Apple

My gift cards were tampered with—3 different gift cards. Someone tampered with them before the store got them, so it happened at the Apple gift card department by an employee or employees. I paid for the cards at Ralph's store; the cards were activated when I purchased them. It was about a few hundred dollars.

So I got home and opened them up, taking the card out of the sleeve, but it looked okay; it did not look to be tampered with. But when I took the card out and pulled off the gray-colored sticker so I could see the code number, three numbers in the middle of the numbers you could not read. I scratched it off in that area but still could not read the numbers, making all three cards useless.

I then called Apple Support and made a long report on the phone, sent them a picture of both sides of the card and the receipt, and also the receipt saying they were now activated. I snapped pictures of all this for all three cards, and I attached all this info and pics and sent them to the theft/fraud department.

The agent I talked to said it would be 7 to 10 days before they would get back to me, but they never did, so I then called them back on day 13 and told this woman the whole story, gave her my case number the man gave me. She then put me on hold and talked to someone, then she said they are not going to help me. Then I got pretty angry because I lost my money, and they refused to refund my losses.

Now I am out about 300 dollars or so, but they refuse to help me. In my opinion, this card tampering did not happen at the Ralph store; it happened at the Apple card center where they print the cards and put them into the sleeve. The card denominations I got were the larger ones that allow you to put 50 to 500 dollars on the card. The crooks that are doing this are targeting these larger cards, not the smaller ones for 50, 75, or 100 dollars.

I lost all my money on this, but I want to warn everyone to not purchase these larger cards from Apple. In my opinion, some employees at Apple are pulling a scam and probably sharing the money they steal from these cards with each other; even the guy that helped me make the original complaint gave me a funny feeling, too. So in my opinion, there are a few Apple employees doing this scam.

What an absolute joke this place is for service. Needing a new battery, I booked a Genius Bar appointment.

How far from the truth is that description - knowing that I needed to fork out $150, I had to save weeks to afford it as I am unemployed. Arriving, I was told that the systems were running really slow today. Really, the Apple Hub is running slow - seriously, your system is running slow. How ludicrous.

So I am sent to wait. I arrived 5 minutes early, and I was seen to 35 minutes after being seated - why in *** do I book an appointment to be kept waiting for half an hour - with no apology but 'our system is running slow today' - screw your system. So the genius that came to see me tested my phone and asked whether I was there for a battery replacement - which I was. Mind you, he spoke so quietly I could hardly hear a word he said - probably in the hopes I would say yes to anything he said.

Nothing else was mentioned until I said to my partner, 'At some stage, I need to get my screen replaced too,' and it was then, then, dear reader, that the genius said, 'We access your battery through the screen. To replace your battery, we also need to replace the screen. That costs $465.' What in the name of pears and bananas is this rip-off from Apple? So to get a $150 battery, I have to spend $615.

Get in the bin, Apple. Worse still, none of this is mentioned prior to me actually sitting in front of someone - not mentioned on the website, not mentioned in the battery health monitor on the phone, not by the three people I saw prior to waiting 30 minutes.

When my partner pointed this out to the genius, the guy shrugged his shoulder and couldn't give a rat's *** about taking on feedback. Why should I fund the gold Epstein ballroom?

I purchased a brand new iPhone from Teknosa, an authorized Apple reseller in Turkey. The phone worked properly at first, but after the very first charge, it completely stopped working and could not be turned on again.

I immediately contacted Teknosa regarding the issue. Teknosa collected the device from me and sent it to KVK, Apple's official distributor and service partner in Turkey. Instead of providing a new replacement unit, which is Apple's global policy for devices that fail shortly after purchase, KVK repaired the phone by replacing the logic board, display, and several internal components. After the repair, KVK sent the device back to Teknosa, and Teknosa returned it to me.

This means the product I purchased as brand new has now become a repaired device, something I never agreed to and do not accept. Such a product failure within days of purchase should clearly qualify for a replacement, not a repair. I paid full price for a new iPhone, and I expect Apple's official distributors and resellers to follow the same replacement standards that Apple applies globally. I am requesting Apple's Global Customer Relations Team to review this situation and ensure that I receive a proper replacement device or a full refund.

This experience shows that Teknosa and KVK do not handle early product defects in line with Apple's customer service standards. Purchase Country: Turkey Reseller: Teknosa Distributor / Service: KVK Issue: Device failed after first charge Service Action: Repaired (logic board + screen replaced) Customer Request: Full replacement or refund

rrI have been a loyal Apple customer for many years. Over the years, I purchased the following:

-two 5S Iphones,

-two 6S Iphones,

-two Iphone Xs for grandsons,

-two Iphone 12s,

-a MacBook,

-two ipads for grandsons,

-two ipads,

-and then years later two replacement ipads.

-Most recently, this past April, I purchased an Iphone 16 Pro Max and an Iphone 16 Plus.

I have never had a problem with the any of the Apple products until the my wifes Iphone 16 Pro Max kept shutting down.

Coinicdently, one of her friends at the gym had the exact same problem with her Iphone 16 Pro Max about 2-3 weeks before we purchased our Iphone 16 Pro Max.

Every time, I came into the store, I said this phone is defective. I have never had a problem with any Apple products until now. Nobody acknowledged this comment. I did a Google search and learned that there were many posts from a wide variety of sources.

I mentioned this to one the Apple employees who tried help me and they had no comment. Except one time, I was told you cant trust everything on the internet. I quickly opened my phone and did a quick search, I replied: I think Apple Insider and MacRumors are legit sources [see below for google search]. Rather than just exchanging this defective phone, Apple has made me jump through hoops and WASTE so much my time.

Also, at the end, it sucked that they did not re-install the screen cover and I had to go TMobile to reactivate the phone. When I purchased the phone, they installed the screen cover and placed it in the protective case we purchased.

My relationship with Apple will be coming to an end. Hopefully, Samsung will provide a more reliable product and better customer service.

4/2/25 I purchased the following:

Iphone 16 Pro Max 512 GB $1,399.00 Iphone 16 Pro Max Clear Case $ 49.00 Belkin Ultraglass SPS IPH 16 PRO MAX-ZML $ 39.50 Tax $ 115.32 Total $1,603.27;and a Iphone 16 Plus

5/1/25 Phone went blank, unable to turn on or restart. I called Apple help.

They were unable to resolve over the phone and made

an appointment on 5/2/28 for the Apple Genius Bar.

5/2/25 Prior to leaving for the appointment, the phone turned on by itself. I went to Apple Store, the diagnostics all checked good.

The technician said it is fine and could not explain why it shut down and could not be restarted.

6/14/25The Iphone continued to shut down. After a few times, I went to back to the Apple Genius Bar. The diagnostics checked out

fine again.

The Apple technician suggested reinstalling IOS. He reinstalled IOS.

8/10/25The phone turned off again in morning and evening. After about 4 attempts each time, I was able to re-start the phone.

8/11/25I went in the Apple store, they ran the diagnostics, everything checked out. I explained my frustration that this phone was defective to the young lady helping me.

She suggested that they exchange the screen. This did not sound right. I asked to speak with her boss. Zack came out and everything was explained to him.

He said that they would replace everything except the screen and back cover. This was different from what the young lady told me. The part was not at the store. He also offered to have us leave the phone, and they would be provide us with a loaner phone.

The young returned and advised that there was no loaner phones available. We then agreed we would return when the part was available. They advised that I would have a week to bring in the phone or the part might get sent back.

8/13/25Apple advised that they obtained the part. However, the email advised I had until Monday 8/18/25 to bring the phone in or the part may be released for use in other repairs.

8/15/25We brought the phone in to the Apple Store.

Brooke advised that the screen cover would probably destroyed to open the

iphone and then unusable. I replied why dont you put another one. We cant contact your apple insurance and make a

claim with them to get a new screen cover. You need to do that.

WTF!!!

We returned to pick up the phone. When the phone was returned to us, the lady who brought the phone out asked who is your carrier. I replied TMobile. Ok go see them to re-activate the phone.

I asked why you cant do it. She responded, We do not do that We went to Tmobile and they happily re-activated the phone. I looked at the small protective bag that contained the phone and discovered there is a screen cover in there. The adhesive part is glued to the bag?

So I am supposed to use this same screen cover??? No mention was made of that screen cover. They could not have placed the old screen cover on. WTF!!!

8/15/25In the follow up email they sent me, when we picked up the phone, it stated: My response in bold / italics

Problem Description/Diagnosis

Issue:

Customer states device unexpectedly restarts.

NOT TRUE. I SAID IT JUST SHUTS OFF. I HAVE TO MANUALLY RESTART IT. I MADE THIS QUITE CLEAR SEVERAL TIMES.

Steps to Reproduce:

Unable to recreate issue.

Ran Mobile resource inspector:passed

Ran system:passed

Cosmetic Condition:

Display: dirt debris smudgesNOT TRUE.

When we got the phone on April 2, 2025, we had Apple put on a screen cover.

Maybe a smudge on the screen cover, but not the display, IMPOSSIBLE!!.

back: dirt debris smudges when we got it, we placed it in a case prior to leaving the apple store.

enclosure: dirt and debris when we got it, we placed it in a case prior to leaving the apple store.

speakers and screws: when we got it, we placed it in a case prior to leaving the apple store.

not stripped dirt debris

Proposed Resolution:

Proposed mid system repair. Much different than replacing the screen.

Partnered with manager to repair device.

Let customer know to bring government issued ID at time of pickup.

Made customer aware of possible requote if third party part or liquid damage is found in device during repair.

NOT TRUE, was not said when we dropped off the phone! The young lady who previously wanted to exchange the screen asked if it was exposed to liquid or if was dropped.

Quoted 3-5 days. I was told it would be fixed in one day.

Making exception for customer partnered with Zach to do repair.

What exception. The phone has had repeated problems.

Customer is aware of data loss. Not true, this was not said. We checked the icloud back up and did it again.

Aware we had to re-enter passwords, but no mention of data loss.

Told customer to come earlier on in day when we receive the part to do repair to mitigate from long repair turn around times. They said if we drop it off late in the afternoon, it might not be ready the same day.

I have never had bad or even horrible service from Apple.

With the amount of money I have paid Apple over the years and the cost of this Iphone 16 Pro Max, I expected Apple to stand behind their product. Very disappointing!!

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