[One (M7) General] billgs:
Arvato Germany Experience

I am writing this post to let everyone know about my experience concerning the service that HTC offers in Germany through Arvato (in Bielefeld).

My phone, a red unbranded HTC One with an August mfg. date, was purchased in the UK the last days of September 2013. It came with an ST sensor made in July. At first it was ok, then gradually its sensor began degrading. The firmware upgrade that came with android 4.3 and introduced the software fix (the one that defaults the iso at very low levels when in low light) at first did the trick, but as time passed the problem became so severe that the fix didnt work anymore.

During the last month even daylight photos had a hint of purple. All this time I was hesitant to send my phone for repair due to 3 reasons: a) All the horror stories stated here (phone back with the same problem,or fixed phone that later on developed the same problem, or scratched/poorly handled phone), b) the fact that I didnt want to be left with a phone that cannot be s-offed, as well as c) the fact that I didnt want to lose my 40$ Spigen Glas.tr that I have fitted perfectly and that is so hard to find nowadays.

I decided to bite the bullet and send it for repair, facing the concequences. Since I currently live in Germany, Arvato was my only choice. The whole procedure lasted 7 days, including a weekend and the days the phone was in transport.

Results:

-The phone came back very, very well packed. Its condition was INTACT. Except from 2 tiniest, pinhead-shaped dots in the apex of the chassis close to the volume rocker, marks that you cannot see (and trust me when I say that they are nearly invisible, I am heavily OCD) the phone returned in the same pristine condition exactly as I sent it, covered in plastic foil front and back, in a sealed plastic bag, in a ton of bubblewrap.

-Except from the replaced camera sensor (which the enclosed repair details state as a SHARP one, although in the sensor info file it is stated as the classic OV) they replaced the top and bottom speaker covers, the volume rocker (with a more matte one) the already flimsy USB port, the headphone jack, and half a dozen of thermal insulation pads.

-Lastly, the fact that blows my mind (in a good way) is that they didnt mess with my glass screen protector at all! Although they explicitly stated that the screen protector will be destroyed and discarded, I insisted on taking care of it if possible, and they did. My phone came back with the protector intact, and on top of that they even included a new HTC screen protector on the box!

The aftermath:

-The phone now takes crystal clear pics in every lighting condition. Its not only that there is not a single hint of purple in low light, the phone now focuses faster in any condition, and the resulting pics are sharper. I believe that during the last period the old sensor was so much degraded that even in broad daylight the photos produced were not only a little bit tinted, but also very very soft ( as if someone messed with the sharpness option of the camera)

-The device now doesnt heat as much as it used to. Previously after a heavy game or video recording the phone was getting really hot, to the point that it still felt warm after a while even through my jeans pocket. Now it just gets a little warmer, and thats all.

After this experience I have no choice but to undoubtedly reccomend Arvato Services in Germany, as they proved to be really good at what they are doing, at least with that particular problem. Should you live, or have the opportunity to send the phone for repair in Germany, dont hesitate. I wish I would have done it earlier, given the fact that I now see what I was missing by having a crippled camera.So, kudos to Arvato Germany, I wish that every official HTC repair center would act in such a professional manner.