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Plastic Chrome Trim Cracked

M

mamiamjo

Well-Known Member
I went to make a call today when I felt a scratch on my thumb as I was picking up my Hero. It seems that the chrome colored trim that surrounds the mini usb charging port is cracked. I haven't dropped the phone nor had any incident that would lead me to think it could have been damaged, but here was this cracked trim.
The only thing that I can even think of that possibly could have caused this is the repeated pushing on the back button that is just above that area on the lower front panel? Obviously, normal usage such as that shouldn't caused damage (especially in less than a month)

Has anyone else seen this type of damage on their phone. I have 2 more days to return it, I wonder if BB will replace it?
 
Just an update. I took my hero with the cracked chrome plastic trim back to Best Buy today. They went ahead and exchanged for a new hero.
Now I have "With google" on the back and it says Rev A. I know Sprint claims that the other Heroes are Rev A also (I'm not disputing that), but I feel better since it now says RevA :o

I did spend some time with the Samsung Moment and seriously considered changing, but didn't. I was pretty pleased with the look and feel, but prefer the hero and the sense ui.
 
OMG I haven't dropped my phone or anything and just felt a little snag and looked down and... ::gasp:: the same damage! No :( not my baby! Will be going to BB tomorrow... I guess I will have to start ALL OVER.... ARGH!
 
My dad took his out of his pocket after 3 weeks of owning it and the same trim piece above the mini USB port was cracked. It was actually sticking out from the phone. He thought he had something in his pocket that could have gotten wedged in there, but I doubt it. The phone had also, never been dropped.
 
WTF? Just noticed the same problem! I've even got one of those soft touch hard case/skins. I wonder if its from the plugging and unplugging of the micro usb?
 
Are any of these cracked ones that say "google" or are they the htc versions? I dropped mine once, and it has a knick right next to this area that you guys are talking about, but its not cracked, thank goodness. doesnt matter...i have insurance.
 
i've only had mine for 1 week, no cracks, With Google on the back, and Rev A, no dust under screen...i'm lovin' it!!!
 
No cracks here.

I guess HTC and Sprint did not learn there lesson with the Touch Pro, which was plagued with cracked and chipped plastic chrome complaints.

My Touch Pro has several small chips of chrome missing. I never bothered to return it as I put a rubberized case on it for protection.

One thing for sure, this phone does not go in my pocket with keys, change or anything else.
 
It's interesting to see that other people have experienced the same issue. I wasn't sure if it was caused by repeated pushing down the back button, or, as pointed out above, maybe from unplugging the charge cord?

My original phone that developed the crack had htc on the back, I don't know if it makes any difference or not, but I hope my new one doesn't develop the same issue.
 
My example of the cracked plastic was a "with Google" phone. I really dont think it matters though. Ive seen that argument a lot with signal strength, internet speed, dust under the screen, etc...and nothing points to either being at fault more than the other.
 
vwvapor said:
WTF? Just noticed the same problem! I've even got one of those soft touch hard case/skins. I wonder if its from the plugging and unplugging of the micro usb?
Click to expand...
yeah, i bet it's how the cord is plugged/unplugged from the phone. if it is unplugged at an angle, it could put stress on the housing around the port and eventually crack it.
it hasn't happened to me yet... *knock on wood*
 
I went to 2 seperate Best Buy locations that refused to swap my phone due to this issue, which p*sses me off bc I was within my 30 days :( BestBuy has treated me so well, now the first time I have a problem they leave me hanging.

I have Total Equipment Protection on my phone with Sprint, how should I go about getting a new, uncracked one?
 
seabreeze said:
I went to 2 seperate Best Buy locations that refused to swap my phone due to this issue, which p*sses me off bc I was within my 30 days :( BestBuy has treated me so well, now the first time I have a problem they leave me hanging.

I have Total Equipment Protection on my phone with Sprint, how should I go about getting a new, uncracked one?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure, they let me exchange mine at Best Buy without a problem, but I did have the BB insurance and it was within the 30 days. If they wouldn't have exchanged it I would have simply returned it since it was within the 30 days.
 
I have BestBuy corporate researching the issue now, they seem to be a lot more responsive... found this post on another forum about the dust and took the advice for this situation as well:

"That is absolute garbage, I work for Best Buy and if you have this issue they must address it, it is a product defect. Dust should not be able to ENTER the screen per factory seal, It doesn't matter WHAT the external factors are! If the "Manager On Duty" (ask specifically for an MOD if the manager of the department will not work with you, as the MOD is the Store Manager at the time) at the store refuses to help you, then contact 1-888-BEST-BUY which is the corporate line and explain your situation, they should be able to take care of you. Don't forget to leave all kinds of customer feedback through any and all channels offered and available. Best Buy is just like Sprint in that the only way anything gets done is through a large amount of customer feedback."
 
crap i just checked mine and yeah i see a tiny crack from usb port.

I'm nervous now! i didn't buy this from bestbuy but from online. will they replace it under warranty? or do i need the sprint's insurance?
 
Mine developed the same issues 2 days ago and there's a good half an inch piece missing above the usb port.

Also, I dropped the phone and nicked the top (next to the screen) part of the plastic covering - do you think that it could be replaceable? I know the bottom one is for sure as it's just a battery cover.
 
I'm 12 days past my 30 days and just noticed that mine has cracked in the same place. Does anyone know if BestBuy will still replace it since it's a manufacturer's defect?
 
I think it's pretty common with any device that has these plastic painted chrome trims. My Touch Pro held up pretty good but it does have it's chips.
 
kennyidaho said:
I think it's pretty common with any device that has these plastic painted chrome trims. My Touch Pro held up pretty good but it does have it's chips.
Click to expand...

I don't know how common it is, but I have had a few phones that had trim that never cracked. My last phone was an HTC Touch (Sprint) and the trim on it never cracked. Also, it seems that there is a design or manufacturing defect since it appears common for the trim to crack in that same place (not to mention that it happens without dropping or other wise dmaging the phone)
 
Mine developed the crack as well which really irritates me because I'm kind of anal with my stuff and take really good care of it. The crack just 'happened' Anyway, I put a drop of super glue on it to keep the crack from becoming a missing piece of plastic. Hopefully that will hold it.
 
mamiamjo said:
I'm not sure, they let me exchange mine at Best Buy without a problem, but I did have the BB insurance and it was within the 30 days. If they wouldn't have exchanged it I would have simply returned it since it was within the 30 days.
Click to expand...

I got my Hero at Best Buy too and at the time (Nov. 2), did not get the Best Buy Insurance. I already have the Sprint insurance. I am considering switching to the Best Buy plan though since I believe you can within the first 30 days. How would you rate these plans? It seems to me that the BB plan might be better even though it is a bit more each month.

Thanks in advance for any opinions....
 
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