I HATE touch screen phones!

[Bob Barker]

So I finally went and bought myself a new toy from Sprint. The HTC EVO 4g. It was really fun for the first 12 hours until I dropped it only once and now the screen looks like spiderman had sex on it!

Can these screens be repaired or am I going to have to buy a new phone, again?

[Y33TREKker]

I would ask if you purchased the optional insurance available on most cell phone contracts, but the way insurance companies seem to work nowadays, they'd probably look for any reason possible not to warrant a claim. Still work asking regardless though.

You might check some sites like these for a replacement screen.

http://www.cellulardr.com/cell-phone-lcd-screen.html

http://www.repairsuniverse.com/cell-phone-parts.html

[Luna X]

I hope you have insurance on that phone.... otherwise, I believe you will be s.o.l.

All these new phones are frustrating. I bought a new Droid2 for Xmas for wifey and 2 weeks later I sent it back. It was never dropped, but it still had issues with the screen and receiving calls. Went back to the good'ol trusty Env3

[Gussie2000]

So I finally went and bought myself a new toy from Sprint. The HTC EVO 4g. It was really fun for the first 12 hours until I dropped it only once and now the screen looks like spiderman had sex on it!

Can these screens be repaired or am I going to have to buy a new phone, again?

I have the T-mobile HD2 which is very similar to the EVO 4G.
This is my 3rd phone,i have insurance.The deductible is high though. About $ 163.00.

If you are interested my insurance is by asurion,so far so good with their service.
The two claims were very smooth and fast,had my brand-new phone the very next day.

Those screens are replaceable,but you wouldn't have much of an chance finding a reliable,worthy technician guy to replace it.

If you didn't insure it i fear new-full-price phone is your only option.

You must avoid by every mean to drop it,they are an very delicate,masterpiece.

[MeowMix]

So I finally went and bought myself a new toy from Sprint. The HTC EVO 4g. It was really fun for the first 12 hours until I dropped it only once and now the screen looks like spiderman had sex on it!

Can these screens be repaired or am I going to have to buy a new phone, again?

To reiterate what everyone else has said already: insurance would be your best option if you aren't particularly skilled at dismantling small electronic devices. If you don't have insurance you could call in and add it without telling anyone the phone is already broken, assuming it still makes and takes calls...then use it for the intro period so they can see a call history on the device (not sure on Sprint, but it's usually about a week or so last I checked), then make a claim when able to. The insurance deductible cost is better than buying a new $500 phone outright...though often times you do get remanufactured phones via insurance claims. Remember to get a rubber or hard plastic case to protect your next one...totally worth the $15 or so.

Call around also and get repair quotes, there are many locally owned cell places who will repair such things. We have Spokane Wireless here in my city. Personally I buy new parts online for cheap and fix things myself...I've done so with tons of phones, iPods, etc. If you should so choose to brave the endeavor of repair then I recommend eBay; it's where I myself have had the best luck finding cheap parts. I just looked and its about $50-80 for a new LCD and touch digitizer for your phone on eBay -- there are a ton of auctions, just make sure it's OEM and not from a seller in Hong Kong and you're golden, lol

Oh and often times you can find tutorials on how to take apart phones, iPods, etc. on YouTube. Again, I checked and there are a ton of them for the EVO. There are options for you for sure -- no matter what you choose to do, good luck Bob!

-MeowMix

[Bob Barker]

If you don't have insurance you could call in and add it without telling anyone the phone is already broken, assuming it still makes and takes calls...then use it for the intro period so they can see a call history on the device (not sure on Sprint, but it's usually about a week or so last I checked), then make a claim when able to.

I did this

Thanks for all the input too! I'll have a nice case for it next time for sure! and the deductable will be $100... kinda a pricey deductable, but it will be cheaper than a new phone even with all the instant savings and mail in rebate stuff.

[circmand]

covers the cost of the new phone to the insurance company actual cost

[wekilled]

I concur. If you are in the window still, call in and decide you really want to add insurance for your phone, then wait for it..Call in a week.

Other method is every city seems to have a back alley guy now that can fix iPods and phones. Call around and look online or on bulletin boards.

[vt_maverick]

We have Verizon and have had insurance on our phones for a few years now. Asurion provides the insurance for Verizon (and most other carriers too I think) and are pretty easy to work with. We've had to replace at least six in the past couple years due to loss, cracked screens, defective touch sensors, etc. Only downside is that the insurance companies send you a refurbished version of the phone you sent them, which we've found is decidedly different than a brand new version of your existing phone. Easily half of those replacements were us sending back the refurb models after they failed 30-60 days into ownership.

I've given up on sexy fragile smart phones for now. We're admittedly hard on our phones, and even when we're careful, our two year old is not. I now carry a work phone (which they replace if something goes wrong ) and our other phone is a "ruggedized" model capable of withstanding drops, dust, immersion in water, saliva, cough syrup, and food spills. Absolutely love it.

[Bob Barker]

This being my first touch screen phone, or smart phone or whatever, I got it to play games in boring situations. Like ordering food and waiting for it at a restaurant, sitting at work all night with nothing going on around me, or other, more private "idle" times (think #2)...


It was really fun before I busted it! Now I gotta wait a couple days for a new one. Since they don't ship on Sundays.

[MeowMix]

This being my first touch screen phone, or smart phone or whatever, I got it to play games in boring situations. Like ordering food and waiting for it at a restaurant, sitting at work all night with nothing going on around me, or other, more private "idle" times (think #2)...


It was really fun before I busted it! Now I gotta wait a couple days for a new one. Since they don't ship on Sundays.

Oh no...don't tell me you're hooked on that silly Storm8 Restaurant Story game too? It's terribly addictive. Glad to hear things worked out okay Bob!

-MeowMix

[Grif]

So you hate touchscreen phones because you can break it?

Yes you loved it before you broke it?

Seems to me you hate that you broke your new Android device rather than your device itself.

Yes screens are easily replaceable by any decent tech, however the insurance/cell provider route will be cheaper. They will simply swap out your device for a refurbished unit and transfer your contacts and apps over, no prob.

If you are lucky they wont have any refirb units in stock and if you press the issue they might let go of a new one for you. Make sure you ask.

[Bob Barker]

So you hate touchscreen phones because you can break it?

Yes you loved it before you broke it?

Seems to me you hate that you broke your new Android device rather than your device itself.

I hate it because it broke so easily! Just one teensy little drop onto a hard floor... Oh well, I did love it before I found out I have to be carefull with it, and I'm sure I'll learn to love it again once I get the new one in!

Odd thing, the insurer asked me for further proof of ownership/who I say I am, so now the claim will be taking a little longer than hoped.

[VX KAT]

Honestly, I didn't know about the frequent problems/breakage of the screens. Glad this thread came up. They're really cool, but we don't have the need or desire for a smart phone, as outdated as that sounds.... We got the iPad for that. And since I drop everything, it's good to know how fragile they are...need to keep me away from them....they'd probably ban me/drop me from the insurance after a few months and a couple of claims.

Dave went with the G'zOne by casio....just a good ole' flip phone, but way tougher...it's mil spec in most areas. Screen has really big numbers...some here will know why that's handy......
http://www.casiotoughphones.com/gzone_rock.html

I won't give up my Motorola purple W755.......plus the keys are spaced just right and I can feel them a little, so I get enough tactile feedback to know when I push one.

[vt_maverick]

Dave went with the G'zOne by casio....just a good ole' flip phone, but way tougher...it's mil spec in most areas. Screen has really big numbers...some here will know why that's handy......
http://www.casiotoughphones.com/gzone_rock.html

That's exactly the same phone that I have! Or at least the one I used to have before Sonya started using it as her phone (work provides me with unlimited usage BB). We're considering upgrading it to a Casio G'zOne Brigade (flip out full keyboard, better for texting) in April.