Securing a Refund for Google Pixel 7 with Intermittent Faults

Wildozer on 10/11/2023 - 19:08
Last edited 10/11/2023 - 19:15 by 1 other user

Hi all, I have a Google Pixel 7 which is 3 or 4 months old - purchased from Officeworks.

Since I've had it, there have been issues from the start. Battery is pretty useless - I am living on battery saver mode and I am not a heavy user. It has heating issues and gets particularly hot. The fingerprint scanner is very bad. Face unlock isn't much better either. Random freezes and glitches. Keyboard and screen will every now and then decide to stop taking any touch at all.

Overall, it's been a bad experience, and when it does work, I'm not particularly fond of the phone anyway.

Problem is that I am not really able to demonstrate these problems at an Officeworks as they're intermittent. I have read that these are not isolated incidents, and I would rather be done with the phone and move on.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can boost my chances of a refund instead of being told there's nothing to be done or repair/replacement?

Cheers.

Mobile Google Mobile Phone Android

Comments

  • bobbified on 10/11/2023 - 19:15

    Since I've had it, there have been issues from the start.

    Not saying you don't have warranty rights or whatever, but my first question (and I'd say that their question also) is, what's taken you so long to raise the issue?

    • MrThing on 10/11/2023 - 19:32
      +14

      Pixel 8 came out

      • coffeeinmyveins on 10/11/2023 - 20:31
        +1

        Bingo

      • Wildozer on 11/11/2023 - 10:38

        Nice, but not true. I knew exactly when the Pixel 8 was coming out when I bought the 7. I'm not interested in the 8 after this

    • Wildozer on 11/11/2023 - 10:45

      One of those things that you don't really notice at first. A few quirks here and there while thinking they'll get fixed in an update or that I'll be able to look past the flaw. Then after a while the combination of issues has finally got to me and I am now fed up with what I would consider is a faulty phone.

  • Nugs on 10/11/2023 - 19:40

    Camp out until it glitches
    .

  • JimmyF on 10/11/2023 - 19:52
    +2

    Securing a Refund for Google Pixel 7 with Intermittent Faults

    Yeah nah, phones they only do warranty on.

    Since I've had it, there have been issues from the start. Battery is pretty useless - I am living on battery saver mode and I am not a heavy user. It has heating issues and gets particularly hot. The fingerprint scanner is very bad. Face unlock isn't much better either. Random freezes and glitches. Keyboard and screen will every now and then decide to stop taking any touch at all.

    Battery life on the pixel 7 is pretty good. So yours might have a faulty battery. As for the fingerprint reader, any review would have told you that. The phone is 12 months old now, its been that way from the start.

    Overall, it's been a bad experience, and when it does work, I'm not particularly fond of the phone anyway.

    and there is it….. Change of mind. Sorry, no refund. Just send it in for warranty, get it fixed and then sell it.

    and I would rather be done with the phone and move on.

    Sell it, move on

    Does anyone have any advice on how I can boost my chances of a refund instead of being told there's nothing to be done or repair/replacement?

    Have a read of most threads for people wanting to return a phone for a refund as it's 'faulty' and you'll see it rarely ends in a refund.

    So take that option off the table and look at your next ones.

    • Wildozer on 11/11/2023 - 10:56

      Do you know why they only do warranty on phones? The ACCC states a major fault can warrant a refund based on customer preference. Multiple minor problems can also be considered a major fault. Are phones an exception?

      I'm just after any tips that you/anyone might have to make this happen rather than being turned away.

      As for change of mind. I think most would "change their mind" after an experience like this. I'm not just looking for a different phone for the sake of it. Why would you buy the same phone again knowing that there's a chance it's going to have the same issues?

      • CacheHunter on 11/11/2023 - 16:26

        The weakness in this argument is that you need to be able to prove that your phone is faulty (not just that some other random person has a faulty phone). The trouble is, that it seems that you haven't been able to do this.
        The practical reality is that you have a choice, either spend many hours and $$$ proving the fault, or sell it and move on.

      • JimmyF on 11/11/2023 - 17:01

        Do you know why they only do warranty on phones? The ACCC states a major fault can warrant a refund based on customer preference. Multiple minor problems can also be considered a major fault. Are phones an exception?

        None of the issues you have reported would be classed as a 'major' fault as they can all be repaired promptly. Send it in for warranty.

        The other reason most retailers/OEMs won't do it, is that phones suddenly get real 'faulty' at the 12 month mark when the new model is released and everyone wants a refund as its not working ;)

        I'm just after any tips that you/anyone might have to make this happen rather than being turned away.

        Sure, I gave you my tips. Very unlikely to happen for you to get a refund based on what you have said.

        As CacheHunter said, you haven't been able to prove the fault instore, so its far from a major fault then.

  • MS Paint on 10/11/2023 - 20:26
    +1

    I've been using pixel 7 for 6 months and it has been my best phone experience in 20 years. Bloody ripper phone.

    • kerfuffle on 10/11/2023 - 20:30

      Going by the meetup I went to last night, the Pixel 7 seems to be the phone of OzBargainers

    • Wildozer on 11/11/2023 - 10:59

      Seems to be the case for many, so I'm happy for you. But I've also read as many reports with issues similar to mine. You win some, you lose some

  • Drakesy on 10/11/2023 - 20:42

    I think you spent warranty wrong.
    If battery life was a big issue the pro should've been the pick imho

    • MS Paint on 10/11/2023 - 21:38
      +1

      I think you spelt spent wrong.

  • BinnyC on 10/11/2023 - 21:51
    +1

    Pixel 7 face unlock is pretty responsive and battery life is pretty decent. Yes not the fastest fingerprint scanner but overall a very good phone specially if you got it with Telstra offer for the price like $500.

    Compare it to an iPhone 14 or 15 which is at least 3 times expensive and may be 10% better subjectively, most should be pretty happy with this phone in my opinion.

    Share to care others your experience with Pixel 7 please.

    • JimmyF on 11/11/2023 - 17:02

      Agreed, the Pixel 7 has been one of the better phones indeed from Google for battery life. So the OP might have a dud battery.

  • 0FoxGiven on 10/11/2023 - 23:13

    I had a similar experience with the Pixel 3. Was living on battery saver and wouldn't last a day, couldn't return for refund so just sold it for a $80 loss after 3 months of use. The phone was meh but it took pretty good photos

  • mmd on 11/11/2023 - 03:15

    Have u gone through google for these issues? I had my pixel 4 replaced under warrranty - they send out a phone and then you send yours back

  • pegaxs on 11/11/2023 - 09:10
    +1

    I have the Pixel 7 Pro and these “issues” sound like standard features for me. These really are garbage phones.

    • Wildozer on 11/11/2023 - 11:19

      Yeah it sucks, but nice to hear I'm not the only one

  • AndyC1 on 11/11/2023 - 11:30

    What did OW say when you contacted hem about your issues?

    • Wildozer on 11/11/2023 - 12:25

      I've only given them a call so far and I was told that I had to head into a shop to have it sorted out. So before I go in I'm just trying to see if anyone here has some insight.

  • justgooddeals on 19/11/2023 - 19:53

    Personally if I had as many problems with phone as you are having I would just gather as much evidence as possible. Use screen recorder app or another phone camera and document all the issues like unusually high battery drain..etc etc.

    Then take into store to have it assessed. Phone repairers have diagnostic tools only available to the manufacturers . With any evidence gathered and the tests they run they may refund the phone if they find the faults you have experienced.

    Surely be more productive than discussing it here.

  • ozone on 20/11/2023 - 19:11

    I have Pixel 7 and have the same problems as you, such as battery quickly goes away quickly (such as dropping from 100% to 80% within 2 hours) without me using the phone much.

    This is a replaced Pixel 7, the first one does not charge when connected.

    I have spent a lot of time transferring apps from the old phone so don't want to go through the trouble of getting another replacement again. Will probably carry a battery pack around with me if going for a trip. I don't use the phone much when in office so the battery issue is less of a problem.

  • ozone on 20/11/2023 - 19:37

    I found this (https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6090612) and am now trying out what have been suggested.

  • Reggie boy on 10/01/2024 - 13:24

    I Have had the exact same problems as Wildozer, with pixel 7 pro from JB, was speaking to staff at another JB store and they said they have been inundated with complaints about the 7 and to take it back to the store where I bought it. Did that and they sent it away and when it was finally returned it was a second hand refurbished one, no packaging, i refused it and they said if google will give them a credit they will give me a refund, have contacted Office of fair trading who said they will have a chat with them but not a great deal can be done. Mean time the phone is devaluating everyday and I will lose about 50% of what i paid for it after only 9 weeks, not happy, also staff told me the pixel 8 has been a bit of a dud, not selling very well, another thing jb said was that google will give refund if returned within 4 weeks but don't tell you this when you purchase.

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