Replacement iPhone is TERRIBLE

[TheBiggmann]

This weekend I had my iPhone replaced by Apple due to my ear speaker suddenly not working. On my drove home (3 hours, my closest Apple Store is where I go to college) I saw more "no service" than I saw the last 9 months with my previous iPhone. I get home and in my living room, where I used to have four bars, I have one bar. The reception is absolutely God awful everywhere I have been with it. Here is my problem though. First off, will they do anything about this? It's not like I can really prove it to them. Second, is this something I can maybe get taken care of by going to my local ATT store? I'm not heading back down to college for another month, and don't want to deal with this for that long, because it is seriously horrible. Someone please help.

 

[Tyranicus]

Unfortunately, it is not something you can get taken care of at the AT&T store. I have tried in the past, and they always say to take it to the Apple store.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

You could always send it in to Apple, can't you?

 

[TheBiggmann]

Yeah, I could send it, just sucks cuz I'll be without a phone for roughly a week then...

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

This weekend I had my iPhone replaced by Apple due to my ear speaker suddenly not working. On my drove home (3 hours, my closest Apple Store is where I go to college) I saw more "no service" than I saw the last 9 months with my previous iPhone. I get home and in my living room, where I used to have four bars, I have one bar. The reception is absolutely God awful everywhere I have been with it. Here is my problem though. First off, will they do anything about this? It's not like I can really prove it to them. Second, is this something I can maybe get taken care of by going to my local ATT store? I'm not heading back down to college for another month, and don't want to deal with this for that long, because it is seriously horrible. Someone please help.

Pretend you're on vacation and do without. I guarantee the world won't end.

 

[TheBiggmann]

I set myself up for that. Are Apple Stores your only options for bringing them in? It's not like a Mac where you can find an AASP?

 

[Tyranicus]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that authorized service providers will send them to Apple for you, but they won't actually replace your phone right there and then.

 

[Emulex]

There is store report and depot repair. Many authorized repair centers like apple ship it off to depot (TN) and they express it back to you. that's what i do for my macbook pro. just drop it off at the store and they express it back to my work.

The sim can be easily adapter to any other AT&T (or gsm unlocked phone or tablet) - you can buy a candy bar phone used for $9 .

 

[TheBiggmann]

So I stopped at everyone that carries AT&T in my albeit small town, and none carry an adapter in store. By the time I order one and receive it I'll probably have my phone back, so I'm thinking of making my own adapter. Googled it and found a little walkthrough on how to do it. Has anyone done this? Will it work?

 

[TheGizmo]

I've done the home made way and the adapter way.. the homemade way for me was kind of a pain to get it right. the adapter way was better but it made the SIM thicker than a normal one so it was a bit difficult with some phones. I did find that with certain phones where the sim card slides into a tray that is held down by a piece of metal or similar that I could just put the microsim in and get just maneuver it into the right place and it worked.

 

[Emulex]

yah its just taped down. works great. as long as you are not swapping on a regular basis it works great.

 

[gevorg]

use your creativity to make up a problem and get it replaced again, its not that hard to fool Apple store "geniuses"

 

[NakaNaka]

use your creativity to make up a problem and get it replaced again, its not that hard to fool Apple store "geniuses"

I don't think you need to "fool" them, they will replace a phone if the antenna is not working.

 

[Rottie]

Speaking of 4 bars to 1 bar I had same problem with my 3GS and ATT store in Virginia (I live in California) replaced SIM card and told me the metallic case is blocking the signal. But I never had any problem in California with case in some area?!?!?!

 

[Phynaz]

use your creativity to make up a problem and get it replaced again, its not that hard to fool Apple store "geniuses"

We generally don't condone RMA fraud around here.