Tips: How to Swap out Your Broken iPhone at an Apple Store

[h22kai]

Bought your phone at an Apple store and now it is not working correctly? Follow these easy tips to make the process as painless as possible.

1. Do a Restore before you go. If you do not, they will send you home and have you do one or make you do it in the store. Either way, you will not go home with another iPhone unless you do this, so you might as well do it before you go in the store and see if this fixes your problem(s). (Allow for enough time post-Restore to verify that your problem is/is not resolved.)

2. It is a good idea to book an appointment with a Genius as the Apple stores are typically backed up for awhile with problems right now and may not be available when you show up (or for the next few days for that matter). You can do this online at Apple.com

3. You must bring your original box in order for you to receive your new iPhone. They need to scan the info on the bar codes on the back. (You can bring your accessories too but it doesn't matter.. if you don't bring your accessories, they will just remove the new ones out of the box of your new iPhone and put them in the old box). So obviously... NEVER THROW OUT YOUR BOX! (At least for a year to cover warranty).

4. If you have a FAN discount or some other business discount, you must remove it or Apple will not be able to help you. If you choose not to, you will have to deal with AT&T. (For example, as soon as I received my original iPhone a couple of weeks ago I went home and signed up for a FAN discount through my college email address. Now Apple is unable to help me. I asked the guy at Apple, "Can I call AT&T and have the FAN discount removed... then call back and have it put back on?" He said, "We are not supposed to suggest this." I said, "I suggested it." He laughed and brought me a store iPhone to call 611 and have it removed. Then he was able to activate my new iPhone.)

Just found out why they are not supposed to suggest this. I just entered my email address to have the FAN discount re-added and the website states that this email address has already tried to use a FAN discount. I called the 1866 CINGULAR number and they stated they cannot add it on right now but will be following up by calling me back on Monday at a certain time to make sure everything is correct. Hmmm. Will update Monday with my results.

Hope this thread helps someone so they have less hoops to jump through.

[manho1dup]

Actually, you don't have to bring your box. They can pull up your receipt if you give them the credit card number that you used to pay for the phone. I returned 3 phones and all 3 times I did not bring my box and they had no problems swapping them out. Everything was done in under 15 mins.

[JFSikora]

Originally Posted by manho1dup

Actually, you don't have to bring your box. They can pull up your receipt if you give them the credit card number that you used to pay for the phone. I returned 3 phones and all 3 times I did not bring my box and they had no problems swapping them out. Everything was done in under 15 mins.

This is correct. No box is needed. I've swapped out a few phones when I first got the original iPhone. Never needed the original box.

[h22kai]

My Apple store takes a BOX OR NO PHONE stance. Happened to three people while I was there the first day and two today. Must vary by store??? Still.... keep the box just in case.

Actually, in retrospect, the guy said they only save about three phones per day for exchange. (They are brand new phones sealed). Maybe when they have too many people who want them, they make up this excuse so that you have to come back the next day and aren't all pissed off as it is YOUR fault you did not bring your box. Who knows.


ETA: They could not pull up my receipt either. I had to hop on my Yahoo account and print it from their iMac. Maybe I go to the Mac 1.0 store....

[JFSikora]

It very well may depend on who you talk to.

[CharlieBall]

Does this also work with an At&T store as well?

I only wanna exchange it cuz i have a dead pixel and maybe some personal abuse ive done to the phone.

Any info plz

[h22kai]

Also, when you swap out your iPhone it puts you back into a 2 year contract from that date. The guy at Apple mentioned he thought this would happen. Just checked online and it is true. Not sure if I am going to call AT&T and have it changed. Prolly will just so it doesn't mess up any upgrades in the future. (Or canceling AT&T all together in the future if AT&T loses its exclusive contract with Apple... hmmm.)

[h22kai]

Originally Posted by CharlieBall

Does this also work with an At&T store as well?

I only wanna exchange it cuz i have a dead pixel and maybe some personal abuse ive done to the phone.

Any info plz

Not sure you can exchange a phone with AT&T. When I did Direct Fulfillment (which I eventually canceled because I found a phone at an Apple Store) the receipt said that all warranty issues/claims/etc. would be handled by Apple. I would contact AT&T to be sure though.

[CharlieBall]

Originally Posted by h22kai

Not sure you can exchange a phone with AT&T. When I did Direct Fulfillment (which I eventually canceled because I found a phone at an Apple Store) the receipt said that all warranty issues/claims/etc. would be handled by Apple. I would contact AT&T to be sure though.

Okay i went to my AT&T store today, the lady was awfully rude. But yes, in order to exchange your iphone, call 1-800-my-iphone i believe. And somehow work a deal with them and you can exchange it. But AT&T is not responsible for exchanging iPhones.

She did say that, if you already have an iPhone, and wanted another. You would have to pay the restocking price 10% of the phone, plus the original price of the new phone.

This part, i actually believe is total bull.

I guess I'm stuck with my 1 dead pixel for a while and a few scratches on the back

[h22kai]

From your iPhone go to YouTube and search "dead pixel fixer." It may fix your problem.. it also may cause a seizure... I would avoid if you are epileptic.