Local Samsung Service Center experience?

[ctychick]

Some background...I had a terrible mishap with my Note 5 soon after I purchased right after release last August or Sept. With no insurance, I dropped my phone and the screen cracked through both layers. It would power on, but the screen was black and it made an awful buzzing sound as I tried to recharge it. I took it to local "fix it" retailer, but they would have to charge me to open it up and diagnose it before they could determine the repairs necessary, which would likely cost me upwards of $350 given the extent of the screen damage and limited functionality. Verizon couldn't help at all. Ultimately I paid off the phone, put it into a drawer and went back to my S4 (Which, by the way, has been dropped NUMEROUS times from far greater heights with zero damage.). It pains me to type this even now - a year later.

I'm seriously considering the Note 7 (with insurance!), but just read that someone had a local Samsung repair center and brought the phone in in person. That person was still under warranty and the repair was free. I don't think I'm under warranty any longer (I don't have access to my paperwork at the moment), but I was wondering if it would be worth it for me to go straight to my local-ish Samsung service center (I live outside of NYC). Would they be able to repair the phone for a more reasonable fee than the 3rd party center? Or maybe even have a more sympathetic ear?

Any thoughts from someone with first-hand in-person Samsung service center experience? Thanks!

 

[Jay G63]

No experience with a walk in service center but the release date last year around august 21st so for hardware issues your year wouldn't be up but since the phone was damaged by a drop I'm not sure anything would be covered.
Do an online chat with a representative. You've got nothing to lose.

 

[Kelly Kearns]

Some background...I had a terrible mishap with my Note 5 soon after I purchased right after release last August or Sept. With no insurance, I dropped my phone and the screen cracked through both layers. It would power on, but the screen was black and it made an awful buzzing sound as I tried to recharge it. I took it to local "fix it" retailer, but they would have to charge me to open it up and diagnose it before they could determine the repairs necessary, which would likely cost me upwards of $350 given the extent of the screen damage and limited functionality. Verizon couldn't help at all. Ultimately I paid off the phone, put it into a drawer and went back to my S4 (Which, by the way, has been dropped NUMEROUS times from far greater heights with zero damage.). It pains me to type this even now - a year later.

I'm seriously considering the Note 7 (with insurance!), but just read that someone had a local Samsung repair center and brought the phone in in person. That person was still under warranty and the repair was free. I don't think I'm under warranty any longer (I don't have access to my paperwork at the moment), but I was wondering if it would be worth it for me to go straight to my local-ish Samsung service center (I live outside of NYC). Would they be able to repair the phone for a more reasonable fee than the 3rd party center? Or maybe even have a more sympathetic ear?

Any thoughts from someone with first-hand in-person Samsung service center experience? Thanks!

Walk in centers are in limited cities. Scroll to the bottom, they are listed. Used to be one in Atlanta but it closed recently. Samsung repairs are generally cheaper than people think.

You can also send it in.

Links aren't working on the app again for me. Add the www.

samsung.com/us/support/customerservice/

 

[ctychick]

Walk in centers are in limited cities. Scroll to the bottom, they are listed. Used to be one in Atlanta but it closed recently. Samsung repairs are generally cheaper than people think.

You can also send it in.

Links aren't working on the app again for me. Add the www.

samsung.com/us/support/customerservice/

Thanks, but I guess I wasn't clear. I live fairly close to a service center. Was just interested in feedback on others' experiences.

 

[Kelly Kearns]

Thanks, but I guess I wasn't clear. I live fairly close to a service center. Was just interested in feedback on others' experiences.

Oh ok.. As far as service it is the same as the mail in. The mail in is actually a walk in also.

I don't have personal experience with using one but I have some info on them. Do you have a specific question?

 

[ctychick]

Oh ok.. As far as service it is the same as the mail in. The mail in is actually a walk in also.

I don't have personal experience with using one but I have some info on them. Do you have a specific question?

I bought the phone on Sept. 15 2015. Dropped it about two weeks later. It never worked again. No insurance. Verizon couldn't help. Wondering if Samsung will fix it free of charge given that I'm within a year of purchase.

 

[Kelly Kearns]

I bought the phone on Sept. 15 2015. Dropped it about two weeks later. It never worked again. No insurance. Verizon couldn't help. Wondering if Samsung will fix it free of charge given that I'm within a year of purchase.

Technically, no, that is an out if warranty issue. Will one person do it? Maybe. Sometimes even the mail in center fixes big and little things out of warranty for free, sometimes they don't. Since you have one close, go by and ask them right out, what they are willing to do for you.

If they don't want to give you a good deal, tell them maybe you will just sell your S4 and the broken N5 and get an iPhone or another brand.

It won't hurt anything.

 

[Kelly Kearns]

Also I think the cost will be less than what you were quoted from a third party.

 

[ctychick]

Technically, no, that is an out if warranty issue. Will one person do it? Maybe. Sometimes even the mail in center fixes big and little things out of warranty for free, sometimes they don't. Since you have one close, go by and ask them right out, what they are willing to do for you.

If they don't want to give you a good deal, tell them maybe you will just sell your S4 and the broken N5 and get an iPhone or another brand.

It won't hurt anything.

LOL! I don't think I could actually threaten to buy an iPhone with a straight face!

 

[Kelly Kearns]

LOL! I don't think I could actually threaten to buy an iPhone with a straight face!

You should lol. If you can't threaten that, pick another Android brand.

At minimum, they will give you a good, legit estimate on the repair cost.

 

[bassplayrguy]

Warranty doesn't cover you damaging your phone. I would definately trust Samsung to repair it over a fix it shop.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Kelly Kearns]

Warranty doesn't cover you damaging your phone. I would definately trust Samsung to repair it over a fix it shop.

Posted via the Android Central App

No warranty doesn't cover damage, but sometimes Samsung does out of warranty repairs.