Refurbished iPhone 5 yay or nay?

[JayLenochiniMac]

Originally Posted by Breaking Good

This has me wondering.

Is it Apple doing the refurbishment, or someone else?

I've had good luck with Apple refurbished products as I type this from my eleven month old refurbished iPad 2. I don't know if I would trust an Apple product refurbished by someone else.

at&t had a disclaimer that at&t's refurbished iPhone 4/4S are returned iPhones, meaning they're not actually remanufactured to Apple's refurbished standards. The same is likely true of the iPhone 5.

[joec1101]

I've always had good luck with refurb stuff from Apple.

I would try to buy directly from an Apple Store, as they have better customer service than any of the cell companies offer.

Even if you get a defective refurb, Apple isn't going to give you any trouble about exchanging it. By contrast, the cell companies don't like to do exchanges and typically refer you to Apple, so why not just bypass them altogether and go directly to Apple?

[tcphoto]

My iPhone3G was a refurb from AT&T and it was perfect. I sold it on eBay for $175 when it was time to upgrade to the 4S. I would not hesitate buying another refurbished phone.

[greenchiliman]

Buy direct from apple refurb, if ou don't like it return it and get a factory new version

[AppleTech22]

I've gone through many refurbished iPads and macs and none have, or currently have problems. Great opportunity not enough people take advantage of

[Applejuiced]

I would feel fine picking up an Apple refurbished product.
From other companies I wouldnt feel that confident.

[MattMJB0188]

Originally Posted by Applejuiced

Yes, sounds like you are way too OCD.
You will notice and act like its a huge deal tiny things that others wont even bother looking at.
Light leaks in the dark? Who cares?
Rattling power button etc..
The phone does have a year warranty so if any of those tiny imperfections become a real problem down the road and the phone doesnt function as it should you can get it replaced.
But some people you cant make happy no matter what. They will go through 100 phones and find them all "defective".

One has to be very OCD when they are paying $600-800 for a device. I am glad I was because it got me a perfect phone in the end.

Don't settle for anything less than perfect. Apple is one the world's wealthiest companies and if they can't get the iPhone 5, keep exchanging it.

[BRyken]

If I could go back I would buy refurbished. The quality is the same just cheaper.

[Applejuiced]

Originally Posted by MattMJB0188

One has to be very OCD when they are paying $600-800 for a device. I am glad I was because it got me a perfect phone in the end.

Don't settle for anything less than perfect. Apple is one the world's wealthiest companies and if they can't get the iPhone 5, keep exchanging it.

I don't know bro.
I don't let little things like that bother me that much.
It's just another cellphone that most likely I will replace within a year.
Tiny knicks, light leaks or stuff like that are petty. There's more important things to worry about.

[dennisjr631]

I'm not worrying about getting a perfect device anymore. I spent almost $1000 for my 64gb iphone 5 with apple care. The phone was perfect when I received it. Almost 2 months later my power button on top only works half the time. So I'm going to have to get a refurbished device. Really blows !!!!

[SavMBP15]

These are not Apple refurbished phones, but phones that AT&T cleaned up.

[JayLenochiniMac]

Originally Posted by SavMBP15

These are not Apple refurbished phones, but phones that AT&T cleaned up.

Exactly, and people have reported finding scratches on at&t refurbished 4 and 4S so it's basically a Russian roulette (not that it's any different from factory predamaged brand new iPhone 5 ).

[Jungle Jack]

Originally Posted by dennisjr631

I'm not worrying about getting a perfect device anymore. I spent almost $1000 for my 64gb iphone 5 with apple care. The phone was perfect when I received it. Almost 2 months later my power button on top only works half the time. So I'm going to have to get a refurbished device. Really blows !!!!

Hello,
I just got my 64gb iP5 replaced yesterday at the Apple Store at International Plaza in Tampa, Florida. The Genius said that refurbs are now starting to trickle in, but it seems the 32 and especially the 64gb models are still brand new phones that were allocated for service models.

The one I got yesterday is a Week 38 Build from the DN Plant after looking it up on Chipmunk. I am pretty sure you ended up not getting a refurb. If it was a 16gb, that would be a different story.
Cheers,
JJ

[jessica.]

Considering the amount of phones exchanged for next to no reason, I would do refurb in a heartbeat.

[sulpfiction]

Originally Posted by MattMJB0188

I'm sorry but your are 100% wrong. I went through at least 5 iPhone 4S refurbs before I said this isn't worth my time anymore.

All had obvious cosmetic issues such has loose rattling sleep wake buttons, light leakage, loose home buttons, one even arrived with dust in the camera lens. I'm very OCD about my phones, but when paying as much as Apple charges, one has to be.

DO NOT believe Apple when they say, "they thoroughly examine these, and they're just as good as new, if not better."

My experience has been the exact opposite of the above.

[Brian Y]

Originally Posted by sulpfiction

My experience has been the exact opposite of the above.

AT&T's refurb will just be a returned iPhone however it comes. But, Apple will of course replace it with one of their refurbs if there's a problem.

All of Apple's refurbs have a new outer casing, new battery and tbh, probably go through higher levels of QC than retail phones - therefore I'd have no problems having one.