Pixel 8 Green Line + Cracked Back Glass + US Variant = 2 Service Center Visits, ₹850 Lost, and Still No Solution
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TL;DR
Bought a US variant Pixel 8, currently using it in India.
Got the green line issue after 6–7 months.
First service visit: Repair denied because my back glass was cracked (my fault) and they don't allow partial repairs.
Couldn't afford the back glass replacement then, so I continued using it.
Went back almost a year later before the 3-year Extended Repair Program expires.
Paid ₹850 non-refundable inspection fee.
After an hour, they told me they can't repair the US variant because the back glass dimensions don't match the parts available in India.
Lost ₹850 and 3–4 hours just to be told "No."
I just wanted to share my experience with Google's service in India. This isn't meant to hate on Pixel phones—I actually like the phone—but the service experience has been extremely disappointing.
Timeline
I bought a Pixel 8 (US variant) and currently live in India.
After around 6–7 months, the well-known green line issue appeared on the display.
At that time, I wasn't aware of Google's Extended Repair Program, so I continued using the phone for about another month.
Once I learned that the display replacement was covered, I visited the Google F1 Service Center at 1MG Mall, Bangalore.
First Service Center Visit
Unfortunately, one day before my visit, I accidentally dropped the phone.
The back glass cracked at the bottom-right corner. I fully admit this was my fault.
Since the damage was only on the back, I assumed they could at least replace the display for the green line issue.
During inspection, I was told that partial repairs are not allowed.
They said I had to first pay to replace the back glass before they could replace the display.
I argued because the issues were unrelated, but they refused.
I even called Google Customer Care while I was there, and they confirmed the same policy: no partial repairs.
At that time I was a student and couldn't justify spending around ₹10,000 just to become eligible for the display replacement.
So I had no option but to continue using the phone.
Fast Forward Almost a Year...
The 3-year Extended Repair Program is nearing its end, so I decided to give it one last try.
Today I visited the service center again.
They verified everything—IMEI, dents, damages, etc.
Then informed me that if the repair was rejected, I'd lose the ₹850 inspection fee, which is non-refundable.
I was confident everything would finally get sorted out, so I agreed.
After Waiting Nearly an Hour...
They asked me where I bought the phone.
I told them it was a US variant.
Then they informed me that the back glass dimensions for the US model don't match the parts they have in India, so they cannot repair it here.
Therefore, my repair request would be rejected.
At that point, I was honestly speechless.
My biggest question is:
Why wasn't this checked before taking ₹850 from me?
If the service center already knows they can't repair a US variant because compatible parts aren't available, why make me go through the entire inspection, wait for an hour, charge me ₹850, and only then tell me "No"?
I argued with them because this feels like something they should have clarified upfront.
Instead, I walked away with:
₹850 lost in inspection charges.
Around 3–4 hours of my time wasted.
The exact same broken phone.
At the end, the representative apologized and suggested I raise a request through support.google.com. She said they might be able to arrange a pickup and send the phone to Noida or provide another solution.
But honestly... after two disappointing experiences, that's not exactly reassuring.
I still like the Pixel lineup, and this was my first Google phone. But the after-sales service experience has been frustrating from start to finish.
Has anyone else with a US Pixel in India faced something similar?
Were you able to get it resolved through Google Support?
If Google doesn't help, should I get the display replaced at a trusted local repair shop, or is there a better option that I'm missing?
P.S. I used ChatGPT to help organize and format this post so the timeline is easier to follow, but the experience itself is 100% my own.