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Tips on how to con Verizon/Apple into giving you a new iPhone

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DirkaDirka
Posts: 298 - Karma: 1,079
So, "con" sounds a little criminalistic, but my iPhone stopped working a couple of days ago. It keeps saying that it's searching for service and it only turns on when it's plugged in, and even then it turns off and turns on sporadically. It's pretty fucked, trust me.

Here's the thing though. I have had a cracked screen on my iPhone for the past 4 months or so but it wasn't affecting the phone at all or my use of it. I just simply did not want to pay for a replacement screen because it was not a big deal to me. My questions are:

Will Verizon not replace my iPhone because of the visible physical damage to it? Is there any way that I can prove my usage of it over the past few months so that they know that it was working okay? It would be awesome if I could just get a completely new iPhone out of this. Anyone have any advice/experience with this in particular or just shmoozing in general in order to get a new phone? Thanks guys!!
Mar 22 2013 9:07PM
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bnewbs6
Posts: 1919 - Karma: 1,463
It sounds pretty messed up. They should give you a new one! But you never really know. Is if still under warranty?
Mar 22 2013 9:15PM
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Rafiki
Posts: 3858 - Karma: 2,251
take it to an apple store. if it's your first within a year of initial purchase of the phone, you get a replacement free
Mar 22 2013 9:15PM
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DirkaDirka
Posts: 298 - Karma: 1,079
So they'll just look past the smashed screen you think?
Mar 22 2013 9:16PM
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DirkaDirka
Posts: 298 - Karma: 1,079
I just wasn't sure if there was a water damage type of rule where if its damaged in a certain type of way physically, then they won't replace it. I don't have insurance on it.

If I take it to Apple, they'll help me out even if I got it through Verizon?
Mar 22 2013 9:17PM
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Rafiki
Posts: 3858 - Karma: 2,251
yes, since apple makes all the iPhones that go out to verizon...

10+ of my friends have taken cracked screened iPhones to the apple store and have gotten free replacements
Mar 22 2013 9:26PM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
honesty helps, if you tell them it was cracked but working fine, you should be set, because they will see the other issues and it won't appear that you just dropped it and want a new one. it will be important to stress the fact that the screen and the current issues are separate events tho
Mar 22 2013 9:30PM
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Rajna
Posts: 3824 - Karma: 90
I just had mine replaced for free, it was only a week or two old though.

I was having some trouble with wifi connectivity. For example, it was constantly dropping my home wifi signal and would switch to the mobile network. In reality, it would only do this maybe once or twice a day and it really wasn't that big of deal... However, I had just brought it with me on a ski trip and managed to scratch it all over the place and dropped it in snow so was kinda bummed. I wanted to get a case and try to get a new one and keep it as unharmed and new as possible. The first thing I did when I got home was look up known issues with the iphone5 on google and see if I could find anything wrong with my phone to get a new one. So I figured I'd arm myself with some knowledge and go into the verizon store to see if they could hook me up and possibly fix this minor problem worst case scenario.

The first visit I went in and was super nice to the dude and told him about the wifi problems and asked if there was anything they could do to remedy the problem. He said yea and took the phone reset it and install some shit. Right as I was about to leave he's like "oh by the way if this doesn't work stop by tomorrow and i'll swap it out for a new one".

Long story short, I go home and it still is having issues connecting and staying connected to my wifi. I took it back the next day and he swapped it out for a brand new one. He also gave me a 30% discount on an otterbox so I was pretty stoked.


Mar 22 2013 9:32PM
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
If it isn't an impact crack then you're fine.
Mar 22 2013 9:34PM
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Chron_Rabbit
Posts: 988 - Karma: 1,567
how the fuck else would you crack it?
Mar 22 2013 9:40PM
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De-Clan
Posts: 1920 - Karma: 3,696
i know its an extra 150 but honestly its so worth it, somehow get the new one and buy apple care, i would highy suggest they gave me a new one the other night becuase the top lock button was stuck down, so ya try to stik that down and they will give u a new one
Mar 22 2013 9:42PM
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Benedetto.
Posts: 2526 - Karma: 64
I can't remember if my brother had insurance or not but I'm thinking he must of because he called them and said the phone was freezing and he tried everything. They sent him a new one and he sent back the old. It has been since the summer and no repercussion..
Mar 22 2013 9:53PM
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snowdon
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 391
Mine did the same "searching" thing after I dropped it in the toilet (I was drunk, it happens). I took it to Verizon and told them I didn't know what happened and they gave me a free new one. I'd at least try talking to them, say it was working fine despite the cracked screen, and see what they say. If they won't replace it go to Apple.
Mar 22 2013 10:27PM
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
Impact as in something dropping on the phone, someone stepping on it, or dropping it on a pointy object... it may not be called impact now that I think of it.
Like this:
[imghttp://www.drcellphone.com/images/htc/NexusOne/google-nexus-one-cracked-screen-repair.jpg[/img]

If it's just a couple cracks going across the screen they normally just act like they're not even there.
Mar 22 2013 10:29PM
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
faack
Click for larger image
Mar 22 2013 10:30PM
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Darth.Maul
Posts: 2472 - Karma: 652
My touchscreen on my phone broke so i paid 8 dollars for new glass, installed it and said my screen stopped working. Boom, new phone for 8 dollars and about an hours labor.
Mar 22 2013 10:34PM
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
that's genius.
Mar 22 2013 10:36PM
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Benedetto.
Posts: 2526 - Karma: 64
Oh yeah btw, his screen was cracked!! That was my point.
Mar 22 2013 10:37PM
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DirkaDirka
Posts: 298 - Karma: 1,079
Well it's definitely an impact crack because it spidered pretty bad in one corner of the phone. But if it was a separate issue from the current one and I have been using my phone for the past few months, do you think they'll reject me?
Mar 22 2013 10:46PM
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
I would bet that they wouldn't reject you. Just hope you don't get some stuck up bitch. If the problem has nothing to do with the screen then you'll probably be fine. I mean, my mom cracked her screen within a couple weeks of getting her iphone and they replaced it just to be nice.

You know what, I think it's actually only screen/display issues that depend on whether it being an "impact" crack or not.
Mar 22 2013 10:54PM
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