cracked cell phone screen 48 hours after purchase

Mrs. Bradbury · May 4, 2015

After waiting 5 years to get new cell phones, my husband and I purchased Galaxy S4's on Friday night. We don't need "the latest thing", just cell phones that work, and we were in LOVE. We looked at phone covers when we picked up the phones, but there weren't many so I just figured we would get some from Amazon. Sunday night I was cleaning my kitchen, grabbed the phone to add something to my grocery list app, laid it back on the kitchen counter on top of some mail I thought was level -- but it wasn't level. My brand new phone slid off the counter and onto the floor, face first. The screen is cracked in the upper right hand corner, and I can only see the top 1/2" of the screen; the rest is black. It appears to still be functioning, I just can't see anything. Is there any hope?

We bought them from Best Buy; they said that if we didn't get the Geek protection there is nothing they can do. We used our Best Buy card to purchase them; they say that doesn't change (help) anything. I have insurance, but I called and verified that most likely it will be a refurbished phone, and my deductible is $149, half the cost of a brand new phone. And besides, I don't want someone else's phone, I want new! We waited and waited to be able to afford new phones.

I am so angry with myself and heartbroken. I've had a cell phone for 20 years now, and have never even gotten one wet, much less cracked a screen. So sad.

verleniahall · May 4, 2015

A Galaxy s4?? MY DH just had THE SAME THING happen to his!! He's had his for about 4 months tops??? fell out of his side pants pocket at drill, cracked the screne, and will only turn green around the edges...we bought ours through Walmart! Same insurance thing as you - but walmart failed to put the insurance on the phone as we had asked. We had a nice rep (the second time) who got us a new phone for 192.00 - a $50 rebates that we will get, plus they took of $40.00 so we will ony be OOP $100 for the phone over all, but after taxes, a new case, and the phone, we have 228.00 added to our next bill....*sigh*

So I feel your pain - have you called verizion to see what they can do do help you at all?? I know what they did for us might not be the same as what they can do for you (i assume that they did that for us since they saw on the account we were getting 15% off for military) but you never know what they might do.

Good Luck!!

HM · May 4, 2015

There is a kiosk in our mall that changes out broken screens on phones for a cost. See if you have something like that in the area.

Also, you can look up on You Tube how to do it, buy the materials needed through Amazon, and do it yourself. (My DH did this for one of my son's iphones and it cost less than $50).

Mrs. Bradbury · May 4, 2015

Thanks for your replies, which leads me to another question! I've known people to have cell phones with cracked screens that still functioned perfectly. Does the fact that my screen does not work mean that there is something more wrong with my phone than just the screen?

Thanks for your help!

verleniahall · May 4, 2015

Mrs. Bradbury said:
Thanks for your replies, which leads me to another question! I've know people to have cell phones with cracked screens that still functioned perfectly. Does the fact that my screen does not work mean that there is something more wrong with my phone than just the screen?

Thanks for your help!

According to verizion - yes - means that something internally is broken, not just the screen

Mrs. Bradbury · May 4, 2015

That's what I'm afraid of. :sad:

verleniahall · May 4, 2015

i feel SO bad for you becuase i just dealt with it. verizion DID allow me to put the phone on our next bil, which will come to me may 28th and isn't due until june 28th - thank goodness that my husband has AT first two weeks and we can cover the additional charge that way.

I would try calling the company who your contract is through- verizion, t-moblie, whoever, and see what you can do for yours.

mjkacmom · May 4, 2015

Doesn't matter if you dropped at Best Buy while walking out of the store - they don't fix or replaced shattered screens, and the insurance allows you to purchase a refurbished phone for a good amount of money. We have 7 iphone users in the house, and the rule is, it is always in an otterbox. Dd14 and ds17 have cracked screens (it's amazing how fast a screen can break when you take off the otterbox for whatever reason), but are due for upgrades next month. I have a stand-by cracked android in case we need to activate it. I'm always in awe of people who just leave their phones naked - I drop mine all of the time! The android broke in a study case, that wasn't an otterbox.

kymom99 · May 4, 2015

I swear by the otter box. I have had mine for 2 years and have dropped it many times with no adverse effect. My son has a case that was more expensive and he dropped his brand new phone. Phone is fine, but the case cracked. We had to superglue it together.

We have a supply of old phones in case someone is careless with their current phone. (Like the time I dropped mine in the pool!) I don't take insurance on our phones.

Mrs. Bradbury · May 4, 2015

mjkacmom said:
Doesn't matter if you dropped at Best Buy while walking out of the store - they don't fix or replaced shattered screens, and the insurance allows you to purchase a refurbished phone for a good amount of money. We have 7 iphone users in the house, and the rule is, it is always in an otterbox. Dd14 and ds17 have cracked screens (it's amazing how fast a screen can break when you take off the otterbox for whatever reason), but are due for upgrades next month. I have a stand-by cracked android in case we need to activate it. I'm always in awe of people who just leave their phones naked - I drop mine all of the time! The android broke in a study case, that wasn't an otterbox.

My phones have always been nekkid, but I really was going to put this one in a case. I guess I've just been extremely lucky previously!

kymom99 · May 4, 2015

Mine is nekkid now because the otterbox broke apart and I got tired of it and tossed it out. My phone is an iphone 4 and slow as molasses. Can't wait to get a new one. I am eligible for an upgrade but waiting around for some reason. That's why I'm not that concerned about not having a case. I don't plan to buy a new one for this phone. It does slip off of things easily without the case.

havaneselover · May 4, 2015

kymom99 said:
Mine is nekkid now because the otterbox broke apart and I got tired of it and tossed it out. My phone is an iphone 4 and slow as molasses. Can't wait to get a new one. I am eligible for an upgrade but waiting around for some reason. That's why I'm not that concerned about not having a case. I don't plan to buy a new one for this phone. It does slip off of things easily without the case.

I can't seem to kill my iPhone 4 and refuse to buy a new one until mine dies. Even the battery works well. I've had mine in a shutterfly case and drop it routinely with no damage.

Mrs. Bradbury · May 4, 2015

Has anyone had experience with the tempered glass covers for screens? For example, the Otterbox Alpha Glass and similar products.

kymom99 · May 4, 2015

Mrs. Bradbury said:
Has anyone had experience with the tempered glass covers for screens? For example, the Otterbox Alpha Glass and similar products.

I bought that for my son's phone. It is a 5s and he got it for Christmas. The salesman recommended it for a teenager's phone. he said you could drop it on its face and it would absorb the impact, keeping the screen safe.

Judique · May 4, 2015

kymom99 said:
Mine is nekkid now because the otterbox broke apart and I got tired of it and tossed it out. My phone is an iphone 4 and slow as molasses. Can't wait to get a new one. I am eligible for an upgrade but waiting around for some reason. That's why I'm not that concerned about not having a case. I don't plan to buy a new one for this phone. It does slip off of things easily without the case.

Otterbox sends replacements for free. My son has had at least 3 free replacements.

kymom99 · May 4, 2015

Judique said:
Otterbox sends replacements for free. My son has had at least 3 free replacements.

Good to know. Thanks!

verleniahall · May 4, 2015

according to the rep at verizion, they don't make otter boxes for 1/2 of samsung's phones??

ibob52 · May 4, 2015

Some ... *Credit Cards* have *purchase protection* as one of their Benefits.

cvjw · May 4, 2015

Mrs. Bradbury said:
Has anyone had experience with the tempered glass covers for screens? For example, the Otterbox Alpha Glass and similar products.

Yes, they totally work. Got one on both of my teen's Iphone 6's and both dropped the phones within a few months. Both of the glass covers shattered, but the phones are totally fine

Just went back to Verizon and had them put new ones on! $25 for new glass covers is alot cheaper than shattered phones.

scrapquitler · May 4, 2015

Mrs. Bradbury said:
After waiting 5 years to get new cell phones, my husband and I purchased Galaxy S4's on Friday night. We don't need "the latest thing", just cell phones that work, and we were in LOVE. We looked at phone covers when we picked up the phones, but there weren't many so I just figured we would get some from Amazon. Sunday night I was cleaning my kitchen, grabbed the phone to add something to my grocery list app, laid it back on the kitchen counter on top of some mail I thought was level -- but it wasn't level. My brand new phone slid off the counter and onto the floor, face first. The screen is cracked in the upper right hand corner, and I can only see the top 1/2" of the screen; the rest is black. It appears to still be functioning, I just can't see anything. Is there any hope?

We bought them from Best Buy; they said that if we didn't get the Geek protection there is nothing they can do. We used our Best Buy card to purchase them; they say that doesn't change (help) anything. I have insurance, but I called and verified that most likely it will be a refurbished phone, and my deductible is $149, half the cost of a brand new phone. And besides, I don't want someone else's phone, I want new! We waited and waited to be able to afford new phones.

I am so angry with myself and heartbroken. I've had a cell phone for 20 years now, and have never even gotten one wet, much less cracked a screen. So sad.

Call Verizon and ask them if they can help you out. I'd also call Best Buy again and ask someone different.

If that doesn't help, go to the mall and find the cell phone repair kiosk. They can replace the screen about 20 minutes. It will probably cost between $80-$100, depending on the phone you have. AND get a screen protector and case ASAP.

cracked cell phone screen 48 hours after purchase

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