Small crack on back of 3G

[benflick]

Like the title says, almost directly in the middle of the dock connecter there is a crack in the plastic of my iPhone 3G. It spans about 3/4 of an inch to an inch from the bottom. I bought the iPhone from a guy who had cancelled AT&T because of the price. The phone is in moderate condition and has Apple care until August 2010. I highly doubt that the crack is because of misuse/abuse, but there are little dings in the chrome bezel which might indicate dropping the phone. I plan on taking it to a genius at Apple, but before I do I have some Questions. My questions are:
Do you think they will replace my iPhone because of the crack?
I don't use AT&T, will I have to show proof of an AT&T account? I plan on just saying I use it as an iPod touch (and not a phone).

Thanks, Ben.

 

[01jamcon]

With the chrome dings and the large-ish crack, it sounds unlikely that they'll replace it because they'll just say its accidental damage, which isn't covered. Sorry. May I ask why you bought the phone in this condition if you knew it would bother you?

 

[svndmvn]

could you please post a picture? If the plastic has no other damages, I'm pretty sure they'll exchange it. Especially for the fact the contract has been ended, could you be so nice and update us on the situation once you've been to the Genius Bar?
I've had a few 3Gs, this last one is just the second one developing cracks, while all of them had other issues regarding misalignment of the glass along the bezel and light leak on the left side, between the aluminum and the glass. White pixels and dust..It would be better if you found other issues, even if they don't bother you so much but at least they are definitely due to bad quality control and such. Anyway, an inch is a lot, I haven't seen serious cracks due to bad plastic, but in most of the cases I think people take it back and Apples exchanges them before the cracks get bigger.

 

[benflick]

I got it for $300, I couldn't pass it up. The back plastic has a few small dots here and there. There really is no dings near the crack so it doesn't seem like a fall is what caused it.

 

[Cheese]

Good Luck

It wouldn't matter if you did buy it from ATT. I showed them a long crack along the edge on the back of my iPhone and they said it looked like scratch to them. ATT won't do anything for you at all unless they are going to put money in the register as a result of what ever they do. Customer satisfaction is something they couldn't care less about. Trust me. I've been through it and they just don't care.

 

[gjw4u]

Let me get this straight. You paid $300 for used iPhone with a crack, and just want to use it as an iPod? Are you aware that a new iPod touch 16GB only cost $299! I would return the iPhone and look for a better deal.

 

[benflick]

Let me get this straight. You paid $300 for used iPhone with a crack, and just want to use it as an iPod? Are you aware that a new iPod touch 16GB only cost $299! I would return the iPhone and look for a better deal.

You misunderstood what I said.
I bought the iPhone to use as well, a phone. It is Unlocked via Yellowsn0w and Jailbroken. $300 is a great price for an iPhone 3G, don't you think? If I went to the Genius Bar, I wouldn't have an AT&T SIM because I don't use AT&T. I will restore the phone to where it is locked and not jailbroken before I take it in. For an excuse of why I do not have an AT&T SIM card, I will tell the Genius that I use the iPhone as an iPod touch.

I want to know if they will replace the phone because of the crack.

Also, like svndmvn said, look for other defects. Sometimes the home button doesn't register, so you have to press it twice. I highly doubt I will be able to replicate this to a Genius however.

 

[benflick]

I have another question: if my phone does get replaced, how will they go about activating it in the Apple store? Are the phones they give you already activated? Since I do not use AT&T, what will they do?

 

[svndmvn]

I have another question: if my phone does get replaced, how will they go about activating it in the Apple store? Are the phones they give you already activated? Since I do not use AT&T, what will they do?

I think it can all be done jailbreaking and stuff like that. It's not like people jailbreaking/unlocking don't ever restore.

 

[benflick]

I think it can all be done jailbreaking and stuff like that. It's not like people jailbreaking/unlocking don't ever restore.

Well I know I can restore so the Genius will not see that the phone was Jailbroken, but what do they do about me not using AT&T?

 

[svndmvn]

Well I know I can restore so the Genius will not see that the phone was Jailbroken, but what do they do about me not using AT&T?

oh, I thought you were asking what to do afterwards, with the new one, with no SIM..
As you were saying, if the contract had been ended and the serial number is ok, I don't see there being any problems, you can use it as an iPod, I guess..but since I'm not sure about the warranty thing with no contract, I wanted you to keep us posted.