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Well, it doesn't really answer the question... but yeah, I guess. My Dad's doesn't have any scratches and he hasn't kept his as carefully as me - I think I'll go to the Apple Store and ask for a replacement. *crosses fingers*

Sorry, I wanted to keep the thread going so more people would see it and answer but I didn't have this issue, sooo i figured I'd ask this.

And good luck.

Haha thanks then. :)

That is pretty hopeful!

I would buy a case and a screen protecter if it is that big of a deal for you.

Haha, that's interesting! It would certainly explain why my iPod touch didn't get a scratch for a while (no oleophobic coating).

I was thinking the same thing. When I got my 3GS, the screen had got scratched, I used only a back cover and no protective film on the screen. I had to exchange the 3GS for another better one and I have bought a case that included the protective film in the box and so far I've used my phone only with the case and film on. The film is obviously scratched because it's plastic but I believe that the screen underneath is okay. I will see when the film gets too bad and I buy a new one to replace it. It has got to be the coating, because the 3G and the iPod touch did not do that....

Yeah, I'm going to definitely buy a case and screen protector now. Wait, when you say that you had to exchange the 3GS for a better one - did Apple replace it for free or did you have to pay to replace it?

Basically my phone had a weird LCD that would do some crazy stuff when plugged in to charge, and the home button was hard to press. I demanded a new boxed one because it was just over 30 days of use and because the phone cost me so much. I did not want the ones they give at the Genius bar because those are refurbs and I don't want a phone that came from someone else. They did not want to give me. I asked to talk to the manager, so he came and tried to talking me out of it but I said that if he did not give me another brand new, boxed phone due to the issues, the time I've used and the expensive cost, I'd complain to the trading standards agency, he said that he would only give a new one to me because I bought a phone on pay-as-you-go (I am in the UK), and that phone was not subsidised, but in the end I got a new unit, not a refurb one. It was the same capacity as the previous defective unit.

That's great, man! I know zagg is having a sale. They'll send you a coupon code if you enter their iPad contest.

That's a good point, I'll see what Apple does about it tomorrow. Some people have had luck with getting replacements.

If anyone is going to take it in... go with an actual Apple store. AT&T has poor customer service, at least in my area specifically. I'd rather travel ~30 miles to the Los Gatos Apple store, than up the street to our AT&T store. *shrugs*

Good idea. Definitely go to an Apple store.

Cool, okay, I've made a reservation at the Valley Fair Apple Store genius bar for tomorrow morning, I'll post the results here.

Yeah, Apple's customer service I've found to be pretty good in the past - I'm just questionable about this since they consider scratches customer damage, but some other people have gotten lucky so I'll see how it works out.

It would be an amazing feat if you got your phone replaced due to Scratches, but not impossible. IT is the oleophobic coating, the same thing that makes your fingers glide so lusciously on the screen will annoy you in the end. I wasn't careful with my iPad and have suffered the same fate as you. It looks like a rainbow streak across the screen, and I don't remember how it happened. I have been absolutely religious about the iPhone to prevent this, and have thus far.
I won't settle for a screen protector, it almost feels sacrilegious. It's just too nice. Ita like sex with/without a rubber, both positives and negatives about it,

Well, I did get it replaced.