Help Broken Evo Charging Port Thread, Lets Track This Issue

[_Epic]

So, people with completely broken charging ports, are taking it to a Sprint store and they are replacing it for free, with TEP of course?
I was told we had to send customers through Insurance to get a new one because it is damage beyond repair, but if a lot of stores are just replacing them then I will have to ask some questions about this to my higher managers.

 

[flatlander]

So, people with completely broken charging ports, are taking it to a Sprint store and they are replacing it for free, with TEP of course?
I was told we had to send customers through Insurance to get a new one because it is damage beyond repair, but if a lot of stores are just replacing them then I will have to ask some questions about this to my higher managers.

Why should WE have to pay a deductible for a well publicized factory defect
Just sayin

 

[_Epic]

Why should WE have to pay a deductible for a well publicized factory defect
Just sayin

That's why I'm trying to figure out if I should be telling customers that.

 

[ruckstande]

I am getting my replacement Evo this week. I was told by a rep when I brought my phone in it cost me $100 deductible but the tech who handled my phone said because of the size of the device it won't cost me anything.

 

[finndo77]

So, people with completely broken charging ports, are taking it to a Sprint store and they are replacing it for free, with TEP of course?
I was told we had to send customers through Insurance to get a new one because it is damage beyond repair, but if a lot of stores are just replacing them then I will have to ask some questions about this to my higher managers.

In case you missed my post, no TEP plan, no charge, and I believe I posted the store that did the swap. They told me it was under the manufacturer's warranty and Sprint was handling it with HTC on behalf of their customers.

 

[_Epic]

In case you missed my post, no TEP plan, no charge, and I believe I posted the store that did the swap. They told me it was under the manufacturer's warranty and Sprint was handling it with HTC on behalf of their customers.

Hmm. Was it a corporate Sprint repair center? Also, I talked to my manager and he said we could replace broken charging ports at "our" discretion. So looks like I will be replacing them more often now for free.

 

[finndo77]

Hmm. Was it a corporate Sprint repair center? Also, I talked to my manager and he said we could replace broken charging ports at "our" discretion. So looks like I will be replacing them more often now for free.

Yes, a corporate repair center, I think my post is on page two of this thread, and I listed the location and phone number

 

[Mabster]

So, people with completely broken charging ports, are taking it to a Sprint store and they are replacing it for free, with TEP of course?

Bought mine at Best Buy, don't have TEP and the Sprint store charged me a $35 fee to exhange for a refurbished model. Although I've seen people get theirs replaced for free, the $35 fee seems to be pretty standard also.

 

[davidlt4]

Broken port, bought from Best Buy on day 1 no TEP went to corp store was told to call HTC

 

[pulazki]

I bought my phone at a sprint store in the mall sometime in late January 2011 and they had it shipped into the store brand new (dont have exact purchase date but it was definitely in late January of 2011)

I've had a screen protector and an Otterbox Commuter case (i think it's either the commuter or the defender .. it's the one that has a thick gel case that goes on 1st, and then a hard shock absorbing plastic case overtop of the gel case for double protection.. everyone knows the quality behind the otterbox cases -- I got it on sale from amazon.com for around $35 i think they sell for over $50 on the otterbox website though)

So i take EXTREMELY good care of my phone, i got the case in the mail before i even purchased the phone, and i put my screen cover and case on before i even turned my phone on in the store..

I've had my EVO going on around 5 months now, and my charger port is just now beginning to be 'loose' inside the phone, and when i use the Micro USB charging cable the charge and connection cuts in/out. and the light constantly flickers. This is 100% not due to customer fault or damage, as i treat my phone like a hemophiliac premature infant baby holding a Faberge egg.

I believe that the reason the port becomes loose is due to the EXTREMELY short battery life, which in turn causes a non-stop all day plugging and unplugging of the charger into the phone, and i figure that i plug the charger in, and pull it out on average 10+ times a day .. and if i'm sittin at my computer and transfering files to and from, and also using my phone for calls i'll plug and unplug my phone upwards of 30 times a day easily. Multiply that by 5 months (5 x 30 x (15 plugs on average a day) ) = over 2,000 times i've probably plugged and unplugged the little micro usb tip into the little micro usb port, and each time a little tug and pull and fan angling it into that little hole causes it to be moved and pushed and what not over and over and over again, OF COURSE it's going to eventually become loose, and once it becomes loose.. OF COURSE it's going to cut out and short when you try to charge it because it's LOOSE!

IS THIS FAULT OF THE USER? I DO NOT THINK SO

IS THIS FAULT OF HTC ? I can't really blame them either... it's just fact of life, unless they decide to use a stainless steel charge port and have a rod-iron chassis for that charging port to connect into so that it doesn't ever get loose or budge, and you'll wind up with a 5 lb phone.. it's inevitability.. Some of us may have jammed the charger harder and more times into the little port causing it to become looser, faster-- but over time.. no matter who you are .. whether it takes 1 month, 1 year or 5 years-- it's going to EVENTUALLY become looser..

Q : Do i think HTC should replace this for FREE for all it's users?

A: YES! I 100% BELIEVE HTC SHOULD REPLACE A PRODUCT THAT COSTS $600 DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON IT'S DEVICE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS 'NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR' AND 'NORMAL USE OF CHARGING' TO CAUSE THE CHARGING PORT TO BECOME LOOSENED ... EVEN IF IT'S TRUE THAT IT'S INEVITABLE WITH TIME AND USE NO MATTER HOW WELL DESIGNED IT MAY BE.. IT SHOULD STILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE, ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENS IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR WHILE UNDER WARRANTY!

 

[EarlyMon]

Sorry to hear about your troubles, that really sucks.

Yes, the charging port is used more if you need to charge it more, but so far as I recall, this was stated earlier to be related to their soldering process to secure the port in the first place.

I can't really advise you, but you might consider taking that approach rather than a battery issue with them.

No one in service ever wants to hear issues with related issues - and when they do, they might not interpret what you say the way that you may intend.

Just food for thought. Best luck with the replacement, we're all pulling for you here.

 

[BigMamma]

I think the port breaks because people have tried to force the cable in the phone the wrong way. Or they have tripped over the cord a few times. I charge my phone a lot and I don't have this issue. I sit with the phone plugged in.

Wouldn't a factory defect be something that happens within a certain time frame? Not like a car with a gas tank that will explode in an accident. If the port doesn't break within the first 2 months, was their a defect with the phone or do you blame the user?

 

[EarlyMon]

I blame the port. I've had a lot of phone ports last much longer - besides, HTC has completely redesigned their ports and was on their way to standardizing them mechanically, when they went with MHL for the newer dual-cores.

 

[finndo77]

I blame the port. I've had a lot of phone ports last much longer - besides, HTC has completely redesigned their ports and was on their way to standardizing them mechanically, when they went with MHL for the newer dual-cores.

I preordered the HTC Touch, the original. It is what i was using still, when i picked up my Evo last June. It has the mini usb, and wtill works today, almost 4 years later. Everyone is using the micro usb port becausevthe European Union demanded standardization to stop companies from ripping consumers off with unique ports on every device. I hate them and made fun of the first phones that used them, saying they were too small and would break under normal use.

Still not liking them today. And i think some companies are still not using them too.

 

[joeyg]

Cannot find a resolution. The phone is less that 10 months old - longer than others on here, but still the same problem. Was told it would cost $240. Seems to be the HTC standard line for having shoddy equipment.

Has anyone had a satisfactory outcome from the HTC RMA process? Please, I am very frustrated at this turn of events. I have always defended Sprint, but they were useless to me after 10 years of being with them, I am ready to jump ship and get the iPhone.

 

[log3an]

My friend had this phone and returned 2 Powermat phone covers because of their assumed disability. He gives the phone to me and I loosen the port with a plug in and plug out.

Decades after this post was began, I dont really think logging anything or even typing more words here would result in anything worth the precious keystrokes necessary. The precious precious keystrokes.

 

[daffyntx]

I have had 3 HTC EVO phones in a 6 month period - ALL OF THEM - the charging ports have gone bad, the 1st one I paid the insurance on it ( lack of knowledge) the next two times sprint has replaced, but I have to wait a week as they are on back order - says they are popular - I wonder if its the port issue that is helping on the back orders?????

I am upset - I want another phone - can I claim Lemon Law yet?

 

[transamman1999]

i purchased my 4G on launch day and for the past 5-6 months i've been unable to charge my phone via the USB port. i had to buy multiple batteries and chargers off eBay and have to constantly swap them out.

the only cable that will even partially work is the sync cable that came w/ the phone. but i have to hold the cable tight and at an exact angle to get it to even attempt to sync. but i can never get it to sync completely because within 5-10 seconds it loses connection. no matter how precisely still i keep the phone, my hands and the pressure on the cable it still only connects for a hand full of seconds. it's ridiculous!

 

[eras33]

I had the same issue and finally took my phone into a Sprint store and they had to replace my phone all together at no charge.

I had to purchase 2 extra charges because of this issue so I am glad they did the right thing and not charge me anything.

 

[jl79]

Any version 4 Evo's with a broken charger connection? I havent noticed any in this thread. I'm wondering if the 4's have remedied the problem.

Was wondering this also since I just bought mine last Saturday (Version 4)

Interesting. Might just be that HW Ver. 4 hasn't been out long enough.

I am still on my first phone, so far.
Only mod is that I've been using a 3500 battery for about 2 months.
Purchased: August 5, 2010
HW Version: 0003
Build Date: July 11, 2010

That's what I was hoping...Then I saw this post below. I haven't had any problems yet...knock on wood...but I am hoping that maybe the later version 4 hardware was fixed.

i purchased mine from best buy about Nov 4 and it was hardware version 004. My charging port went bad last night 2-21-2011. I went to the sprint store in Indianapolis and they replaced my phone with a referb 002. I would like to know if the 002 screens are the same as the samsung epic 4g amoled screens? It would be cool. I know that htc switched to the sony super tft screens because of tight supply...

 

[_Epic]

I've posted in here previously and I come back with new information.
First, Sprint stores can replace the phone is the charging port is broken, whether it just stopped working or broken off. (At least that is what I was told by my upper management when I asked them about this)
Second, The cord that comes with the phone is causing the biggest issues. I've had customers switch up the cord and I haven't seen them back into the store.

 

[uminchu]

I've posted in here previously and I come back with new information.
First, Sprint stores can replace the phone is the charging port is broken, whether it just stopped working or broken off. (At least that is what I was told by my upper management when I asked them about this)
Second, The cord that comes with the phone is causing the biggest issues. I've had customers switch up the cord and I haven't seen them back into the store.

I had a launch day Evo, HW002. A few days ago (Tuesday), the USB port went dead and was clearly loose in three directions. Called Sprint TS the next morning, who looked it up said very candidly that the Evo's USB port is on an overall list of documented issues, to stop by a store and have the phone replaced. The store tech said the same thing and was happy to replace it, but wouldn't have any Evos until next week. He called another store a few minutes away; they had one in stock, so I headed over there. The tech at the second store checked it out and replaced it on the spot. I was in, replaced, activated, and out of the second store in under half an hour.

There was never a moment of hesitation or disagreement on Sprint's part in any conversation or interaction over this. On the contrary, Sprint was pretty much all smiles and positive attitude throughout. Thank you Sprint.

 

[Happygrl]

Just took my second phone in today for replacement. The first one stopped pretty suddenly. It had a week of wonky have-to-hold-the-cord-just-so charging and then it stopped completely. Replaced it at a Sprint repair center store under TEP and it came the next day. That was in December after gettiing the phone in August.

For the last few weeks, my second phone has been wonky with the charging. Two nights ago it was at about 30%, so I plugged it in, got the cord just so and turned off the phone to charge overnight. I woke up in the morning and it was still the same %. Assuming the cord just moved in the night, I didn't think much of it. Same thing later that day. Last night I tried again and noticed that, while the orange light was on, the green status charging bar wasn't moving. Battery died overnight and I couldn't get it charged at all today. Went to a corporate store and she sent me to the repair center at another location (franchise, I think). They are replacing it but its backordered until at least Wednesday, possibly Friday, maybe next week. Not too pleased about the wait.

 

[Meadows1976]

I think the port breaks because people have tried to force the cable in the phone the wrong way. Or they have tripped over the cord a few times. I charge my phone a lot and I don't have this issue. I sit with the phone plugged in.

Wouldn't a factory defect be something that happens within a certain time frame? Not like a car with a gas tank that will explode in an accident. If the port doesn't break within the first 2 months, was their a defect with the phone or do you blame the user?

No the port does not break because people are forcing the cable into the phone or anything like that. You sound like sprint. The phone does not hold a charge long, so it has to be plugged in and pulled out. This is the first phone I have used since blackberry. I am going back to blackberry with bells on. I love the evo but the charging port is serious. I cant put music on my phone I can do anything. I had to purchase a extra battery and a stand alone charger to use something that I paid $350.00 for. Never again. HTC will never get any more of my money...

 

[I want my EVO]

I had a launch day Evo up until last week. The screen started to turn on by its self and when i would get or make calls it would be on speaker phone mode (car mode) all the time.

After doing some research it was found that the charging port contacts either shifted and are shorting out or that dust/ debris is causing it. That cleaning it may help.

I tried various electronics contact cleaner with no help and on my last attempt I used a bit to much solution and it got caught under the screen. I used rice and a hair dryer to try sucking out the water but it didnt work. I had to claim water damage and pay 100 bucks on it.

I should have just taken it to the store and attempted to get a free one. My dumb ass fault though. live n learn.

It was hardware 0002 and other then the issues just now its not been any problem. I just hope my replacement thats coming in today doesnt have any issues! Fingers crossed!