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AIBU?

To give up with Apple/iPhone and go for something else?

39 replies

PansOnFire · 03/11/2013 08:34

I've always been impressed with Apple and loved my iPhone 3, when the obligatory 18 month contract ended I upgraded to an iPhone 4S and since then I've had nothing but problems. It was fine for the first 12 months, but after the warranty ran out it's been useless. I updated the software on it which knocked off the wifi and Bluetooth, it also made the phone run very slowly. Texts stopped coming through on time, texts took ages to write and send, picture messaging stopped working etc, etc, etc. I rang my useless phone company who told me to restart the phone, wipe it, back it up from the restore on my laptop, restore it from iCloud - nothing worked and I must have spent about 4 hours on the phone to various different people one day.

The phone company are saying it's Apple's problem so I rang them - exactly the same advice was given, nothing worked and then they said it was a hardware issue that was the responsibility of the phone company. This was batted backwards and forwards for about 4 months before I gave up. The phone company sent me a normal sized SIM card so I could buy a different handset to use and still keep my number. They said my options are to a) send the phone away and pay the repair cost, I wouldn't be entitled to a free replacement should the phone not be possible to fix, or b) pay the rest of my contract upfront and upgrade early, entering into a new contract of 24 months and have an iPhone 5.

Paying off the contract isn't as bad as it sounds, I've got 2 months left to pay at this point. I've deliberately not done it sooner because I'm not sure I want to be a loyal customer to them anymore. When I told them that I couldn't access many features of the service they were providing they told me it was not their problem because they were providing it! Their network has gone down completely on at least 4 occasions, each time their customer service was on lock down and customers were left to wait it out. It also seems that those who shouted loudest got the most compensation for the lack of network (discrepancies between friend's treatment were huge - a free month as opposed to free 6 months).

I'm furious, none of my photos and videos stream to iCloud anymore because I don't have wifi, it no longer is recognised by my laptop when I plug it in to update it manually. I've managed to get my photos and videos off after having it plugged into the laptop for about 6 hours but iTunes wouldn't work whilst it was plugged in.

What should I do? AIBU to tell both Apple and the phone company to shove it and go with a different phone and a different company? If so then what do I get instead? I don't want a frying pan and fire situation! Help! I'm in the UK btw.

OP posts:
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Hulababy · 09/11/2013 22:06

Pansonfire - did you get yours sorted?

I went to the Genius Bar today. The initial assistat I spoke with said it was a fault with the hardware - was I insured or extended warranty, which - no, I wasn't. Most he could offer was an out of warranty replacement - £159.

I as very polite, very calm - but said that I wasn't happy as it was working perfectly fine before I did the update, and that Oknew I had done nothing wrong to it. And infact my phone was really only 5 months old - I'd had a replacement phone, an out of warranty replace,ent last May when I put my old phone in the wshing machine - oops! Last time I accepted it wa smy fault hence paying up no problem. Ths time = not my fault.

So he sent for the maager to talk to. Agan - all very polite. But almost straight away she offered me a replacement, new phone, there and then for free as an "exceptional case."

So very happy right now - new phone all updated nd now currently restoring.

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cardibach · 03/11/2013 17:25

IT sounds to me like most of your issues are with the service provider rather than Apple per se. Obviously buy any phone you fancy but give that some thought first...

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valiumredhead · 03/11/2013 16:40

Saw friend earlier with new xperia-it's a fab phone! Envy

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Frostedloop · 03/11/2013 14:25

I love how people are comparing a model.. IPhone against a manufacturer.. Samsung, so few saying what model of Samsung they have.

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kali110 · 03/11/2013 14:02

My friend also hS iphone 4 or 4s and wifi packed up. She had to have the phone replaced. It was a year old aswel as we got our phones witnin month of each other.

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MalcolmTuckersMistress · 03/11/2013 13:38

I have to admit when my 4s went weird I had fantastic customer service from Apple. It was actually out of warranty by two days, which I didn't realise and I assumed it was the software update that sent it funny. Apparently they could tell it was the hardware so they arranged got me to pick up a new one from my local apple store. I was hugely impressed! Then my son did something odd to his iPad so I took it to the apple shop and they fixed it there and then! I wasn't expecting such good customer service so was greatly surprised.

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Bubbles1066 · 03/11/2013 11:44

I switched from Samsung to Apple, I personally prefer the iPhone but both are fine. The iPhone is more intuitive I would say. Samsung is not as user friendly but both are OK.

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YesterdayI · 03/11/2013 11:42

We have 2 iMacs, a MacPro, 3 IPhones and 5 iPads and nothing has gone wrong ever. Not once, you turn them on and they work. Every single time.

I do know I am being taken for a bit of a mug on the price and I don't like the cynical way Apple stop supported things so quickly but the ease and convenience of Apple is fantastic.

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Hulababy · 03/11/2013 11:38

BTW - re Samsung Galaxy - DH has had loads of issues with his. It drops the wifi a lot, and it is forever having some form of blip which means it can't download his work emails and calendar - forever needing to reset it at work to do this. Others at his work have same issue. It is also pretty slow to do stuff and it isn't very intuitive when using it. He does, however, get good coverage at home - but that is with T Mobile, rather than phone make related.

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Hulababy · 03/11/2013 11:35

I am with Vodafone - trouble is stuck with them til May. Hate them and they are so expensive too. And we get rubbish Vodafone reception too.

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valiumredhead · 03/11/2013 11:34

Works?Confused world

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Hulababy · 03/11/2013 11:33

I'm interested i this fault - exactly same has happened to me, occurred on Friday afternoon for no apparent reason. I have tried all the recommended resets, etc. but still no wifi or bluetooth. Google suggests it is a hardware fault - but why? Why has this suddenly just happened?

Mine was all backed up fortunuately.

I have an appointment with the Genius Bar next weekend - can't get in before then.

It sounds like a lot of people online are having this fault - it has to be Apple related.


Trouble is - I still want an iPhone. I like them and everything is on iTunes now, and all my apps, etc. Plus with have iPads and DD has an iPhone. Besides DH has a Samsung and it is dreadful - and don't like friends non Apple phones either.

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FortyDoorsToNowhere · 03/11/2013 11:33

I have had no problem with my iphone 4 and this one has had water damage.

Battery life is rubbish, but then I bought a charger case.

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PresidentServalan · 03/11/2013 11:29

I briefly changed from Apple to Samsung after having the 3GS, 4 and the 4S - I had the Galaxy 2 but after a month I hated it so got the iphone 5 - I haven't regretted it, it's great.

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valiumredhead · 03/11/2013 11:28

Apple rested on its laurels for far too long, the rest of the phone works caught up!

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lborolass · 03/11/2013 11:04

You really have to admire the Apple marketing machine, how on earth have they managed to brainwash people into thinking that there is no alternative to their products?

Nothing bad will happen to you if you buy a non Apple phone so buy the one you like the best can afford/comes in the colour you want but whatever you do make your own choice.

Obviously you ANBU to buy a different phone, you didn't really think otherwise did you?

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3MenAndMe · 03/11/2013 11:03

2 DS, sorry

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3MenAndMe · 03/11/2013 11:03

Samsungs at home x3(OH and 2D)
I have an old BlackBerry and so Envy

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ArthurPewty · 03/11/2013 10:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Caitlin17 · 03/11/2013 10:54

Any Android which is as expensive as an iPhone will be a far better option. As will any Android which is cheaper.

I have a Motorola Razr Maxx and Asus tablet, both of which I love. DP has a BlackBerry for work which he hates and a fairly cheap Samsung for fun which he likes a lot. DS has a bought by me Sony Xperia phone and a Nexus 7 tablet. The latter in particular is great.

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Brokensoul · 03/11/2013 10:45

Hi
I have I phone 4s and my dh Samsung.
I regret getting I phone- sooo many problems like you and its 24 months contract ( 18 left) and he NEVER experienced until now any problems. It runs smoothly and it's fast,
no delays . So I can't pay the rest of the contract , it's a lots of £££but for sure I will get next time Samsung.

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valiumredhead · 03/11/2013 10:39

I've always had Mac/apple at home but have a Motorola RAZR phone which seems very similar tbh in its simplicity and ease of use. Dh had just got a galaxy and it seems really plasticky and cheap in comparison, he hates it too, luckily it's a work phone so he can hand it back. 3 friends who have always had iPhones have changed recently as they've had enough of them, battery life seemed to be a big issue. One has gone for a Sony xperia and is delighted with it.

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MoreTeaPenguin · 03/11/2013 10:02

Oh sorry misread that - someone else's husband has wifi problems, whoops!

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MoreTeaPenguin · 03/11/2013 10:00

I have a Nexus 4, similar spec to the s4 but cheaper. I love it, though find the screen a bit big, especially now I have a bulky case to stop my toddler smashing the screen again! You can buy a Nexus 4 from the Google store and use it for the last 2 months of contract then find another provider. Virgin media do decent phone deals at the moment with phone insurance included.

Probably a silly question, but have you checked your WiFi is working properly, rebooted the router etc? It does sound like it's a problem with your phone, but if your husband is having wifi problems too?

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MindyWiller · 03/11/2013 10:00

You're not with Orange/EE by any chance? i had the same problems with them on an iphone 3GS with over a year left on my contract.

i changed to o2 when my contract was up and now have a samsung s3 which is fantastic. i have had it for six months now and not a single problem, it does everything an iphone oes but smoother. you have much more freedom and as someone else said you can use an SD card for storage and you are not restricted to crappy itunes. the only blip i have is that the voice recognition is a bit pants, but i never use it so it's not even an issue, and it could be my scottish accent.

definitely go for a samsung. i had samsungs for years before my iphone and rarely a problem there either.

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