Sending in my 3GS to Applecare, replace or repair?

[farmermac]

So my 3GS has been having reception issues. Right next to my wife's 3G, mine will have no service while hers will have 2-3 bars and be able to receive/make calls. We are on the same service provider. I have contacted Apple about it and they have sent me a box to send it in.

I plan on backing up my phone and wiping it before sending it in.

So what is Apple's policy on repairing iPhones? Do they send a replacement when mine arrives to their facility and then refurb mine to someone else? Or will they actually repair my phone and send it back? I dont exactly have a spare unlocked GSM phone so I want the prodecure to be quick. They were charging $30 + shipping to send me a phone to use during the repair time on top of a $500 hold on a CC.

I dont mind either, but if they cant find anything wrong with my phone (just a weak but functioning antenna) I dont want them to send the same one back with nothing fixed.

 

[SpaceKitty]

I think this is normal. I have had iPhones since the very first one and they have always had this no service thing for a few minutes. We have three iPhones activated here and they all do this off and on probably a few times a day.

 

[farmermac]

So why is this considered normal?

My wife's 3g (which used to be mine) was rock solid when i had it, always a good strong signal. Is this a variation in production or a 3g - 3gs variation?

 

[SpaceKitty]

I think it's just how iPhones are. I have all three iPhone versions sitting here, the 1st generation, 3g and the 3GS. The no service displays a few times a day on two of them that are activated, the 3GS and the 1st generation. If I take a sim out of one of them and place it in the 3G, the same thing happens. It's an iPhone thing.

Search the forums and there are lots of other people who have this same thing happening.

 

[Warbrain]

I think it's just how iPhones are. I have all three iPhone versions sitting here, the 1st generation, 3g and the 3GS. The no service displays a few times a day on two of them that are activated, the 3GS and the 1st generation. If I take a sim out of one of them and place it in the 3G, the same thing happens. It's an iPhone thing.

Search the forums and there are lots of other people who have this same thing happening.

It's not an iPhone thing. Maybe you're forgetting geographical or regional differences and local variances in signal.

I never have had this happen with any of my iPhones.

 

[SpaceKitty]

It's not an iPhone thing. Maybe you're forgetting geographical or regional differences and local variances in signal.

I never have had this happen with any of my iPhones.

Possibly. Lots of people have complained about this since the very first iPhone when other phones they have get 100% perfect reception.