I believe I have Apple's first refurbished iPhone 5

Maverick1337 · Sep 29, 2012, 08:02 PM

Just returned my iPhone 5 to Apple and the lady said I shouldn't get a refurb because it's so early. However, my launch day iPhone 5 serial number began with C39J and now this one is F2LJ. I'm kind of bummed I didn't get a new one but a refurb. Has anyone replaced their iPhone 5 and gotten a same/different serial as their previous?

Maclver · Sep 29, 2012, 08:04 PM

I don't think you got a refurb... Its was to early..

Maverick1337 · Sep 29, 2012, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maclver

I don't think you got a refurb... Its was to early..

Serial numbers are different and it came in a plain white replacement box. I would assume this indicates a refurb.

saccento · Sep 29, 2012, 08:09 PM

Not all brand new iPhone serial numbers start with C39J...

greytmom · Sep 29, 2012, 08:11 PM

Uh, my serial number for my launch day phone starts with DPNJ.

iPhisch · Sep 29, 2012, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greytmom

Uh, my serial number for my launch day phone starts with DPNJ.

Yep.

RocketMan76 · Sep 29, 2012, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick1337

Just returned my iPhone 5 to Apple and the lady said I shouldn't get a refurb because it's so early. However, my launch day iPhone 5 serial number began with C39J and now this one is F2LJ. I'm kind of bummed I didn't get a new one but a refurb. Has anyone replaced their iPhone 5 and gotten a same/different serial as their previous?

Why on earth does it matter, and how in the hell do you know what a refurbed serial number is vs. any other serial number?

gallianp · Sep 29, 2012, 08:18 PM

I think that it is a refurbished iPhone..

ProMod · Sep 29, 2012, 08:20 PM

My launch day phone's serial number begins with F2. You didn't get a refurb.

aristobrat · Sep 29, 2012, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick1337

Serial numbers are different and it came in a plain white replacement box. I would assume this indicates a refurb.

I got a replacement iPhone 5 on launch day (from the Genius Bar), and it came in a skinny white box.

Akash.B · Sep 29, 2012, 08:22 PM

You don't have a refurbished phone. Apple carries a separate stock of replacement phones in white boxes

Maverick1337 · Sep 29, 2012, 08:25 PM

You guys are making me feel a lot better now. I don't know why I was a little bummed, I shouldn't care but maybe it isn't a refurb after all.

ITS ME DAVID · Sep 29, 2012, 08:34 PM

It's a refurb.

BigRingIt · Sep 29, 2012, 08:38 PM

Mine is F2LJ and it was ordered at 12am on the 14th and received on the 21st.

Reason they give you a phone in a white box because they aren't giving you the headphone and cables again. You are suppose to continue to use the original set you got from your original phone.

doc shivers · Sep 29, 2012, 08:41 PM

who gives a ****? if it was a refurb it probably just needed a replacement anodized aluminum back or antenna from one of the idiots who went through 6 phones to find a flawless one.

darngooddesign · Sep 29, 2012, 08:44 PM

I think you are wrong. Its too early for refurbs.

7DSniper · Sep 29, 2012, 08:44 PM

It's not a refurb, it's to early for refurbs. Apple has shipped the store replacement phones. It is more cost efficient for you to keep all of your accessories and they just give you a new phone. No need to worry it is a brand new phone.

JayLenochiniMac · Sep 29, 2012, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick1337

Serial numbers are different and it came in a plain white replacement box. I would assume this indicates a refurb.

Not necessarily. It can only be a refurb if it had a former life as a brand new iPhone and they refurbished it. At this point, all white box replacement iPhone 5 are new phones and it'll take about two months or so for them to get enough returned iPhone 5 to build up a stock of refurbished iPhone 5, which can then go in the white box or be sold through the Apple store.

NismoRoadster · Sep 29, 2012, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick1337

Just returned my iPhone 5 to Apple and the lady said I shouldn't get a refurb because it's so early. However, my launch day iPhone 5 serial number began with C39J and now this one is F2LJ. I'm kind of bummed I didn't get a new one but a refurb. Has anyone replaced their iPhone 5 and gotten a same/different serial as their previous?

Not a referb, mine says also says F2L, got mine pre order. It's their new numbering system.

hollowplayer · Sep 29, 2012, 08:57 PM

Relax refurbished phones are better, parts are verified twice.

Frasern1 · Sep 29, 2012, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick1337

Serial numbers are different and it came in a plain white replacement box. I would assume this indicates a refurb.

My iPhone's serial number starts with F2LJ and I got it on launch day. Oh no!!! Verizon sent me a refurbished unit before the phone was even released!!!

Hooterville · Sep 29, 2012, 09:02 PM

Mine is F2LJ and I got it on launch day, the 21st.

alexander25 · Sep 29, 2012, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick1337

Serial numbers are different and it came in a plain white replacement box. I would assume this indicates a refurb.

probably just replacement phones.

no way in 1 week did they have enough time (including shipping the phones back to a facility to get checked) to fix the phone and send it back to the apple store

iamthekiller · Sep 29, 2012, 09:18 PM

Serial numbers are no indication whatsoever of refurb or not.

Plain box iPhones at the Apple store are original, factory phones meant as replacements.

St8kout · Sep 29, 2012, 09:20 PM

Is there any earwax in the headphones?

Sep 29, 2012, 08:02 PM	#1
Maverick1337 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2008	I believe I have Apple's first refurbished iPhone 5 Just returned my iPhone 5 to Apple and the lady said I shouldn't get a refurb because it's so early. However, my launch day iPhone 5 serial number began with C39J and now this one is F2LJ. I'm kind of bummed I didn't get a new one but a refurb. Has anyone replaced their iPhone 5 and gotten a same/different serial as their previous? __________________ White AT&T iPhone 5 64G on 6.1 JB'in and Unlocked GameCenter ID: Maverick1337zor
	1

Sep 29, 2012, 08:04 PM	#2
Maclver macrumors 68000 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: 36°07′53″N 95°56′14″W	I don't think you got a refurb... Its was to early.. __________________ I AM KE$HA
	1

Sep 29, 2012, 08:09 PM	#4
saccento macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northern NJ	Not all brand new iPhone serial numbers start with C39J... __________________ 13'' MacBook Pro, iPhone 5 32GB, Apple TV 1080p, Nikon D90
	4

Sep 29, 2012, 08:11 PM	#5
greytmom macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2010	Uh, my serial number for my launch day phone starts with DPNJ. __________________ The person who coined the term "fanboy" needs to be boiled in honey and staked out naked on an anthill.
	2

Sep 29, 2012, 08:20 PM	#9
ProMod macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2005	My launch day phone's serial number begins with F2. You didn't get a refurb. __________________ - MacBook Pro 17" 2.66 i7 (mid 2010), 8 GB RAM, SSD+HDD, 10.8.3, Apple Cinema Display HD 23" - iPhone 5, Verizon, 32GB, black
	3

Sep 29, 2012, 08:18 PM	#8
gallianp macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2012	I think that it is a refurbished iPhone..
	2

Sep 29, 2012, 08:22 PM	#11
Akash.B macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2010	You don't have a refurbished phone. Apple carries a separate stock of replacement phones in white boxes
	5

Sep 29, 2012, 08:25 PM	#12
Maverick1337 Thread Starter macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2008	You guys are making me feel a lot better now. I don't know why I was a little bummed, I shouldn't care but maybe it isn't a refurb after all. __________________ White AT&T iPhone 5 64G on 6.1 JB'in and Unlocked GameCenter ID: Maverick1337zor
	1

Sep 29, 2012, 08:34 PM	#13
ITS ME DAVID macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pasadena, Ca	It's a refurb. __________________ iNSTAGRAM : iitsmedavid
	11

Sep 29, 2012, 08:38 PM	#14
BigRingIt macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2011	Mine is F2LJ and it was ordered at 12am on the 14th and received on the 21st. Reason they give you a phone in a white box because they aren't giving you the headphone and cables again. You are suppose to continue to use the original set you got from your original phone.
	4

Sep 29, 2012, 08:41 PM	#15
doc shivers macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2012	who gives a ****? if it was a refurb it probably just needed a replacement anodized aluminum back or antenna from one of the idiots who went through 6 phones to find a flawless one.
	13

Sep 29, 2012, 08:44 PM	#16
darngooddesign macrumors 604 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA	I think you are wrong. Its too early for refurbs. __________________ Lego Apple Store
	4

Sep 29, 2012, 08:44 PM	#17
7DSniper macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: South Florida	It's not a refurb, it's to early for refurbs. Apple has shipped the store replacement phones. It is more cost efficient for you to keep all of your accessories and they just give you a new phone. No need to worry it is a brand new phone. __________________ http://www.hooddesigns.com 17" MacBook Pro, 16GB iPad 3, 16GB iPhone 5, 16GB iPhone4, 8GB iPod Touch 4th Gen, 1GB iPod shuffle, Apple TV Gen 3, ACA Photoshop Certified
	4

Sep 29, 2012, 08:57 PM	#20
hollowplayer macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2011	Relax refurbished phones are better, parts are verified twice.
	4

Sep 29, 2012, 09:02 PM	#22
Hooterville macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2012	Mine is F2LJ and I got it on launch day, the 21st.
	1

Sep 29, 2012, 09:18 PM	#24
iamthekiller macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2010	Serial numbers are no indication whatsoever of refurb or not. Plain box iPhones at the Apple store are original, factory phones meant as replacements.
	4

Sep 29, 2012, 09:20 PM	#25
St8kout macrumors regular Join Date: May 2010	Is there any earwax in the headphones?
	6

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