Loose Charging Flaps

[jerick]

Just want to know if there is a need to dismantle the unit when replacing the USB Charging Cover (flaps) or it is  just snapped on to the unit.

[tom-phils]

I hope anyone from sony answers too... well about wear and tear... I have only been using the phone for a month and I charge my phone once a day and sometimes when transferring files. So approximately I have openned the flap about only more or less a hundred times. I mean is this how weak the design or the quality of a sony phony phone? Or maybe a strategy for the user to buy a dock? and all the while i thoughtthe dock was just an optional product but now it is a must?

Oh well I will wait next week to get the replacement unit and I will try to observe if the flap will behave differently. Until then I will post my findings... This is so frustrating....

[jerick]

Hi. Sorry for the late post regarding the replacing of  loose charging flaps. I  brought  my Xperia Z at  the main service center located at Kapitolyo, Pasig City, Philippines. Since my unit is under warranty period, Sony  charged me  300 Pesos only for the cover and they were able to replace the charging flap  without  dismantling the unit. The service took 10 minutes or less. Kudos to the Sony Mobile Tech in Pasig.

[tom-phils]

Really but I thought it was under warranty so why charge you? You did not break the flap right? it is just the result of daily use so why charge you? I brought my xperia ZR and told me they will replace the unit with a new one free of charge. did they show you how they replaced the flap, I hope they really replaced it not just did something to tighten it. So how was it? did they showed you your old flap or did they give your old flap?

[tom-phils]

Hi just got my phone, there was a mis communication they just replaced the flap not the whole unit but they did not charge me. I made it clear to them that they should not treat the flaps as cosmetics blah blah. The flaps played a major role in keeping the phone IP58/57 certified. So that means that the flaps wasn't just there to make the phone more appealing but to keep water and dust from going in the phone. So as a critical part of the phone it should be included in the phones part / service warranty.

I will observe the new flap and give you feedback what happens next.

[jerick]

@ tom-phils -  Yes my unit is under warranty. Service charge is free and I was also able to negotiate that the flap be free of charge. But they refused  because according to them that cover is considered a cosmetic. I'm not sure if this is true.  Yes,  they  gave back the old flap and its closing properly now.

[tom-phils]

Strange.... In my case I forgot to ask for the old flap cause I was in a hurry to go back to work . But did they did not charge me for anything. Maybe because your unit was XZ and mine was ZR ? oh well still my point was they shouldn't consider the flap a cosmetic because it is an essential part in keeping the phone IP58/57 certified and for me cosmetic means optional. So I dont see anything optional with the flap, not unless you can put the phone under water without closing the flap then I will consider it just a cosmetic or an optional part.  Oh well.. at least it is fine now, let's just hope we wont be bringing it back again anytime soon.

[Sam]

The cost of any repair is down to the assessment by the repair agent. If they find that the flap has come loose/off due to a manufacturing defect they will tend to cover it, if not then it will tend to not be covered.

The repair agents don’t normally give any leftover parts to the customers as they would generally be recycled straight away, this would have had to have been a special case.

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[tom-phils]

I think so too, Anyways I was wondering when will they ever make the phone all wireless. It is very possible nowadays, data can be transferred via WIFI and the 3.5 jack can be left open even in the water like in Z1. That would be very interesting hehehe!

[tom-phils]

Okay, After less than a month when they replace the flap / rubber cap. Just this week there are several times that the flaps are getting loose again.. Not that frequent though but it is already starting to behave like the previous problem. I am already frustrated. Does this mean that I have to bring it back to the service center? will I be doing this every month. I think they will ask me to pay for the rubber cap. I hope sony can answer this concern. I mean it did not even reach 1 month when they replaced it now the problem is starting again... Hey sony I hope you can help me with this one.

[tom-phils]

Hi Sony..

Its been my 4th time to return to the center but the problem keep on comming back even though they  replace the flap, I already bought the docking charger so I wont have to use the flap often but still the problem came back. Is it possible to ask / recommend for a unit replacement. My friend's friend bought a ZR several weeks I bought mine but as of today hir ZR has no loose flap issue. Man this is so frustrating.... I hope you can answer me now sony.