Apple To End Free iPhone 4 Antenna Program On September 30

Apple a few months back offered a band-aid for their iPhone 4 issue when they decided to provide iPhone 4 users with a free bumper case that would solve all their problems, now that program is coming to an end.

While you won’t be able to get a free case any longer that isn’t the only bad news, Apple has also “downgraded” their return policy for iPhone 4 units from 30 to 14 days, Apple has also brought back their 10% restocking fee that normally comes with returning a device during the return period. During “antennagate” Apple increased their return policy to 30 days and removed the 10% restocking fee.

There is one catch that will help a few users out, if you are really having bad issues with your phone you can still call into Apple Care or head to an Apple store and if they feel your case warrants a free bumper case, they’ll make sure you get one.

Here’s what the Apple site has to say about the program changes (Warning: Apple Propaganda ahead):

“We now know that the iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue is even smaller than we originally thought. A small percentage of iPhone 4 users need a case, and we want to continue providing them a Bumper case for free. For everyone else, we are discontinuing the free case program on all iPhone 4s sold after September 30, 2010. We are also returning to our normal returns policy for all iPhone 4s sold after September 30. Users experiencing antenna issues should call AppleCare to request a free Bumper case.”

Hmmm…perhaps the issue is plaguing less customers because those phones received free bumper cases upon purchase, which put a band-aid on the issue without fixing it. Yes I understand that a lot of phones have antenna/reception issues, but admitting those issues are present for a specific reason, then taking away the fix you provided is just plain stupid.