Apple visits CCA to apologize for iPhone shutdown issue

Representatives from Apple Inc, including the vice president of Apple’s international after-sales service department, visited the China Consumers Association (CCA) on Thursday afternoon to apologize for the unexpected shutdowns of some iPhones reported by Chinese customers, according to a CCA statement on Friday.

Apple said that it was very sorry for the inconvenience it had brought to the customers, and that the company is actively implementing its plan for the unexpected shutdowns of some of its iPhone 6S smartphones.

Apple announced in mid-November that some iPhone 6s users who experienced unexpected shutdown problems can have their batteries replaced at Apple’s retail stores and authorized service providers. The company also revealed that it would include additional diagnostic capabilities in an iOS software update to be released next week, in order to gather information to help stores improve their after-sales services.

Apple said in the statement released on November 20 that a very tiny number of iPhone 6s smartphones might unexpectedly shut down, but it wouldn’t cause any safety problems. But the company didn’t explain the reasons for the shutdowns, nor did it offer solutions for smartphone models other than 6s which have also experienced unexpected shutdown problems.

The Shanghai Consumer Council said on December 1 that it had received about 860 complaints about iPhones’ unexpected shutdowns in October and November.

The CCA also twice sent enquiries to Apple in November, urging the company to find the reasons for the shutdowns and provide a solution.

Wang Yanhui, secretarygeneral of the Mobile China Alliance, told the Global Times on Friday that Apple shouldn’t have made such a mistake. “It shows the quality of their products are flawed,” he noted.

He also said that the CCA should not allow Apple to address the problem without a deadline.

“The CCA should see to it that Apple tackles the problems in accordance with domestic consumer laws,” Wang noted.

Wang added that Apple should also carry out more innovation if it wants to achieve better sales in the future, otherwise even Apple users wouldn’t want to upgrade to new models.

Apple could not be reached for comment as of press time.