When is an iPhone 4S case not an iPhone 4S case

Last weekend I was out and decided that I needed a new case for my iPhone 4S because my current one was getting dirty- for some reason, most clear silicon cases seem to go yellow on the inside corners of my iPhones. I presume this is because of heat because it doesn’t happen anywhere else and almost looks like small burns.

Anyway, I decided to buy a new case and spotted a rather nice tight fitting plastic case in the O2 shop. I rarely venture into O2 shops because I don’t use the network, but the case looked good and said iPhone 4 / 4S on the front so it had to fit. Right?

No it didn’t. I was sat in a coffee shop thirty minutes later and decided to put the case on, but it didn’t quite fit. One side was fine, but not the other and when pushed the other side would pop out. And so I returned to the O2 shop.

The lady looked at me and told me that my phone was not straight. I sniggered and told her that it was and so she then proceeded to place it on the counter and look at it from various angles. It was straight so she got out her iPhone 4S and the case fitted perfectly. She looked at me and said that it was my phone and that they could not offer a refund. I think the look on my face told her where the conversation was going next.

I then remembered that the white iPhone 4S is slightly thicker than the black version because of the paint. I explained this and she told me that this was not true. It was her attitude that bugged me more than the problem and in particular the presumption that it was somehow my fault so I asked her to try the case on a white iPhone 4S- she refused, saying that she would not open a phone just to test a case.

The lady next to me being served had a white iPhone and so I asked her if it was a 4S. She said yes, a bit uncomfortably, and I asked her if we could put the case on it to see if it fitted. She agreed and so I put the case on it- it didn’t quite fit. To be fair to the assistant, she held up the phone and relaxed a bit.

I then explained that every tight fitting case they sold potentially did not fit the white iPhone 4S and that they would need to check before selling them in the future. She apologised for the confusion, refunded me my money and I left.

The moral of the story? Well, there isn’t one except that you should always try a case before you buy it if you can. I have never seen an iPhone 4S case for sale that doesn’t claim to support every iPhone 4S, but this may not always be the case (excuse the pun).

Comments

[Peter C]

I generally get the same sort of attitude from most phone shops.
The trouble is, 90% of people going in are being prats, I've heard them.
"Excuse me, but I dropped my phone down the toilet. I fully expect a perfect replacement at no cost, and by the way, I plan to sue if I don't get it back with all my applications, music, etc, copied across as well".

But "Phone not straight" - get real. The 4S is glass. Exactly how "not straight" can it be before the glass cracks?