Warranty

Apple now offering in-store $149 replacement screens for iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

A recent MarketWatch article has blamed high iPhone 5 repair costs on Apple’s tight control of the supply chain, which in turn dictates aftermarket prices.

Perhaps responding to the criticism, the company has reportedly started selling a replacement screen component for the iPhone 5 for $149.

Tipsters claim that the replacement display is offered in-store only, with or without AppleCare+.

Although $149 is notably higher than the corresponding iPhone 4S screen assembly which costs about $95, Apple's asking price undercuts the repair wizards over at iFixit who offer an iPhone 5 replacement screen for $200.

And in response to Apple's competitive pricing, some service shops are now starting to tweak their repair rates accordingly...

Apple could actually start repairing faulty iDevices in June

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 24, 2013

A letter Apple allegedly sent to Brazilian Authorized Service Providers signals significant changes to how the company handles iPhone and iPad repairs. Specifically, rather than replace faulty devices with their good-as-new refurbished counterparts, Apple should finally start performing device repairs in-house as early as next month, reports AppleInsider which got hold of Apple's letter to distributors.

We heard earlier in the month that major changes are coming to Apple's AppleCare warranty this fall so the development could signal Apple's intent to test the new policy in Brazil ahead of a broad roll-out later this year...

Major changes reportedly coming to AppleCare this fall

Cody Lee ∙ May 11, 2013

Apple reportedly held a town hall session with its employees this week to discuss some significant changes coming to its AppleCare warranty service. The new policies are expected to start rolling out in the US 'very soon,' and international shortly after.

So what's going to be different? According to the report, one of the biggest changes has to do with how Apple Store employees handle iPhone repairs. Apparently, staff have been told that they will be doing a lot more in-store repairs, and less exchanges...

Apple offers third-gen Apple TV replacement program over Wi-Fi issues

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 15, 2013

Is your Apple TV acting up lately? Specifically, is the set-top box exhibiting issues related to Wi-Fi networking? If so, Apple may have a brand new unit for you, free of charge, up to two years after the device’s purchase date.

According to a new report, the iPhone maker has opened a replacement program for owners of the third-generation Apple TVs plagued with problems related to locating or joining Wi-Fi network, dropped connections and more.

Only a small number of units have been affected and Apple has specified which serial number pairs are eligible for the replacement program...

Apple to pay $53 million in iPhone warranty class-action settlement

Ed Sutherland ∙ April 12, 2013

Have you been frustrated by Apple's repair or replacement policy? You could be in for some cash, according to a Friday report.

The iPhone maker supposedly has signed a settlement deal worth $53 million ending a class action lawsuit that claimed Apple dragged its feet on honoring warranties for the iPhone and iPod touch.

The settlement, reportedly signed Wednesday by Apple's head litigation attorney, could affect "hundreds of thousands" of iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS owners, as well as people who bought the first three generations of the iPod touch media player...

Apple off the hook as Chinese media approves of Tim Cook’s apology

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 2, 2013

Pressured by the relentless crusade of state-owned media in China which have been dissing Apple in headlines for days over its warranty practices, Tim Cook yesterday issued an open letter.

Published on Apple's Chinese web site, the letter is basically a public apology addressed to the company's customers and fans in the 1.33 billion people country, now Apple's second-largest market. It's done its job (for now) as the iPhone maker appears to have earned back the media's respect in China.

The same major print and broadcast media that have been bad mouthing Apple throughout last week over its supposedly "unparalleled arrogance" is now singing praise to the company, with the country's Foreign Ministry officially approving Apple's apology...

Tim Cook issues open letter apologizing for warranty issues in China

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

If you've been reading the news lately, you've probably heard that Apple's been having some major difficulties in China. Over the last few weeks, it's been getting bashed by the state-run CCTV network and Chinese celebrities over its warranty policies.

The main issue is that some folks believe Apple provides customers in China with worse after-purchase service than it does in other countries, with reports claiming it replaces their goods with recycled components instead of new ones like in the US.

Apple has been fairly quiet on the criticism, until today...

EU scolds Apple over AppleCare warranty rights

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple's woes over its shady warranty practices in Europe just took a turn for the worse as the European Union through the mouth of its Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding made it clear it has no intention of letting Apple off the hook. In her speech today, she criticized the tech giant for not complying with consumer laws in many EU states.

The Cupertino firm stubbornly insists on its AppleCare terms of service which aren't in sync with EU laws. The company had been previously reprimanded of failing to communicate in no unambiguous terms to its EU buyers that they are entitled to an additional year of coverage...

Apple’s warranty practices in Europe draw ire of a Belgian watchdog

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 15, 2013

Apple's warranty adventure in the European Union is far from being over. After the company failed to properly communicate to its Italian consumers that they were entitled to a EU-wide two-year warranty (first warranty year provided by the manufacturer and the second by the seller), for which it was fined $264,000 last month and $1.2 million in March, now Apple has gotten itself into trouble with a Belgian consumer watchdog, Test-Aankoop/Test-Achats...

Italy slaps Apple with a $264,000 fine in ongoing AppleCare warranty dispute

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), Italy’s antitrust authority, punished Apple over failing to comply with local laws concerning AppleCare warranties, a report Friday noted. After the company had faced a temporary closure of Italy operations and even removed its AppleCare products from all sales channels in the country (except for its online store), the country's regulator nevertheless fined the iPhone maker 200,000 euros, or approximately $264,000. This is in addition to the 900,000 euro (approximately $1.2 million) fine from March over failing to tell customers about their rights to free assistance, as mandated by EU laws...

In Italy, AppleCare products removed over warranty policy shenanigans

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Bloomberg in October reported of Justice Minister Viviane Reding pushing EU regulators into probing Apple over its ambiguous warranty advertising in the European Union. And earlier in the year, consumer groups demanded that eleven EU countries pressure Apple into complying with EU's consumer laws. As a result, Apple's warranty plans with extended device coverage are about to be pulled from retail channels in Italy. Better still, Apple is finally informing buyers that EU law entitles them to a minimum two-year seller guarantee, free of charge...

EU to probe Apple over ambiguous warranty advertising

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Bloomberg reports today that EU Justice Minister Viviane Reding is calling for local authorities in the European Union’s member states to see whether Apple complies with local laws pertaining to product warranties. If they determine that Apple did not advertise its warranty policies appropriately, the company could face an EU-wide probe into its practices by all 27 of the European Union’s member states.

Apple already clashed with Italy, where authorities found it guilty of selling its $99 a year AppleCare coverage even though a two-year warranty is mandated by the European Union, for which Apple was fined $1.16 million and even faced temporary closure of Italy operations...