Investor in the Wilderness - Latest Comments in Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

Yasuyuki — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:00:13 -0000

I'm actually thinking about switching to an Iphone for awhile now after having a Samsung Blackjack for 9 months. The thing is slow and extremely tiresome to use. Plus the scroll wheel is pretty annoying. Mine broke this week and also started to have charging issues. I had to send it in for a replacement. But with an Iphone I know I won't be able to get used to the touch screen or the inability to text messages fast. Plus I've heard the camera isn't all that great either.

I've guess I've hit the limit to finding the best cellphone out there for an AT&T customer minus the Blackberry?

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

Mikey Mike — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 09:28:59 -0000

Very interesting writing Zach, I myself have had 2 iphones become faulty in the 3 months since i bought one. One lost all connection to any networks and this one just today has lost bluetooth capability. Clearly i troubleshooted them first. So that is 2 broken iphones in 3 months... meanwhile each time i have to wait 2 weeks for a replacement iphone.

I wish all you 'apple fanboys' would open your eyes and realize that Apple have dropped the ball on this one, indeed the iphone IS UNRELIABLE. To be honest the last thing i want from a from is unreliability. Last time i was in the shop to claim my replacement iphone and there were 2 other people there at that exact time to do the same thing.. clearly quite a few people have issues imo.

Just because you yourself might have been lucky enough to have the iphone work so far, doesn't mean something won't break next month or the month after.

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

zach_bass — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:45:26 -0000

I feel your pain Jeff, as you know. I have been a buyer of Apple products for 30 years and until recently I have hardly ever had a problem with product quality, even during the years Steve Jobs was absent from Apple. But the iPhone isn't the only product I have a problem with. The Mighty Mouse scroll ball after some time stops working. It's happened on 4 separate mouses. Also, the rubber around the white earbuds wears out prematurely. There are many other instances of recent products that have had similar repeatable failures.

Perhaps it's the Chinese manufacturers fault, I don't know. Ultimately it's Apple's fault, and I hope they recognize the problem and fix it.

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

Jeff Walker — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:45:55 -0000

I sit here at my computer waiting for UPS to deliver my 3rd replacement iPhone 3G.

Being my first Apple product (I have been dead set against Apple for a long time as I have always thought they sacrificed design over functionality), I have to say that this will also be my last.

In my entire life of buying electronics I have never had to replace one product 3 times due to the same issues. Typically in this situation I would have just returned the product and moved onto something else, but of course I am now bound by a 3 year contract.

My first phone developed a crack between the headphone jack and the bezel, as well as major light leak on the left side.

The replacement phone had a misaligned screen, sharp edges on the bezel, a light leak on the left, and the plastic between the jack and the bezel cracked when I plugged in the headphones.

In your other article you talked about what the chances must be for one person to have this many issues, well I can tell you that I am now on my 3rd phone, and there are people on iPhone related forums claiming that they are on their 5th to 8th.

With all that said...what I would really like to know is what we can do about it. I simply can't dedicate any more time to calling for, waiting for, and sending back replacements. What I would honestly like at this point is a rebate for every defect on the next phone (something like 10% for every defect), as well as a guarantee that it'll be replaced over the next 3 years of my contract if they decide to change the design or the materials.

I would really like to get some people behind me on this because I have three more years left with this phone and I really don't want to have to plug it into my calendar to do a weekly iPhone replacement routine.

Jeff

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

JuLius Devereaux — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:58:11 -0000

Zach, we are in the same boat - I am in love with Apple computer products.

Way back in the late 70's when Apple II came to the world to threaten the giant IBM, I was already involved with Apple when we developed the Citibank worldwide network called Citiflash. Let me.remind you that the web was only a figment of the imagination then.

We used Apples then to make the various programs for the main frames, using seven platforms in machine language. I am now a tech gadget trader in the the whole East Asia, headquartered in Hongkong, and I am still very happy using Apple products, except the for iPhone, simply because I find the mobile device very primitive.

What do I get from my other phones? I can now simultaneously watch a movie, get a steady stream of stock quotes, look at a map showing the epicenter of a recent earthquake, and compose/read my SMS. Yes, I get all these all at the same time. I use my phone as a debit card to pay for my various needs - groceries, dining, etc... including fare for the rail transit. I was pleasantly surprised that I can even shop with my phone in the malls in the Philippines, Malaysia, & Thailand. My celebrated iPhone 3G could not handle any of these.

If I were to make a list of the ten best mobile phones, it may land last of the ten. I strongly suggest that you examine the mobile devices available worldwide so that you can have a wider perspective.

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

Waseem Alim — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:44:12 -0000

Hey Zach,
This is Waseem from wikinvest.com. I tried looking for an email address on your site, but couldn't find one. I would like to discuss a collaboration opportunity between your blog and us and was wondering if I could use an email address for you. Please shoot me an email at waseem@wikinvest.com

Thanks.

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

Richard Little — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:09:19 -0000

It seems the problem occurs only after the iphone is taken from it's case. This should narrow the search.

This is a simple fix whatever it is, in fact it probably has already been fixed in the factory. However, you have inventory which must be sorted through.

I would also be frustrated but based on what Apple has been able to do with this new phone, I certainly would no give up on the company

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

Ed — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:55:15 -0000

reports from many posters as well????

how many, 4? there have been over 3 million sold....

also, why are you spending $30 every couple of months for head phones when they're under warranty for a year?

two apple bashing posts in under 48 hours? i'm sure you're hoping seeking alpha picks this up and I already see your seed has been planted over on yahoo. Either you're turning into a drama queen who likes to hear himself talk, zach or you're short the stock or options and playing dirty by trying to manipulate the stock in the same ways you've bashed others in the not so recent past.

a truly classless act, zach--you're becoming obsessed by the way, telling everyone you're going away on vacation only to wind up posting eve ore than normal during your week off. sad.

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

brianfoley — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:29:59 -0000

A lot of the problems stem from the lack of testing many of the apps have as well. Sure, there still may be numerous bugs in the iPhone software as well, but most of the problems I've had is with specific applications. Generally ones that need interaction with a web back end, and they don't fail graciously when they're unable to connect.

As far as the hardware goes, I think I'll hold on to my 1st gen iPhone and wait until the next redesign (iPhone 3G v2).

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

willyboy — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:58:31 -0000

A little help from Leoville on software issues. He has stated in his macbreak weekly pods that after doing a "clean" software restore, only download and install apps through itunes. Laporte claims this has fixed the nagging software lag and apps crashing issues on the iPhone 3G. I have a jailbroken and unlocked (use my BB sim) 1st gen iPhone and love it! Have not had any issues with the software other than lag in the keyboard on a few apps. That said, I find the virtual keyboard to be the quickest method on a phone for entering text in emails and SMS. I believe these issues will be resolved in future updates. This thing is still a baby.

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

taojones — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:30:56 -0000

Your having a rough time Zach Keep the faith designing the new phone is a complex process and maybe apple Walmarted the suppliers. hopefully apple will return the problem phones to the suppliers responsible and let them eat hardware until they get it together. keep the faith. in the end apple will make it right.

remember the days when apple used to "blame the victim" and find some small scratch on your hardware and try to say you dropped it. they have come a long way since those times.
anytime i really wanted a response from apple i addressed a snail mail letter to "the vice president in charge of customer relations" I always got a response and a solution. (poop rolls down hill faster than it climbs up the corporate ladder. no employee wants to pass a problem up to his superior. no executive wants a problem on his desk overnight . a pebble at the top of the hill moves more dirt than a bulldozer at the bottom . once the big dog barks (and signs off on it) everybody does what it takes to make it happen.

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

Jesse Dorland — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:10:44 -0000

I bought my first Apple product last month - Mini-Mac, and I am quite happy with it. However, I must say apple support for some of their products is lot to be desire. iMac Verticle line, Mac Book's motherboard, and iPhone faulty hardware/software. The list is endless, but the sad part is Apple will try to cover up these problems.

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

gavin — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:19:28 -0000

iPhone Backup sometimes takes 20-30 minutes

YOU DONT NEED TO BACK UP EVERY TIME OR EVERY DAY - JUST CLICK THE LITTLE CIRCLE WITH THE X IN IT TO STOP THE BACKUP... AND CHECK OUT THE AUTO SYNCING IN YOUR PREFERENCES - TURN OFF IF YOU DONT LIKE THIS HAPPENING - THIS IS WHAT MIGHT BE TAKING THE ITUNES DOWN WHEN YOU TRY AND QUIT THIS BACK-UP...

CHEERS G

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

MRP — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:16:23 -0000

Zach have you called Apple support and talked to anyone about these issues? I have had numerous software issues (no hardware problems) and have called only to be told to perform restore after restore. No real solutions. I will be visiting the Braintree store early next week and will hopefully get more clarity. I'd be very curious to hear if you have had any feedback from Apple.

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

Maddox — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:14:47 -0000

When you compare the iPhone 3G to other cell phones, Apple beats them hands down (even with these issues). I would tather have an iPhome with a few software bugs than any other phone. As for the phisical phone itself, while the iPhone in not perfect, Apple is working hard to address any manufacturing issuses. Producing new ground breaking technology is always going to have some kinks and working through them is a part of the process of developing new technology.

Zach, while you may me frustrated with your petsonal experience, I do not think this is the norm. There are many satisfied iPhone 3G customers and I happen to be one of them.

Posted from my iPhone 3G

Re: Are iPhone 3G Defect Rates Way Above Apple’s Standards?

skwasha — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:14:39 -0000

I still have my iPhone 2.5G - So I can't speak to the HW issues with the 3G. That said, I can attest to several issues of stability and usability with the new 2.X firmwares. The new features are welcome, but the decrease in quality has me on the verge of reverting to 1.1.4. Among other things, I've noticed: Safari issues, faster battery drain, random lock-ups or quits. Hopefully, the much rumored 2.1 firmware can address the many reported software glitches.