iphone 5 water damage tips to face 'genius'

overcharged

Hi Guys

Have to face the 'genius' technicians at Apple retail store tomorrow to get my iphone5 replaced -- signs of green oxidisation on the lightning port socket.

However, when I called in the other day and asked to make an appointment, the guy took my phone upstairs to the techs and came back down saying they *could see traces of water down the inside of the phone, down one side of it* -- is this possible? Do they use some kind of water scanner?

Am miserable because (not only am I skint and without any insurance on the phone or home) I treated the stupid phone so carefully but looks like moisture's got into the Griffin Survivor protective case I got for it when I had the phone in my pocket while walking in the rain. Seems like once the moisture got in, the case kept it there and ensured the damage was done -- that's the only way it could possibly have had any kind of contact with water. A complete kick in the nuts.

Any tips would be appreciated for my encounter with the 'genius' staff.

paddyrg

Start by recognising that 'genius' is definitely overstating the case, they are salesmen. They will look at the stickers that change colour when moist, and probably offer you a discount on an upgrade.

overcharged

paddyrg wrote: »

Start by recognising that 'genius' is definitely overstating the case, they are salesmen. They will look at the stickers that change colour when moist, and probably offer you a discount on an upgrade.

Thanks for feedback -- yeah I learned about the indicators that change colour, but have you ever heard of them being able to see actual traces of "old" water inside one side of a phone? Just want to check they're not telling me complete lies!

overcharged

Also how could the 'genius' tell it was old liquid inside the phone as opposed to new liquid?

WilliamO

I think its more a case of you stating what has happened. For example, I use a rubberised casing with plastic glass cover on my iPhone whereby when I go cycling the thing gives condensation around the plastic glass (not inside the phone covering itself though). The point being that if I can produce cold air meeting sweaty/heated body when cycling to produce condensation; plus the fact the air could be misty/damp around this time of year I would argue to Apple that their product is not up to standard and that colour changing stickers is no evidence of misuse etc whatsoever.

In answer to your question - I suppose they are trained to spot the difference between old and new skid marks (I'll let you decide which kind of skid marks; from car or pants :rotfl:)

benje302

My daughters Iphone 5c was knocked out of her hand when it was only a week old and broke. We were offered a "replacement" with a bill of £209. I think Apple offer a replacement of the iphone 5 for £216 !!.
Good luck

wba31

Argue the fact that it's a design flaw. If you havent dropped the phone in water then the interior water sensor will not have changed and that proves that it's standard air moisture that's caused it.

Lifeforms

The trouble is, that argument ends in a stale mate. Their reactions are so fluid (ha!) in what they do. pretty girl, replace for free, declare it all water damage, normal lad charge replacements, or just can't repair, replace for x amount.

They really don't repair, aside very minor things imo, it seems a lot of phones get straight out replaced, and the old one sent back to get refurbished and repaired there.

Be prepared for a fight saying it's water damage, you need to pay x amount to replace it.
It's only a design flaw when enough cases go against the grain and claim/fight, and the company admits it. Till then it's a common problem that a lot of smart phones and tablets suffer from, water ingress even if from overly sweaty hands.

kwikbreaks

Good luck with arguing about water damage - sadly I think you'll need it.

IMO this is the problem you need to devote more attention to...

overcharged wrote: »

...skint and without any insurance on the phone or home

Kingsd316

Is the small disc underneath where the sim card goes in pink or white?

overcharged

Coughed up £209.
The 'genius' looked perplexed when I told him that his teammate (whose card I produced) had told me he'd gone upstairs and checked with 2 technicians who had agreed that they could see "traces of old liquid inside the phone, particularly down one side of the phone on the inside." The 'genius' today was non-committal and didn't want to comment on why his teammate would have said that. Nonetheless, I gave him the business card of the teammate in question and told him to check out why the guy might have told me that.

The lightning dock on the phone was wrecked from oxidisation/corrosion so really I didn't stand a chance.

Wangled a free 12.50 lightning cable off him to replace my wrecked one.

Once the nightmare £60 a month O2 contract I'm stuck with finishes (my gf got me it last Dec out of goodness of the heart but now she can't afford it anymore and I'm stuck with it and having to fork out for it every month) I am FINISHED with IPHONES. I'm telling ya -- those things are designed to break at the slightest hint of water/moisture. Never ever ever ever again.

I asked the guy if they recommended any waterproof cases -- and got a big fat no.

Thanks for your feedback everyone.