Iphone warranty issues - can they do this?

mwddrwg

Hi everyone, hoping to get some opinions from you about this situation please


My son has an iphone 5s (on contract in my name). The original phone was replaced by a brand new unit at an Apple Store in May last year due to an unknown fault. They never told us what the fault was and they didn't seem to know. We were given a brand new phone in its original packaging on the same day.


Subsequently, the replacement has developed a major fault with the camera where the screen turns into a mess of pink and green pixels when it's switched on.


Contacted Apple last night to discuss a repair or another replacement but was told that they only do 3 month warranty on replacement phones, even though the one we were given was brand new in the box. Can this be right? I would expect a new phone to last more than 10 months, and certainly more than the 3 months warranty period! Has anyone challenged this before to anyone's knowledge?


Thanks for reading

Frozen_up_north

The warranty period is for the original purchase, not subsequent replacements. Fair enough that Apple give 3 months on a replacement. From the original purchase date you would have had 12 months warranty, or 24 if you ask nicely (EU wide warranty is 24 months, not sure why UK is 12).

mwddrwg

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

The warranty period is for the original purchase, not subsequent replacements. Fair enough that Apple give 3 months on a replacement. From the original purchase date you would have had 12 months warranty, or 24 if you ask nicely (EU wide warranty is 24 months, not sure why UK is 12).

Hi, thanks for your reply.
I don't see why giving only 3 months warranty on a brand new phone is fair, even though it is a replacement? Brand new replacements should have at least the same warranty as the original as they were both new when I received them. I would totally understand it if the replacement I was given was a used one. Maybe I'm missing the logic somewhere here

benten69

As above really. Warranty is 12 months from purchase date or 3 months of replacement, so whenever is longer.

As an example, if you bought a phone on the 1st Jan 2017 and got it replaced on the 1st June 2017 the warrant would expire on 1st Jan 2018 (12 months from original purchase as it was replaced with more than 3 months original warranty remaining).

However if you purchased a phone on 1st Jan 2017 and got it replaced on 1st Dec 2017 the warranty would expire on 1st March 2018 (3 months from replacement date as it was replaced with less than 3 months original warranty remaining.).

As for why they do it....because they can and it prevents them paying out under warranty for some things as you have found out.

mwddrwg

Thanks benten69


I see what you're saying, but why should the original warranty apply to the replacement when they are bott new phones? I understand how Apple are doing it but still don'r think it's right.


It should work like this in my opinion:


Buy new phone from Apple - get 1 year warranty
Iphone breaks down after 6 months due to no fault of the user
Apple replaces iphone with a NEW iphone (not used)
Replacement iphone is new so should also have 1 year warranty from the date of replacement (original warranty should be void at this point as it's not the same phone at all)#
Any less is shortchanging the consumer as far as I can see, or maybe by logic's a bit warped

stragglebod

Their warranty was that they'd provide you with a working phone for 12 months. And that's what they've done.

benten69

To be honest, I agree with you, but from their (Apple's) point of view giving a full warranty on a replacement phone is like throwing money down the pan. Why fix peoples phones for free after 6 months of getting a replacement when they can charge money and make profit for little to no work?

They are a multi-national corporation who only care about money at the end of the day. So as long as it's legal and lines their pockets they are happy. Sometimes they don't even care about the legal part (tax avoidance and the likes).

mwddrwg

I suppose it is legal as far as they're concerned but I still think the new replacement phone has not lasted as long as it should be expected to last. Thanks for all your replies. Much appreciated

JJ_Egan

Your consumer rights are against the vendor ,was that Apple .
Manufacturers warranty is up to them to decide what applies or not or how long .
Warranty
Consumer Rights
Two different items .

mwddrwg

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Your consumer rights are against the vendor ,was that Apple .
Manufacturers warranty is up to them to decide what applies or not or how long .
Warranty
Consumer Rights
Two different items .

Thanks for asking. The phone was bought originally via Vodafone on a 24-month contract so not from Apple directly. Is it worth taking it up with Vodafone as well?

glentoran99

mwddrwg wrote: »

Thanks for asking. The phone was bought originally via Vodafone on a 24-month contract so not from Apple directly. Is it worth taking it up with Vodafone as well?

Nope they will direct you to apple, who will direct you to Vodafone, who will direct you to apple, repeat...