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Apple thinks Bendgate isn’t really a thing, but its customers disagree

Don't worry, the problem is you

 

Eric Geller

Tech

Posted on Sep 25, 2014   Updated on May 30, 2021, 12:47 pm CDT

The iPhone 6 bending controversy known as “Bendgate” incited the Internet earlier this week, but apparently Apple hasn’t heard from many customers who were actually afflicted by the problem.

CNBC’s technology editor Jon Fortt reported today that Apple has only heard from a grand total of nine people complaining about the issue.

ALERT: Apple says only 9 customers have complained to the company about bent iPhones. (via @jonfortt)

— CNBC Tech (@CNBCtech) September 25, 2014

And Apple attempted to reinforce this framing of the situation by calling the problem “extremely rare”:

Apple: bent iPhones are “extremely rare”. In six days “a total of nine customers have contacted Apple with a bent iPhone 6 Plus”. #bendghazi

— Tim Bradshaw (@tim) September 25, 2014

Strange! Considering how many complaints can be found using a quick Twitter search, Apple is either knowingly downplaying the problem or woefully inept at gathering data on it. Perhaps Apple meant nine people who were actually able to get through its support system, because the Internet found a few more.

My iPhone 6 plus is hella bent 😒

— T (@TRawww_24) September 25, 2014

So my iPhone 6 is kinda bent now hmmm

— Amir Fallah (@itsfallah) September 25, 2014

My mates iphone 6 is bent 😅

— E4AMX™ (@E4AMX) September 25, 2014

Just realized my iPhone is bent LOLOL

— ☪Karma (@Jaquie_Nicole) September 25, 2014

My iphone is now bent since it has been in my back pocket. #BENDGATE #iguessmysquatsareworking

— AshesO (@ashannorquera) September 25, 2014

My coworker mad cuz her IPhone 6 is bent 😂😂

— Silver ™ (@Damn_Silver) September 25, 2014

My friend IPhone 6 bent in his pocket …… and it is an awful buy!!!!! #DONT

— Kewchi Killah (@WellzfargoBoi) September 25, 2014

prrrrretty sure my iPhone 6 is bent ever so slightly.

— Taylor White (@tayIorawhite) September 25, 2014

My bosses iPhone 6+ is bent already

— C.j. (@CjWOgden) September 24, 2014

Convinced my iPhone 6plus is slightly bent :( #BendGate

— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyChi) September 24, 2014

Yeah. My iPhone 6 is bent

— Black Eric Foreman (@TifeTheBawse) September 25, 2014

My iPhone 6 is bent 😭 @pathangyu

— Mayur Patel (@mayur4417) September 24, 2014

That’s only 12. You’re welcome, Apple. But at the end of the day, this is the real problem for the company vis-a-vis “Bendghazi”:

Apple PR: having “only a handful of complaints” puts you in a defensive position. Stop focusing on the way you look. Start addressing issue.

— @Margarita Noriega (@margarita) September 25, 2014

Photo via William Hook/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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*First Published: Sep 25, 2014, 3:36 pm CDT