Nilesh
New member
- Model
- iPhone 12
- Dealer Name
- ELEMENT RETAIL PVT LTD (ERPL0001), Nashik
- Company Name
- Apple Inc.
- Customer Care Number
- 000800 040 1966
- Loss Amount
- 83200.00
- Ratings
- Opposite Party Address
- 1507, VJ Indilife, Pashan, Pune
I am writing this complaint as a loyal Apple customer and a professional designer whose work depends heavily on the reliability and performance of Apple products. I have always invested in Apple’s ecosystem, trusting its promise of premium quality and service.
On 31st May 2021, I purchased an iPhone 12 from ELEMENT RETAIL PVT LTD (ERPL0001), Nashik. Within a few months of use, the device began to exhibit serious issues — inconsistent charging behavior and irregular receiver sound, which severely impacted usability.
Assuming it was a routine hardware fault, I approached Unicorn Store, Baner, an authorized Apple service center. I was informed that the device was out of warranty, and I would need to pay for repairs. Upon checking the batch details, the service personnel confirmed that my phone belonged to a known defective production batch for which Apple had initiated a return and replacement program. However, I was told I could no longer avail this benefit as the program had expired.
This is the crux of my dissatisfaction:
Moreover, the justification provided by the service center — that “Apple had put the notice on its website” — is not an acceptable or sufficient mode of communication. I refuse to believe that such passive, non-targeted disclosure can be considered responsible consumer outreach, especially for a brand of Apple’s stature. If anything, it appears to be a convenient escape route, not a genuine effort to safeguard customer interests.
Therefore, I request:
If these requests are not resolved fairly, I will be compelled to escalate this issue through all available consumer protection forums and legal channels.
On 31st May 2021, I purchased an iPhone 12 from ELEMENT RETAIL PVT LTD (ERPL0001), Nashik. Within a few months of use, the device began to exhibit serious issues — inconsistent charging behavior and irregular receiver sound, which severely impacted usability.
Assuming it was a routine hardware fault, I approached Unicorn Store, Baner, an authorized Apple service center. I was informed that the device was out of warranty, and I would need to pay for repairs. Upon checking the batch details, the service personnel confirmed that my phone belonged to a known defective production batch for which Apple had initiated a return and replacement program. However, I was told I could no longer avail this benefit as the program had expired.
This is the crux of my dissatisfaction:
- I was never informed via email, phone, or physical notice that the product I purchased had a known manufacturing defect.
- Apple’s only “communication” was a notice buried on its website — something no average user is expected to check regularly.
- Despite paying the full price for a supposedly high-quality device, I ended up with a defective unit through no fault of my own.
- No proactive recall or effort was made by Apple or its reseller to alert customers, which feels like a deliberate attempt to avoid accountability.
Moreover, the justification provided by the service center — that “Apple had put the notice on its website” — is not an acceptable or sufficient mode of communication. I refuse to believe that such passive, non-targeted disclosure can be considered responsible consumer outreach, especially for a brand of Apple’s stature. If anything, it appears to be a convenient escape route, not a genuine effort to safeguard customer interests.
Therefore, I request:
- A full refund or replacement of the defective device, in line with Apple’s original return and replacement program.
- An official explanation as to why I was never informed directly about the recall.
- Accountability from the reseller (ELEMENT RETAIL PVT LTD) for selling me a known faulty product.
If these requests are not resolved fairly, I will be compelled to escalate this issue through all available consumer protection forums and legal channels.
