Apple is in trouble again, this time from Shanghai’s consumer rights protection commission. Consumer complaints related to after-sale service have grown dramatically over the last month.
The City’s commission said it had received 1,221 complaints about Apple Shanghai in the two months to November 30. The commission said this was nearly six times higher than the same period last year, but did not give a figure for 2015. And there were 2,763 complaints from January 1 to November 30 — double the same period last year, it said.
The commission has asked Apple to conduct a technical check of its smart phone models with problems and offer solutions to consumers.
Majority of the problems relate to power problems on iPhone. The power problems involve iPhones powering off automatically despite a significant charge remaining, or not powering up even when plugged in.
Apple has announced a free battery replacement for selected iPhone 6 models. If you have an iPhone 6s that is having battery issues and unexpected shutdown issues, you can check Apple’s site to see if your device qualifies for a free battery replacement. Once you enter your serial number on the Apple Repair Program site, it will provide you with the status.
The other problem that showed up on Apple’s radar this week primarily relates to Supply chain pressures for new display technology.
As Apple’s ambitions to produce AMOLED based iPhones take off, Chinese mobile manufacturers are increasingly worrying about supply constraints. There is already a shortage in existing capacity to produce the AMOLED screens and only a handful of suppliers can meet the demand.
Leading Chinese phone manufacturers have formed a consortium to secure AMOLED supply, reported Digitimes.
“First-tier China-based smartphone vendors Huawei Technologies, Oppo, Vivo and BBK, due to concerns that Apple may monopolize supplies of smartphone-use AMOLED panels from Samsung Display and Japan-based makers in the future, will cooperate with China-based flexible panel maker Royole to form a consortium for joint investment in local flexible AMOLED production in 2017, according to China-based media reports.”
With Apple reportedly testing 10 different models of iPhone, planned to be released next year to coincide with the tenth anniversary of iPhone, It will need to plan effectively around these supply constraints.