It’s called buyer’s remorse -- as anyone who has worked in retail can attest to, returns are just a fact of life, especially with most companies making it so easy to do. However, when the returns start creeping toward nearly half the amount of product you’re shipping, there may be a bigger problem.
TechCrunch is reporting that Android has a dirty little secret the website is all too happy to out. While Google’s Android continues to outpace sales of the iPhone each year, some of those devices aren’t quite getting the love and attention back home that Apple’s media darling is.
At the height of the iPhone 4 “Antennagate” non-scandal last year, Apple claimed the return rate of its iconic handset was 1.7 percent, which was considered high for them. So what are some of the manufacturers peddling Android handsets getting back? According to “a person familiar with handset sales for multiple manufacturers,” Android return rates may be between 30 and 40 percent.
“For us nerds, Android makes a lot of sense. It’s ostensibly open platform (but not really) that offers far more flexibility to the programmer, carrier, and, ideally, the user,” the report explains. “For the ‘average’ phone user, however, Android is a maze. Anecdotally, I’ve heard of multiple examples of folks who bought an Android phone in order to ‘Think Different’ and came away disappointed when faced with the glaring differences between Android and a friend’s iPhone or Blackberry.”
If true, the return rate might help explain the wide berth between Android and iOS when it comes to activations, with Google now claiming more than half a million Android devices activated each day. While that may be true, returns in the neighborhood of 30 to 40 percent would certainly chip away at the real truth behind those numbers.
We’re skeptical that the return rate is actually that high, although we’ve personally returned a couple of Android devices (one smartphone and one tablet) in our quest for the ideal one -- and have yet to return a single iPhone or iPad by comparison. What do you think, dear readers? Returned any Android devices lately…?
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
RU_Kiddingme
July 27, 2011 at 7:35am
I've had 3 different android phones, the first being the EVO and I took it back not even 2 weeks after I got it with 10 different problems and the following 2 android phones had at least 4-5 different problems the first 2 days. I have personally found that if you don't min things being glitchy and not working right then android is the one for you. All to often these phone companies just wanna get it out there, it doesn't matter to them it doesn't work right. People will still buy it. Really people are you kidding me!!!!
RU_Kiddingme
July 27, 2011 at 7:46am
Further more it's impossible to get htc, motorola etc to do anything about it if there is a problem. I have had 1 problem each with my 2 iPhones which I still have and I still use and enjoy very much. Apple took care of my problems quickly and they even did it the right way morally etc.
RU_Kiddingme
July 27, 2011 at 7:45am
Further more it's impossible to get htc, motorola etc to do anything about it if there is a problem. I have had 1 problem each with my 2 iPhones which I still have and I still use and enjoy very much. Apple took care of my problems quickly and they even did it the right way morally etc.
brandonwalkermedia
July 26, 2011 at 12:01pm
"While Google’s Android continues to outpace sales of the iPhone each year"
wheres the stats?
hans611
July 26, 2011 at 10:47am
I found this post so misleading and biased... it makes a bunch of un backed statements, really makes internet journalism remedial... i am a apple fan, but this is too much...
Now, on to your question, the only reason you haven't returned any apple products is because this is an apple fan site and you need them for work. Also, apple return rate is low, because one you chose apple, there really is one choice. Androids might be returned more, but certainly not 40%. They are however returned more because there is more product/model choices, and people like explore before they find the right one. I actually thing its smart to return, probably android users that return to buy another android are happier with that other choice, what makes you thing they return for apple products?
sportmac
July 26, 2011 at 11:43am
Did ya see the question mark in the title? That confuse you somehow?
How's about the "If true..."? Miss that too?Now, on to you. "the only reason"? based on what? you saying so? You have something to back that up? Anything? Anything at all?
"Certainly not 40%"? Again, based on....? You being able to type that out?
You really make internet posting remedial... really, too much.
jrstinkfish
July 26, 2011 at 12:32pm
What exactly is the 30-40% based on? It's not an official number, it's from an anonymous guy who says he's familiar with Android handset sales. If 40% of Android handsets were being returned, there would be no Android. I have no doubt that some people find Android confusing and return their phones for something simpler, but 40% is a silly number for this anonymous expert to toss out.
jrstinkfish
July 26, 2011 at 7:21am
"According to 'a person familiar with handset sales for multiple manufacturers,' Android return rates may be between 30 and 40 percent."
According to a person familiar with iPhone and iPad sales, iOS return rates may be between 30 and 40 percent. See how easy that is? So sad what passes for journalism these days (not you, the TechCrunch writer). Not saying that people don't return more Android handsets than iPhones, but the platform could not survive with a 40 percent return rate.
