Faulty Galaxy Zflip3 warranty

I bought a Samsung Galaxy Zflip3 in June and absolutely loved the phone until around November when the screen protector started peeling off from the crease. After visiting a Samsung store I was told that the screen protector can be removed as it will end up damaging the screen where it had peeled off and dirt had collected underneath. I made 100% sure that this would not affect the warranty and I was assured that it wouldn't. When I got home, I looked through the warranty booklet as well as searched online and I found that numerous people had said that it does not affect the warranty worldwide. So, as per the advice given by the store and online, I carefully removed the screen protector. The screen looks amazing and still does.

Fast forward to the end of December and all of a sudden the phone turns off every time I close it. If it is charging, I can close it and open it without it turning off but as soon as the charger is removed the phone turns off and it gets warm. So, in the beginning of January, I decided to take it to a Samsung service centre where they accept the phone, acknowledge that this has happened to a quite few of these in the past and that the phone will be repaired in warranty. When I arrive home, my wife tells me that the Samsung service centre had called and asked me to fetch my phone as it is now out of warranty. 6 months down the line on a 2 year warranty product. I immediately called back and was told that because I removed the screen protector, the warranty had been voided.

After a few emails back and forth I was turned away with no options to repair and left with a phone that is in perfect condition besides the internal manufacturing defect, that renders the phone useless if it is used as it is intended.

In my mind, this is a big corporate bullying the consumer into accepting a technicality as opposed to helping them enjoy their products.

After using Samsung phones exclusively for over a decade, as well as Samsung TVs, buds, monitors, tablets and smar****ches, I feel that this might be the last product I buy from them. Not based on the great products, but based on their unwillingness to help the consumer and the sour taste that they have left in my mouth.