That's odd, Apple has a 14 day refund policy on the iPhone. As in, you can't return it for a full refund after 14 days. Darin writes:
So I made the 15 mile drive to the AT&T store and as soon as I walked in I was told that they will have nothing to do with the iPhone the moment you leave the store. So I drove 15 miles back home and called the nearest Apple store. They told me that they will handle any issues after the first 14 days, but AT&T is responsible for any issues within the first 14 days.Darin eventually got a replacement iPhone, but it seems that Apple and AT&T have their wires crossed on this issue. Apple is responsible for the actual phone, don't let them make you wait 14 days to replace a defective unit because of a contradiction in policies, or you may find that you cannot get an full refund on the phone. Darin thinks it might be better to buy the iPhone from the Apple store, because that AT&T store wasn't equipped to help him.I then called AT&T and talked to a very friendly and helpful rep who told me that she believed that Apple would have to replace the phone but would verify, I spent several minutes on hold before she returned and after verifying the policy did confirm that AT&T policy states that Apple is responsible for all phone issues.
I explained what the Apple store told me and she volunteered to call them, I spent about 10 minutes on hold and she came back on and let me know that she had talked to the Apple store manager who stated that Apple policy states that AT&T is responsible for the first 14 days but that she would work with me if I went to the store.
Darin writes:
I purchased an iPhone Friday night from a local AT&T store, took it home and activated it with no issues. AT&T was relatively up front about the fact that it was covered by the Apple warranty.After spending some time using the various features I noticed that the external speaker didn't work. I tried calling Apple tech support but gave up after being on hold for about 15 minutes.
Saturday morning I woke up, called Apple tech support and after a hour was able to speak to a rep. She was helpful but not knowledgeable (I knew more about the menus than she did), but after working through the problem she said that it appeared as if the speaker didn't work and to return it to the AT&T store. I asked several times if AT&T would replace it and she said that they would.
So I made the 15 mile drive to the AT&T store and as soon as I walked in I was told that they will have nothing to do with the iPhone the moment you leave the store. So I drove 15 miles back home and called the nearest Apple store. They told me that they will handle any issues after the first 14 days, but AT&T is responsible for any issues within the first 14 days.
I then called AT&T and talked to a very friendly and helpful rep who told me that she believed that Apple would have to replace the phone but would verify, I spent several minutes on hold before she returned and after verifying the policy did confirm that AT&T policy states that Apple is responsible for all phone issues.
I explained what the Apple store told me and she volunteered to call them, I spent about 10 minutes on hold and she came back on and let me know that she had talked to the Apple store manager who stated that Apple policy states that AT&T is responsible for the first 14 days but that she would work with me if I went to the store.
So I drove 45 minutes to the Apple store, walked in and asked for the manager; when explaining my issue to the Apple rep 3 other people spoke up and mentioned that they have the same issue with AT&T stating that they have to go to Apple. The manager talked to all of us, explained that fact that the AT&T and Apple policies do disagree but that she would resolve our issues. 45 minutes later I walked out with a new phone which is working perfectly.
I do want to warn people about purchasing iPhones from AT&T due to the potential support issues that they may experience if the receive a phone with issues.
Darin
(Photo: hanapbuhay)
PREVIOUSLY: 14 Days To Return The iPhone, 10% Restocking Fee If Box Is Opened
NEQUAM has his head so far up Apple's Hershey Highway he can't hear you. I love the way he uses Haters and Fanboys, seems he is a hater of haters. Kind of iRonic eh'?
]]>@SBR249: Believe me, Apple knows AT&T is flaking on service, The shit has already hit the fan, but AT&T has like 1800 stores. It takes time to move a beast like that.
@MAC-PHISTO: why would you count defective replacements against sales numbers? Replacing a phone is a warranty service, which would not affect sales.
@JBURLAND: They're called retail employees. They can be quite inept at times (although the opposite is also true, they can be stellar).
If the phone doesn't work, they would have you send it in (via an apple store if you choose) to have it serviced.
AT&T stores have absolutely nothing to do with the phone or activation. All warranties are serviced through Apple themselves.
]]>People waited in line to PAY for a half-assed 1st gen product, just to HAVE, it. That's certainly part of the "i" appeal. Although this unfortunate consumerist desire exists for other poorly launched products (and some well executed ie Wii) usually with the "i" crowd will you see a blatant disregard to "value" and amazing excuse driven defense to their motives. I'm sure the iphone will be amazing in time; but again, I don't see how the "trade-off" point has validity. You don't buy an overpriced cell phone for the camera, and you don't buy an overpriced ipod for the phone.
]]>Cooler gear as in a cell phone/ipod that lasts only a day before recharging, or a cell phone that has a network browser on geriatric network, or maybe you meant cooler gears as in $600 half glass liability.
]]>These iPhone posts and comments demonstrate that the only difference between the haters and the fanboys is that the latter have cooler gear.
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essentially, if they follow normal inventory routines, at&t stores are going to show a higher sales volume, thereby warranting higher restocking of the phone over time. meanwhile, apple stores are going to bear 100% of the replacement burden?!?
what nimrod is running this operation?
]]>Seriously, this stupid cell phone has become the Paris Hilton of the tech news world.
Anyways, shock! Misunderstandings, miscommunications, problems, and dissatisfaction with an overhyped product that used the ol' "artificial scarcity" routine to drum up sales, a la the latest game console?
Say it ain't so!
Cure: Wait a couple weeks. They'll make more.
]]>Also, just wait till all the iPhone clones come out that are more feature riched, unlocked, and support the ability for the community to write custom code and features for.
]]>Apple will weather the problems (500,000 out and only a few vocal people having activation problems? That's it?), and come out on top, I think. They really did, it seems, everything they could to make sure things were taken care of prior to launch. Now, its just up to the people behind the product to make it work. I have faith in Apple, but I'm worried about AT&T.
]]>iPhone, change the world? No. Set record for beating the Newton to hype/downfall record? We shall see.
Apple, using AT&T was a baaaaaddddddd idea.
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