I bought a Nokia 8310 after having quite some satisfaction owning the products in the past. This phone however, is the last Nokia I will ever own. The quality of the phones Nokia produces seems to have taken a dive. They used to be made in Finland, but obviously the attraction of extra margins has driven their operation to Asia. My first two Nokias made in Finland were of exceptional durability, and outlasted their required spans. The ’’throwaway mentality’’ of mobile phone manufacturers has really started to approach too close to brand-new for my liking.
The phone has several issues with which I am unhappy. Firstly, the ring tone when set to ’’ringing’’ ascends. This wouldn’t be a problem if the phone had a ring like a 3310, or the like, but my Ericsson T28 is louder than this phone (I thought the T28 was quiet). So, the phone rings 3 times before I can even hear it over most noise levels encountered.
The covers have the now familiar (almost trademark) sloppy fit, and security that friends of mine with 3310s also complain about. More specifically, what happens is that the cover will move with respect to the phone, without intentionally doing so. This means that you need an aftermarket cover (which will fit better, without slop) as soon as you buy your phone. Remember, this is a brand new product - if you bought a pair of shoes, and the heel wobbled on them, this would be unacceptable, right? Not so with a Nokia telephone.
The phone has a really bad SIM card mechanism. There is a badly designed and very flimsy trap door which you have to gently wriggle to change your card. Forget the fact that once you get the sloppy covers off, you will probably need a tool (or inch long fingernails) to remove the battery.
The phone has an annoying rattle in it, which I originally thought was the trapdoor, but now just wonder whether it is a part come loose - (no, I didn’t drop it, nor mistreat it).
’’Customer service’’ - guess what? If you don’t guess what the fault is with your new Nokia in 2 weeks, then you’re stuffed. That’s fourteen days, my friend. Most people won’t even begin to learn how to use half the functions on ANY telephone in 14 days, let alone work out exactly what the phone can, or won’t do. You will then need to send it to a ’’authorised Nokia repair center’’ (must be busy guys over there), and be without your new telephone for, [well - that’s up to them to decide] weeks. Hmmm, repair centre seems to be a euphamism for ’’30 days is way too much of a guarantee for our products’’. Since practically every other manufacturer offers a 30 day (or more) exchange policy (and rightly so) on the odd dud product they may make, it would seem Nokia is experienced with the likelihood of problems with their 8310s... Ericsson stands by its products with a 30 day exchange policy, no questions asked. I once had a Philips genie which, after 6 MONTHS developed a slight crack in the case from unknown origin, or reason. I called Philips, and after 5 minutes on the telephone, they SENT me a brand new replacement by courier.
My latest problem is that the thing turns itself off - totally at random, either in my pocket, or not. The ’’service center’s’’ extent of effectiveness is limited to wiping contacts, and upgrading software. If your phone is REALLY a dud, like mine, and many others, it’ll have to go to a ’’2nd tier’’ technician. Thanks, Nokia - now this phone has officially cost me more than it is worth (and that’s valuing my time at AFTER tax). So, next time it turns itself off, I’m running over it several times (for frustration relief), and mailing it to you. Expect a package in the next couple of weeks, and a summons.