Apple refunding bumpers, giving free cases through Sept. 30
During the iPhone 4 press conference, Steve Jobs said that while the iPhone 4 antenna issue isn't affecting all users, they care about every user, and so will providing free cases to everyone who bought an iPhone 4 through September 30, 2010.
If you already bought an Apple bumper case, you'll get a refund. If not, Apple can't make enough bumpers so they'll source other cases.
The procedure seems to be, if you bought a qualifying iPhone 4, you'll get a website link to go to, pick a case, and Apple will send it to you.
UPDATE: Free bumper/case offer is international, no US only.
[GDGT]
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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Yah at it being til the end of September, as long as At&t let me upgrade then I'll be able to get one.
So I just ordered mine 2 weeks ago with a bumper from apples website. I will be expecting my money back thank you apple!
Wait a minute, what happens after September 30th? No more free cases? And If so Does that mean that they would have coated the antenna with some thing by then?
So let me get this straight... your engineers screw up epicly on the design and execution of your "revolutionary and improved" antenna, and your solution is to dumb-down the data of overall formal complaints (while completely ignoring real-world statistics), placing the blame on other manufacturers for having the same "issue", and ...wait for it... giving away a FREE case!!! Sigh, only Apple -_-
I know a lot of you hate my comments on here, but I really couldn't care less. But let me say this, you've got to be an absolute moron if you are having these so-called antenna issues and you're fully satisfied with what Mr. Jobs has compensated you with today... if so, he had you at "WE LOVE OUR USERS" and there's no turning back on the love lust now...
Duct tape works best plus it's more fashionable!
@VTP What would you have had them do?
Damn trolls
Well it's a start. Are they doing something to the phone after September 30th?
So what about the people that had there phone preorder and waiting in line for the iPhone 4 do we get free cases to or what ? And how if we are ?
In response to what Steve said here, does that mean I can go purchase a $79 case and get a full refund, or just equal to a bumper? I've got my eye set on this one: (http://www.exogear.com/products-iphone-4.html), and if I can purchase it before 30 September (which I CAN), then I want to know if Apple would reimburse me for the full price, or just the equivalent of a bumper case.
"10:56AM Q: Will the refund include third party cases? A: There's a very small number of third party cases out there. So no. Q: Well it's interesting, there aren't any cases out there, and it's hard to get cases now. If the third party case buyers can produce a receipt, why not give them one? Steve: It's really simple, if we tell people what our next product is, they stop buying our current products. Sometimes websites buy stolen property and they get out there... and case makers have a history of showing off their new cases for our new products. The case vendors haven't had a history of helping to keep our work under wraps."
I haven't watched it. I'll admit. I hope he apologized for to all the users for something that shouldn't be happening. And to all the users who DIDNT bother calling in like myself as I knew it pointless. Hardware. Issue. Hope they fix the new batch with their matte steel and less darkened face glass.
Yeah... The antenna problem is present in every phone, but Apple is he only one offering free cases, ever. Pure BS.
Anonymous: I would say no, you wouldn't be able to claim that case. We'll have to see what the Apple website shows next week, but Apple will only "buy" you a case sold through their website. It's not a you buy, they reimburse kind of system.
About freaking time! I know why that they're doing this until the end of September, by that time all defective iPhone 4s will be off the market and the new ones will be the fixed ones.
@Taylor
Ah, I misread that one. Yeah, darn. No refund for any third party cases.
"Yeah… The antenna problem is present in every phone"
umn .. no.
to varying degrees hand position will interfere with reception in all phones but iPhone 4 has a completely different and more pronounced problem due to its external antenna design.
this problem doesn't exist with the 3GS or previous iphone iterations, and no one is expecting apple to provide free cases for those devices.
"Wait a minute, what happens after September 30th?"
probably either hardware revision eliminating the problem, or free case in the box.
Well he did apologize and a free bumper is better then nothing. He is also allowing you to return the phone and get a refund on your AT&T contract to become eligible again so Steve is trying. Better then nothing. Ohh and it ends September 30th because Steve said the will reevaluate things and try to come up with a legit fix by that date.
Ya haters, if you dont like your phone return it and shutup.
Was planning on getting a case anyway, but if Apple will give me one then I'm good with that at the moment.
Theres no way it's present in every phone. I've tried 100 times to replicate the death grip and have even over exxagerated it but can't.
If people don't like the phone or Apple's response then return it and get your $ back and buy another phone. Seems pretty simple huh? That's the only way to stick it to the "man" is to hurt his pockets. Trollling around on forums does nothing.
I agree with everything Apple said. I love my iPhone, no complaints. But I will take Apple up on the free case just for the hell of it.
First let me say that u must be an idiot not to buy a case for ur iphone since its such expensive phone. Second i wish verizon or motorola would have gave me a case when i bought my droid that thing had horrible reception at my office an my house, an dropped every other called i made even after i exchanged my phone out. Had the same issue with my palm pre from sprint. So if a case fixes the issue ive seen with alot of the phones ive owned on my iphone then that is great ill take an extra free case any day. Third like it was said i u are not happy iphone 4 then go get ur money back an buy another phone, its that easy.
But that is just my two cents
Okay I'm kinda confused can someone explain to me how this will go? I bought a bumper online so will I get an email or do I have to go to the apple store? Can I still get a free case even if I have the bumper? Thanks
Sorry, can you explain that last bit(UPDATE) a little more clearly? Does that mean ONLY the US is eligible for free bumpers??
Yes, I'm not clear on that "international, no" part...
Is the deal available international, or is it US only?
Yeah... That's great news. Apple will give out any case for free. On the other note, I got a text message from Steve Jobs asking me to do him a favor. He said, "ONE MORE THING!!! The free case that Apple will send out would have a spike on areas where you shouldn't be holding your phone. And that's how we care for our Customers!!! Helping them to hold the phone the right way."
This really makes me feel like my confidence and loyalty to Apple products is appreciated by Apple. I very much doubt any other company would respond so positively to customer nuisance complaints. At least without some sort of class action...
It appears that most of you do not have a bumper yet, so I thought I would let you know the following:
I got the iPhone 4 on launch day. I already knew about the possible antenna issue because of the early Fedex deliveries, so I picked up a bumper immediately.
The bumper is probably the nicest case I have ever had for a phone. The volume and lock buttons are actually silver buttons, not raised parts of the rubber like most cases. The buttons function really well and feel as if they are part of the actual phone. The edges of the bumper are raised out on the front and back so that it holds the front and back glass of the phone off of the surface it is sitting on. Also, if this helps if you drop the phone. I dropped mine once so far and the bumper saved it.
So, for all of the complaining, the FREE bumper is actually really nice, and I'll be happy to get my $29 back too.
Now, back to the anti-Apple flaming...
What a joke. I don't like cases on my phones.
@VTP No better solution? Thought so. Go back under the bridge
So will they not give out ANY bumpers or only have them in short supply? I'd really prefer to get a bumper. I bought a third party case with my phone and don't really like it.
What is funny about this is that I was holding off getting a case until some "okay" ones came out. I am actually using my 3G case, its rugged and works well, but it isn't form fitting. Now I get a free case.
My parents both have iPhones 4's as well, and my dad's Balistic case from AT&T came in today. Very good looking. My mom has one of those cheap Frog whatever cases from AT&T as well. Now each of them will have 2 new cases for free.
@VTP;
Please provide your "real world@ statistics with the source of them.
If you can't then piss of Troll
off
I won't be using my bumper. I'm going to avoid touching the problem area with my finger.
Sounds complicated, huh?
When are they start going to give out the free cases? and can u go to the store and just get it?
@Fastlane;
Tricky isn't it? I'm amazed half the people on here know how to switch it on...
@Mephisto:
Yes. Although I'm in agreement with those who feel the phone shouldn't have this problem in the first place, I don't see how avoiding the small antenna area is any different than avoiding the camera lens when shooting photos or video, or avoiding the send button while typing out a text, or avoiding covering the speaker when listening to audio.
Is it really that life-changing to avoid this area?
This issue is sooo dead.
I'm real happy with this seeing as I don't have any issues with my phone. Now I get a free case and I was even able to order one before they became unavailable. I wont receive it till aug. 11 :/
Sux for those who bought a "rare" bumper off of eBay ... They don't keep up with news!!
Lucky me! I ordered a bumper from Apple online Monday and it got here all the way from China today! And now I'll be getting it for free. Started with a Specks Candy Shell, but it was too bulky for me. Almost got used to it without a case. Bumper is good compromise.
Why is VTP a troll? Because he doesn't agree with you? Cmon guys.. I've been around here for two and a half years reading this blog and this is one of those moments that make us gambits look like idiots.
Seriously, don't call him a troll because he disagrees.
I can't wait for the australian iPhone 4!!!!!
Steve said that they couldn't make enough Bumpers quickly enough, but that they will be offered next week. I wouldn't want a 3rd party case, so if I buy a Bumper between now and next week, will I still get the discount knowing what was said today?
Wow, Steve looked pretty pissed offering the free bumpers :O
Wow... I can make the bars go down even with the bumper on
Quit complaining and enjoy your phone... Some people can't even afford one of those things!
I called VTP a troll because although given hard facts about the amount of calls Apple have had about this he still thinks he knows better.
He says that's not "real world" figures. Fine, then let him back up his claim with facts.
@MastaFlash;
Wow, big deal, I can make them go off completely by taking the SIM card out...
@Mephisto:
If you believe everything that Jobs says are "hard facts", then you really deserve a rubber band for your iPhone.
I should hurry up and buy that $80.00 bumper. I want a refund
When do we start signing up for the cases?
I purchased an I4 Phone plus how do I go about getting a refund for the case and can I kept the case and my wife wondered how can she get the bumper. tHANKS tOM
I learn a good deal of blogs recently and yours is one with the best. I enjoy reading your posts - clear and very well written. Your page goes straight to my bookmarks. I bought some good inspirational thoughts after reading it.
I got money back for the bumper that I got in the store and I ordered one from the iPhone app for free
I was told, by Apple, if u purchase the iPhone 4 in July(which I did), it is too late to get a free case... The deadline was aug 22. Anyone know anything about this?
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