Cell Phones in Great Britain - Are phones made to break

Author

Are phones made to break

C. Señor

2006-02-20, 11:48 pm

I have had my 6600 about 24 months.

When I signed up it was on contract, great phone. After around 15 months
(note: some companies with insure a phone up to 3 months old so just
outside any possibility of insurance cover) the phone stopped charging
properly. It's still possible to charge it but it needs some playing with
before it charges.

Next, the vibration stops working. Then, the down arrow on the joystick
packs in (making it usable but annoying to use). Recently the microphone
has stopped working for some calls, which is obviously makes my phone
unusable.

It feels a lot like my phone is programmed to slowly self-destruct
starting just after the maximum insurance term has finished.

Ian B

2006-02-20, 11:48 pm

"C. Señor" <halfanorange@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.02.21.01.08.14.161782@gmail.com...
>I have had my 6600 about 24 months.
>
> When I signed up it was on contract, great phone. After around 15 months
> (note: some companies with insure a phone up to 3 months old so just
> outside any possibility of insurance cover) the phone stopped charging
> properly. It's still possible to charge it but it needs some playing with
> before it charges.
>
> Next, the vibration stops working. Then, the down arrow on the joystick
> packs in (making it usable but annoying to use). Recently the microphone
> has stopped working for some calls, which is obviously makes my phone
> unusable.
>
> It feels a lot like my phone is programmed to slowly self-destruct
> starting just after the maximum insurance term has finished.
>
>
It depends how much abuse you give them. I still have two old Nokia phones
and a Motorola and they were thrown round a bit but still work perfectly.
Build quality on newer phones is flimsy to say the least, mass produced and
cheap although the price tag doesn't reflect it.
Mics and speakers do tend to just fall off the main board, i've seen that
before. Even on a PDA with protective case, it was dropped and although the
PDA casing wasn't damaged there is no sound!
I wouldn't bother with insurance as it's too expensive and doesn't cover
everything. It's only for completely careless people or those wanting a
cheap route to an upgrade. Similar to the old camera trick on holiday!
It will probably blow up in mid conversation next.

Taylor

2006-02-21, 11:48 pm

"C. Señor" <halfanorange@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2006.02.21.01.08.14.161782@gmail.com...
>I have had my 6600 about 24 months.
>
> When I signed up it was on contract, great phone. After around 15 months
> (note: some companies with insure a phone up to 3 months old so just
> outside any possibility of insurance cover) the phone stopped charging
> properly. It's still possible to charge it but it needs some playing with
> before it charges.
>
> Next, the vibration stops working. Then, the down arrow on the joystick
> packs in (making it usable but annoying to use). Recently the microphone
> has stopped working for some calls, which is obviously makes my phone
> unusable.
>
> It feels a lot like my phone is programmed to slowly self-destruct
> starting just after the maximum insurance term has finished.

Well certainly the manufacturers hope you like their software and general
interface, and thus a phone breaking after 12/24 months wont be a big deal
to you, and you'll again go with them when your upgrade is due on your
contract.

I personally keep phones for at least two years, and if a handset is
particularly faulty after an unacceptable period of time, I complain.

Electronic products are very vulnerable to problems, especially phones which
can be in damp atmospheres for a lot of their life, and generally get
treated crap. You probably wouldn't treat your ipod (to some extent) or cd
walkman the way you (a.k.a joe public) treat a mobile phone.

So yes, they are made to break.

Ian Stirling

2006-02-22, 5:48 pm

C. Se?or <halfanorange@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have had my 6600 about 24 months.
>
> When I signed up it was on contract, great phone. After around 15 months
> (note: some companies with insure a phone up to 3 months old so just
> outside any possibility of insurance cover) the phone stopped charging
> properly. It's still possible to charge it but it needs some playing with
> before it charges.
<snip>
> It feels a lot like my phone is programmed to slowly self-destruct
> starting just after the maximum insurance term has finished.

Programmed?
No.
Designed so that the cost of repairs over the warranty period plus the costs
of construction is a minimum, sure.

This does not mean no repairs, about 1% or so is probably the right
level. (repairs due to reducing costs)

This may also mean that it's designed to the point that various bits are
more likely to fail soon after the guarantee period.

Poldie

2006-02-22, 5:48 pm

C=2E Se=F1or wrote:
> I have had my 6600 about 24 months.
>
> When I signed up it was on contract, great phone. After around 15 months
> (note: some companies with insure a phone up to 3 months old so just
> outside any possibility of insurance cover) the phone stopped charging
> properly. It's still possible to charge it but it needs some playing with
> before it charges.
>
> Next, the vibration stops working. Then, the down arrow on the joystick
> packs in (making it usable but annoying to use). Recently the microphone
> has stopped working for some calls, which is obviously makes my phone
> unusable.
>
> It feels a lot like my phone is programmed to slowly self-destruct
> starting just after the maximum insurance term has finished.

You cynic! Suggesting that manufacturers might profit from selling
goods they know will have to be replaced, expensively, fairly soon
after purchase, rather than making them either last longer or be easily
and cheaply repairable?! I'm sure the Antiques Roadshows of the future
are going to be brimming with perfectly functioning consumer
electronics from the 1990's and 2000's.

Iain Napier

2006-02-27, 5:48 pm

Taylor wrote:
>
> Electronic products are very vulnerable to problems, especially phones which
> can be in damp atmospheres for a lot of their life, and generally get
> treated crap. You probably wouldn't treat your ipod (to some extent) or cd
> walkman the way you (a.k.a joe public) treat a mobile phone.
>
> So yes, they are made to break.

I don't think they're made to break, they just aren't made to last!

Stephen (Sausagefans.com)

2006-02-27, 5:48 pm

In article < 5audndnp47bxr57ZRVny
jg@pipex.net>,
emailaddressisinvali
d@aol.com says...
> Taylor wrote:
>
> I don't think they're made to break, they just aren't made to last!

built in obsolescence?
--
Diss Town Council and the
exploding internet deal
http://thisisdiss.co.uk/index.php?topic=4.0

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