Related
I purchased the phone about a month ago, from the day I purchased it the camera did not operate correctly. I took my device to the store in an attempt to get it replaced with a new one. Unfortunately for me my camera just happened to work that day which was also the last day of the 30 day warranty. The guy pretty much said that he couldnt help me because my device worked, but then he gave me this number saying that if there is any further problems they will take care of it. So I call the ATT warranty department the next day (my camera broke again) and they said that they were sending me a REFURBISHED phone. I talked with them for 2 hours and they pretty much sait there is nothing they can do.
So I get this refurbished phone and right out of the box it looks of poor quality, I later find out that no matter what I do, the device will not charge. So I send in for another refurb which is of even worse condition and this one wont sync to my PC.
Do any of you guys have any ideas that could help I called the warranty department and coustomer care TWICE, asked to speak to both supervisors, threatened to change my entire family's service and they dont reply with anything except that the phone can not be replaced with a new phone. What do you think I should do?
dude that sucks!
ive never had a problem gettin a swap out.. and i bricked my first tilt..
u need to speak to managers and managers only, throw a fit make a scene in the store they'll work with u!
Learn from your mistake so you don't repeat it in the future. If you have an issue with a phone within the 30 day period, make sure it's fully taken care of within that time frame. Unfortunately you took some clerk's word for what would happen instead of double checking yourself.
AT&T most likely isn't going to do anything more from you. They have pretty good customer service and retention, but it is within their rights to give you a refurbished phone.
I also find it hard to believe that they shipped you two refurbished phones that right out of the box appeared to be of "poor quality." If the phone's had a shoddy appearance they wouldn't have been sent back out.
If your next replacement (refurb) is not functional, then tell them that it is getting ridiculous that you have had 3 replacments and they were all bad (again, I find that dubious). If the phone's are malfunctioning to any extent that you can't make calls (like a phone won't recharge) then they should be crediting your account on a daily basis when you can't use the phone.
Lastly, you can threaten to go to your credit card issuer (assuming you bought it with one) or to the BBB. Again, these are mostly threats, and I don't suggest you follow through unless you are truly getting bad refurbs 3 times in a row. Don't just take a negative attitude and look for problems becuase it isn't a new phone...you aren't likely to get one.
However, you could realistically cancel your service, and then refuse to pay any cancellation fees because they weren't honoring their end of the deal by providing you with functioning equipment. Even though you might have a leg to stand on....it will still probably get sent to collections and mar your credit.
Of the refurbs I got, these were in the condition I stated. When I called ATT they said something along the lines of 'every once in awhile a bad one slips through, but its pretty rare.'
I don't doubt a bad one slips through.... but two in a row....
What I am saying is third time is a charm...you can't keep getting bad ones
Also, I know how it can be mentally (as I would feel the same way) that a refurb just isn't as good and you would rather have a new one even if you saw a refurb pass every single test.
Try for #3 and if you are still out of luck...go with the other poster's suggestion and make a scene in the store
This reminds me of when i had the 8525 hermes. I was sent about 3 phones from them that were of bad quality. Bluetooth problems and yellowish tint screen.. The unwritten rule is that after 3 phones youre sopost to get a upgrade of the latest comperable model. Right now the tilt is the latest pocket pc but at the time, the tilt replaced the 8525 and thats how i recieved my tilt..
Moral is.... wait til the next ppc comes out and make a scene.. but also bring that point up to warranty replacement.
bengalih said:
I don't doubt a bad one slips through.... but two in a row....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happened to me last week, two bad ones, and a third one that was good. It's possible, and somewhat probable for a scenario like that to occur. It's not like saying he put a million dollars on "00" at the roulette table and won
I'm on my fourth tilt in 6 months. The first one got fried by an ebay charger (I think) my daughter threw the next one and messed up the display (can't believe they haven't charged me for that one... yet) The third did't sync with my PC like one of yours and the forth one's been great. All of the replacments have been refirbs but have looked as good as new with the one being bad out of the box.
I agree with bengalih just get another one if it's bad you'll know right away if not it should be perfectly fine.
mtbjoe said:
I'm on my fourth tilt in 6 months. The first one got fried by an ebay charger (I think) my daughter threw the next one and messed up the display (can't believe they haven't charged me for that one... yet) The third did't sync with my PC like one of yours and the forth one's been great. All of the replacments have been refirbs but have looked as good as new with the one being bad out of the box.
I agree with bengalih just get another one if it's bad you'll know right away if not it should be perfectly fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well now we know why AT&T sometimes has such a sweet deal on refurb tilts LOL
Ok you said the second phone couldnt sync to pc. If you search through this forum I guarantee there is a fix for that.
Switch providers and tell them that you are making the switch because of the level of service (with details) that you have to date.
deathpulse said:
Switch providers and tell them that you are making the switch because of the level of service (with details) that you have to date.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Wow Sorry I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing at the insinuation that they would actually care. The sad fact is T-Mobile Is worse in service availability. And Sprint? I wouldn't wish that on my enemy.
Here is a link: http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=4607
No BS this will work !!
I got a brand new custom built HP laptop ( to replace my custom built 2yr old laptop w/ 3yr accidental damage protection) because I followed the same advice I am going to give you. Similar situation with my laptop...sent it back twice, never fixed it right, 14 phone calls, over 450 minutes with customer support and such..won't bore ya with the details
Here's what I did...
Got all my phone records to them together
Had all the invoices etc together
Called and told them I had been "advised" that I had to give them one more chance to make it "right" ! Implying I had legal advise....Then I told them I was going to take them to small claims court..Period !
YES I was going to take them to court cause statistically they always settle!
If not I had my records and was in the right !!! Like you seem to be
Be stern, firm and assertive, not angry or yelling. I basically told them what will happen if they did not make it right...they folded like a cheap lawn chair and I got a brand new custom built $2000 laptop plus a full 3yr accidental damage warranty!
I still get a rush thinking about it !!!
I understand what you mean, but I am completely unprepared to take them to court over such a minor issue. Im going to expend all of my other options first, I still have to go back to the store and argue there that it is there fault because they did not support there 30-day return policy in the first place. The man let me walk out of the store with a broken phone. I should have handeled it then but I didnt realize I would be dialing in and getting more refurbs.
Also, my third refurb arrived today, the device functions completely as intended. The problem now is that the keyboard on this new device does not seem very responsive, or at least, not nearly as responsive as the keyboard on my first device (which I still have). I am upset with this as my other Tilt is in premium condition, not a single scratch. I think I am going to return this one as well.
not good
hey I work for the company and
1. they kinda HAVE to exchange your phone in store if you got it over the phone, over att.com or at a corporate store. if you are within 30 days the rep should do the exchange, the rep u got was an A*&*LE. some act like the store stock and shipping cost come from their pocket.
2. if you get an idiot customer svc rep just hangup and call back , sometime u have to bend the truth. say u have a phone that drops calls ( they are afraid of this) and u tried ur friend's SIM card and still does not work correctly.
3. sorry you did not come to my store.(NY)
4. almost impossible to get a new phone through warranty or insurance.
5. if ya'll have any Q's bout stuff PM me.
out...
This is exactly why sometimes the "best deal" is not a good deal...
I only buy my phones from the bigger retailers, Best Buy & the company directly....
Mom & Pop shops, and online retailers:
- Cheaper up front, can usually get you the best deal if you read the fine print and agree
- Usually require a 2nd contract stating you will not change you plan (or features) within 6 months to 1 year or they charge you a penalty (usually $200 for removing OR changing the kind of data service from a phone like the tilt-- ex.: change from Unlimited data $30/month to Unlimited data & Text for $50/month, you broke the contract, they will charge you $200)
- Do not have to accept returns. Returns are done by companies as a 'favor' -- they are not required by US law (for most stores/products, some exceptions)
Big retailers or the Service Provider directly:
- Always have a return policy
- Almost never require a 2nd contract agreeing to keep features
- Usually $25 more for basic phones, up to $100 more for smartphones (they do not require Data, which most M&P/Internet sites give you $75-$100 off for getting and keeping for 6 months)
Other nice advantage of Big Retailers: If customer service at one place gives you no help and you're within reason to return it... go a few miles to another location and try again.... (again, if you're trying to return something 45 days later, you'll probably get no help where ever you go)
This wasnt a 'Mom and Pop' Shop, it was an official retailer. I was going to get the phone at a smaller AT&T but they said I would have to go to an official store that carried there high-end products. When I bought the phone the person I bought it from, I believe I have his buisiness card, but I will check later, allowed me to open the box in the store. He then told me if I wasn't satisfied I had 30 days for a return or replacement. I came back, 29 days later and they said that I had to call there warranty department because the device was not broken, and there fore he could not replace it. Essentially, they lied to me.
If it's not an AT&T corporate store, it's a Mom & Pop shop...
If they say "Authorized Retailer" they are not directly AT&T, they are reselling AT&T services and do not have to follow AT&T Corporate return policies...
Most of these locations are owned by individuals, or groups of individuals, as a business venture...
Keep in mind, anywhere from 50 to 85% of Wireless stores are NOT corporately owned by their service provider, and all of them (except T-Mobile) are allowed to put giant signs on the front of the building saying "AT&T" "Verizon" or "Sprint"... Sprint requires "Authorized Dealer" added to the logo, T-Mobile requires you to name your store something, and if you use T-Mobile logo it can be no more then 25% of the total sign space. AT&T I don't know the exact policy on their signage, but should require "Authorized Reseller" in the sign...
Of course, people can ignore these requirements, One of my old bosses did.. Hence why he's an old boss..
Quick Tip:
If they don't offer the IPhone they are not corporately owned...
At least in the DC metro area, every corporately owned AT&T store has a live active IPhone on display for customers to try
fizzie said:
I got a brand new custom built HP laptop ( to replace my custom built 2yr old laptop w/ 3yr accidental damage protection) because I followed the same advice I am going to give you. Similar situation with my laptop...sent it back twice, never fixed it right, 14 phone calls, over 450 minutes with customer support and such..won't bore ya with the details
Here's what I did...
Got all my phone records to them together
Had all the invoices etc together
Called and told them I had been "advised" that I had to give them one more chance to make it "right" ! Implying I had legal advise....Then I told them I was going to take them to small claims court..Period !
YES I was going to take them to court cause statistically they always settle!
If not I had my records and was in the right !!! Like you seem to be
Be stern, firm and assertive, not angry or yelling. I basically told them what will happen if they did not make it right...they folded like a cheap lawn chair and I got a brand new custom built $2000 laptop plus a full 3yr accidental damage warranty!
I still get a rush thinking about it !!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I worked for Acer Computers and they *****ed out with customers every single time something like this happened. This is sound advise
As I am an employee of Orange I thought I would let you know...
We got an email to day to say there are 3000 handsets "in testing" at the moment, it might not be until August that Online Sales, Phone Sales and Stores will see these handsets. By then they will be Orange Branded.
I would take "in testing" to mean they are putting their own version / skin on the TF3D...um NO!
There was ONLY 413 handsets delivered to ONLY the top 100 stores so thats why they will be hard to find if there are any left. These lucky ones where the "Generic" ones.
I was just lucky I was working the day they where delivered to our store and I got my hands on mine or else I still wouldn't have one...No handset charge, £21 per month, 600mins 2000 texts, 250Mb internet bundle, and Free Insurance.
I work in a top 100 store and we only got 4, I bought mine and we sold the other three in 2 days.... We now have waiting list of about 25 people.... deep joy!
Oh! And from what I have been able to gather from speaking to our Tech Support team Orange's HSDPA coverage is pretty much non-existant unless you are in London and you are sitting on-top of a radio mast, so you may aswell switch it off.
I am finding some funny issues with mine at the moment though....
If I receive 2 text messages one after another (within 30 secs of each other) then the phone vibrates constantly until I take the battery out....anyone else had this?
Also, I installed TomTom 7 on it and for some reason "sometimes" when I call someone once the phone call is connected TomTom starts up all on its own....
The only software I have instlled on the device is TomTom 7 and the latest version of the TF3D config.
the phone is running the following configuration:-
ROM Version: 1.37.405.1 WWE
ROM Date: 12/06/2008
Radio Version: 1.00.25.03
Protocol Version 52.26a.25.09W
.G.
I was told by the Orange rep today that the 3000 were about to be released. They're not going to test all 3000, just a small sample.
Then there'd me no more stock till August.
If that turns out not to be the case then I'll cancel my upgrade.
well im sending mine back on monday so there will be one more lol for someone.
any idea when the toutch pro will be coming out (the reason im sending the diamond back)?
bagg1234bagg said:
well im sending mine back on monday so there will be one more lol for someone.
any idea when the toutch pro will be coming out (the reason im sending the diamond back)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Touch Pro is a HELL of a lot thicker, so if the sleek look and feel of the Diamond is your bag it's not quite there with the Touch Pro.
It's not a 'better' phone as such, more aimed at those who demand QWERTY and extendable storage, though it does still look pretty cool.
Release date is allegedly september 1st, but this could be delayed all the more (remember the Shift anyone?)
leoni1980 said:
Touch Pro is a HELL of a lot thicker, so if the sleek look and feel of the Diamond is your bag it's not quite there with the Touch Pro.
It's not a 'better' phone as such, more aimed at those who demand QWERTY and extendable storage, though it does still look pretty cool.
Release date is allegedly september 1st, but this could be delayed all the more (remember the Shift anyone?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah i know what you meen, but it doesnt bother me coming from the kaiser any way, and all the other previous xda's ive had, i really want the qwerty keyboard thats about it really.
Got my Orange Diamond from mobiles.co.uk - ordered Thursday, sent Friday, delivered Saturday! They clearly have stock (although their website says otherwise!)
kidinspace said:
Oh! And from what I have been able to gather from speaking to our Tech Support team Orange's HSDPA coverage is pretty much non-existant unless you are in London and you are sitting on-top of a radio mast, so you may aswell switch it off.
.G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know anymore about the HSDPA rollout?
Cheers
huwwatkins said:
Do you know anymore about the HSDPA rollout?
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would love to know more about this sort of thing but I don't even know who I could contact or where on our vast and poorly made intranet system I could I find out more.
.G.
pro looks like a brick
compared to the diamond.....
and when i stuck my diamond next to the new iphone
the iphone looked like a suit case compared to the diamond!
flash your diamond....and you will make it beter!
bagg1234bagg said:
well im sending mine back on monday so there will be one more lol for someone.
any idea when the toutch pro will be coming out (the reason im sending the diamond back)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If HTC launch the phone on September 1st then "IF" and only "IF" Orange decide to sell the handset just add about 2 Months to the launch before you would see it in an Orange shop or be able to get it from Orange direct.
e.g. The Diamond was launched, when?... Middle of May?....Only made it into Orange stock 2 months later.
DO NOT phone Orange anytime soon asking if they are doing Touch Pro as we only get about 3 weeks notice (if we are lucky) as to what the phones we will be selling, so nobody will be able to give you an answer, they just want to keep the hype down so that they don't sell out faster than they can get them in.
Also NEVER trust the instore magazine, in my 2 and a half years at Orange I have never ever seen one that has the truth in to for example the July Mag is the first one to have the Diamond in it with it's specification and not as a "Coming Soon" phone, and the mistake they made? They said it had a 5.0Mp camera. Another fave of the magazine people is to publish phones in there as coming soon but then never sell them!
So if you want to Touch Pro on Orange don't hold your breath, you might be lucky and get it just in time for XMAS!
.G.
Also, if you don't like the answer the call centre person gives you, phone up again 5 minutes later - you get a different person and a different answer!
Keep ringing until you get the answer you like. lol
Can i check sth with the person that works for Orange? If we flash our diamond to a better and faster ROM and then sth happens and we have to send it back under warranty, does this invalidate our warranty? cause if we have a generic ROM on the handset, we can always claim it was one of the first ones that were not Orange branded, right?
Thanks
sgiannis said:
Can i check sth with the person that works for Orange? If we flash our diamond to a better and faster ROM and then sth happens and we have to send it back under warranty, does this invalidate our warranty? cause if we have a generic ROM on the handset, we can always claim it was one of the first ones that were not Orange branded, right?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say do it, I've never heard of anyone being caught out in two years...
From a legal point of view it does invalidate your warranty...
As they used to say on "Blind Date"....
The Decision Is Yours.....
.G.
kidinspace said:
From a legal point of view it does invalidate your warranty...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But does it?
I have not read my current T&C, but I found nothing in previous T&Cs to say specifically that that altering the ROM would invalidate the phone warranty.
Technically if the phone is faulty, then it can be returned under warranty and unless the fault was caused directly by the owner/user, then the warranty should be honoured. So if the ROM change caused the fault then you are out of luck, but just because the ROM as been changed, does not mean the fault is the cause of that - for arguments sake a faulty screen or panel button
As this is an electronic device, then updates and enhancements will naturally become available and so its reasonable to assume that these can and should be applied - arguably in the same was as a PC can be upgraded.
But for those not in the UK, check local laws
kidinspace said:
Oh! And from what I have been able to gather from speaking to our Tech Support team Orange's HSDPA coverage is pretty much non-existant unless you are in London and you are sitting on-top of a radio mast, so you may aswell switch it off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Orange HSDPA is working well for me when I travel to my 2 local towns - well north of Manchester but its mainly 3G unless I have my t-mobile chip in then in town it's always (H)
PaulusUK said:
But does it?
I have not read my current T&C, but I found nothing in previous T&Cs to say specifically that that altering the ROM would invalidate the phone warranty.
Technically if the phone is faulty, then it can be returned under warranty and unless the fault was caused directly by the owner/user, then the warranty should be honoured. So if the ROM change caused the fault then you are out of luck, but just because the ROM as been changed, does not mean the fault is the cause of that - for arguments sake a faulty screen or panel button
As this is an electronic device, then updates and enhancements will naturally become available and so its reasonable to assume that these can and should be applied - arguably in the same was as a PC can be upgraded.
But for those not in the UK, check local laws
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I'm tired, I was getting things confused in my head, removing the SIM LOCK invalidates the warranty unless you get Orange to do it.
ROM updates are ok...
Sorry bout that...
.G.
Coolio! I can update my ROM and its OK!?
I ordered my ROM last saturday online from the Orange website....came on the Tuesday. No Orange branding! Just a small Orange logo on the back of the phone!
Got a few admirers at work. Everyone says its far better looking than the iBrick!
Still in love with my Artemis though! Got iGO8 on both!! ;-)
kidinspace said:
Sorry, I'm tired, I was getting things confused in my head, removing the SIM LOCK invalidates the warranty unless you get Orange to do it.
ROM updates are ok...
Sorry bout that...
.G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good news... now i only have to wait for the diamond to get back in stock as i am eligible for an upgrade on Thursday.
Strange that Vodafone have the handset in stock (in Cambridge anyway) and Orange claim it's going to take a minimum of another couple of weeks... anyway...
sgiannis said:
Good news... now i only have to wait for the diamond to get back in stock as i am eligible for an upgrade on Thursday.
Strange that Vodafone have the handset in stock (in Cambridge anyway) and Orange claim it's going to take a minimum of another couple of weeks... anyway...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats because all the original delivery has generic HTC software on it, the team the "bastardises" the phones are running behind schedule at the moment.
.G.
How can I get them to send it to me without them bastardizing it?
I currently have a Kaiser (HTC TyTnII on UK Orange) but have only just looked into the HTC Touch Diamond... and wow, does it look nice!
On the Orange website it's saying I can't upgrade my phone until May next year. eBay has the Diamond at around £350.
So, I guess I'm wondering if anyone can advise me. Are Orange likely to cut me a deal if I call them up? I guess I'm bound to a contract with them at present so I can't say I'm leaving them. Will it be easiest just to buy one from eBay?
Is it worth it? Is the Touch Pro out or coming out soon? Should I wait for that?
AndyCr15 said:
I currently have a Kaiser (HTC TyTnII on UK Orange) but have only just looked into the HTC Touch Diamond... and wow, does it look nice!
On the Orange website it's saying I can't upgrade my phone until May next year. eBay has the Diamond at around £350.
So, I guess I'm wondering if anyone can advise me. Are Orange likely to cut me a deal if I call them up? I guess I'm bound to a contract with them at present so I can't say I'm leaving them. Will it be easiest just to buy one from eBay?
Is it worth it? Is the Touch Pro out or coming out soon? Should I wait for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can't upgrade until May then you'll get little joy out of Orange I'm afraid. You have to be in the last three months of your contract before they'll let you upgrade. However, saying that you've got nothing to lose by calling them and you may be able to get a deal if you change your package to a more expensive one.
Cal them first before going the eBay route - as I said you've got nothing to lose.
Is it worth it? Hell, yeah! I was torn between the Diamond and waiting for the Pro, but impatience got the better of me and I plumped for the Diamond.
Even though I've only had it a day I can definitely say that it is fantastic! It's up to you if you want to wait for the Pro. I've come from a TyTN II myself and I sat back and really thought about it before going for the Diamond, and basically asked myself two questions:
1. How often did I use the keypad? Very rarely, maybe three times in the eight months that I owned the phone.
2. How much free space did I have on my 4Gb SD card? 2.5Gb, so for me having 4Gb of non-upgradable storage wasn't an issue.
The final thing that swung it for me was the size of the thing. It's good to have a PDA that's "phone sized", rather than being a huge brick.
Thats a good idea Have a word with Orange and twist there arms, see what you can do. I think my missus is due an Upgrade in August and im sure she will go for the Diamond (but as shes skint, I think shes gonna put it on eBay!!!!!!!)
I love my diamond and have used phones with hardware keyboards and like the post above says, how often do you really use it?
Software professionals and IT gurus would probably miss it as im sure using a hardware keyboard and using the Remote Desktop software is a great combination, but the VGA screen is excellent on the Diamond, its the best phone ive ever owned (and ive had quite a few...see my signature!)
Diamond = Thumbs up. Theres sooo much software and tweaks out at the moment with more software coming out just around the corner!
The futures bright, the futures...errr...Diamond? hehe!
Teppic24 said:
1. How often did I use the keypad? Very rarely, maybe three times in the eight months that I owned the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, how did you cope without the keypad? I think I probably use it 10-20 times a day and this is the main reason I'm holding back on upgrading I guess.
It looks a fantastic piece of kit... but I don't think I'd like using an onscreen keyboard
How long have you been with Orange?
If it's over a couple of years remind them how much money they have had off you and if that doesn't work tell them you will consider cancelling the contract. Generally they want to keep customers so will eventually give in.
Also, it's always good to ask to speak to their line manager if they can't help.
Hello
I am sorry to read of your experience with Orange, I would like to discuss your account with you so that we can achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution.
Please can you respond to [email protected] with a subject of "Debbie OrangeResponse" so that your details can be passed to me quickly and efficiently.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Debbie
Orange Response
Ok, so even in spite of me saying multiple times that because of the Atrix and Photon fiasco - Motorola basically telling all of us Atrix/Photon owners "GFY, buy a new phone is you want ICS, here, have a $100 coupon on us..." - I have an opportunity to get an Atrix HD (Titanium color which I prefer, white is just, ugh), in excellent working condition or so the seller claims but it has one specific problem:
Apparently he sat on it at some point and bent the Gorilla Glass just enough to shatter it along the bottom 1/3 of the screen - picture attached is the one I was sent by the current owner/seller.
I haven't held it in my hands yet but the owner absolutely assures me the phone is 100% functional aside from that spider web damage to the glass itself. He says the digitizer is perfectly functional, that he plays games with it even in spite of the damage, but he's sick to death of seeing the spider web and has decided to part with the phone once and for all. Nothing included, just the phone itself, and it's unlocked because he uses it with T-Mobile presently - that's the primary draw of the phone actually since I have used and plan to return to using T-Mobile because of those new pricing plans they have instigated recently.
I quizzed him about the battery, headphone jack, microSD slot, actual display (where the pixels are, you know), Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, microUSB and HDMI ports, etc, the whole gamut of every piece of hardware the phone has and he again assured me it's 100% functional save for the cracked/shattered glass. I checked with some eBay sellers and apparently the glass/digitizer housing can be had for $43 to $70 depending on shipping, etc and is a relatively easy thing to replace (already downloaded a few YouTube videos for the disassembly-reassembly info).
He's using T-Mobile presently and when he delivers the Atrix HD he's going to put his microSIM in it and let me check it out, make a call with it, etc to verify it's working as claimed.
Having said all this and knowing I can fix this myself once I have the parts ordered and in-hand, who would tell me I should pass on this offer and run from it fast --- considering the price he's asking is $60 cash in the hand --- or tell me "HELL YEAH take it and then run, but pay the guy first before he calls the cops on you for stealing it..."
Just curious, as I really do despise Motorola with a massive passion but, I'm not going to find a dual core smartphone in working condition with something that's actually easy to fix myself for $60 anytime soon, especially since the damage is what one would consider cosmetic and appearance based IF - that's a big IF there - it actually is 100% functional even with that damage.
Yes this post is long, I'm known for being wordy, it's just how things are.
tl;dr version: for $60 cash and absolute verification that everything works as it should even with the cracked glass, would I be an idiot to pass on this deal even in spite of my near-pure hatred of Motorola for their stiffing us Atrix/Photon owners, or should I just to hell with it and smile... is this a buy or no-buy, basically?
(I suppose I already know the answer but I'm curious as to what others might or would do in the same situation)
ps
No, my intention isn't to buy it, fix it up, then sell it as I'm in the market for a new Android phone anyway and I can get this basically for not that much money (and I just found a glass/digitizer from someone locally here in Vegas for almost the same price as the $43 eBay one, go figure - I could probably get this and have it fixed tonight, even).
I am an Atrix 4g owner. I was pissed when they cancelled the Jelly Bean update but I still bought their Razr HD. Every single phone manufacturer has abandoned one or more devices so leaving Moto wouldn't solve the problem. I would take the deal if I were you, especially since he will let you test it first and it can be fun to have a little project like that.
Hi,
I just asked the same thing but got no answer, so I tried.
I bought an atrix hd with the digitizer broken, replaced it and now works incredible.
I say take the risk and if you don't want to, tell me who is selling it to buy it
I had an accident a couple of days ago, where I fell from my bike and my phone dropped on the street, from the phone holder. I didn't realize that immediately and by the time I saw it, unfortunately, it was already run over a truck. I had the original fabric cover on it and visually only the display is broken, but it was switched offline after the accident so I presume there is some more serious internal damage. I have tried to switch it off/on from the power button, to connect it to a PC but there was no indication that it is alive.
I tried to contact Google to see what are my repair options, and unfortunately, on their side, I can only select the type of damage, pay it in advance and send the phone to them. The problem is that I am not sure if it is worth paying close to 150 Euro just to realize at a later stage that this phone is beyond repair and that I have not only broken my phone but poured 150 Euro down the drain. I have tried to explain this to Google's support personnel, but they did very little to understand my situation and in the end, they said they cannot help me any further.
Unfortunately in Germany, there is no other official repair center. This left me quite disappointed with Google and their inflexibility. The other problem is that this is not a common phone, so finding spare parts is difficult and normally those spare parts are quite expensive. The display only in Ali Express costs 160 Euro. I tried to contact a local repair shop and they only told me 300 Euro for the display change and if the new display doesn't work I would need to pay only 30 Euro. I have even contacted iSmash, who is the authorized repair center for this phone in the UK, but they told me that they don't deal with customers outside the UK.
So what do you think, what is my best option. I really don't want to throw away this phone, I really liked it and it would be quite a pity but I don't want to spend money on a lost cause either. For me, the best would be to diagnose somehow what's not working in the phone and then to decide if it makes sense to proceed with the repair or not.
@gstoyanov It's probably not the display since you can't even power it on. Thankfully it doesn't seem like you were seriously injured in the fall. Time to pitch it and buy something you can live with. The 4a, brand spanking new, is only like 300 Euro or the 4a 5G if you want that is maybe 100 Euro more. It's unfortunate but sh*t happens to these devices when they fall but you can live to bike another day. Just my 2 cents, I'm sure others have opinions too. And then again it will depend on your finances of which I have no idea about so take it with a grain of salt.
bobby janow said:
@gstoyanov It's probably not the display since you can't even power it on. Thankfully it doesn't seem like you were seriously injured in the fall. Time to pitch it and buy something you can live with. The 4a, brand spanking new, is only like 300 Euro or the 4a 5G if you want that is maybe 100 Euro more. It's unfortunate but sh*t happens to these devices when they fall but you can live to bike another day. Just my 2 cents, I'm sure others have opinions too. And then again it will depend on your finances of which I have no idea about so take it with a grain of salt.
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Yes, this is also what I suspect, I have now a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge running Pixel Experience ROM, which is exactly like my Pixel, but the battery is dying really quickly, and have some problems with the charging. Apart from that, all is working more or less fine. I think I will wait till Pixel 5A. I really wanted to save the Pixel 5 though.
Oh, and it is all good with me, just got two superficial bruises, but nothing serious, there were some road repairs in the bike lane and I needed to go almost to the middle of the streets, where there were tram rails. I got pretty scared at the beginning because I didn't know where exactly on the street I fell and went to the side of the street really quickly, afraid that I might get hit by a car. Only after about a minute, I have realized that my phone is missing and the bloody cover was blending really well with the road, so it took me really a while to spot it. Only a truck and a car passed by during this time, but considering the damage, I would say that the truck run over my phone.
gstoyanov said:
Yes, this is also what I suspect, I have now a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge running Pixel Experience ROM, which is exactly like my Pixel, but the battery is dying really quickly, and have some problems with the charging. Apart from that, all is working more or less fine. I think I will wait till Pixel 5A. I really wanted to save the Pixel 5 though.
Oh, and it is all good with me, just got two superficial bruises, but nothing serious, there were some road repairs in the bike lane and I needed to go almost to the middle of the streets, where there were tram rails. I got pretty scared at the beginning because I didn't know where exactly on the street I fell and went to the side of the street really quickly, afraid that I might get hit by a car. Only after about a minute, I have realized that my phone is missing and the bloody cover was blending really well with the road, so it took me really a while to spot it. Only a truck and a car passed by during this time, but considering the damage, I would say that the truck run over my phone.
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That's really good to hear. I bike a lot and know what falls are like, they're not fun and they are scary. So that's the good news. Now for some (possibly) bad. The 5a is larger, plastic, and from what I understand not available outside the US and Japan. It is 5G but probably not in the EU. Should be coming out within a few weeks so you can wait and see. What's the status of 5G by you? I see all these threads about bypassing the 5G restrictions with root but I don't really follow it since I get it here by default.
Since you do have a phone that's working perhaps you can try to take the 5 apart and see if you can tell what's broken inside. What if it's only a connector or something simple then you can replace the screen. Just to tinker around, they have videos I'm sure of how to get the phone open. Once the 6 comes out the prices on Swappa for the 5 will drop at least 100 Euro so if you can wait... Once those batteries go on the Samsungs it's lights out. I know I had one way back and finally the darn thing damn near exploded and popped the screen up off the body and that was it. Bottom line, you're ok. The phone can be replaced.
Sure, my idea is to wait and see what the new phones would be and eventually buy a new phone. Right now is not the best time to invest in a new phone, I think the best is around autumn when all the new models are released. I was thinking of opening the phone, I have some experience, already trying to open and exchange the motherboard of a Nexus 5, with another apparently faulty motherboard. I have the tools as well, the problem is that due to the fact that this is not a very popular model, finding spare parts for it would be really difficult. As I said, only the display on Ali Express costs 160 Euro. Opening the phone and finding that the problem is trivial would void my warranty and I would end up trying to put a new display with dubious quality on my phone for a high price.
I am just a bit losing hope in Google. A friend of mine got a Pixel 4a 5G because I have recommended generally the 4a line as a good deal for the money and she is complaining that the touchscreen in the lower part is completely unresponsive. Apparently, this is a known issue, which was supposed to be fixed by Google with an SW update and there was a big thread in their product forums. Now the thread is deleted from there and Google is refusing to take a look at her phone under warranty because she had dropped it once and according to them this is enough of an excuse.
I really like the SW experience of the Pixel phones, but this behavior is hard to tolerate. So this autumn, I will think really hard whether to buy a Google phone or buy a phone from another vendor.
@gstoyanov I've only had pretty good experiences with Google replacements but that was before the pandemic when you could reach a CSR on the phone and even a supervisor. I don't think that's the case now. And then I'm in the US and we are a nation of laws or so I've been told. lol j/k. Do you have 5G there and is it quick? It's kind of sketchy here, hit or miss on speeds vs. LTE. Because if you don't then the 4a without 5G is a steal imo, at least for a temp phone until November.
But what I was thinking is that if you have experience in pulling it apart then why not try it without purchasing an expensive replacement screen and see if you can get it to boot. Well unless the screen is so cracked that it's pointless. But if you can bring it back to life then you can decide if you want to spend the money or run it as is until you get what you want. Just a thought. Actually, I'm curious what is really wrong with the phone haha.
In terms of the 4a 5G screen I'll bet it's been fixed in later builds. Same thing happened here with a gap on the Pixel 5. Early, EU adopters had this wicked gap around the frame but by the time it shipped in the US that gap was gone.
Edit. NVM looks like the 4a 5g is discontinued.
yes, we have here 5G, but I am not so much sold on the whole 5G bandwagon. It would definitely take a hit on the battery life and the 5G network is still not dense enough for this to really matter. As a matter of fact, GSM coverage in Germany is pretty bad, I am coming from an East European country where Internet access is leaps and bounds better than in Germany, not to mention that it also comes for a fraction of the price here.
The screen is totally broken, I don't think that it would fire up. So if I open it, I would need to try it on a screen, meaning that I would need to purchase a replacement and eventually hope that I can return it for free. The problem is that if I order the display from China, there is a good chance to be stopped at the customs, and I would need to go there and pay some additional money and this is a bit overkill maybe.
@gstoyanov Yeah, not worth it when you put it that way. Oh well, eye out for the 5a 5G, keep it pristine and sell it on Swappa when the 6 comes out in November. ;-) That's my plan with the 5. But full disclosure or trade in with Google. Oh as a side note I dropped my P5 on the cement face down 7 days after purchase. Smashed to smithereens. Brought it into UBreak and it was their first one and it cost me $220 just for the screen replacement which is all that shattered. Not even a nick on the body. They did a flawless job and it is as good as new. I made an insurance claim and got the full $220 back surprisingly. Suffice it to say I handle it with an iron grip or two hands now. One handed only when over carpet. haha.
Did you go over the Google Repair center from the Google Store? There you can select the type of damage to your phone and usually get a better price than directly contacting their authorized repair centers. It is really convenient, the only problem being that you need to pay upfront, and this in my case is not the greatest option.
This is the first time I am cracking the screen, but nowadays all the phones are so slippery. I kind of missing my Oneplus One for which I never bought any cover. Making the back grippy of that phone was such a good idea.
Take it apart and have a look.
A connector may have come loose... maybe the battery.
gstoyanov said:
Did you go over the Google Repair center from the Google Store? There you can select the type of damage to your phone and usually get a better price than directly contacting their authorized repair centers. It is really convenient, the only problem being that you need to pay upfront, and this in my case is not the greatest option.
This is the first time I am cracking the screen, but nowadays all the phones are so slippery. I kind of missing my Oneplus One for which I never bought any cover. Making the back grippy of that phone was such a good idea.
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The Google repair center is mail in only and 7 - 10 days turnaround. The authorized repair walk-in is UbreakIfix which is where I brought it and it was repaired within about 3 hours or so. I can't imagine it would be under $200 even if I sent it in to Google. I'd have to go thru the whole process just to get a price. Any idea what they are charging for cracked screen only?
The quotes me
bobby janow said:
The Google repair center is mail in only and 7 - 10 days turnaround. The authorized repair walk-in is UbreakIfix which is where I brought it and it was repaired within about 3 hours or so. I can't imagine it would be under $200 even if I sent it in to Google. I'd have to go thru the whole process just to get a price. Any idea what they are charging for cracked screen only?
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they gave me a price in GBP, which was close to 150 Euro and that in USD is around 180. So I presume it is slightly better than what you paid, but not significantly. You can actually check it for yourself, just go to https://store.google.com/repair put the EMEI on your phone, select a cracked screen and you will see it. I presume it might be cheaper because here the taxes are pretty high.
gstoyanov said:
The quotes me
they gave me a price in GBP, which was close to 150 Euro and that in USD is around 180. So I presume it is slightly better than what you paid, but not significantly. You can actually check it for yourself, just go to https://store.google.com/repair put the EMEI on your phone, select a cracked screen and you will see it. I presume it might be cheaper because here the taxes are pretty high.
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If they were worth anything >they< would give you a repair estimate for little or nothing.
Denon Electronics does. That's customer service.
Google just sucks. A local repair shop can do you better.
Having enjoyed many biking excursions myself like you I know you're wishing the hardware healed as easily as the body
Carry on.
gstoyanov said:
The quotes me
they gave me a price in GBP, which was close to 150 Euro and that in USD is around 180. So I presume it is slightly better than what you paid, but not significantly. You can actually check it for yourself, just go to https://store.google.com/repair put the EMEI on your phone, select a cracked screen and you will see it. I presume it might be cheaper because here the taxes are pretty high.
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$188 for cracked screen + tax in USD. So not much different than I paid. Comes to a little over $200 and I paid $30 more for same day service. Since I don't have a replacement device that wouldn't have worked for me anyway and the fact I got reimbursed, even though unbeknownst to me at the time, made it a good deal. You gonna wait for the 5a?
bobby janow said:
$188 for cracked screen + tax in USD. So not much different than I paid. Comes to a little over $200 and I paid $30 more for same day service. Since I don't have a replacement device that wouldn't have worked for me anyway and the fact I got reimbursed, even though unbeknownst to me at the time, made it a good deal. You gonna wait for the 5a?
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The problem being any impact that breaks the display can easily cause deeper damage.
The chipsets themselves can be destroyed by high G impacts alone with no direct contact. A fall from 4 feet onto concrete can generate enough G force to do this. This why using a case is important as it decreases the G force spike to tolerable levels.
The multilayered mobo traces (with internal traces) and solder joints are vulnerable to PCB flexing. Solder joints themselves are a relatively weak, with no lead solder they are downright brittle. Most phones hopefully still use leaded solder, if not even exposure to cold can crack them... no lead solder is not your friend
Never use it on repairs!!!
When a phone is literally run over mobo damage is very probable but doesn't always happen. The other pcbs are also at risk.