Apple Changes Stance On Water Damage Policy

tekgoblin writes "It appears Apple has changed its stance on whether an iOS device is actually water damaged. If you remember when the 13-year-old girl sued Apple in December, it was because her iPhone's moisture sensors had gone off and Apple voided her warranty. Those sensors have also been triggered by simply exposing the phone to low temperatures. Now Apple says that if the moisture sensors are red but the customer disputes and says no liquid has come into contact with the device, the warranty may still apply."

Comments

Unreliable

[amicusNYCL]

Now Apple says that if the moisture sensors are red but the customer disputes and says no liquid has come into contact with the device, the warranty may still apply.

In other words, the sensors are unreliable.

Moisture sensors

[Microlith]

The funny thing is those papers are used in semiconductor bulk packaging to serve as a warning, not that the parts are unusable due to water but that a pre-bake may be necessary to drive water out that entered the packaging as a result of ambient humidity.

So yeah, anything that involves thermal shifts resulting in possible condensation can set these off while not harming the phone in the slightest. I don't know why anyone thinks these are in any way reliable.

Re:Moisture sensors

[Low Ranked Craig]

I know this is about Apple, but Nokia has (or had) the same policy. I know this from first hand experience with a damaged 5160 about 6 or 7 years ago. They also try to void your warranty of you change the face plate...

Translation

[MightyMartian]

Translation: Our useless sensor is about to lead us into nasty litigation that will likely void our warranty-evasion scheme, so we better open the door a little bit.

Re:Translation

[v1]

>>Apple are possibly the worst for warranties... and more specifically owning up to defects.

I suppose that explains Apple remaining in the top 3 for the last what 15 yrs in computer customer service.

Just this week I have seen Apple volunteer to repair TWO computers that were flat out abused by the customer because they want to keep happy customers. Your statement about Apple being "the worst" for warranties is about the biggest pile of flaming BS I have seen recently. They're expensive, they're arrogant, they're controlling, etc, but the grand majority of their customers rate the warranty and customer support five star.

That being said, yes the LSI are unreliable. They're also used worldwide by almost anyone that manufactures a handheld electronic gadget, including darn near 100% of cell phone manufacturers because they're cheap and WILL identify liquid contact. (erroring in their favor, what did you expect?) And every single one of them has started the game with a "if we see red, the warranty is void" policy, and will make exceptions/considerations in the customer's favor. (some more often than others) Take your dead cell phone into the store and say it won't turn on. The very first thing they will do is remove the battery. Not to reset it. (that's what they'll say though) But to look at the (most easily accessed, one of many) LSI in the phone. You make it sound like Apple is the only one in the world that does this. Remove your cell phone's battery. Look for the white dot.

>>I suppose owning up to a defect is difficult when your under the delusion of perfection

"defect" implies there was a "correct" way to do it. What was your suggestion? Don't you think by now someone would be wealthy having made a better solution to this industry-wide problem, if it were a trivial thing to improve on?

Re:Translation

[XxtraLarGe]

Apple are possibly the worst for warranties... and more specifically owning up to defects.

They just gave me a 27" iMac in exchange for my 2 1/2 year old 24" iMac that was bugging out. That's why I always get AppleCare, because the service has been outstanding.

Re:Translation

[1729]

Apple are possibly the worst for warranties... and more specifically owning up to defects.

My wife has had many free out-of-warranty repairs on her {i|Mac}Books over the years, and I've had at least one. Dealing with the call center is hopeless, but the techs at the Genius Bars tend to be very helpful, even when the warranty is expired or (in my wife's case) you've spilled tea all over your laptop's keyboard.

Escape clause

[Lead Butthead]

the warranty may still apply

In other words, nothing has changed; it is still at their sole discretion if they wishes to honor the warranty.

Re:Escape clause

[MoonBuggy]

No, something has changed. Previously a tripped moisture sensor would be grounds for an immediately voided warranty, now they'll take other points into account (presumably including, but not limited to, whether there is any other evidence of liquid damage, how convincing the customer's story is, how good a mood the manager is in that day, how attractive the customer is, how much fuss the customer kicks up, and the proximity of that day's lunch break).

Slashdot on the iphone...

[xTantrum]

So im sure to get modded off topic but i'm reading /. on my 3GS right now and this new layout apple does not like. For some reason i can never see the top story. The title is always half cut off by the /. Masthead. wtf?? Its also unbelievably slow to load the page and safari seems to have a hard time fitting the content to the phone display so who am I to sue in this case, Apple or cowboy neal? ----sent from my ipho

Re:I'm a cellphone tech at one of the US Big 4

[NFN_NLN]

"I'm a cellphone tech at one of the US Big 4" ---

Guess what -20C is BAD for your electronics.

My data center is held at constant temperature and humidity for electronics. I DON'T intend to stay in a data center to use a phone. In Alberta, Canada it routinely gets to -30C (as it did this morning in fact) and I expect the phone to work. Did I say, after it thaws out? No I meant in -30C weather.

You know what's BAD for a car engine? -30C
You know what's BAD for plastic? -30C
You know what's BAD for plants and animals? -30C

Sure its not good but it should still work.