Can I return iPhone 5 and reactivate our iPhone 4?

speekez · Nov 25, 2012, 10:29 AM

Hi All

I bought 2 iphone 5s this past weekend as eligible upgrades to our 2 iphone4s. Both have issues with screen interlacing (giving you the impression you can see pixels). Rather than playing the phone lotto right now, I should be able to return these for a complete refun and reactivate our Iphone4s correct? I think I'd rather wait until after the holidays to try again. If I reactivate our iphone 4s I don't have to wait another 2 years to upgrade correct?

Lastly, do I have to make an appointment to do an exchange or return? Am I allowed to just show up at the store and if they have time they can help me?

thanks!

braddick · Nov 25, 2012, 10:33 AM

Unless someone more knowledgeable than me comes along, I'd answer, "yes" to each of the questions you pose.

Jordan921 · Nov 25, 2012, 11:18 AM

Yes you should get a complete refund and the upgrades should go back onto your account.

Zman5225 · Nov 25, 2012, 11:24 AM

I did this exact same thing.you can just show up and get a refund. You'll need to go to an AT&T store to get your old phones back online because they will need to add the imei back to your acct but it doesn't take long at all. Make sure you get your activation fees refunded by calling in and politely asking.

miragebg · Nov 25, 2012, 11:27 AM

This was my nightmare since iP4 with screen interlacing and I am so happy I have perfectly stable image on my 4S now. Another reason to stay on it for another year and I am glad I bought AppleCare two days ago..

speekez · Nov 25, 2012, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zman5225

I did this exact same thing.you can just show up and get a refund. You'll need to go to an AT&T store to get your old phones back online because they will need to add the imei back to your acct but it doesn't take long at all. Make sure you get your activation fees refunded by calling in and politely asking.

Thanks. I know I was charged an activation fee on the new phones. My plan was to make sure the phones worked and then contact ATT as you described and get fees refunded. If I return iphone5 to go back to 4, will the $36 activation be refunded and then charged the $36 again to reactivate the 4?

With folks that have exchanged their phone 3 -4 times, are they charged an activation fee each time or is that different because it is an exchange?

thanks

Jordan921 · Nov 25, 2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speekez

Thanks. I know I was charged an activation fee on the new phones. My plan was to make sure the phones worked and then contact ATT as you described and get fees refunded. If I return iphone5 to go back to 4, will the $36 activation be refunded and then charged the $36 again to reactivate the 4?

With folks that have exchanged their phone 3 -4 times, are they charged an activation fee each time or is that different because it is an exchange?

thanks

You won't get charged to activate your 4 back on the account. Just need to ask them for a micro sim and you can use the phone again on your account.

You only get charged the fee once when you upgrade or activate a new phone.

Zman5225 · Nov 25, 2012, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordan921

You won't get charged to activate your 4 back on the account. Just need to ask them for a micro sim and you can use the phone again on your account.

You only get charged the fee once when you upgrade or activate a new phone.

Sorry, I should have specified that, I was referring to the new iphone 5 activation, not the reactivation of his old phone.

speekez · Nov 25, 2012, 01:05 PM

Thanks. I'm going to visit another local store to check out their display units. If I can find a floor sample that doesn't exhibit the problem, I can show a genius for comparison. Interlacing is a faint but present effect and I hear some Geniuses don't see it (or are told to ignore it).

Then again we are going to New Hampshire for Christmas. No tax there and could save $100 on both phones combined since tax is charged on full price of phone. Maybe by then, more of the units with Sharp manufactured displays will be available. I heard interlacing isn't a problem with them

1080p · Nov 25, 2012, 01:10 PM

I am glad I don't suffer from the same amount of OCD the OP has to deal with.

speekez · Nov 25, 2012, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1080p

I am glad I don't suffer from the same amount of OCD the OP has to deal with.

Lol. Yah. Be thankful you have mediocre eyes or got a decent display, bud.

miragebg · Nov 25, 2012, 04:58 PM

Like it^

F123D · Nov 25, 2012, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zman5225

I did this exact same thing.you can just show up and get a refund. You'll need to go to an AT&T store to get your old phones back online because they will need to add the imei back to your acct but it doesn't take long at all. Make sure you get your activation fees refunded by calling in and politely asking.

I did the exact same thing. Each store took 5 minutes. In and out, no questions asked.

speekez · Nov 26, 2012, 01:40 AM

Went to a different Apple store tonight. Located a display model that did not have the problem of interlacing our phones did. Store employee could see the problem. Both new phones no longer have the interlacing. New phones have a different serial prefix than the one that had issue. Problem solved.

alphaod · Nov 26, 2012, 02:20 AM

That screen issue sounds like the thing they fixed with the release of iOS 6.0.1; I had that issue and it was fixed with an update.

speekez · Nov 26, 2012, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphaod

That screen issue sounds like the thing they fixed with the release of iOS 6.0.1; I had that issue and it was fixed with an update.

Actually, I had 6.0.1 on both phones and the issue was there. It's actually a known hardware issue on certain brands of display Apple uses in the Iphone5.

More can be read here

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1471037

It's a subtle, but noticeable effect if your eye is keen to that sort of stuff.

New phones are great, no problem

Nov 25, 2012, 10:29 AM	#1
speekez macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2003	Can I return iPhone 5 and reactivate our iPhone 4? Hi All I bought 2 iphone 5s this past weekend as eligible upgrades to our 2 iphone4s. Both have issues with screen interlacing (giving you the impression you can see pixels). Rather than playing the phone lotto right now, I should be able to return these for a complete refun and reactivate our Iphone4s correct? I think I'd rather wait until after the holidays to try again. If I reactivate our iphone 4s I don't have to wait another 2 years to upgrade correct? Lastly, do I have to make an appointment to do an exchange or return? Am I allowed to just show up at the store and if they have time they can help me? thanks!
	0

Nov 25, 2012, 11:24 AM	#4
Zman5225 macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tacoma WA	I did this exact same thing.you can just show up and get a refund. You'll need to go to an AT&T store to get your old phones back online because they will need to add the imei back to your acct but it doesn't take long at all. Make sure you get your activation fees refunded by calling in and politely asking. __________________ switcher since Jul 05
	0

Nov 25, 2012, 01:10 PM	#10
1080p macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Planet Earth	I am glad I don't suffer from the same amount of OCD the OP has to deal with. __________________ 21.5" iMac (2011) \| Hackintosh HTPC with Intel C2Q 8400, Nvidia 7900GS \| Synology NAS \| iPhone 5 White 32GB (AT&T)
	0

Nov 26, 2012, 02:20 AM	#15
alphaod macrumors P6 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NYC	That screen issue sounds like the thing they fixed with the release of iOS 6.0.1; I had that issue and it was fixed with an update. __________________ Mac Pro \| 27" iMac \| 15" MacBook Pro with Retina display \| iPhone 5 \| iPad 3 \| iPad mini
	0

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Nov 25, 2012, 10:33 AM	#2
braddick Contributor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Encinitas, CA	Unless someone more knowledgeable than me comes along, I'd answer, "yes" to each of the questions you pose.
	0

Nov 25, 2012, 11:18 AM	#3
Jordan921 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bay Area	Yes you should get a complete refund and the upgrades should go back onto your account.
	0

Nov 25, 2012, 11:27 AM	#5
miragebg macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2009	This was my nightmare since iP4 with screen interlacing and I am so happy I have perfectly stable image on my 4S now. Another reason to stay on it for another year and I am glad I bought AppleCare two days ago..
	0

Nov 25, 2012, 01:05 PM	#9
speekez Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2003	Thanks. I'm going to visit another local store to check out their display units. If I can find a floor sample that doesn't exhibit the problem, I can show a genius for comparison. Interlacing is a faint but present effect and I hear some Geniuses don't see it (or are told to ignore it). Then again we are going to New Hampshire for Christmas. No tax there and could save $100 on both phones combined since tax is charged on full price of phone. Maybe by then, more of the units with Sharp manufactured displays will be available. I heard interlacing isn't a problem with them
	0

Nov 25, 2012, 04:58 PM	#12
miragebg macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2009	Like it^
	0

Nov 26, 2012, 01:40 AM	#14
speekez Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2003	Went to a different Apple store tonight. Located a display model that did not have the problem of interlacing our phones did. Store employee could see the problem. Both new phones no longer have the interlacing. New phones have a different serial prefix than the one that had issue. Problem solved.
	1