Irreparable

I have always been quite a clumsy person, even when I was much younger.

Every since I got the iphone, I dropped it many times, and each time, my phone suffered little small bruises here and there.

On March 20th, I was on the phone when I felt it slip from me and down it went, CRACK! My heart broke almost immediately. The rest of the story can be found here.

To cut a long story short, after attempting to call Applecare Malaysia and Applecare Singapore, I was asked to send the phone back to Hong Kong, where I got the phone from.

The conversation I had with Applecare Singapore went like this :-

He : How can help you?

Me : My name is Rachel and I am calling from Malaysia. My iphone screen cracked. Can I send it to you to get it fixed?

He : Can I have your serial number?

Me : *************

He : Can I have your IMEI number?

Me : What??

He : Your IMEI number. Go to the same place where your serial number is

Me : Ok ... ************

He : (a little cynical) Is this phone yours or are you calling on behalf of someone?

Me : This phone is mine

He : (suspiciously) Where did you get it from?

Me : Oh, one of my friends bought it from Hong Kong

He : And what is your friend's name?

Me : Hazel

He : Ah!!! You've got to send it back to Hong Kong then

Me : !!!!!!

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I contacted Hazel to ask Applecare in HK and she emailed me back saying that the phone cannot be repaired and that for HKD3220, they would give me a new phone.

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Gosh!

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I spent 1-2 days wondering if it's worth the $$. And I decided that it was not. Well, firstly, knowing how klutzy I could be, I might drop the phone and break it the moment I got the new phone. Another thing is .... I've already spent so much on this phone (well, actually it's dear hubby's money), is it worth it? I mean, I hardly use the applications and the ipod function. PLUS, I just found out that I was charged RM74.00 for data on my phone charges - sometimes because I accidentally touched one of the internet based applications.

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I talked to dear hubby about this and he said that he would fork out the money if I wanted it done. :-) How sweet of him.

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But I had already made up my mind. I would use the phone until it could no longer be used. I would try to lengthen its lifespan to the maximum to justify the cost of it.

Cracked

I was walking out of my office when my mobile rang. I didn't recognise the number and asked the person for his name. He started asking me why I don't have his number in my contact list and insisted that I get it done. Sigh! I was kinda irritated by his suggestion.... well, the WAY he insisted on it.

Anyway, I was carrying stuff in my hands, and wanting to open the car door when I felt the phone slip from me. Gulp!!! I picked it up, hoping that nothing would be wrong with it but to my horror, the screen cracked! My heart sank.

Feeling sad about it, I continued the conversation with this person, who by then, was asking about whether I had a digi number, and what my digi number was and etc, etc, etc. I told him that the number he called me at was fine and I didn't see any reason why he should want to call me at my digi number. Finally, after arguing with him to a point where I got so fed up and still not knowing why he called me in the first place, I told him that I didn't want to talk to him anymore and that I dropped my phone while having that irritating conversation with him and that the screen cracked. And his reply? "Well, your phone is still ok. You can still talk to me, right?" Gosh! Of all the insufferable @#@#@@ .... yeah, I wanted to curse but hehe! I didn't.

I think it was the firm tone in my voice that made him realise that I was very angry with him and he quickly (and finally) told me why he called. He wanted my husband's phone number.

During the ride into town, I was feeling so stressed and troubled over the condition of the phone.

I finally had the nerve to call dear hubby to tell him about it. He patiently listen to me ranting about it before saying, "Don't worry about it. I'll buy you another one". Wow!!! So nice of him to say that. I told him that it's too expensive to get another one. And he answered that he doesn't mind paying for it.

At the back of my mind I was thinking, "Gosh!!! That $$ can buy me a D90!!!!" but all I told him was "I'll try to see if there's someone who could fix the screen".

I also did tell him that I was so angry with everything (especially that person who called me though I know that it's NOT his fault but I remember feeling so irritated even before I dropped the phone) that I really felt like crying.

And dear hubby asked me to cry so that I would feel better!!! :)

Well, tears were welling up in my eyes but I was determined NOT to cry. After all, I was standing right outside a bank and there were many people around me.

After "consoling" me, dear hubby told me that he wasn't feeling well and that he needed to rest. Gosh! I felt so horrible for thinking only about myself while he was sick and was still listening patiently to me.

I went back and quickly went online to see if there was such a service for screen replacement. There was one which I called and he was in KL. He said that I need to leave the phone with him for at least 24 hours (which meant overnight) and that it would cost me RM650. Earlier on, I read in one of the MAC forums that it might cost USD250 to get the screen replaced. So even thought RM650 is NOT cheap, it was still a better option than buying another phone. But somehow, I was a little skeptical and was going to look for other options. I had this mental vision that he would tear apart my phone and replace not only the screen but the whole phone!!! Sigh! I know, I don't have a very high opinion of the people here in Malaysia. Blame it on all the stories I read from the forwarded emails.

Anyway, that night we had cell meeting and YM, who was on holiday from Singapore, told me that he would be going to Singapore next week for a few days and if I like, I could pass him my phone so that he could take it to Applecare in Singapore to get it fixed. He too, felt that the phone would be safer hands in Singapore than in Malaysia.

I haven't really made up my mind yet. All I can feel is relief that it could be fixed. What I am worried about is that the touch screen might not be as sensitive as the original one. Whatever it is, I always have to remind myself, it's only a phone.

The ironic thing is .... this happened on the day Malaysia launched the iphone!

iphone Text Message from Maxis

A few days ago, I received a message from Maxis :-

Believe me, it's feels weird, receiving a message on my iphone saying "Be one of the first to own an iphone ....."

Minchee did email me their different rates and I think it's pretty expensive. Still, many would purchase it simply because it's the "in thing".

Spirit of Materialism

Two Saturdays ago, I was in the church office typing on my laptop when my phone rang. Esther saw it (for the first time) and immediately exclaimed, "What!?!!?!? You have a new phone AGAIN??? Not fair! It was only last year when you had that HP Smart phone and now you're getting another one? Hrrmmph!! You're so materialistic".

My response was, "Don't be jealous!!"

She scoffed and went on, "You know, you shouldn't be so materialistic". And Anne agreed. Esther continued, "I should pray over you and bind the spirit of materialism and when you're delivered, you can pass the phone to me".

When the youths heard that I own a iphone .....

2 girls said they didn't like me

1 boy said he hates me

1 boy called me "god mother" (in hopes that he would inherit the phone some day)

1 boy said he loves me

1 guy said he still likes me

When they found out that Rajen bought the phone for me, they crowded round Rajen and began telling him when their birthdays are!!! It was a comical sight!

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While some are raving over this phone, the older generation (i.e. my mum, my Aunty Chris, etc) asked me what's so special about the phone. "It's only a phone. You use it to make and answer phone calls and at the end of the day, those are the only two things that matter." Sigh! They are just sooooo ulu!!! ;-)