Ever wonder what options are available besides returning to the carrier store (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, or T-Mobile) for an “exchange” or “refund” when your newly purchased mobile device is damaged or malfunctioning? Not sure who to turn to when the mobile device you bought on eBay, online, or from friends starts acting strange? Where can you go when the screen has cracked on your 4 year old phone? Information about smartphone factory warranty is often misunderstood, however, by learning the basics, such a policy can save you a lot of money when it comes to guaranteed repairs on broken iPhone or broken mobile phones.

The Basics of a Smartphone Factory Warranty Policy

Before you can get started, you should check the sections below to see if your broken cell phone is in or out of warranty. Defining what state your broken cell phone is in is critical as it will provide different services and eligibility.

Time frame:

Every mobile device you purchase (including smartphones) carries a manufacturer’s warranty that will specifically guarantee that the device will perform as advertised. However, like any legal warranty clause, it is common to have a time frame attached to it for the legitimate filing of claims. Most OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) implement a 12 month warranty policy which has become an industry standard. For you it means that, at the time of purchase, you must cover the first 12 months from the day the smartphone was purchased. For an exact time period, you can determine it by adding 365 days from the date indicated on your purchase receipt. The original receipt should always be kept as proof of purchase. Do not rely solely on store data or barcodes on packing boxes, as they are not evidence. Detailed warranty booklets and brochures are normally available inside the packing box.

Nature of malfunction:

An OEM’s warranty applies only to the parts and products it manufactures; any post-purchase add-ons or aftermarket parts are not guaranteed. A factory will fulfill its obligation when a manufacturing defect occurs in its product due to normal use. The following examples are cases of malfunction in which warranty coverage will be recognized:

Susan’s new Motorola Droid X (just purchased) had a blank screen when Susan first turned on the smartphone and it persisted through subsequent power-ups.

Ted’s 4 month old Samsung Fascinate doesn’t hear any voice on speakerphone or crackling sound during normal calls.

Pete’s 9 month old Blackberry Bold has keyboard issues (letter ‘A’ button not responding) when typing text or sending emails.

When did your smartphone go out of warranty?

A factory warranty policy will be void when there is obvious intentional damage causing the defect or malfunction; as such, these are cases of “CID” – Customer Induced Damages. Manufacturers will NOT honor their policy for these damaged devices, because they were intentionally damaged. There are 3 typical factors in determining CIDs/non-covered phones, these are: (1) Cracked LCD or screen or evidence of liquid intrusion or water damaged cell phone, (2) Device purchased and sold outside of your normal sales channel, and (3) the expiration of a policy term based on the date of manufacture. The examples below are cases to demonstrate out-of-warranty facts:

Mary’s little boy was playing with his AT&T iPhone 4 when the device was dropped and caused a small crack in the LCD screen. As a result, Apple will not accept the free repair because it was accident induced as it requires an out-of-warranty repair from Apple.

A student spilled beer on his T-Mobile HD2 during last night’s prom and shorted out his device so it couldn’t turn on. The device’s LDI (Liquid Damage Indicator**) also activated. As a result, HTC will not accept the free repair because it was accident induced.

Katie wanted to file claims about her VerizonSnap malfunctioning after 16 months from the date of initial purchase; therefore the warranty will not cover it as it exceeded the 12 month OEM warranty. As a result, HTC will not honor the free repair because it has exceeded the effective coverage term.

Corey, a “tech nerd”, installed a custom operating system on his smartphone to make modifications and caused certain features to fail when unlocking his iPhone.

Susan purchased a gently used Sprint Epic 4G on E-bay and demanded service, but was refused because the limited warranty extends only to the original owner, not subsequent purchasers or third parties. Only a Certified Pre-Owned phone from the carrier (ie Sprint Stores) will have 90-day warranty coverage as a used product from an appropriate sales channel. Phones purchased from the aftermarket or any other unauthorized dealer or reseller will not enjoy the benefits of the factory warranty.

* * LDI = Liquid Damage Indicator is a small piece of litmus paper placed in certain places on a mobile device to indicate water intrusion. The paper will turn pink on contact with excessive moisture and will alert examiners to past liquid damage.

Solutions for phones that need replacement and repair out of warranty

Instead of pulling your phone out of your desk drawer or throwing it away, what are your options after determining that your broken or damaged phone is out of coverage?

(1) Ask for repair service at factory/OEM repair sites and they will provide original parts and guaranteed labor; however, they are generally associated with a higher repair cost. It is common for LCD replacements to cost more than $150. You can contact the factory information below:

Apple Out of Warranty Program – 1.800.694.7466

HTC Out of Warranty Program – 1.888.617.1113

Blackberry Out of Warranty Program – 1.800.331.0500

LG Out of Warranty Program – 1,800,243,0000

Samsung Out of Warranty Program – 1.800.726.7864

Motorola Out of Warranty Program – 1.800.653.5350

Nokia Out of Warranty Program – 1.888.665.4228

Sony Ericsson Out of Warranty Program – 1.866.766.9374

(2) Get service at a local, street-level cell phone repair shop. You can locate them in their yellow pages. Although they offer inexpensive repair solutions, workmanship and part quality vary greatly.

(3) You can claim the mobile insurance, if you opted for this extra option with your monthly billing contract. Such insurance policy may cover your lost or damaged phone(s) by paying a deductible. They are typically provided through carriers for a monthly fee of $7 to $15 per phone; It depends on your make and model. However, you must have an active policy when an accident occurs and numerous claims within short periods of time can put you on the blacklist. The insurance company will send you a refurbished replacement phone.

(4) Selling as a scrap item on eBay, however, you must have a functioning eBay account and all the necessary steps to run an auction for shipping and handling.

5) You can sell to Brokensellphone.com for the fastest and easiest solution. Our web tool will assess the value of your phone and offer FREE outbound shipping. We will issue you a check within 7 business days of receipt. It is the easiest method to recycle your broken phone without warranty. Tell your friends and family about our service and click here to start your money process over the phone.