Apple Changes Stance On Water Damage Policy 155
tekgoblin writes "It appears Apple has changed its stance on whether an iOS device is actually water damaged. If you remember when the 13-year-old girl sued Apple in December, it was because her iPhone's moisture sensors had gone off and Apple voided her warranty. Those sensors have also been triggered by simply exposing the phone to low temperatures. Now Apple says that if the moisture sensors are red but the customer disputes and says no liquid has come into contact with the device, the warranty may still apply."
I'm a cellphone tech at one of the US Big 4 (Score:2, Interesting)
The problem with LDI stickers is that it just shows that the sticker was exposed to liquid. At the unnamed cellphone provider I work for failing a phone for a tripped sticker if they have insurance won't fly. We have to find corrosion or other signs of liquid intrusion on the circuit board.
But seriously people. If you use your phone in extreme conditions and it fails, that is not something that should ever be covered under a warranty. I love how they are saying that the LDI's aren't fair because if you use the phone in -20C and then go inside they can trip. Guess what -20C is BAD for your electronics. Leaving your phone in the room while you shower is BAD for your electronics. If your actively using your devices out there and leaving them exposed you deserve to lose your warranty coverage. Warranty covers defects in the equipment not defects in the user. Remember these people are in the store trying to make warranty claims because their phone is broken. Its not like the phones/devices are working fine. If your stupid enough to do something that trips your stickers Apple has the right to deny you.
Them using stickers as ways to blanket deny a phone is not unique to apple. What is unique to apple is they are the only company that pretty much forces you to go to them for support. If you have stickers tripped in any HTC/Palm/Moto/Samsung devices and your sending your device to them for warranty service, that is gonna be shipped back to you as unrepairable and your gonna be charged for shipping.
Re:Translation (Score:5, Interesting)
>>Apple are possibly the worst for warranties... and more specifically owning up to defects.
I suppose that explains Apple remaining in the top 3 for the last what 15 yrs in computer customer service.
Just this week I have seen Apple volunteer to repair TWO computers that were flat out abused by the customer because they want to keep happy customers. Your statement about Apple being "the worst" for warranties is about the biggest pile of flaming BS I have seen recently. They're expensive, they're arrogant, they're controlling, etc, but the grand majority of their customers rate the warranty and customer support five star.
That being said, yes the LSI are unreliable. They're also used worldwide by almost anyone that manufactures a handheld electronic gadget, including darn near 100% of cell phone manufacturers because they're cheap and WILL identify liquid contact. (erroring in their favor, what did you expect?) And every single one of them has started the game with a "if we see red, the warranty is void" policy, and will make exceptions/considerations in the customer's favor. (some more often than others) Take your dead cell phone into the store and say it won't turn on. The very first thing they will do is remove the battery. Not to reset it. (that's what they'll say though) But to look at the (most easily accessed, one of many) LSI in the phone. You make it sound like Apple is the only one in the world that does this. Remove your cell phone's battery. Look for the white dot.
>>I suppose owning up to a defect is difficult when your under the delusion of perfection
"defect" implies there was a "correct" way to do it. What was your suggestion? Don't you think by now someone would be wealthy having made a better solution to this industry-wide problem, if it were a trivial thing to improve on?