Database Develop

[Story]Serious complaint and remorse for buying a Nexus 5 at Carphone Warehouse UK

I'm not 100% sure if this is the correct thread, however given the nature that it is relevant to the general discussion of the Nexus 5 I'm going to post it in here anyway.
Do not shop at Carphone Warehouse UK​
So I bought my Nexus 5 on release day from the Carphone Warehouse. I paid £295. When I got it home to my annoyance it wouldn't charge, no matter what I did it would not charge. I'm pretty experienced with phones and could tell it was a hardware error. I use my phone primarily for business, so being without a phone is completely a no-go for me. I took my Nexus 5 back to Carphone Warehouse on the assumption that they would just do a straight swap, however no they didn't have any stock in.. which is where my trouble started.
They offered me an alternative phone, they recommended the LG G2 as it only had a price difference of £150 and for some stupid reason, I went for it. The device I received was in an OPEN BOX (my mistake, I admit) that has had promotional stickers ripped off, however the phone inside was sealed, and so I assumed there was no issue. Got the phone home, start using it and discover that the phone is getting hot and crashing, this is as soon as I've got it out of the box.. so it's not like I've done anything to it or used it too much.
Anyway took it back to Carphone Warehouse the following day. By this point I was quite annoyed because the store that I purchased it from is a 60.8 Mile round trip. Due to my working hours I can't go to my local one, which closes at 5PM. The store I got the G2 from closes at 8PM, making it the only store I can get to that is open. I took the phone in and spoke to a lady on the Checkout about the issue and she said that an exchange was no problem and that more importantly, they had the Nexus 5 in stock. We initiated the exchange when she checked the IMEI. At this point she said she needed to speak to her manager. After around 5 minutes of waiting and her taking my phone in the back with her, she comes back and says to me 'I'm sorry Sir, we cannot exchange this phone as YOU have taken this phone and swapped it for an identical one with a different IMEI number. Our system shows you should have a different phone'
Quite astounded at what she had told me, I explained to her that I had only just purchased the phone the previous morning. She wouldn't have any of it and sent me away with an 0845 number to call to make a complaint. On the way home I called into another Carphone Warehouse store. I spoke to a lady who called Customer Services on behalf of me to find out how this issue could have occurred. To put it plain and simple, the IMEI on the box of the phone was the same as the one on the system, but the phone I had had an alien IMEI. After she spoke to Customer Services the lady told me that unfortunately they couldn't do anything from their store because, get this, the phone I had was being sent off for a repair. I would have to take it back to the original store, the same store that just fobbed me off, in order to get it exchanged. And this was head office that told me this!
The following day I spoke to customer services myself. I rung up and lodged a complaint because I believe the fact that I was accused of committing fraud but am also expected to drive 60 Miles to resolve a problem is disgusting. I spoke to a lady called Amy who "promised" me she would get to the bottom of this for me and resolve it. She told me that she could see from notes put on the account (presumably from the previous days call to cs) that the phone was a repair handset. She then spoke to the repairs team who confirmed they were waiting for the handset to arrive. She told me that she wouldn't be able to resolve the issue until she had spoken to the store I originally bought the handset from. She then "promised" to call me back as soon as she had spoken to them, or by 5PM the same day.
For records, this was on the 6th November.
5PM came, and no call. Because she called me on an 0800 number and wouldn't give me a number to contact her on, I was unable to call her myself. However the following morning (7th November) she called me and told me that she had still been unable to get in contact with the store in question and that she would definitely have this fixed for me by the evening and that she would call me back by 5PM. Well 5PM came and went, and there was no call. By this point I was extremely annoyed. The following morning there was no call either, so I called CPW on my mobile (which has charged me) and requested to speak to Amy. By this point it was on the third day of being without a working handset and nobody had really acknowledged there was an issue, or done anything to solve it. I actually managed to get put through to Amy who told me that she had still not been able to get through to the store, but that her manager was in in 20 minutes and she would call me back with a resolution to the issue. I asked her if she would 100% call me back, and she promised she would. 24 hours passed and no call.
So by this point I've been without a handset for 4 days, been sold a second hand one, promised that I will have a call from customer services to resolve it but haven't, and been accused of fraud. Getting quite angry at this point.
I allowed a few days to go by to see if Amy would get in contact with me, however by Monday 11th November she still hadn't. We took the phone to the Trafford Centre store which is still a good 25 miles away. We spoke to a very helpful gentleman in the Carphone Warehouse store who went to a lot of trouble for me. He spoke to head office who reiterated the fact that the phone was a repair handset and advised the gentleman to call the store I bought the phone from. He called the store and spoke to the manager. He confirmed that the IMEI on the box of the phone I had was in store, and that there had been a bit of a mess up and he was unsure of how it had happened. I was then told that unfortunately due to the circumstances of the issue I would have to drive to the other store, a further 10 miles, to initiate the exchange OR refund.
So finally just under a week of being without a phone and driving from my house to Manchester every other day the issue was resolved and I would be able to go back to a Nexus 5 or get a refund. Hell, wasn't I wrong.
On arrival at the store we spoke to the manager who told us we had two options, either swap the LG G2 for another LG G2, or get a cheaper handset. He couldn't offer us a refund because he would have to speak to customer services who were closed, and he wasn't prepared to knock the difference off a HTC One (£50) due to all the problems we had had. Furthermore the sim-free price of a Nexus 5 at Carphone is now £495, however they are not selling them sim-free at the moment! I was then told that I could have a refund, but I would have to come back the following day!! All this after driving probably in excess of 200 miles.
I felt backed into a corner and didn't really have a choice but to accept the G2. As I said earlier I need a handset for work and it's not an option for me to be without one.
I then spoke to the complaints department of Carphone Warehouse once again yesterday. I explained everything that I have just said in this post, and their reply:
"We do not offer refunds on any sim-free products, and the manager was wrong to tell you that we do. Because you accepted the G2 there is nothing we can do for you. You chose to drive there on your free will. Would you like me to raise your complaint against the store?"
:good: Not happy.
Carphone Warehouse's Policy
If something's not working properly, here's what to do
Pop into any Carphone Warehouse store with:
your product
all the accessories that came with it (including any free gifts)
Preferably its original packaging
proof of purchase
We'll take a look at it, and if we can't fix it there and then, you'll be eligible for a return, exchange or repair. You can find out more about our repairs service on our repairs page.
Lots of common phone problems can be fixed with a simple software update, which you can do yourself. Check out our page and see how.​
So now I really do not know what to do. I have been left with a phone that I do not want and am considerably out of pocket due to fuel costs of driving to get the issue resolved. Help?

Never get upset with them, for starters. It's difficult, I know from extensive experience, but their hands are tied to within their policies and they won't want to help if you tell them off like they probably deserve.
This is how I've played these games and won countless times.
Politely calmly ask:
"So, there is nothing you can do?"
"No, I'm sorry sir, there isn't"
"What is your employee ID#, who is your superior, and how do I contact them? I'd like to pass on a good work for your efforts"
Rinse, repeat. Insist to pass to a superior. They'll tell you nobody can help. Tell them you feel like you deserve to hear it from their boss.
I once had a vp with Sprint (verified that they really were via background checks: on the phone with me to resolve an issue by asking "Well, if you can't help me, someone can approve this. Who can?"
Just keep climbing the ladder.
-No longer accidental, just Jeremy. F.cfb
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying

That story has put me off buying from CPW for life. Thanks for sharing how they see fit to treat a customer who has spent hundreds of pounds in their store.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

setspeed said:
That story has put me off buying from CPW for life. Thanks for sharing how they see fit to treat a customer who has spent hundreds of pounds in their store.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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I don't blame you, going to try my luck again later with their complaints department. I will update the thread. I think a lot of it depends on who you speak to as well, it's not necessarily speaking to a manager that matters, it's speaking to someone that can relate to your experience.

Good luck, I hope you end up with a decent resolution, but I fear that even if you were to get the phone you want, all the extra money you gave them and spent on petrol is lost. I really wanted an N5 on release day and I even went to my local CPW to take a look at them - thank God they weren't selling the 32GB because I would've bought it there and then. It might've taken a few days longer from Google, but at least I know they won't jerk me around if I have to return it (I returned my N4 last year because I didn't like it enough to keep it over my S3, no issues with refund at all).
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I mentioned managers because sometimes the person you're speaking to doesn't have the power to make that decision on your behalf, and must go by policy. Someone in the chain, however, can choose to bypass policy. Talk to them if you don't get what you want (as long as it's realistic).
-No longer accidental, just Jeremy. F.cfb
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying

jRi0T68 said:
I mentioned managers because sometimes the person you're speaking to doesn't have the power to make that decision on your behalf, and must go by policy. Someone in the chain, however, can choose to bypass policy. Talk to them if you don't get what you want (as long as it's realistic).
-No longer accidental, just Jeremy. F.cfb
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying
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Oh no I completely agree with you there! Sorry I meant you multi-quote. I mean the gateway though, I believe a realistic demand is to have the Nexus 5 for £295 and a refund of £150 which I paid the difference on for my LG G2. This is fair, right?

I'd get yourself to citizens advice just to get something in writing and report them to trading standards - they're spinning you a line. No refunds on Sim Free?? Any product sold by a retailer in the UK is subject to the Sale of Goods act. You can return an item for a full refund if it's not as described, of satisfactory quality or fit for purpose. The rules don't just stop there but they're the basics
If you fancy a read and have some time: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/54
Edit - forgot to add, you're entitled to a full "cash" refund too, you don't have to accept store credit..

Cactus42 said:
I'd get yourself to citizens advice just to get something in writing and report them to trading standards - they're spinning you a line. No refunds on Sim Free?? Any product sold by a retailer in the UK is subject to the Sale of Goods act. You can return an item for a full refund if it's not as described, of satisfactory quality or fit for purpose. The rules don't just stop there but they're the basics
If you fancy a read and have some time: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/54
Edit - forgot to add, you're entitled to a full "cash" refund too, you don't have to accept store credit..
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Good advice here. I would also get the credit card company involved.
You did pay by credit card didn't you? If not, silly billy.
This is a good way of dragging someone else into the fray on your side and applying pressure on recalcitrant suppliers.

I got my N5 from CPW and i'm on my 3rd handset (which is no fault of CPW).
Each time i've taken it back they've been helpful and each time they've given me a new handset they've pulled the outer sleeve off to show it's a new and factory sealed box...
I suppose the service you get depends on which store you go to :/
Also i have to ask...
You got a sim free phone meaning you would have already had another working phone/sim?
Why didnt you just wait for the nexus 5 to get back into stock again? :/
Also looking at your sig...
Why didnt you stick with the Z1?

I'm not defending CPW as the issue you're having is tragic.
But at the same time you made numerous mistakes yourself and undoubtedly made things harder..for yourself.
The first being not waiting for the N5 to get back in stock again from that specific retailer or asking them to find a store where it was in stock and doing an exchange there.
The second, getting a phone you did NOT want and paying an EXTRA £150 for it. You do acknowledge this was an open box and you were still in a position to run the risk that it did not behave as intended. Which unfortunately it did.
Glad you got that IMEI stuff fixed, that was BS on their part. Handy Gentleman at trafford to the rescue! Oh yeah, Thirdly, you were wasting your time with Amy, She was clearly incompetent at her job, producing no results every time you waited for her and continued to wait for her again.
Driving up and down in excess of xx miles is another issue when you could have made the alternative and smarter decision of calling the individual store up. Each CPW store has a different phone number which you can find on the website. Only till you're guaranteed that you can have an exchange or whatever you had desired, you could have popped in. Had that particular store failed to assist you, you wouldn't have to drive back achieving nothing but wasted petrol.
Oh yeah, when you finally spoke to the manager, you conceded and accepted another LG G2, may I reiterate, as you said. A phone you did NOT want. So customer Service was closed but you still had the opportunity for a full refund. Again, why not wait till it was open. [I get it, driving issues but that shouldn't stop you if it causes more 'driving issues' later]
The issue is, you don't wait for things and you take the easiest most convenient option at the time but at the end of the day it's the one you don't like, so you wish-wash out of it and things become more complicated.
The IMEI was unfortunate and yes, incredibly annoying. But that got resolved. The faulty handset is by no means the direct fault of CPW. And you did have a choice in regards to accepting the G2, I really don't see how you're playing the victim card in this aspect with that. In terms of work, you could have used a temp phone in the mean time, nothing fancy, an old nokia could have done the job if you need to make calls. You already had a sim if I'm correct. I figure the refund for the Nexus 5 was not an option the moment you opted for the G2 as that phone supersedes the N5 in terms of pricing. I figure what you want now is a refund for the LG G2 and the Nexus 5 at the £295 pricepoint from CPW that it once had? I don't think that's a realistic expectation anymore mate. At best just accept the refund for the LG G2. The N5 window is gone.
An alternative If you still want the Nexus 5 would be selling your LG G2, boxed and unopen, I hope and buying a N5 at the play store.
Edit-
jaaystott said:
I believe a realistic demand is to have the Nexus 5 for £295 and a refund of £150 which I paid the difference on for my LG G2. This is fair, right?
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Click to collapse
No, it isn't a realistic demand because once you bought the LG G2, that became a stand alone product independent from any attachment with the N5. Quite simply you have you're head attached to the idea that the Nexus 5 is your main phone from CPW and that the LG G2 is a temp / secondary / repair or whatever. Once you chose the G2, you made your bed, that's where all the concern now lies.
bleets said:
I got my N5 from CPW and i'm on my 3rd handset (which is no fault of CPW).
Each time i've taken it back they've been helpful and each time they've given me a new handset they've pulled the outer sleeve off to show it's a new and factory sealed box...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, this is a clear example that the CPW system does not fail with returns. Ahhhhhhhhh Now I'm contradicting the first sentence in this post. But the problem does not lie with them completely as you make it out.

Great Experience with Asurion

Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to tell everyone about my recent experience with the insurance provider of Sprint, Asurion. In the past I heard a lot of terrible things about them, and really expected the worst. On Sunday I was pushed into the corner of a table and my phone hit the corner, cracking the screen and for whatever reason keeping the screen from actually functioning at all. Sunday night I attempted to file a claim, but for security reasons I had to call them.
Monday morning rolls around and I call. They have all of my information from the initial claim and only need my credit card for the deductible. Throughout this entire process they wouldn't do anything unless I had my Sprint pin, which was nice because meant they were serious about security since it is hard to access the pin. The Asurion rep tells me that I'll get the phone most likely the next day and I received tracking information a few hours later that said the same thing.
So Tuesday rolls around, and on the tracker is says that it should arrive at the destination by 3pm. Sure enough, by 2pm it was already there. The self activation wouldn't allow me activate the phone (again for some odd security reason) and I had to call Sprint directly. I called and quickly got a very pleasant woman named Christina who was very clear, loud, American, and enjoyed chatting with me while we waited for the phone to finish its testing. Within 10 minutes I was up and running again.
To be honest I was completely surprised by the great service that I received throughout the entire process. Better yet, I'm pretty sure the phone I got to replace mine was brand new since it had no marks on it and still had the original stickers.
TL;DR I had a great experience with Asurion and Sprint after breaking my phone.
Side note: The reason we paid $11/mo is because its a convenience. Asurion covers everything that could possibly happen to the phone, and then gets a new phone extremely quickly, quicker than most other companies. Many people on my account need this service, including myself since I'm at school and am very involved on campus and speak with outside companies and advisers quite a bit. While it seems unnecessary to pay this fee every month, it is definitely FASTER than saving that money up and buy a new Nexus 5 directly from Google for $350. Will it be nice? Of course it will be, but I won't get it as fast as Asurion sends it.

Asurion: Excellent Customer Service!
monkeychef said:
Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to tell everyone about my recent experience with the insurance provider of Sprint, Asurion. In the past I heard a lot of terrible things about them, and really expected the worst. On Sunday I was pushed into the corner of a table and my phone hit the corner, cracking the screen and for whatever reason keeping the screen from actually functioning at all. Sunday night I attempted to file a claim, but for security reasons I had to call them.
Monday morning rolls around and I call. They have all of my information from the initial claim and only need my credit card for the deductible. Throughout this entire process they wouldn't do anything unless I had my Sprint pin, which was nice because meant they were serious about security since it is hard to access the pin. The Asurion rep tells me that I'll get the phone most likely the next day and I received tracking information a few hours later that said the same thing.
So Tuesday rolls around, and on the tracker is says that it should arrive at the destination by 3pm. Sure enough, by 2pm it was already there. The self activation wouldn't allow me activate the phone (again for some odd security reason) and I had to call Sprint directly. I called and quickly got a very pleasant woman named Christina who was very clear, loud, American, and enjoyed chatting with me while we waited for the phone to finish its testing. Within 10 minutes I was up and running again.
To be honest I was completely surprised by the great service that I received throughout the entire process. Better yet, I'm pretty sure the phone I got to replace mine was brand new since it had no marks on it and still had the original stickers.
TL;DR I had a great experience with Asurion and Sprint after breaking my phone.
Side note: The reason we paid $11/mo is because its a convenience. Asurion covers everything that could possibly happen to the phone, and then gets a new phone extremely quickly, quicker than most other companies. Many people on my account need this service, including myself since I'm at school and am very involved on campus and speak with outside companies and advisers quite a bit. While it seems unnecessary to pay this fee every month, it is definitely FASTER than saving that money up and buy a new Nexus 5 directly from Google for $350. Will it be nice? Of course it will be, but I won't get it as fast as Asurion sends it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your kind words! We are happy we could help get you reconnected. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need us. We are always happy to help!
Asurion Social Media Team @AsurionCares
www.phoneclaim.com
---------- Post added at 04:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:35 PM ----------
neswii said:
I had a really sh*tty experience. When they replaced my HTC one due to the camera being faulty they gave me a One with a terrible, cheap screen. They do not use official components and that particular one had a cracked screen before or something. Just terrible. I demanded a new phone and got an S4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While we are disappointed to learn you had some challenges with your replacement, we are happy we were able to get you taken care of. Our goal is to provide like-for-like replacement devices for our customers. We do use both new and certified-like-new phones in order to provide this service. Rest assured, all of our certified-like-new phones use 100% OEM parts. We are so confident in the quality of this product that all of our phones do come with a 12-month limited warranty that will replace your device at no charge if it has a warranty failure during that time period. Is your current device functioning properly for you? If not, please let us know.
Thanks!
Asurion Social Media Team @AsurionCares
www.phoneclaim.com

You have probably had the only positive experience I've ever seen. Your better off buying through Squaretrade for insurance as long as your not worried about lost or stolen. The deductable is usually half the price too
Sent from my Lumia 928

My RotateGate Experience

Over two weeks ago sent it in for the repair because from what I've seen, swapping at Verizon would just get me the same issue again. Got into them, stated part was on backorder. Decided to tell them send it back to me and I'd keep swapping with Verizon as I work in IT and can't be without a phone for an unknown period of time. Well, this is what I got back:
http://imgur.com/qZuLd9R
http://imgur.com/2Vfm6cc
They set up "overnight" back to them on Thursday 6/4/2015. I got it in on 6/5/2015 to UPS. They screwed up (Samsung) and didn't select Saturday so they got it Monday. Danny at the Executive Customer Relations set this all up, promised me the phone back no later than 6/10/2015. I call Tuesday, 6/9/2015 since no activity on ticket yet they signed at dock 6/8/2015. They stated issue with ticket, had to create new one, will be fixed/shipped Wednesday back Thursday. Wednesday comes, no activity, call again, they state tickets take 2-3 days under executive terms, I said wait, you created this new ticket, the original started Monday, they apologized "nothing they can do" (This was Ratamus at Executive Team, stated he was a manager), will be to me no later than Saturday, will have overnight with Saturday delivery. Thursday night, shipping created, 2 day air of course, not yet picked up. Friday I call, they say UPS has it, even though tracking says otherwise, I tell them I don't believe it, they say it will be here and "sorry we selected 2 day" Sure enough this morning I check, delivery scheduled for Tuesday now, I call to make them aware this is the absolute worst experience I've had in my entire life with customer service, and they will be getting a letter and complaint to BBB. I've made sure to post pictures of this on social media as giant companies need to be held accountable while touting an "excellent customer service experience is our goal".
Beware...

Update: About 3 weeks of waiting and I have a working phone. The Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Battery (for unknown reason) and USB port (again, unknown reason) were replaced. While it's in perfect working order at the current time I am filing with the BBB for the lack of communication, time wasted and outright lies from Samsung customer service and their executive team. Not to mention nobody with a defect this wide should have to be with out a phone for any period of time near this.
Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

I believe we have reached the point with these phones (all brands, all carriers) that we MUST not ever be without them at all EVER! All companies must be forced to provide a comparable replacement/loaner (if you will) to the customer until all warranty/defect issues are completely resolved. Now when it comes to end user damage such as a dropped phone/cracked screen etc., etc. Then the same should apply except it is up to the end user/customer to have purchased their own insurance plan in order to get the replacement phone before having to send in the broken one. These companies created this monster that we all have come to depend on for all of our communication needs and they MUST provide us with a way to keep our communications needs in tact while they repair and or replace defective phones. Especially with the prices we pay!!!

Chilinmichael said:
Over two weeks ago sent it in for the repair because from what I've seen, swapping at Verizon would just get me the same issue again. Got into them, stated part was on backorder. Decided to tell them send it back to me and I'd keep swapping with Verizon as I work in IT and can't be without a phone for an unknown period of time. Well, this is what I got back:
http://imgur.com/qZuLd9R
http://imgur.com/2Vfm6cc
They set up "overnight" back to them on Thursday 6/4/2015. I got it in on 6/5/2015 to UPS. They screwed up (Samsung) and didn't select Saturday so they got it Monday. Danny at the Executive Customer Relations set this all up, promised me the phone back no later than 6/10/2015. I call Tuesday, 6/9/2015 since no activity on ticket yet they signed at dock 6/8/2015. They stated issue with ticket, had to create new one, will be fixed/shipped Wednesday back Thursday. Wednesday comes, no activity, call again, they state tickets take 2-3 days under executive terms, I said wait, you created this new ticket, the original started Monday, they apologized "nothing they can do" (This was Ratamus at Executive Team, stated he was a manager), will be to me no later than Saturday, will have overnight with Saturday delivery. Thursday night, shipping created, 2 day air of course, not yet picked up. Friday I call, they say UPS has it, even though tracking says otherwise, I tell them I don't believe it, they say it will be here and "sorry we selected 2 day" Sure enough this morning I check, delivery scheduled for Tuesday now, I call to make them aware this is the absolute worst experience I've had in my entire life with customer service, and they will be getting a letter and complaint to BBB. I've made sure to post pictures of this on social media as giant companies need to be held accountable while touting an "excellent customer service experience is our goal".
Beware...
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Yes I agree your situation is terrible and you shouldn't have to deal with it but the bbb is pretty much useless. I owned a business and the bbb makes you pay to be a member and have little affect on anything other than of someone is mad they call for the customer and try to get the problem resolved. Was a member for 1 year and never renewed.

jaseman said:
I believe we have reached the point with these phones (all brands, all carriers) that we MUST not ever be without them at all EVER!
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Ok... You can think that all you want, but that doesn't mean they have to do it. No more than a car manufacturer has to give you a loaner while your car is being repaired. Some choose to give loaner cars, but they aren't obligated to.
If you can't live without a phone for a few days, it is YOUR responsibility to have a spare.

JasonJoel said:
Ok... You can think that all you want, but that doesn't mean they have to do it. No more than a car manufacturer has to give you a loaner while your car is being repaired. Some choose to give loaner cars, but they aren't obligated to.
If you can't live without a phone for a few days, it is YOUR responsibility to have a spare.
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Click to collapse
Couldn't disagree more!
All reputable car dealerships provide loaner cars for warranty repairs. If they didn't they would not have customers. Must we have a spare car laying around in case our new, under warranty car, needs repairs? Granted the cost of a spare car is certainly more than a spare phone (not by much though at today's rates) but that should become part of the customer experience for cell phones also. Just calculate what "we" pay for one smart phone per year, including all communication services, and nearly mandatory insurance, and then look at the huge profit these companies are making, it seems to me that to provide us with a loaner that they can sell as a refurb later on is not asking too much!

Not even CLOSE to true. Many dealerships don't give out loaner cars. I've worked directly with dozens of dealerships from hyundai, Ford, to Audi - and it is not a given at all.
And no, you're not supposed to have a spare car... You are supposed to get a ride or rent one.
Obviously of you find a phone manufacturer that gives out free loaners, then feel free to give them all your business.
Good luck.

jaseman said:
Couldn't disagree more!
All reputable car dealerships provide loaner cars for warranty repairs. If they didn't they would not have customers. Must we have a spare car laying around in case our new, under warranty car, needs repairs? Granted the cost of a spare car is certainly more than a spare phone (not by much though at today's rates) but that should become part of the customer experience for cell phones also. Just calculate what "we" pay for one smart phone per year, including all communication services, and nearly mandatory insurance, and then look at the huge profit these companies are making, it seems to me that to provide us with a loaner that they can sell as a refurb later on is not asking too much!
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Lol is this a serious post

Quite the different outlooks here. From my experience here on Long Island in NY, yes, car dealers give out loaners if it's an extended repair more than a day, on average if under warranty. Cell phones are obviously not a car, and if I wanted a "loaner" in this situation I would have simply brought the phone into Verizon, they take it and send it in for repair and I get a replacement on site to keep (a refurb or new replacement, that's up to them per contract agreement). Since this issue was not fixed with any batch yet, the only option was to send into Samsung direct which they don't offer a loaner or replacement program. It is rather disturbing...with a computer hard drive for example, I can do an advance RMA where they hold my CC and send a new one first then I send old back so no down time. IMO, as cell phones are doing more than calls and adding features everyday with people relying on them more and more, companies such as Samsung should institute advance RMA or loaner policies for their benefit and the customer's.
Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

I would also like it if more companies offered advance RMA.

Back again! After months of being fine, it now won't rotate back to portrait correctly. Nicely done Samsung.
This time I'll be going to Verizon to warranty swap the phone, not wasting my time sending into Samsung and being out a phone again since it's painfully obvious they have no real fix. I'll let you all know I purely use Wireless charging, so maybe this worsens the situation/speeds up process. Either way, I am using the phone for what it's designed to do, and it's failed yet again.

Chilinmichael said:
Back again! After months of being fine, it now won't rotate back to portrait correctly. Nicely done Samsung.
This time I'll be going to Verizon to warranty swap the phone, not wasting my time sending into Samsung and being out a phone again since it's painfully obvious they have no real fix. I'll let you all know I purely use Wireless charging, so maybe this worsens the situation/speeds up process. Either way, I am using the phone for what it's designed to do, and it's failed yet again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
technically they wont do a warranty swap to my knowledge in store... they might give a loaner however.. at least i was told warranty replacements have to be shipped which they overnighted mine
Extreme Syndicate L

elliwigy said:
technically they wont do a warranty swap to my knowledge in store... they might give a loaner however.. at least i was told warranty replacements have to be shipped which they overnighted mine
Extreme Syndicate L
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it has to be shipped, which is fine. I'm going on vacation for a week so I'll do it when I get back. Wonder how long it'll take this time for it to happen again. Funny, if the camera can still rotate without issue why can't they software fix every other app? I've also factory reset the phone to see if that would fix it, which it did not.

Chilinmichael said:
Yes, it has to be shipped, which is fine. I'm going on vacation for a week so I'll do it when I get back. Wonder how long it'll take this time for it to happen again. Funny, if the camera can still rotate without issue why can't they software fix every other app? I've also factory reset the phone to see if that would fix it, which it did not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
we have an s6 straight and capacitive buttons went out then we got a replacement and those buttons went out within 24hrs lol.. some phones are just bad in general so im in the same boat with that device.. will be the 3rd phone when i decide to call them again
Extreme Syndicate L

i have had this happen to me twice already, i got a new phone both times.

On my new phone now, working...for now. I don't have hopes of it staying that way, but would be nice. I liken this to the defect of the Samsung Moment with CDMA lockup. They got sued, put out a supposed "software" fix while it was hardware related. They suit claimed when CDMA lockup occurred and a reboot needed to take place, you couldn't call 911 and it did not function for emergencies. Samsung quickly put out a software update that "allowed 911 dialing during lockup conditions" which was not true, at all. Go look it all up. I avoided Samsung for a long time after that, this is giving me that same feeling again and it's just as sad because like the Moment, it's one of the best phones (if not the best) currently on the market.

Note 8 ordered from Samsung is only 20 days old won't power on and Samsung doesn't

I have a Note 8 that I have been very happy with. It's 20 days old and last night while using it just went black. When plugged in to power there is not LED or any sign of life. I performed troubleshooting steps for soft and hard resets with and without power cables. I've tried 3 different power cables and cords but nothing. I charged overnight and still nothing. Completely dead. Phone still looks brand new because I bought a rugged case for it. I've treated it like a newborn baby so it must be defective.
I called Samsung support this morning who walked me through all the previous troubleshooting I've performed and confirmed that the phone is defective. Because it is only 20 days old they created a ticket for me and told me to call ecommerce department @ 855-726-8721 and give them the ticket number and they would replace the phone.
Called ecommerce who was happy to help me and all was well until the end of the phone call. I was told that within a week I would get an email with instructions and a label to send my phone back and within 15 days I would receive a replacement phone. I said WHAT!!!
When I purchased the phone I payed for expideted shipping and had it within 3 days. It's 20 days old and defective and now I'm told that it will actually be 3-4 weeks before I get a working phone again. This is the only phone I have. I had to go to a family member's house to call them 3 times for this info.
There is no escalation path available. Support can only support me. ecommerce can only put in a request via internal communication to a returns team and this is the returns team policy. You can no contact the returns team. You can't escalate to anyone because they are all different departments that have no communication with each other. I can't even call the corporate office to complain because they send you back to support. Everyone I speak to understand and they would be frustrated to but can't help me. Even Samsungs employees don't agree with it but can't do anything or put me in contact with anyone to complain.
So now I sit here waiting for what could be a week before I even get a communication from the returns team to get a working phone. I had the note 7 and lived through two replacements before they took my phone. I even stayed with them and bought the S7 edge. Traded it in for the Note 8 because I had faith in the company. After my experience today it is gone. I'm speechless at the lack of concern about me the customer and the attitude that this is our process sorry and you can't complain.
I would return this phone for an iPhone but I already bought a case, wireless charger, memory card and DeX station.
When I bought my phone it said I could get a wirelss charger or cameral but when I called to inquire they said I missed it by a day. Now I see it's still there if I bought a new phone.
My only experience with Samsung customer service and it will be my last. Next time I will go back to an iPhone where I can get real support from people that seem to care and I can talk to.
In this competitive day I can't beleive that Samsung doesn't care about their customers, has segmented departments in to different silos with no communication and doesn't even provide a place for customer to complaing about a process. If I have no way to complain how will they ever know something is broke.
I was mad but now I feel hopeless. I hope I don't have an emergency that will require me to call an emergency service because I don't have a phone. If something does happen and I survive maybe I could sue Samsung.
If anyone has any suggestions for me to help with this situation or some secret to fix the phone please let me know.

Roughly 3 weeks total to have the new phone from start to finish?...i.e. 1 week to get the instructions, and another 2 weeks (15 days) to receive a new phone. Sounds like they were nice and helpful too...some of the two week delay could be quicker depending on shipping. Doesn't honestly sound too bad overall, but I agree it always sucks to have a problem with a new phone. Not giving you the bonus sounds wrong though, if they still offer it online. Hope it gets sorted out soon!

Maybe a surge fried it!

havrek said:
I have a Note 8 that I have been very happy with. It's 20 days old and last night while using it just went black. When plugged in to power there is not LED or any sign of life. I performed troubleshooting steps for soft and hard resets with and without power cables. I've tried 3 different power cables and cords but nothing. I charged overnight and still nothing. Completely dead. Phone still looks brand new because I bought a rugged case for it. I've treated it like a newborn baby so it must be defective.
I called Samsung support this morning who walked me through all the previous troubleshooting I've performed and confirmed that the phone is defective. Because it is only 20 days old they created a ticket for me and told me to call ecommerce department @ 855-726-8721 and give them the ticket number and they would replace the phone.
Called ecommerce who was happy to help me and all was well until the end of the phone call. I was told that within a week I would get an email with instructions and a label to send my phone back and within 15 days I would receive a replacement phone. I said WHAT!!!
When I purchased the phone I payed for expideted shipping and had it within 3 days. It's 20 days old and defective and now I'm told that it will actually be 3-4 weeks before I get a working phone again. This is the only phone I have. I had to go to a family member's house to call them 3 times for this info.
There is no escalation path available. Support can only support me. ecommerce can only put in a request via internal communication to a returns team and this is the returns team policy. You can no contact the returns team. You can't escalate to anyone because they are all different departments that have no communication with each other. I can't even call the corporate office to complain because they send you back to support. Everyone I speak to understand and they would be frustrated to but can't help me. Even Samsungs employees don't agree with it but can't do anything or put me in contact with anyone to complain.
So now I sit here waiting for what could be a week before I even get a communication from the returns team to get a working phone. I had the note 7 and lived through two replacements before they took my phone. I even stayed with them and bought the S7 edge. Traded it in for the Note 8 because I had faith in the company. After my experience today it is gone. I'm speechless at the lack of concern about me the customer and the attitude that this is our process sorry and you can't complain.
I would return this phone for an iPhone but I already bought a case, wireless charger, memory card and DeX station.
When I bought my phone it said I could get a wirelss charger or cameral but when I called to inquire they said I missed it by a day. Now I see it's still there if I bought a new phone.
My only experience with Samsung customer service and it will be my last. Next time I will go back to an iPhone where I can get real support from people that seem to care and I can talk to.
In this competitive day I can't beleive that Samsung doesn't care about their customers, has segmented departments in to different silos with no communication and doesn't even provide a place for customer to complaing about a process. If I have no way to complain how will they ever know something is broke.
I was mad but now I feel hopeless. I hope I don't have an emergency that will require me to call an emergency service because I don't have a phone. If something does happen and I survive maybe I could sue Samsung.
If anyone has any suggestions for me to help with this situation or some secret to fix the phone please let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I buy from the carrier. Sorry this happened I would be pissed off.

jason504 said:
That's why I buy from the carrier. Sorry this happened I would be pissed off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here; always buy from the carrier if possible

Can you return the items that you bought to the retailer, or are you out of the return period? You might be able to sell them on eBay or craigslist or some place like that to get some of your money back. Then you can get your iPhone.
The only thing that has really ever tempted me about the iPhone is Apple's customer service. They are the kings of customer service. Aside from my phone, everything else that I have is Apple. You know that if you have problems, they will stand behind what they sell and resolution is only a drive down the road (assuming that you have an Apple store nearby. If not, not sure).

of course Apple stands behind their products; when you overcharge for everything, and have the largest profit margins in the electronics world, its easy to provide good service!

Where did you see the promo still ongoing?

Lol.. gee what did they ever do before they had phones...

Seriously, that's pretty good IMO. They are probably factoring the time you take to return the phone to them and the time they ship it to you. Most companies I dealt with for return/exchange will wait for the defective item to be returned first before they send out the replacement. Despite what was said and tested, they will test it themselves to ensure it is defective as well. Once they know it's defective they will ship the replacement. Some have a business supported plan where they will request payment first for a new item and ship immediately. Upon receipt, return instructions and label will be provided for the return. Once returned, they credit your account. So really don't see anything wrong with this. They are doing what other companies I've dealt with are doing from my own experiences.

The only reason why I buy from the carrier is one you don't have to pay for the phone all up front. Especially since I am only keeping it for a year. When the Note9 comes out I can switch this in for the 9. Number 2 is location the carrier stores are all over easy to walk into a store and swap a defective phone out. Or they will ship one overnight. I think Samsung just implementing his no return policy after the Note 7. I read somewhere that Samsung was not replacing phones. Or they are making it really difficult to try to return a phone.

havrek said:
I have a Note 8 that I have been very happy with. It's 20 days old and last night while using it just went black. When plugged in to power there is not LED or any sign of life. I performed troubleshooting steps for soft and hard resets with and without power cables. I've tried 3 different power cables and cords but nothing. I charged overnight and still nothing. Completely dead. Phone still looks brand new because I bought a rugged case for it. I've treated it like a newborn baby so it must be defective.
I called Samsung support this morning who walked me through all the previous troubleshooting I've performed and confirmed that the phone is defective. Because it is only 20 days old they created a ticket for me and told me to call ecommerce department @ 855-726-8721 and give them the ticket number and they would replace the phone.
Called ecommerce who was happy to help me and all was well until the end of the phone call. I was told that within a week I would get an email with instructions and a label to send my phone back and within 15 days I would receive a replacement phone. I said WHAT!!!
When I purchased the phone I payed for expideted shipping and had it within 3 days. It's 20 days old and defective and now I'm told that it will actually be 3-4 weeks before I get a working phone again. This is the only phone I have. I had to go to a family member's house to call them 3 times for this info.
There is no escalation path available. Support can only support me. ecommerce can only put in a request via internal communication to a returns team and this is the returns team policy. You can no contact the returns team. You can't escalate to anyone because they are all different departments that have no communication with each other. I can't even call the corporate office to complain because they send you back to support. Everyone I speak to understand and they would be frustrated to but can't help me. Even Samsungs employees don't agree with it but can't do anything or put me in contact with anyone to complain.
So now I sit here waiting for what could be a week before I even get a communication from the returns team to get a working phone. I had the note 7 and lived through two replacements before they took my phone. I even stayed with them and bought the S7 edge. Traded it in for the Note 8 because I had faith in the company. After my experience today it is gone. I'm speechless at the lack of concern about me the customer and the attitude that this is our process sorry and you can't complain.
I would return this phone for an iPhone but I already bought a case, wireless charger, memory card and DeX station.
When I bought my phone it said I could get a wirelss charger or cameral but when I called to inquire they said I missed it by a day. Now I see it's still there if I bought a new phone.
My only experience with Samsung customer service and it will be my last. Next time I will go back to an iPhone where I can get real support from people that seem to care and I can talk to.
In this competitive day I can't beleive that Samsung doesn't care about their customers, has segmented departments in to different silos with no communication and doesn't even provide a place for customer to complaing about a process. If I have no way to complain how will they ever know something is broke.
I was mad but now I feel hopeless. I hope I don't have an emergency that will require me to call an emergency service because I don't have a phone. If something does happen and I survive maybe I could sue Samsung.
If anyone has any suggestions for me to help with this situation or some secret to fix the phone please let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is these stories , that I count my blessings that the two devices bought from Samsung direct aren't defective. I think one thing I've learned for others on here is this. I think next time I'll just buy the devices from my provider, after all I bought a T Mobile one from Samsung direct. The T Mobile service is much better.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

jason504 said:
The only reason why I buy from the carrier is one you don't have to pay for the phone all up front. Especially since I am only keeping it for a year. When the Note9 comes out I can switch this in for the 9. Number 2 is location the carrier stores are all over easy to walk into a store and swap a defective phone out. Or they will ship one overnight. I think Samsung just implementing his no return policy after the Note 7. I read somewhere that Samsung was not replacing phones. Or they are making it really difficult to try to return a phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I used to think, but after buying from Samsung directly I will NEVER again buy from them. There was a problem with the first phone that had to be returned, and the experience, which is not over, has been a nightmare. If it had been through Verizon, it would have been a piece of cake. It completely changed my mind about any perceived advantages (NONE) of buying from company vs. carrier. I've had all generations of the Note, but after this I'm so burned out on Samsung, I'd consider something else. And actually I don't like the 8 any better than the 7 (which I still have). Their e-commerce department which they route everything through is a joke. They have absolutely no authority and the answer for everything is "wait for a link to be sent to you", which has never happened so far. Lesson learned - I'll vote with my feet.

neograndizer said:
Seriously, that's pretty good IMO.
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Click to collapse
I think it's horrible. Samsung should offer the option of shipping a new replacement phone immediately for overnight delivery, if OP provides a credit-card number for the value of the phone until the old one is returned. Then Samsung should immediately email a return label for RMA shipping, and cancel the credit-card hold as soon as the defective product is received and verified.
For an expensive new phone that dies within three weeks, anything less than that is a ripoff.
---------- Post added at 12:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:39 PM ----------
Zeblade said:
Lol[,] gee what did they ever do before they had phones[?]
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Click to collapse
Before phones, people didn't organize their social and commercial activity in a manner that depends on phones--and the cost to productivity was staggering.

Honestly, I always keep a spare phone now exactly for this reason and just make sure the SIM size is the same as my current phone. Kept an HTC One M8 as my backup for a while. Better than being forced to A ) be without a phone or B ) be between a rock and a hard place with paying full price immediately to get a new phone so I can get phone calls. With the backup, I can C ) go through insurance, swappa, or w/e I choose patiently.

mcdanielvzw said:
Honestly, I always keep a spare phone now exactly for this reason and just make sure the SIM size is the same as my current phone. Kept an HTC One M8 as my backup for a while. Better than being forced to A ) be without a phone or B ) be between a rock and a hard place with paying full price immediately to get a new phone so I can get phone calls. With the backup, I can C ) go through insurance, swappa, or w/e I choose patiently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very true!

Gary02468 said:
I think it's horrible. Samsung should offer the option of shipping a new replacement phone immediately for overnight delivery, if OP provides a credit-card number for the value of the phone until the old one is returned. Then Samsung should immediately email a return label for RMA shipping, and cancel the credit-card hold as soon as the defective product is received and verified.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would indeed be phenomenal service, but it also sounds like an expensive change that would likely be passed on to consumers via increased pricing. It's expensive enough as it is! I think most of us can manage without overnight delivery, but some sort of middle ground would be reasonable and certainly welcome.

sefrcoko said:
That would indeed be phenomenal service, but it also sounds like an expensive change that would likely be passed on to consumers via increased pricing. It's expensive enough as it is! I think most of us can manage without overnight delivery, but some sort of middle ground would be reasonable and certainly welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's only a noticeable expense if a large fraction of their phones fail quickly. And the overnight (as opposed to two-day) shipping isn't all that important. Most of the benefit from the process I described would come from its other aspects, which would have little or no cost compared to their weeks-slower process.

Samsung just protecting themselves from people claiming the phone just broke on its own when it's actually water damage or physical damage. Nothing wrong with them looking over your phone before they issue out a new one.
If you watered service you should have bought it from a carrier or bought an iPhone.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

shook187 said:
Samsung just protecting themselves from people claiming the phone just broke on its own when it's actually water damage or physical damage. Nothing wrong with them looking over your phone before they issue out a new one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, but if they have your credit-card number before they send the replacement phone, then if they find that the original phone was not really defective, they can insist that the replacement be returned in new condition (and subject to a standard restocking fee), or else charge the customer for a second phone. So they're fully protected.
If you watered service you should have bought it from a carrier or bought an iPhone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why? Any vendor who sells someone a product that turns out to be defective has an obligation to replace it without an unnecessary, punitive delay.

OnePlus Customer Service/RMA

I would like to explain about a situation that I had to go through with OnePlus customer service.
I got my new OnePlus 7 Pro around 3pm today. I excitedly opened the box and turned the phone on. I looked it over and saw something on the back. "What is that?" I thought. Inspecting it closer, I saw a ripple in the plastic foil that adheres to the glass back and gives the shimmery look. It wasn't a huge deal, but still a flaw, and I should have a flawless phone after shelling out 750 dollars.
Ok, I'll contact support.
I called them and spoke with someone that I suspect was in China. She stated that she was sorry for the inconvenience, but I could submit an RMA. Since it was within the 15 days, I should get an email soon with the shipping label and info. The whole process could take a couple of weeks though....sucks but ok, I should get the flawless device I paid for.
About 2 hours later I got an email from Acer whom I guess handles OnePlus's returns. There was not a shipping label. I figured I would contact chat support, surely they just forgot to attach the label.
Well over 45 mins later, they finally decipher what I'm asking for and tell me that OnePlus isn't going to pay for shipping back to them. What? Surely a mistake, right? They delivered a flawed product.
I decided to call. I either got the same exact lady that I had earlier when I called, or they all use the same name, I dont know. Anyways, I explained the situation, and again she assured me that I would not have to pay shipping back to them. She asked me to wait on hold and she would see what the deal is. Welp, 20 mins later she comes back on and says "we are sorry sir but because there is nothing wrong with the OTG cable, you will have to pay for shipping back to us." Ok what the heck, this is about a phone lady, I again gave her my info and she apologized and asked me to wait on hold. Another 15 mins later and she came back on and said, and I quote "I am so sorry sir, but Acer will not pay for shipping back to their service center." I'm like what, I'm talking to OnePlus, this is a OnePlus phone, I want them to pay for shipping back since they delivered a flawed product. "I'm sorry sir, Acer is who handles the returns and they will not pay."
So I asked her to change my RMA to a return instead of exchange. I'll be footing the bill to send the phone back and will never consider another OnePlus product again.
I'm posting this for those on the fence. Just know that if you ever have problems their customer service is a joke. Thank God I was within the 15 day window. The main reason I asked for them to change to a return instead of exchange was the whole time I was thinking....I'm within the window of return and this is how they treat me? What if the ffc goes out? The screen? I dont want to go through it again. Hope this info helps out others. Im sorry I don't get to be a part of this community. I could tell it was going to be a good one. Take care.

JLine05 said:
I would like to explain about a situation that I had to go through with OnePlus customer service.
I got my new OnePlus 7 Pro around 3pm today. I excitedly opened the box and turned the phone on. I looked it over and saw something on the back. "What is that?" I thought. Inspecting it closer, I saw a ripple in the plastic foil that adheres to the glass back and gives the shimmery look. It wasn't a huge deal, but still a flaw, and I should have a flawless phone after shelling out 750 dollars.
Ok, I'll contact support.
I called them and spoke with someone that I suspect was in China. She stated that she was sorry for the inconvenience, but I could submit an RMA. Since it was within the 15 days, I should get an email soon with the shipping label and info. The whole process could take a couple of weeks though....sucks but ok, I should get the flawless device I paid for.
About 2 hours later I got an email from Acer whom I guess handles OnePlus's returns. There was not a shipping label. I figured I would contact chat support, surely they just forgot to attach the label.
Well over 45 mins later, they finally decipher what I'm asking for and tell me that OnePlus isn't going to pay for shipping back to them. What? Surely a mistake, right? They delivered a flawed product.
I decided to call. I either got the same exact lady that I had earlier when I called, or they all use the same name, I dont know. Anyways, I explained the situation, and again she assured me that I would not have to pay shipping back to them. She asked me to wait on hold and she would see what the deal is. Welp, 20 mins later she comes back on and says "we are sorry sir but because there is nothing wrong with the OTG cable, you will have to pay for shipping back to us." Ok what the heck, this is about a phone lady, I again gave her my info and she apologized and asked me to wait on hold. Another 15 mins later and she came back on and said, and I quote "I am so sorry sir, but Acer will not pay for shipping back to their service center." I'm like what, I'm talking to OnePlus, this is a OnePlus phone, I want them to pay for shipping back since they delivered a flawed product. "I'm sorry sir, Acer is who handles the returns and they will not pay."
So I asked her to change my RMA to a return instead of exchange. I'll be footing the bill to send the phone back and will never consider another OnePlus product again.
I'm posting this for those on the fence. Just know that if you ever have problems their customer service is a joke. Thank God I was within the 15 day window. The main reason I asked for them to change to a return instead of exchange was the whole time I was thinking....I'm within the window of return and this is how they treat me? What if the ffc goes out? The screen? I dont want to go through it again. Hope this info helps out others. Im sorry I don't get to be a part of this community. I could tell it was going to be a good one. Take care.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have any pics? I would also be ticked off.

I would be upset too, but Apple and Samsung are going to have the same customer service too.

OnePlus stopped paying for return shipping couple of years ago.. if you have paid with PayPal, going can claim the return shipping with PayPal...

insomnia77 said:
Do you have any pics? I would also be ticked off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that I've cooled off, I'm weighing keeping it. On one hand I'm scared of dealing with support if anything mechanically malfunctions with the phone. On the other hand, I've been using Samsung for 8 years straight, and I miss having root and flashing roms.
I'm going to leave the first post the same though, because I think the frustration is warranted and others may be interested to know what it's like dealing with them.
I attached a picture of the defect, its incredibly minor....I wasn't sure that I was even going to contact them in the first place. But I kept saying man, you paid 750 for a new phone it should be without flaws...
I don't know, I'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Bradl79 said:
I would be upset too, but Apple and Samsung are going to have the same customer service too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apple has stores you could take the phone and swap it, but I've never dealt with them.
I've dealt with Samsung for their appliances a few times and never had anything this bad. It's hard to even convey in writing how frustrating those several hours dealing with them were. That last call with the lady who mentioned the otg cable was maddening. That 45 minutes was seriously a total waste of time.

JLine05 said:
I would like to explain about a situation that I had to go through with OnePlus customer service.
I got my new OnePlus 7 Pro around 3pm today. I excitedly opened the box and turned the phone on. I looked it over and saw something on the back. "What is that?" I thought. Inspecting it closer, I saw a ripple in the plastic foil that adheres to the glass back and gives the shimmery look. It wasn't a huge deal, but still a flaw, and I should have a flawless phone after shelling out 750 dollars.
Ok, I'll contact support.
I called them and spoke with someone that I suspect was in China. She stated that she was sorry for the inconvenience, but I could submit an RMA. Since it was within the 15 days, I should get an email soon with the shipping label and info. The whole process could take a couple of weeks though....sucks but ok, I should get the flawless device I paid for.
About 2 hours later I got an email from Acer whom I guess handles OnePlus's returns. There was not a shipping label. I figured I would contact chat support, surely they just forgot to attach the label.
Well over 45 mins later, they finally decipher what I'm asking for and tell me that OnePlus isn't going to pay for shipping back to them. What? Surely a mistake, right? They delivered a flawed product.
I decided to call. I either got the same exact lady that I had earlier when I called, or they all use the same name, I dont know. Anyways, I explained the situation, and again she assured me that I would not have to pay shipping back to them. She asked me to wait on hold and she would see what the deal is. Welp, 20 mins later she comes back on and says "we are sorry sir but because there is nothing wrong with the OTG cable, you will have to pay for shipping back to us." Ok what the heck, this is about a phone lady, I again gave her my info and she apologized and asked me to wait on hold. Another 15 mins later and she came back on and said, and I quote "I am so sorry sir, but Acer will not pay for shipping back to their service center." I'm like what, I'm talking to OnePlus, this is a OnePlus phone, I want them to pay for shipping back since they delivered a flawed product. "I'm sorry sir, Acer is who handles the returns and they will not pay."
So I asked her to change my RMA to a return instead of exchange. I'll be footing the bill to send the phone back and will never consider another OnePlus product again.
I'm posting this for those on the fence. Just know that if you ever have problems their customer service is a joke. Thank God I was within the 15 day window. The main reason I asked for them to change to a return instead of exchange was the whole time I was thinking....I'm within the window of return and this is how they treat me? What if the ffc goes out? The screen? I dont want to go through it again. Hope this info helps out others. Im sorry I don't get to be a part of this community. I could tell it was going to be a good one. Take care.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JLine05 said:
Now that I've cooled off, I'm weighing keeping it. On one hand I'm scared of dealing with support if anything mechanically malfunctions with the phone. On the other hand, I've been using Samsung for 8 years straight, and I miss having root and flashing roms.
I'm going to leave the first post the same though, because I think the frustration is warranted and others may be interested to know what it's like dealing with them.
I attached a picture of the defect, its incredibly minor....I wasn't sure that I was even going to contact them in the first place. But I kept saying man, you paid 750 for a new phone it should be without flaws...
I don't know, I'll see how I feel tomorrow.
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I cant believe they dont pay return shipping for something that is clearly a defect. I've returned things to Samsung and given a return label hassle free.

Why did you phone, you should have used the site :
https://www.oneplus.com/uk/support/contact?from=foot
I'm pretty sure the chat agents are in OnePlus and would be much more accommodating.
The most recommended RMA process is to raise a support ticket, then make a post on the OnePlus forum and mention one of the mods who can have someone look at it for you, if it's especially egregious like this issue is then you should get a satisfactory outcome using that method.
Also the reason why buying it from a store is usually better, you can then just take it straight back to that store. Online sales are always inherently more difficult for support.

Hey, man. sorry about your experience. I'm the same way with regards to wanting a flawless device. If there isn't a restocking fee, i would just say to return and buy another one (if theyre unwilling to RMA). It's lame to have to pay return shipping, but this way you can at least save your "RMA karma" for if you really need it. Either way, if you're not happy with it, don't just settle...no pun intended lol
JLine05 said:
Now that I've cooled off, I'm weighing keeping it. On one hand I'm scared of dealing with support if anything mechanically malfunctions with the phone. On the other hand, I've been using Samsung for 8 years straight, and I miss having root and flashing roms.
I'm going to leave the first post the same though, because I think the frustration is warranted and others may be interested to know what it's like dealing with them.
I attached a picture of the defect, its incredibly minor....I wasn't sure that I was even going to contact them in the first place. But I kept saying man, you paid 750 for a new phone it should be without flaws...
I don't know, I'll see how I feel tomorrow.
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djsubterrain said:
Why did you phone, you should have used the site :
https://www.oneplus.com/uk/support/contact?from=foot
I'm pretty sure the chat agents are in OnePlus and would be much more accommodating.
The most recommended RMA process is to raise a support ticket, then make a post on the OnePlus forum and mention one of the mods who can have someone look at it for you, if it's especially egregious like this issue is then you should get a satisfactory outcome using that method.
Also the reason why buying it from a store is usually better, you can then just take it straight back to that store. Online sales are always inherently more difficult for support.
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Using that link in USA redirects you to the site I used. Also, the reps I spoke with were OnePlus reps (though not very good ones).
And we cannot purchase from a store here unless we are Tmobile customers. Tmobile requires you to sign up for service if you buy the phone from them.
As far as the method you mentioned about visiting the forums, you may have a point there, but how is that to be known by a new customer? I think it's a good contribution for other users that may be looking this topic up later, so I appreciate it!

I am located in Germany so my experience would probably differ and I don't know what other options and resellers there are in the US.
However, I have ordered my phone to Amazon and there the shipping date is may 31st from the beginning. I know I will have to wait longer, but I just love their service. 30 day return period and I only have to deal with them once there is something wrong with the device. I have been reading horrible stories about oneplus customer support and your case would upset me as well. I honestly wouldn't keep it after spending that much money and send it back. (I will would still get a new one). Being forced to pay anything extra is outrages though.
Luckily, I never had to do any rma with my older oneplus phones yet and I am getting a new one every year. Still, I will stick with Amazon, just in case.

JLine05 said:
Using that link in USA redirects you to the site I used. Also, the reps I spoke with were OnePlus reps (though not very good ones).
And we cannot purchase from a store here unless we are Tmobile customers. Tmobile requires you to sign up for service if you buy the phone from them.
As far as the method you mentioned about visiting the forums, you may have a point there, but how is that to be known by a new customer? I think it's a good contribution for other users that may be looking this topic up later, so I appreciate it!
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No problem, hope you get a satisfactory outcome and sorry your first experience with OnePlus has been soured like this.

Thanks everyone. I've decided that I am going to send it back. I may buy another one, I haven't quite decided that yet. I wish Amazon US had it

Bradl79 said:
I would be upset too, but Apple and Samsung are going to have the same customer service too.
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I had a great experience with Samsung with my wife's phone. Phone was still under warranty and they took care of it right away. They paid shipping both ways and got the new phone in less than 8 days. I have not had any experience with OnePLus customer service but I am not surprised with the experience OP had. I have OP6 and thankfully it runs flawless. When I purchased OP6, it was at least $200 cheaper than comparable flagship phones from well-known manufacturers. In order to sell quality phones at a razor thin margins, usually they cut corners with customer service/after-sales service. I hope OP gets the refund in a timely fashion.

I was being sarcastic, With customer service it's all one of the same though, one person can have a great experience and others not so much like this poor fellow, I used to work for att customer relations and heard horror stories similar to this and some worse, also heard great things for both Samsung, crApple, LG and some not so good. It is really in all who u get, if ur not happy just hang up and move on, BC it could be that person's manager or team lead who does not want to do anything for anyone, there were some like me who would try to help as much as possible, again it comes down to the manager, team leader, call center manager or above. I hope u can get it resolved to ur satisfaction. Just RMA it

I'm in the UK, had to send back a OnePlus 5. Free shipping, got it back within 4 days. Think it went to the Czech Republic. Was about a year ago.
Sound awful your experience though