This has been my experience with every non-iPhone I've ever used. In the rare event that an iPhone has issues (2% failure rate on a product is a super low from a mfg. standpoint), the store will help repair/replace it.
Johnny-
If 2% is acceptable, what do you manufacture? That's kind of scary. Really.
It's *not* super low from a large-scale manufacturing standpoint. It's about where factories were 100 years ago. Current RORs for durable goods are less than 1%. Anything higher than that and you should be out of business. Period. That's SCM/Manufacturing 101.
I'm starting a small business, and have hand-built prototypes (From a fab shop in Canada). Hand soldered. Hand joined. And have around a 1% failure rate. Automated/Mass production makes that far smaller.
Enterprise or commercial electronics is in the sub-1%. Acceptable is less than .5%.
Samsung aims for and delivers >.05% OOB-failure. Within a year, they trend sub .5% for failure rates due to manufacturer defect.
All I'll say on the topic is the largest phone manufacturer is Samsung, globally. With nearly 32% of the market. In the US, it's Samsung, with about 28% of the market. Apple is in second with around 14%; LG around 12%. Apple's volumetric return rates (not percentage) are nearly triple Sammy's for damaged and failed goods.
We sold nearly almost twice as many Samsung Galaxy S3s in '12 as we've sold all flavors of iPhones (4S and 5), and have about a third as many returned. Either for failure or dissatisfaction. To the point that if you have a warranty claim on one, we *don't have* refurbs to give as replacements; we have to give new stock. We have nearly a 7-month supply of 4Ss, and a 3-month supply of 5s (Think about that, versus how long they've been on the market.)
Off my soapbox, I'll put this in perspective. Pantech. The SeaClone of the Cell-Phone world fails nearly half as often as Apple products OOB. (~1%)
The biggest gripe I have with iPhone durability is glass for outward facing panes. It's beautiful, but insanely fragile compared to the competitors. Look at how many people you know with broken iPhone screens. Seriously. It's spawned an entire cottage industry it's so rampant.
If you buy something; how durable does it need to be? Shock proof? Waterproof? Or just scratch/abrasion/normal life resistant?
If it's gotta be *really* durable, go with a kevlar-cased Motorola. You *Can't* scratch it, unless it's a diamond abrasion tool. Or, at least look for Gorilla Glass; it's really tough to scratch/chip/crack.
My money? An SGS3 or a Razr HD Maxx. The Maxx is tougher (Kevlar); best radio on the market (I have empirical evidence, btw, not just an opinion); the SGS3 is a better toy. I carry whatever they let me test-mule, or whatever I ask for. Right now it's a Motorola test box; but I've used about everything out there.
On a lighter note, Johnny... I grew up in Catasauqua. Family is from (And many still reside in) Bethlehem. I fled the 'Valley in '86.... Still fly into ABE (Greater LV Int'l, now) quite a bit to visit; it's convenient for GA right off Race St.
Sorry for the rant; I really *don't* have a side. I see benefits to both platforms. I just think that recently Apple's been providing a poorer quality product wrapped in the marketing and pricepoint for a premium device. And it's showing in their market share.
Fletch nailed it. Take her in. Let her touch 'em. Whatever she likes; buy it.
Happy Wife=Happy Life.
-Andy
