My Iphone 5 and apple store experience

Question

On the 13th of Jan I visited the Apple Store in Covent Garden. I would say it is perhaps the worst customer experience I have ever had. It has damaged my view of the apple brand as a whole.
My Iphone 5 was no longer turning on when charging. It would load the apple logo and shut down. it was unusable. 
This was my second Iphone 5 after the first had been replaced in September - that phone was turning itself off randomly, constantly crashing and the screen was going blank and freezing in that position rendering it unusable.
When I arrived at the store, I was told that it was a "software problem", there was nothing I or they could do, and that "I would have to buy another one".
Thre was no remorse or even a display of sympathy from any of the apple staff I dealt with. This phone was only 5 months only, and was only 10 days outside the original warranty of the original phone purchase on the 3-Jan-13. The idea that you can simply "buy another one", when we are talking about a £200 cost was said as if cost was no matter, and as though a software problem was solely my fault.
To have had to go through the inconvienice of replacing 2 Iphones within a year is a massive incovinence. There is no Apple store near where I work and it is therefore not a simple task to book an appointment at the apple store. What is worse is having to pay £200 to replace a faulty phone that it itself in now 5 months old.
I do not view this as acceptable.
What is more, the manager of the store acted particularly rudely. He discussed well within earshot about "why I was taking so long?". He then interjected and repeated that I would "need a new one", continued to discuss with the staff member who was currently helping me that she could leave as her shift was over, and that he would "sort me out" while I overheard him criticising me for being "awkward" because the person who was service me was supposed to have finished her shift.
I did buy another Iphone. I want a smartphone and enjoy the connectivity that the Iphone has with my other apple products. The manager however disappeared as his conversation had finished, leaving me to set up my own Iphone at the store. I walked across the store asking for some advice on open ended questions when setting up my Iphone, I was informed by him that I should "follow the instructions" and he walked off.
This experience has, on reflection, shattered my confidence in the apple brand. I always thought that one of the things you were paying for with apple was the customer support. This customer service appears to be extremely lacking. There was no thought that such a performance from an apple product was unacceptable. Just blind adherence to warranty guidlines coupled with rudeness. I am now left wondering how long my new phone will last. With an average lifespan of 6 months, I am left thinking i could well need to shell out a further £200 at some point in July.
In summary, I was left out of pocket, my view of the apple brand damaged, and insulted at the rudeness of your staff. I leave it with your customer service team to ponder this sitatuion described above and respond accordingly.

Answer 1

Hi mate. I had a very similar experience to you. I'm on my 3rd iphone 5. First one, the power button broke. Second screen was loose. And now this one does not get a phone signal. I did everything apple told me to. Anyway as I'm now over my year warranty, they weren't interested. I'm not letting it go though. If you want to join up in the email correspondence between me and Apple. I want to get as many people like you and me. Nothing to lose!
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