2. Apple's iPhone 4 'Antennagate'
If the scandal over the lost-and-found iPhone 4 prototype didn't generate enough controversy, Apple's response to customers' complaints about antenna problems definitely did. When customers began reporting dropped calls while holding the iPhone 4 a certain way, Apple's response was akin to a giant corporate yawn. Apple initially told people to avoid holding their devices that way, then advised them to buy a bumper case.
Later, it emerged that Apple was aware of the design issue with the iPhone 4 antenna prior to launching the product, and customers didn't like that much. Eventually, iPhone 4 'Antennagate' blew up to the point where Apple gave in and offered customers free bumper cases.
But despite the hubbub, the iPhone 4 is still selling like hotcakes and Apple doesn't appear to have incurred any long-lasting damage to its customer relationships.
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