...very clever Apple.

 

[feelthefire]

actually if you have insurance on the phone (bout 4 bucks a month) you do get it for free...least I did. I accidentally damaged a verizon phone recently. It wasn't a chocolate it was an LG VX8600. The screen cracked and I was given another one. My brother had a razr (big mistake haha) and has been through a few of them though he had to pay a 50 dollar deductible for some reason. Anyway THAT is what phone insurance is for.

From what I've heard you can't get AT&T insurance on the iPhone you must use AppleCare which last time I checked doesn't cover accidental damage...very clever Apple.

You can privately insure a phone of value privately against loss, theft, or damage, for less money than that $4-$7 month phone company ripoff. The rider for my $549 phone costs me about $16/yr for full replacement coverage.

Applecare isn't an insurance policy. it's an extended warranty. those are two very different, generally mutually exclusive things.

 

[MotionxxUSxx]

for $15 you could have added a screen protector. This should have been done on day 1.

 

[DerekS]

Personally I am shocked that they offered it up that cheaply. That was a great customer service move.

However, if there's paint in the scratch you should be able to remove it from the glass.

 

[defeated]

the problem is that Apple makes iphone's screen unprotectable.

 

[Roy Hobbs]

So the other day I accidently rubbed my iPhone against my older powerbook and it left a one inch silver paint scratch on the screen. I tried to clean it off but it seems to be stuck on there for good. I thought to myself no big deal because the phone is only a week and half old and apple has always been good about fixing issues quickly. I took the phone to the Woodfield apple store in IL and was told by 3 different employees that sorry that happened but it will cost $199 to get a new phone for replacement. I just can't believe that they expect me to spend another $199 on this phone less than 2 weeks after purchase. I have used macs all my life and love apple products but this has really left me feeling angry with apple. I just wanted to let you all know that the screen does scratch and when it does it will cost you dearly.

Wow YOU scratched the phone and they want YOU to pay to get repaired. That seems so illogical. I mean if you bought a car and drove it home and then scratched it surely the dealership would fix.

You are a fool if you think Apple should fix your screen after YOU scratched it.

 

[Xtoo]

It would be nice if Apple paid for our own negligence, but they do not have to.
Like some else said, I'd love to take my car to the dealer to fix some of those scratches made by road rocks or the big one I made with my zipper (it is a bad one). Arrrgggghhhhh!

 

[Hunts121]

You can privately insure a phone of value privately against loss, theft, or damage, for less money than that $4-$7 month phone company ripoff. The rider for my $549 phone costs me about $16/yr for full replacement coverage.

Applecare isn't an insurance policy. it's an extended warranty. those are two very different, generally mutually exclusive things.

I'm only saying apple is making it difficult to get coverage on the phone, most people (that I know anyway) generally use the coverage their cell phone provider offers. I know you can privately insure it (have my laptop insured), if work didn't cover the insurance costs I would have one on mine as well.

 

[joelk]

So the other day I accidently rubbed my iPhone against my older powerbook and it left a one inch silver paint scratch on the screen. I tried to clean it off but it seems to be stuck on there for good. I thought to myself no big deal because the phone is only a week and half old and apple has always been good about fixing issues quickly. I took the phone to the Woodfield apple store in IL and was told by 3 different employees that sorry that happened but it will cost $199 to get a new phone for replacement. I just can't believe that they expect me to spend another $199 on this phone less than 2 weeks after purchase. I have used macs all my life and love apple products but this has really left me feeling angry with apple. I just wanted to let you all know that the screen does scratch and when it does it will cost you dearly.

lol whatever. be more careful. 200 sounds about right to fix that type of problem.

just buy some of that windshield glass scratch compound ... the type that has the same index of refraction as glass and fills in holes. no clue if it would work but it might be worth a try.

 

[wongulous]

actually if you have insurance on the phone (bout 4 bucks a month) you do get it for free...least I did. I accidentally damaged a verizon phone recently. It wasn't a chocolate it was an LG VX8600. The screen cracked and I was given another one. My brother had a razr (big mistake haha) and has been through a few of them though he had to pay a 50 dollar deductible for some reason. Anyway THAT is what phone insurance is for.

Lol. Thanks for explaining to me what wireless insurance coverage is--it's not like I sold the feature for over 4 years.

The poster KNEW (s)he didn't have insurance and still wants a freebie. THAT is what I find ridiculous.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

To the OP, if you used a credit card to buy your iPhone you should check and see if they'll cover the repair costs for you since you just recently bought your iPhone.

 

[billyripkin]

I dont think some mean spirited people are understanding the point of my post. I was simply providing information to everyone on how much it will cost to get YOURS repaired someday if and when it gets damaged. I don't think I was out of line to try and see if Apple would replace my phone or maybe fix it for a small fee. I honestly went into the store just hoping they would have a suggestion on how to remove the mark or how to get it fixed through Apple. For me personally I feel $199 is a bit high to get a phone fixed so I was hoping for some suggestions on how to clean the screen from other iPhone users. For now I am going to try visiting a jewerely store and see if they can buff the scratch out if that does not work then I am going to try and return the phone and take the restocking loss. If none of those work then I will just live with the scratch. It is just sad that this is the first time in my life I have ever damamged a cell phone.

 

[xUKHCx]

I dont think some mean spirited people are understanding the point of my post. I was simply providing information to everyone on how much it will cost to get YOURS repaired someday if and when it gets damaged. I don't think I was out of line to try and see if Apple would replace my phone or maybe fix it for a small fee. I honestly went into the store just hoping they would have a suggestion on how to remove the mark or how to get it fixed through Apple. For me personally I feel $199 is a bit high to get a phone fixed so I was hoping for some suggestions on how to clean the screen from other iPhone users. For now I am going to try visiting a jewerely store and see if they can buff the scratch out if that does not work then I am going to try and return the phone and take the restocking loss. If none of those work then I will just live with the scratch. It is just sad that this is the first time in my life I have ever damamged a cell phone.

That is a pretty dishonest approach, just deal wit the scratch rather than make someone else have to deal with the consequences of your actions. I think apple will check the box to see if the iPhone is in good condition, so hopefully if you try this you will be spotted.

We haven't even seen a picture of how bad the scratch is.

 

[St. Germain]

actually if you have insurance on the phone (bout 4 bucks a month) you do get it for free...least I did. I accidentally damaged a verizon phone recently. It wasn't a chocolate it was an LG VX8600. The screen cracked and I was given another one. My brother had a razr (big mistake haha) and has been through a few of them though he had to pay a 50 dollar deductible for some reason. Anyway THAT is what phone insurance is for.

From what I've heard you can't get AT&T insurance on the iPhone you must use AppleCare which last time I checked doesn't cover accidental damage...very clever Apple.

I've also have an insurance rider on my wife's iPhone and on my iPhone. It costs $20 total for both of them a year through Liberty Mutual. They'll replace it if it's lost, stolen, or damaged in any way and there's no deductible. As my agent put it, "we'll replace it whether you spill milk on it, drop it in a lake, or someone steals it right out of your hand."

 

[billyripkin]

Here are pics.

 

[iAmLegend]

Here are pics.

I think it gives your phone character...like a scar...and you know how chicks dig scars.

 

[billyripkin]

Yeah that would be cool except this one is my wifes phone.

 

[rtdgoldfish]

Here are pics.

I find it strange that all the videos I've seen of people trying to scratch the screen with keys, change, etc have not been successful but somehow your Powerbook did that...

Does your Powerbook have a piece of metal broken off it?? I can't think of how that would happen.

 

[P-Worm]

Yeah that would be cool except this one is my wifes phone.

Then trade her.

P-Worm

 

[marksman]

Why should apple pay out of its own pocket for something you did?

If it truely was an accident look into your liability insurance. Otherwise... Apple is giving you the phone at cost price. That's very nice of them.

Yeah where does this mindset come from. In some cases people claimed Apple has been taking returns for stuff like that. If they really did, they did themselves a huge dis-service.

People need to take responsibility for their own actions. Rubbing your powerbook across the screen of your iPhone is not Apple's fault nor responsibility.

Imagine if when I bought my 65" tv I just ran a screwdriver across the screen and asked them to replace it for free. Why would they do that?

Better yet, why SHOULD they do that? Businesses can't make money if they full out replace an item every time a customer does something to damage it.

Perhaps the OP should have bought some insurance or waited to other policies were available.

 

[[G5]Hydra]

I crashed my brand new Porsche into a pole and when I went to the dealership hoping for them to replace it or fix it for a small fee they refused. I am a long time Porsche owner and I am very angry that they treated me this way.

See how silly that sounds?

Seriously, they offered to replace the phone with a new one for $199?? That is pretty damn nice in my book. I would actually rather that than have my phone taken apart and the glass replaced for $100 even, god knows that thing is crammed on the inside and a lot could go wrong in that procedure. You get an all new phone and start over for $199. Not that bad IMHO.

-Jerry C.