Warranty story

[jdouglas]

Well I just thought i would register on these forums to let you all know about my experience...

First of all I live in Windsor ontario canada, I bought my iphone from an AT&T store in Detroit MI. took it home and unlocked it and it was all good. Until one day my phone started loading to the apple screen and then restarting. I was able to restore it and get it unlocked and jailbroken again. however since then every time i turn on my wifi it crashes my phone.

Unable to call apple for support not living in the USA I was forced to go into the store armed with a good story about how I used the phone as a PDA because we are unable to activate it in Canada. All was going well until the mac genius took my phone in the back to match it up with the numbers they had with AT&T, obviously they did not match and i was told be on my way...

From this experience i can pass this info to everyone here. If you are going to jail break or hack your phone in anyway and want to have a warranty then you MUST have an AT&T account! Apple will not repair anything no matter what is issue is unless you have your AT&T sim card with you.

If your phone fails on you and you are with AT&T just restore and you are good to go. sorry if most of you already knew this but after a quick search on this forum there was some grey area when it came to warranty coverage.

P.S. if anyone knows what I can do about my wifi issue that would be very much appreciated.

 

[ntrigue]

You should find a friend in the USA and swap there AT&T chip into your iPhone then the warranty will be honored.

 

[jdouglas]

You should find a friend in the USA and swap there AT&T chip into your iPhone then the warranty will be honored.

Good idea.. however I thought of that... and they are saying the phone has to have been activated with his/her account.... maybe when they release the phone in canada i will have better luck. Do you think when it does come to canada I could restore it and then activate it through itunes with rogers or who ever the carrier is... then claim that i got it from apple they will honor the warranty?

 

[spook]

Apple will not repair anything no matter what is issue is unless you have your AT&T sim card with you.

We really need a lawyer, but technically is that actually breaking consumer law?

 

[jdouglas]

well it does even say on the iphone box something about having to have an active At&T account. i think

 

[jeffmc]

Good idea.. however I thought of that... and they are saying the phone has to have been activated with his/her account.... maybe when they release the phone in canada i will have better luck. Do you think when it does come to canada I could restore it and then activate it through itunes with rogers or who ever the carrier is... then claim that i got it from apple they will honor the warranty?

NO
it's not the sim card they look to, it's the serial number on the phone. putting an AT&T sim card will not help you at all

 

[senorFunkyPants]

We really need a lawyer, but technically is that actually breaking consumer law?

I would have thought so...the warranty booklet that should have come with the iphone defines Apples repair obligations.
Unless the warranty document specifically excludes repair of unactivarted iphones then the "genius" was lieing to you.
Email Apple and request confirmation of their position then if they still refuse to repair the iphone then take them to court.

 

[Jenheta]

Thanks for the discussion. It is the part that I never get right.

I have read elsewhere "I am using T-mobile but if something goes wrong
I will put the AT&T SIM card back and take it to Apple"

Are they ? If the phone has some issue, how are they going to
activate the phone with AT&T ? I do not think they have a T-Mobile
AND an AT&T plan at the same time.

I am about to receive my refurb (finally) and I still do not
know whether or not unlocking will be worth it due the warranty stuff.

 

[Geekable]

I would have thought so...the warranty booklet that should have come with the iphone defines Apples repair obligations.
Unless the warranty document specifically excludes repair of unactivarted iphones then the "genius" was lieing to you.
Email Apple and request confirmation of their position then if they still refuse to repair the iphone then take them to court.

Unlocking and jailbreaking etc. DOES invalidate the warranty. It states something to the effect of "any non-apple approved modification invalidates warranty". Therefore any iPhone not on their database is either not activated and unusable, or unlocked and not covered.

 

[senorFunkyPants]

Unlocking and jailbreaking etc. DOES invalidate the warranty. It states something to the effect of "any non-apple approved modification invalidates warranty". Therefore any iPhone not on their database is either not activated and unusable, or unlocked and not covered.

Check the warranty...not activating the iphone does NOT exclude the iphone from the warranty..no ifs no buts no maybes.

 

[Jenheta]

Check the warranty...not activating the iphone does NOT exclude the iphone from the warranty..no ifs no buts no maybes.

But... if you need any service using Apple's warranty your phone must
be activated, right ? I thought non activated iPhones are out of warranty.

 

[senorFunkyPants]

But... if you need any service using Apple's warranty your phone must
be activated, right ? I thought non activated iPhones are out of warranty.

Apples printed iphone warranty is a legally binding contract. There are no exclusions regarding unactivated iphones....the warranty starts the moment you buy the iphone.

 

[Geekable]

Check the warranty...not activating the iphone does NOT exclude the iphone from the warranty..no ifs no buts no maybes.

Think about this. In the UK and USA at least, there is only one official way to activate the iPhone. Through Apple. If they have not activated it, then you must have modified it in some way for it to be usable. If you have not modified it, then you should not be able to use it. Bit of a catch-22 situation, right?

 

[senorFunkyPants]

Think about this. In the UK and USA at least, there is only one official way to activate the iPhone. Through Apple. If they have not activated it, then you must have modified it in some way for it to be usable. If you have not modified it, then you should not be able to use it. Bit of a catch-22 situation, right?

I understand the apparent dilemma, but the warranty is a fairly simple legal document. The hardware is guaranteed for one year from purchase unless you made *hardware* modifications (the software is specifically excludes from the warranty so any references to modifications relate to the hardware) or caused the damage (dropped it whatever)...the word activation is not mentioned in the warranty and therefore can not be used as a reason for non repair.

Apple benefits from the disinformation being spread on unactivated iphones not covered the warranty as it discourages unlocking and jailbreaking. However be assured that Apple would never let any court case citing warranty non compliance reach court simply because they would almost certainly lose setting precedence for future cases.
Anyone with a hardware problem on an unactivated iphone should restore the software to original and post in the iphone to an Apple repair centre. If they refuse to repair it then start legal action against Apple.

 

[jeffmc]

Think about this. In the UK and USA at least, there is only one official way to activate the iPhone. Through Apple. If they have not activated it, then you must have modified it in some way for it to be usable. If you have not modified it, then you should not be able to use it. Bit of a catch-22 situation, right?

you activate through AT&T not apple.

and senorfunkypants you can cry about it not saying a modification of SOFTWARE invalidates the warranty all day and apple still won't give you a new phone.

each apple store requires at least 8-10 signs AT the cash registers and AT the genius bar say specifically "no activation, no warranty"

you may be right it specifies hardware changes but you'll never get a new phone regardless so just stop giving people false hope

 

[senorFunkyPants]

and senorfunkypants you can cry about it not saying a modification of SOFTWARE invalidates the warranty all day and apple still won't give you a new phone.
each apple store requires at least 8-10 signs AT the cash registers and AT the genius bar say specifically "no activation, no warranty"
you may be right it specifies hardware changes but you'll never get a new phone regardless so just stop giving people false hope

Apple can put up a 100 signs in every shop saying that your warranty is invalid unless everytime you make a call on your iphone you dance the tango with a pair of ladies undies on your head and it would be no more legal that saying that unactivated iphone have no warranty.

Its hardly rocket science...the warranty document is legally binding on Apple, the signs in the Apple shops are simply to fool the easily deflected.

 

[jeffmc]

Apple can put up a 100 signs in every shop saying that your warranty is invalid unless everytime you make a call on your iphone you dance the tango with a pair of ladies undies on your head and it would be no more legal that saying that unactivated iphone have no warranty.

Its hardly rocket science...the warranty document is legally binding on Apple, the signs in the Apple shops are simply to fool the easily deflected.

first of all the way the warranty is worded is open to interpretation. just because you're arguing that modifying the firmware of a phone doesn't constitute "altering the device to be used in a way that's not in the intentions of Apple" doesn't mean you'll get a new phone

trust me man, i used to be a genius for 2 years, apple will come down hard enough on the genius that swaps that phone so hard that even if the warranty would allow it it will never happen

i've seen rob zombie and other celebrities get turned away because their phones were unlocked

 

[aristobrat]

I understand the apparent dilemma, but the warranty is a fairly simple legal document. The hardware is guaranteed for one year from purchase unless you made *hardware* modifications (the software is specifically excludes from the warranty so any references to modifications relate to the hardware).

Right, the software doesn't come with any warranty (i.e. they're under no obligation to repair or replace an iPhone because of a software issue), but how do you interpret that to mean that only hardware modifications void the warranty?

Sounds like unlocking and hacking are covered in (e) below.

This warranty does not apply: (a) to damage caused by use with non-Apple products; (b) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, flood, fire,
earthquake or other external causes; (c) to damage caused by operating the product outside the permitted or intended uses described by Apple; (d)
to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized
Service Provider (“AASP”); (e) to a product or part that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple; (f)
to consumable parts, such as batteries, unless damage has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; (g) to cosmetic damage, including but
not limited to scratches, dents and broken plastic on ports; or (h) if any Apple serial number has been removed or defaced.

http://images.apple.com/legal/warranty/docs/iphone.pdf

 

[spook]

first of all the way the warranty is worded is open to interpretation. just because you're arguing that modifying the firmware of a phone doesn't constitute "altering the device to be used in a way that's not in the intentions of Apple" doesn't mean you'll get a new phone

trust me man, i used to be a genius for 2 years, apple will come down hard enough on the genius that swaps that phone so hard that even if the warranty would allow it it will never happen

i've seen rob zombie and other celebrities get turned away because their phones were unlocked

Sorry, but you're totally missing his point, he is not onabout anything Apple say, as he said, they can write in their warranty agreement, you can't get a replacement unless you jump up and down on one leg singing the tango. Apple can write anything it wants, but all of it is invalid if it goes AGAINST A CONSUMER RIGHTS LAW. Now I don't know about the US, but in the UK, even many people might not know, but the consumer has hell of a lot of leeway in things and stores especially don't like it known. It doesn't matter if you're a genuis unless you also happen to be knowledgeable of legal matters.

 

[aristobrat]

It doesn't matter if you're a genuis unless you also happen to be knowledgeable of legal matters.

I'm not sure how you UK folk handle it, but if you walk into a US retail store and start talking to an hourly-paid employee (like a Genius) about the legality of their employer's policies, it's going to be a very short conversation, most likely ending with you being asked to leave the store and contact the retailers main office directly.

 

[spook]

I'm not sure how you UK folk handle it, but if you walk into a US retail store and start talking to an hourly-paid employee (like a Genius) about the legality of their employer's policies, it's going to be a very short conversation, most likely ending with you being asked to leave the store and contact the retailers main office directly.

Then in the UK it would be a quick call to trading standards

 

[DarthTreydor]

But what if, for the sake of argument, someone bought an iphone with the intention of activating it through ATT, brought it home, and discovered a problem that prevented him/her from activating the phone in the first place (i.e. itunes didn't recognize the phone)? Would they then not be able to have it replaced under warranty?

That sounds like BS to me.

 

[jeffmc]

Sorry, but you're totally missing his point, he is not onabout anything Apple say, as he said, they can write in their warranty agreement, you can't get a replacement unless you jump up and down on one leg singing the tango. Apple can write anything it wants, but all of it is invalid if it goes AGAINST A CONSUMER RIGHTS LAW. Now I don't know about the US, but in the UK, even many people might not know, but the consumer has hell of a lot of leeway in things and stores especially don't like it known. It doesn't matter if you're a genuis unless you also happen to be knowledgeable of legal matters.

i'm not talking laws, i'm talking apple custome service policy.

show me the law that says a company HAS to offer a warranty on a product? plenty of products require you to register in order to obtain an (extended) warranty.

the canon L lens i just bought has a one year warranty and if you register with canon it's 2 years. i don't see how that's any different.

But what if, for the sake of argument, someone bought an iphone with the intention of activating it through ATT, brought it home, and discovered a problem that prevented him/her from activating the phone in the first place (i.e. itunes didn't recognize the phone)? Would they then not be able to have it replaced under warranty?

That sounds like BS to me.

they would need to bring it back within the 14 days apple allows and exchange it for another un-activated phone or get their money back as it is DOA.
the phones the genii swap with are already activated, they won't give that to someone who hasn't activated an AT&T account as they wouldn't be able to with an already activated phone.

 

[jdouglas]

well thank you for all your help everyone .. after getting my cell phone bill today from last month when I went... turned out the call i made to apple after being in the store while i was in the sates cost me $200 so that really made me mad... im going to go through the warranty again http://images.apple.com/legal/warranty/docs/iphone.pdf and hope there is something i can use...

LOL.. even though after the cell phone bill from calling apple while in the sates, border fee's and gas money I could almost have bought a new one.

 

[senorFunkyPants]

first of all the way the warranty is worded is open to interpretation. just because you're arguing that modifying the firmware of a phone doesn't constitute "altering the device to be used in a way that's not in the intentions of Apple" doesn't mean you'll get a new phone

trust me man, i used to be a genius for 2 years, apple will come down hard enough on the genius that swaps that phone so hard that even if the warranty would allow it it will never happen

i've seen rob zombie and other celebrities get turned away because their phones were unlocked

Taking in an iphone with altered software for warranty repair is a seperate issue from taking in one that has its original software but is unactivated.
If you take in an iPhone with borked software due to unlocking/jailbreaking then Apple are within their rights to refuse to repair the problem.