[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] geekgirlcdn:
also broken LCD

Hi folks,

I have been a long time lurker on XDA and used it to root many android devices. Never needed an account until this thread.

I recently purchased a S4 Google Edition from the play store while travelling in the USA. I returned to Canada where I live. I had it roughly 2 weeks. I remove the phone(in a case) from my purse to find the LCD was cracked but the screen was fully intact as so many others here have pointed out. I googled the issue and came across this thread and many others. This seems to be a really wide spread issue. to clarify, the phone was hanging out in my purse... I didn't DROP the purse, throw the purse anything the purse. I've carried multiple androids in the same purse with no issue.

Thus began the repair quest.

I called 1800 Samsung in both USA and Canada. After hours on hold, repeatedly telling me to contact "my carrier" (no carrier with the play store) they directed me to random Samsung Repair places that could not service phones even. NO kidding. I finally found a 'walk in repair centre' located just outside Toronto. Someone in here posted about a similar place in Montreal being helpful. So made the 2 hour drive there. When i arrived 3.. yes 3 people in the same repair centre at that time had the exact same LCD, but glass is ok, and no i didnt drop it issue. The very helpful tech informed me they were "aware of the issue" and that they would replace the screen, it would take about an hour with proof of purchase. He started that and once he removed the back, noticed that it was the i19505 Google/American edition of the phone and that they could not service it in Canada. He suggested I call the 1800 number.

You can guess how that went.

I then tried the Google Play store which took 7 days to tell me they would accept the RMA but if i was some how found to be at fault they would charge me for the full price of the new device. This is not ok either.

There are lots of local repair guys who are willing to replace the screen for 250$. There are some on ebay for the same price and a do it yourself deal.

Either way this is the most ridiculous experience i've had with a product that is clearly got SOMETHING going on thats not the users fault. As others had said, if i dropped the phone and it smashed thats my bad and i'll pay the repair.. and someone would do it. This is like a comedy of bad errors and i'm 2+ weeks without a working phone. At this point I would fully suggest NOT purchasing a samsung s4 device without serious insurance.

I realize many "helpful" people in this thread are pointing out that their phones are A-OK so it must be User error.. and thats cool. Except I know i didn't sit on or break anything on my phone and I ALSO know that getting an 800$ phone repaired should NOT be this difficult no matter what. Its horrible service all around.

Here is a nice picture so you can match and say.. MINE TOO.

As you can see in this one.. the glass is not cracked at all but there is damage in the top left corner.

I managed to get the line highlighted from the back light in this photo.. so you can clearly see the mark... again NOT through the glass.

May my long post help someone. Has anyone had any luck at walk in repair places in the USA?