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symphony

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 25, 2016
2,207
2,593
If they had to squeeze the phone into the frame, that is the problem. I don’t recall employees having to do that on previous phones I had.

Now I understand why Belkin went with using cardboard guides on the retail packing for the protectors.
This is similar to what they used to install mine. It’s hard to recall how he installed it exactly, but I remember he removed the film, then quickly plopped the device onto the machine but a corner was sticking out. He pushed it in to fit flush with the frame, and I just heard a big snap when he got it in the frame, like something just latched all around the iPhone. He then pressed it down with a grey cover and peeled off plastic while it was closed.

1603564885194.jpeg
 
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Complex757

macrumors 6502a
Sep 10, 2016
672
691
This is crazy. Why are these guides even necessary for installing protectors on perfectly flat and flat-sided phones? You’d think it would be pretty easy to line up the edges and freehand it with these models...

But also: damn, that finish is SOFT AF.

Do you actually use screen protectors?

With the notch it's easy to have it off center.

I use the Spigen one and it makes it extremely easy and it can be done in two minutes.

And the quicker an Apple Store employee can put on a screen protector the better. That's why they have machines for protectors and replacing screens.
 

thadoggfather

macrumors P6
Oct 1, 2007
15,588
16,344
Imagine putting your whole life on hold because your iPhone got a scratch on it...

I think Erica Griffin explained it well: she doesn’t mind scratching the device up if she caused it but if it comes that way out of the box or someone else does it to their device somehow, it feels not right And a bit anti climatic.

I can generally agree with that philosophy. Unless I didn’t feel like rolling the dice on another unit out of varianice of screen, build, etc. Gotta pick your battles

BUT I certainly wouldn’t put life on pause as you described. Not sure op is either.
 

symphony

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 25, 2016
2,207
2,593
At least Silver can polished easily unlike other colors since there's no PVD coating. My silver hasn't shipped yet but now I'm considering canceling and trying to go with Graphite in store.
That’s why I like silver, even though I’ve never polished it since I had the iPhone X. It’s just good to have if something were to scratch it.

I just don’t wanna polish a new iPhone :/

I might stick with graphite. At least Apple is refunding me the screen protector. I don’t have to pay $50 again... boy, if the PVD graphite scratches, I’ll let you guys know. Imma inspect it BEFORE I leave this time.
 
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symphony

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 25, 2016
2,207
2,593
I think Erica Griffin explained it well: she doesn’t mind scratching the device up if she caused it but if it comes that way out of the box or someone else does it to their device somehow, it feels not right And a bit anti climatic.

I can agree with that philosophy.

BUT I certainly wouldn’t put life on pause as you described. Not sure op is either.
COVID virus put my life on pause. New iPhone is just remedying the void. ?
 

johnnylarue

macrumors 65816
Aug 20, 2013
1,033
580
Do you actually use screen protectors?

With the notch it's easy to have it off center.

I use the Spigen one and it makes it extremely easy and it can be done in two minutes.

And the quicker an Apple Store employee can put on a screen protector the better. That's why they have machines for protectors and replacing screens.
Yeah, got protectors on all my doodads. I subscribe to the, “if you want something done right” school of screen protector installation. Never needed a guide... but I also work on watches, so my hands are pretty good at precision.

(Btw the tape method works well for anyone who’s not comfortable with free-handing it...)
 
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macher

macrumors 68040
Oct 13, 2012
3,329
1,716
This is crazy. Why are these guides even necessary for installing protectors on perfectly flat and flat-sided phones? You’d think it would be pretty easy to line up the edges and freehand it with these models...

But also: damn, that finish is SOFT AF.

I got to local AT&T to get my screen protectors always have. They know how to install pretty good
 

SOG1969

Suspended
Jul 7, 2020
47
49
I've encountered many morons working in Apple Stores ever since this store next to me opened over 10 years ago. That's why I don't trust anyone to install screen protectors for me. I'd definitely ask for a replacement. Install it yourself.
 

symphony

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 25, 2016
2,207
2,593
CONFIRMED! Apple’s screen protector installer DOES scratch the iPhone.

Here was my heartbreaking second trip back to the Apple Store. Another $60 wasted for a cab ride.

I met with the supervisor at the Apple Store and they inspected my unit. They tried to insert the iPhone back in the installer tray, trying to figure out what part of the tool could’ve scratched it; they didn’t understand where the scratch was coming from.

When they let me look at the tool, it was pretty clean and smooth. It was a black plastic tray with lever clamp. It didn’t really have grooves or notches that would dig into the metal band.

So the supervisor and specialist were very nice, and managed to scrounge up the last iPhone 12 Pro silver (which btw, their app says none were available; they mentioned that they do keep some extras just in case).

Anyway, the supervisor let me inspect the new iPhone 12 Pro he brought out, it was flawless. I passed it to him and he passed it to the specialist that installed it. I kept a perfect watch on the process, the specialist was smooth and careful.

But when he took the iPhone out of the tray, I knew something was wrong when he inspected the metal frame and started rubbing his thumb on the side. He passed it to the supervisor and he tried wiping it off with a cloth, I saw a glimpse of it and it was scratched to oblivion. It looked like a baby claw scratched a portion of the metal frame. WAY WORSE THAN what I got the first time at Apple.

And I’m just facepalming at myself for sarcastically joking to the supervisor by saying “imagine if this iPhone gets scratched too” and it did ?? I’m so unlucky, I wish I didn’t say that now. In hindsight I should’ve asked if we could’ve tested this on a demo iPhone.

Well I got the last graphite iPhone 12 Pro, this time I didn’t get a screen protector installed. I didn’t wanna also risk another iPhone (especially the last one) getting scratched and going home empty handed.

They said I can still switch to silver when they restock and the supervisor will speak to the higher ups about this issue. But I’m just imagining how many people got their new iPhones scratched at the Apple Store without even knowing it. Even worse, you can’t see the scratches when the metal is smudged up by fingerprints.

Plastic damages the polished stainless steel!!! Seems as delicate as the chamfered edges of the iPhone 5s.
 

Alohabai

macrumors member
Oct 19, 2020
97
164
CONFIRMED! Apple’s screen protector installer DOES scratch the iPhone.

Here was my heartbreaking second trip back to the Apple Store. Another $60 wasted for a cab ride.

I met with the supervisor at the Apple Store and they inspected my unit. They tried to insert the iPhone back in the installer tray, trying to figure out what part of the tool could’ve scratched it; they didn’t understand where the scratch was coming from.

When they let me look at the tool, it was pretty clean and smooth. It was a black plastic tray with lever clamp. It didn’t really have grooves or notches that would dig into the metal band.

So the supervisor and specialist were very nice, and managed to scrounge up the last iPhone 12 Pro silver (which btw, their app says none were available; they mentioned that they do keep some extras just in case).

Anyway, the supervisor let me inspect the new iPhone 12 Pro he brought out, it was flawless. I passed it to him and he passed it to the specialist that installed it. I kept a perfect watch on the process, the specialist was smooth and careful.

But when he took the iPhone out of the tray, I knew something was wrong when he inspected the metal frame and started rubbing his thumb on the side. He passed it to the supervisor and he tried wiping it off with a cloth, I saw a glimpse of it and it was scratched to oblivion. It looked like a baby claw scratched a portion of the metal frame. WAY WORSE THAN what I got the first time at Apple.

And I’m just facepalming at myself for sarcastically joking to the supervisor by saying “imagine if this iPhone gets scratched too” and it did 🤦🏻 I’m so unlucky, I wish I didn’t say that now. In hindsight I should’ve asked if we could’ve tested this on a demo iPhone.

Well I got the last graphite iPhone 12 Pro, this time I didn’t get a screen protector installed. I didn’t wanna also risk another iPhone (especially the last one) getting scratched and going home empty handed.

They said I can still switch to silver when they restock and the supervisor will speak to the higher ups about this issue. But I’m just imagining how many people got their new iPhones scratched at the Apple Store without even knowing it. Even worse, you can’t see the scratches when the metal is smudged up by fingerprints.

Plastic damages the polished stainless steel!!! Seems as delicate as the chamfered edges of the iPhone 5s.

I really wish they did the chamfered edges again. It would've been a lot more classy looking.
 
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Apple_Robert

Contributor
Sep 21, 2012
34,585
50,266
In the middle of several books.
CONFIRMED! Apple’s screen protector installer DOES scratch the iPhone.

Here was my heartbreaking second trip back to the Apple Store. Another $60 wasted for a cab ride.

I met with the supervisor at the Apple Store and they inspected my unit. They tried to insert the iPhone back in the installer tray, trying to figure out what part of the tool could’ve scratched it; they didn’t understand where the scratch was coming from.

When they let me look at the tool, it was pretty clean and smooth. It was a black plastic tray with lever clamp. It didn’t really have grooves or notches that would dig into the metal band.

So the supervisor and specialist were very nice, and managed to scrounge up the last iPhone 12 Pro silver (which btw, their app says none were available; they mentioned that they do keep some extras just in case).

Anyway, the supervisor let me inspect the new iPhone 12 Pro he brought out, it was flawless. I passed it to him and he passed it to the specialist that installed it. I kept a perfect watch on the process, the specialist was smooth and careful.

But when he took the iPhone out of the tray, I knew something was wrong when he inspected the metal frame and started rubbing his thumb on the side. He passed it to the supervisor and he tried wiping it off with a cloth, I saw a glimpse of it and it was scratched to oblivion. It looked like a baby claw scratched a portion of the metal frame. WAY WORSE THAN what I got the first time at Apple.

And I’m just facepalming at myself for sarcastically joking to the supervisor by saying “imagine if this iPhone gets scratched too” and it did ?? I’m so unlucky, I wish I didn’t say that now. In hindsight I should’ve asked if we could’ve tested this on a demo iPhone.

Well I got the last graphite iPhone 12 Pro, this time I didn’t get a screen protector installed. I didn’t wanna also risk another iPhone (especially the last one) getting scratched and going home empty handed.

They said I can still switch to silver when they restock and the supervisor will speak to the higher ups about this issue. But I’m just imagining how many people got their new iPhones scratched at the Apple Store without even knowing it. Even worse, you can’t see the scratches when the metal is smudged up by fingerprints.

Plastic damages the polished stainless steel!!! Seems as delicate as the chamfered edges of the iPhone 5s.
The good thing is you helped them find out it was the machine and they didn’t try and blame you. It was good of them to replace the phone as well. As bad as your Apple day has been, you got great customer service which I don’t think you will find anywhere else.
 

oldsuttree

Cancelled
Oct 16, 2020
38
75
Didn’t even know this was a thing. Never used a screen protector on an iPhone. Seems dumb.

15 years ago I bought a Les Paul guitar for $2,500. It's a stunning instrument. For that price, I applied a plastic film on the body as well as the pick guard as to prevent scratches from playing. Not only that, but I absolutely do not strum—I merely pick and pluck very softly and lightly. 15 years later, it still looks brand new and never used.

Have you seen guitars from professional guitarists? This is the Edge's Les Paul. Look at how disgusting it looks.

1603576549352.jpeg
 
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