Considering an alloy that is consistent color through out isn't that expensive kind of makes me think Motorola cut some corners to save some money if this is the case.

Kinda sad.

 

Did you think it was real gold? Tryin' to match the grill you your Cadillac ya' big playa'!

 

Pretty sure they're chromed plastic and not solid metal.

 

my gold coating just started cracking off today. Half the button is now gold and half white.

 

Thats really lousy. I wish they could have used some cheap brass button or something.

I'm starting to wonder if they just used a paint which didn't have a protection against oils and such, and if I should maybe consider grabbing some clear model paint to use as a seal over the button to protect it.

One thing that always gets me though is when they do these painted plastic accents like this, why the base plastic which gets coated is never a color that matches the rest of the design. If they'd used a black plastic and put the gold paint on it then at least you could chip off the rest of the paint and have it match.

 

Exactly! Brass is like, the universal cheap metal. How much could it cost them to make the buttons solid metal? This has me wondering if the other gold-accented things (ex: The middle button on the 5-way rocker) are going to start doing this too.

 

Yeah, the gold paint started peeling within the first 3 weeks, and now the button is almost entirely white plastic, with a little gold on the edges just to let everyone know that it's actually peeling, and not intentionally white...

It's really odd how such a simple, high-visibility cosmetic defect can get through testing and make it to the market. It's not like I have super sweaty hands or anything... my pinky is on that button often to turn the screen on when it goes to sleep. That's all. That paint should have lasted 3 years. I can get paint at any hardware store that will outperform whatever Motorola smeared on that button. I hope they're embarrassed.

 

Mine is still fine after a month, though I don't use the camera all that much.

 

I'm very disappointed that mine is doing the same thing and i've had it for maybe two weeks and i've taken great care of it.. im kind of thinking of swapping it just for the hell of it since they are stupid for making it that cheap.

 

Wow, that's crappy news! Here I was feeling so confident about the build quality on this thing. I mean, it's certainly one of the more solid phones I've had.

 

Gold button is holding up okay after about a month and a half of owning this 2nd droid. Although the paint on the bezel is showing some wear. I always have it in either a holster or a leather case...never carry it in my pocket but it seems like I have little dings on the inside of the bezel and up at the top right it looks like the paint is actually wearing or was scratched off. I feel a completely silver bezel is going to be the in thing with these droids in a year, heh.

 

What is a bezel?

And this is very infuriating, all this crap about the gold paint! I don't really use my camera button at all, but still. I'm looking at it right now and it still looks shiny, but I've only had it about 3 weeks. This sucks!

Someone mentioned a clear model paint sealer. Will that work? Or will it make it look all glossy and plasticky?

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for touchup black paint for the droids bezel? Besides these cosmetic issues I'm pretty happy with the phone. I had my doubts about purchasing another Moto phone...bleh.


**Bezel is the metal rim around the screen.

 

ditto for mines...lol.... I wanna get a silicon case just to cover up that ugliness !!!

 

i am no expert but maybe metal there would mess with the radio reception. Personally not having issues but mine is getting part time duty

 

Wow i didnt even notice this untill you had said something, mines half worn and i use my camera seldom..

 

my button is fine.. had it since beginning of Nov.

 

My button looks like it has a clear plastic over it. I would have never noticed till I seen this thread.

 

I had a droid where the button started wearing...I had to replace that one because of hardware issues (mic died on me) and the first thing I did was coat the button in clear nail polish.

Re: the bezel, if the bezel is made out of aluminum, try Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black metal finish. Or black nail polish if that stuff doesn't work

 

I ordered a few cases but I'm not too confident that they'll actually work the way I want them too, plus I have the dock and I'm almost certain the droid won't fit in the dock with a case on it.

Ahh yes...the only clear solution here is for the doctor to up the dosage on my OCD medication

 

Mine is fine, got the phone the day it came out

 

People, it just like anything else. If you use it, IT WILL SHOW SIGNS OF USE.

If you want to keep your phone nice and shiny, put it back in the box and never open it.

You will drop it, scratch it, break it, then replace it with the new thing. I love my droid...my button is fine, but I never use the camera either.

That is all...