W350i cover broke: Am I to stupid to open that thing or is it a construcion error??

[#1]

Hi Folks,

I'm a bit frustrated here.

Last weekend I opended the flap of my W350i and it broke off! Now I wanted to check for guarantee and SE said that this was my fault and I broke it by some way. Aren't you allowed to use the phone when you buy it - otherwise I don't know how I could have prevented this accident?!? I just post this to see how many people had the same problem. If you didn't have that problem then you might post for how long you have the phone, mine is 1.5yrs old.

I think it es completely unfair by SE to put a design error on the customer!

What do you think about this?

Regards,

Mathe.

[Jeff]

Hi Mathe,

I'd like to look into this for you. Where are you located? Do you have any reference or ticket numbers?

Let me know!

[#3]

hi, I have had mine for about two and a half years and I have not experienced the problem that you have. I dont think this is a construction error.

[#4]

Hi Jeff,

no, I do not have any reference or ticket number as I simply contacted SE via the support chat. I have the name of the lady that I was chatting with. After a while of chatting even her superior joined to tell me that I probably started a brute force attack to destroy the flap of my mobile..

BR,

Matthias.

[Jeff]

Please send me via Private Message the name of the person, the approximate local time you chatted (and your timezone), and if you gave it, your full name, email address and phone number.

[#6]

Hi Jetz,

nice to hear that you didn't suffer that problem.

But what scenarios do you see to break the flap exactly at the joint of cover and the rotary part? I'm not the first one having this problem, the net is full of these experiences. The joint is the very weak part of the design as you have to put a torque against the opening mechanism (probably a spring). I think this torque is pretty high for roughly 2sqmm plastics - try to turn the small plastics pin inside with your fingers..

I bet all broken flaps broke on the side of the pin, why doesn't it break on the other side?

If I would have broken this part I would be willing to buy a spare part, you get it at ebay. But I don't see the point here. Why should the customer pay for weak designs? The argument of "domestic violence", how the chat operator called it, is not fitting here in my opinion.

Regards,

Mathe.

[#7]

Hi,

I have had the same thing happen twice and am really annoyed. The first time it happened 10 months after I bought the phone. I bought a replacement flip. While I have to admit that the cost wasn't much why should I have to replace parts on what is obviously a bad design? And now after 11 months the flip is cracking again. Exactly the same place. Obviously the phone is designed to not be opened. I am trying to decide whether to argue with supplier and manufacturer over this or just buy another flip and start saving for a new phone. Either way I won't be buying SonyEricsson again.

Hopefully you have managed to find a replacement flip. Mine was through a mobile phone repairer that was recommended by my service provider.

Regards

putiputi

[#8]

can u tell me where can I buy that flip, have the same problem, u can email me at ed561nola@yahoo.com, I will appreciated it

[#9]

Hi,

I finally bought it at the german SE internet shop, but I don't know where you are located and what color you have, they seem to be low on stock (lots of breaking flaps probably..):

I paid 12,90 EUR inclusive UPS shipping. They sent me 2 flaps, I guess a lucky accident for me..

Now as I've a spare one I have enough time to think about my next non-SE mobile. I still like SE designs but I don't feel treated like a customer that's been using the 1st walkman cassette player already..

[#10]

Hi Mathe,

The original replacement I got from  aplace called Mobilefone Repairs down here in New Zealand, but I have just found out they no longer service SE phones. I have another number to call and hopefully they will be able to provide me with another replacement flip. I found out about the original company through the telecom service provider I'm with. I would think that the retailer that sold the phone should also be able to provide information on who to contact for repairs.

Once I get the new flip I too will be looking to buy a non SE phone 🙂

Cheers