Apple sucks.

[_ducky]

About a month ago, I bought an iPhone. I assumed, as most people would, that I was getting a properly manufactured device for my money. I later learned that you can assume nothing when dealing with this stuff.

The phone's battery doesn't last me a single day, and I don't even talk during the day. When I do talk, three out of four times I get "Call Failed."

I take it back to the Apple Store. They replace it, I go home. When I get home, I notice a big ugly dead pixel on it. I set up an appointment to take it back.

They give me another one. I give the screen a look, all seems fine. I go home. The next day, as I'm using the phone, I step outside. Nine or so bright white pixels appear on the screen, and they don't go away, even when the phone is off. I put my hand over the screen to shade the phone from the light, and they disappear. I apparently had "reflective-dead" pixels. I set up yet another appointment.

They give me a replacement phone, but I asked to see a small light. I shine it on the screen and guess what? Dead pixels. It was the last appointment so they had four or five "service phones" left in their inventory. He showed me all of them. All their screens were riddled with dead pixels, some of which were visible in dim light, with the phone off. He actually didn't even want to look at more than one service phone for me, because apparently he "couldn't go through the entire inventory," which basically means that they hope people will take these phones home without realizing whatever might be wrong with them.

Fed up, I asked the guy about a return. He tells me that once a phone is replaced for the first time, it can't be returned. I was not told this when I purchased the phone, or alerted to this when I was having my first replacement done. I went home without taking any of the ones they had, and the guy set up a call for me when the next shipment of service phones came in.

The Apple Store is a thirty-minute trip for me. I don't appreciate having to drive out there every freaking day. I also don't appreciate how they refuse to admit that they're putting broken phones in new casings and shipping them out as "service phones". My original phone didn't have any dead pixels. I could have dealt with dropped calls if it meant I could avoid this crap. Out of the seven or so service phones I've seen so far, they've all been defective.

I think when I'm paying $200 for a phone and over $100 every month for service, I should have something I'm happy with. Something that's not broken, maybe. I feel like it's too much to ask with Apple.

[sziklassy]

WOW... You have been extremely unlucky.

I had a stuck (green) pixel on my first phone, so i went and returned it. Unfortunately it is also a 30 minute drive for me as well.

After replacing it I have had no problems. My 1st gen phone did have the dead pixels (noticed under light or when you angled the phone) but my new one does not.

Yeah it is unfortunate that Apple will make a "refurb" and just resell a phone, assuming someone else will just deal with it. The problem is, that neither you nor I nor the Apple store worker can confirm this. This would have to be something to bring up with Apple corporate.

As for a return, I am sure it is somewhere in the return policy that once an item is exchanged it cannot be returned for a refund. I feel your pain here though as the policies are often bloated and WAYYYY to long to read. Would be nice if they would go over the policy, but I really know few places that do. They are just happy once a sale is made and that is that.

[_ducky]

Well, there are return policies sure, but yeah, find me one customer who says "Hang on, give me your policy sheet, I need to read up here."

Besides, it's Apple. Aren't they famously consumer-friendly? Why couldn't the "genius" simply tell me that "If you replace this phone, you can't return it in the future. Are you sure about your replacement?"

And yeah they always say that the phones "may or may not be" refurbished, but I'm going only by what I've seen and dealt with so far. And they ALL seem to be refurbs. :/

[compton,Tx]

Don't really think Apple sucks, but they did eff up when they mass-produced the 3g. Although it sucks, you won't have this problem with any other apple product. It's a return of the Razr which I had the same problem as you. While it wasn't $200 phone the service on verizon was just as much with no data. Might sound silly but have you looked into a first Gen?

[sziklassy]

Don't really think Apple sucks, but they did eff up when they mass-produced the 3g. Although it sucks, you won't have this problem with any other apple product. It's a return of the Razr which I had the same problem as you. While it wasn't $200 phone the service on verizon was just as much with no data. Might sound silly but have you looked into a first Gen?

As far is pixel issues the first gen had the same amount of issues at this point of production as the 3G has

[_ducky]

Don't really think Apple sucks, but they did eff up when they mass-produced the 3g. Although it sucks, you won't have this problem with any other apple product. It's a return of the Razr which I had the same problem as you. While it wasn't $200 phone the service on verizon was just as much with no data. Might sound silly but have you looked into a first Gen?

Nope, I want the 3G. Even if I did want 1st gen, though, it doesn't matter. I'm locked in. And I want things to not be halfassed and broken. I don't think what I'm saying is unreasonable here...

And yes, I know, every other Apple product is perfect and happy and all Apple. But that's because it's just buy and exit. The iPhone requires a bit more service. When it really gets down to it, Apple's like any other company: eager to make a sale, short on support after, with idiotic policies to match.

Yes, I know, cliché Apple-hating etc, but I have every reason not to be thrilled with them right now.

[cpjr]

Unfortunately you will run into this with any device you buy. Its not just Apple. Yes I believe the first-gen iphones were built better....however even the 3g is still leagues ahead of other devices....cheaper than most of your pda devices and Service, unfortunately is better with Apple. Try buying another pda device and see what type of service you get while having issues.

Luckily I have had quite a few without issues. I fried a first-gen once with a car charger, but was replaced no problem.

PS - And this is coming from someone that has owned probably every device pda/smartphone/blackberry you name it....on the market.

[sziklassy]

if all else fails just sell it on eBay