Apple claims I have third party parts (I don't)

[flib1113]

I got a brand new 5s from the Verizon store back in June. I watched the Verizon employee break the seal and unpackage my new iPhone.

Flash forward 8 months, I noticed my display glass is a bit loose and makes a creaking noise when I push on it. So, I make an appointment at my local Apple Store to have them look at it since I am well within the 1yr. warranty (I didn't purchase AppleCare). The tech takes my phone to work on it in the back and when she returns she tells me she can't work on because it looks like the device has 3rd-party parts attached including the LCI indicators, home button and receiver grill . She also suspected the display was non-apple but couldn't confirm this without removing the display and scanning the code. She also told me that if the code is invalid she can't put the phone back together. I explain that this cannot be true because I bought a new phone. She advises me to talk to Verizon.

I call and visit a Verizon store and they both insist that they do not sell refurbished iPhones in corporate stores. Those can only be bought online and based on the sales receipt I got a brand new iPhone. I've never had my phone replaced or had any work on the phone since I bought it, but it seems like both companies don't believe my story. I suppose Verizon could be selling refurbished phones as new or maybe there is a fraud issue in the Apple or Verizon supply chain, but this is all speculation and I have no proof.

Has anyone else heard of this issue? Any suggestions on what I can do? Obviously I would like Verizon or Apple to replace my phone with a genuine product or to honor all warranties.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Have you checked your serial number at Apple's website. What does it say.

 

[PhelpsiPhan]

As an ex-apple genius, All i can say is that it is SUPER easy to see fake parts. We look at these devices everyday and when something doesn't look right, it is obvious. So i would be inclined to believe the Genius that something fishy is up.

Not saying you are trying to pull a fast one, but just to help guide you with who to chase down. Hope it all works out

 

[flib1113]

Have you checked your serial number at Apple's website. What does it say.

The Apples website says it is valid.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Where's the rest of the story? I've yet to hear of such a thing from a MR regular (you know, someone other than a newbie with only one post).

 

[scaredpoet]

Well, I can tell you from personal experience that it's not impossible for fraud to exist in the retail sales chain. I have purchased a smartphone in the past from a carrier corporate store as "new" and found out after opening the box that it was definitely not new. Shrink wrap and heat guns make it easy to repackage used equipment as "new" and put it back on the shelf to be sold that way.

 

[Ericaj3]

I literally just had this happen to me. I bought a brand new 5s through tmobile website, paid for two years to pay off. Then the phone wouldn't turn on so took to Apple Store and they said there was third party parts on the phone. I never had any work done to the phone and it is in prestine condition. I just don't understand wtf is going on. I'm not a liar and wouldn't waste my own time if I knew that third party parts were on the phone. I do not understand how this has happened but to me it's really fishy. Who is installing these bogus parts on our very expensive phones? I'm annoyed that I am the one who has to be on the outs because of what someone else did behind the scenes. And I'm even more pissed that i paid full price for a new phone that is basically trash now because of this.

I got a brand new 5s from the Verizon store back in June. I watched the Verizon employee break the seal and unpackage my new iPhone.

Flash forward 8 months, I noticed my display glass is a bit loose and makes a creaking noise when I push on it. So, I make an appointment at my local Apple Store to have them look at it since I am well within the 1yr. warranty (I didn't purchase AppleCare). The tech takes my phone to work on it in the back and when she returns she tells me she can't work on because it looks like the device has 3rd-party parts attached including the LCI indicators, home button and receiver grill . She also suspected the display was non-apple but couldn't confirm this without removing the display and scanning the code. She also told me that if the code is invalid she can't put the phone back together. I explain that this cannot be true because I bought a new phone. She advises me to talk to Verizon.

I call and visit a Verizon store and they both insist that they do not sell refurbished iPhones in corporate stores. Those can only be bought online and based on the sales receipt I got a brand new iPhone. I've never had my phone replaced or had any work on the phone since I bought it, but it seems like both companies don't believe my story. I suppose Verizon could be selling refurbished phones as new or maybe there is a fraud issue in the Apple or Verizon supply chain, but this is all speculation and I have no proof.

Has anyone else heard of this issue? Any suggestions on what I can do? Obviously I would like Verizon or Apple to replace my phone with a genuine product or to honor all warranties.

 

[eyoungren]

I literally just had this happen to me. I bought a brand new 5s through tmobile website, paid for two years to pay off. Then the phone wouldn't turn on so took to Apple Store and they said there was third party parts on the phone. I never had any work done to the phone and it is in prestine condition. I just don't understand wtf is going on. I'm not a liar and wouldn't waste my own time if I knew that third party parts were on the phone. I do not understand how this has happened but to me it's really fishy. Who is installing these bogus parts on our very expensive phones? I'm annoyed that I am the one who has to be on the outs because of what someone else did behind the scenes. And I'm even more pissed that i paid full price for a new phone that is basically trash now because of this.

Consider this. The 5s is almost three years old. All four carriers get their "new" iPhones from the insurance carrier they contract with such as Asurion and Assurant whose business it is to refurb the devices they receive from claims - as cheaply as possible. Apple does not sell anything less than the 6s/6s+ as new.

So that leaves the carrier to take the insurance company at it's word that the devices they are providing are NIB.

It's pretty easy then to see how your 5s may NOT have been new.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Well, I can tell you from personal experience that it's not impossible for fraud to exist in the retail sales chain. I have purchased a smartphone in the past from a carrier corporate store as "new" and found out after opening the box that it was definitely not new. Shrink wrap and heat guns make it easy to repackage used equipment as "new" and put it back on the shelf to be sold that way.

Retail is famous for replacing and selling a returned phone that they deem working , back to the shelves to sell as new. Bestbuy, B&H Photo and other do this on a regular basis. Sounds like Verizon is no different.

 

[M. Gustave]

Retail is famous for replacing and selling a returned phone that they deem working , back to the shelves to sell as new. Bestbuy, B&H Photo and other do this on a regular basis.

I was just going to mention B&H. They are pretty infamous for this on the photography forums. They have a guy who represents them online, who admitted in the forums that they have no limit on shutter count to take back a camera return, and then resell it as "new".

Amazon has been doing this stuff for over a decade. I've had finger prints, food, dirt, missing packaging, etc on many an Amazon purchase.

It's a market-wide problem, and it's fraud, period. It's probably driven by the no-hassle return policies everyone assumes are a birthright now. When I was a kid, if you returned something for any reason other than a defect, you paid a 15% restocking fee, period. That was to compensate the business for having to resell it as open-box for 15% off.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I was just going to mention B&H. They are pretty infamous for this on the photography forums. They have a guy who represents them online, who admitted in the forums that they have no limit on shutter count to take back a camera return, and then resell it as "new".

Amazon has been doing this stuff for over a decade. I've had finger prints, food, dirt, missing packaging, etc on many an Amazon purchase.

It's a market-wide problem, and it's fraud, period. It's probably driven by the no-hassle return policies everyone assumes are a birthright now. When I was a kid, if you returned something for any reason other than a defect, you paid a 15% restocking fee, period. That was to compensate the business for having to resell it as open-box for 15% off.

It is the price we all pay for their return policy. I, too, have had a camera purchased from Amazon arrive with the warranty card ALREADY filled out.

 

[James.K.Polk]

It is the price we all pay for their return policy. I, too, have had a camera purchased from Amazon arrive with the warranty card ALREADY filled out.

Amazon is great if you want pillowcases, cat food, and bulk Ramen noodles. For anything more than $100, I always shop around before I buy. Despite having "easy returns," I've had some hellish refund/return processes on expensive stuff, and don't get me started on them banning accounts...

 

[Newtons Apple]

Amazon is great if you want pillowcases, cat food, and bulk Ramen noodles. For anything more than $100, I always shop around before I buy. Despite having "easy returns," I've had some hellish refund/return processes on expensive stuff, and don't get me started on them banning accounts...

I have bought anything from a $5 tool to an over $8000 Leica camera and have had few problems. If there is one Amazon has always allowed me to return. It is not just the number of returns but also how many purchases. I can bet Amazon will not get rid of me as we buy some much for my company through it. Just the other day our cut off saw broke down and Amazon had a new one at my office the next day for $3.99 shipping. I still stand by them, you just got to be wary of any place these days.

 

[willmtaylor]

I have bought anything from a $5 tool to an over $8000 Leica camera and have had few problems. If there is one Amazon has always allowed me to return. It is not just the number of returns but also how many purchases. I can bet Amazon will not get rid of me as we buy some much for my company through it. Just the other day our cut off saw broke down and Amazon had a new one at my office the next day for $3.99 shipping. I still stand by them, you just got to be wary of any place these days.

***OFF TOPIC***​

A widely-read Guardian write-up: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2...returning-faulty-goods-blocked-credit-balance

Or even on MRF: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...e-forever-because-of-too-many-returns.552203/

 

[HEK]

It is the price we all pay for their return policy. I, too, have had a camera purchased from Amazon arrive with the warranty card ALREADY filled out.

You want cheap, you get cheap. Why I don't use Amazon and or such retailers. I realizd some years back, you don't usually get something for reduced price out of goodness of retailer's heart. Outlet stores are are famous for having either seconds, damaged, or outright bogus items manufactured not same way or manufacturing process, as their own main store items are.

 

[willmtaylor]

You want cheap, you get cheap. Why I don't use Amazon and or such retailers. I realizd some years back, you don't usually get something for reduced price out of goodness of retailer's heart. Outlet stores are are famous for having either seconds, damaged, or outright bogus items manufactured not same way or manufacturing process, as their own main store items are.

During my stint at J.Cew, I was taught how to identify and refuse items purchased at J.Crew outlets for that exact reason. They had about as much in common as threads from Old Navy & Banana Republic (though they're both a part of GAP Inc.).

Same name, but different products.

 

[Newtons Apple]

***OFF TOPIC***​

A widely-read Guardian write-up: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2...returning-faulty-goods-blocked-credit-balance

Or even on MRF: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...e-forever-because-of-too-many-returns.552203/

If they wish to block me that have that right. I think there is more to the story on the above. Amazon does not block good customers with no good reason.

 

[willmtaylor]

If they wish to block me that have that right. I think there is more to the story on the above. Amazon does not block good customers with no good reason.

There is almost always more to the story, but everyone makes mistakes, and I don't doubt that Amazon could too. Their lack of any communication or explanation is disturbing though, as is their refusal to reimburse credits.


Alas, we're off topic. This thread is about a used phone being sold as new through an official retailer.

 

[eyoungren]

Alas, we're off topic. This thread is about a used phone being sold as new through an official retailer.

Considering this thread was necroed to life only a day or so ago after having died in 2015, being off-topic is probably the lesser sin here.

The one who raised the thread simply could have posted a new thread. THEN, we'd be off-topic.

 

[C DM]

Considering this thread was necroed to life only a day or so ago after having died in 2015, being off-topic is probably the lesser sin here.

The one who raised the thread simply could have posted a new thread. THEN, we'd be off-topic.

I don't know, having essentially the same issue seems like a reasonable scenario to bring up an older thread (at the every least one thst is essentially about the same thing and isn't exactly too old).

 

[Newtons Apple]

There is almost always more to the story, but everyone makes mistakes, and I don't doubt that Amazon could too. Their lack of any communication or explanation is disturbing though, as is their refusal to reimburse credits.


Alas, we're off topic. This thread is about a used phone being sold as new through an official retailer.

To get it back on target, it is rather scary that you can but a new iPhone from Verizon and it has third party parts in it. How does one protect themselves from this?

 

[eyoungren]

I don't know, having essentially the same issue seems like a reasonable scenario to bring up an older thread (at the every least one thst is essentially about the same thing and isn't exactly too old).

I've always found that confusing though. Perhaps, the same topic, but not quite the same. Let alone the issue of who to refer to as "OP".

It also goes to a common fault with newbies. They always seem able to find the "Reply" button but are blind to the giant "Post New Thread" button.

Just for myself too, if I'm here to ask a question I want responses to focus around my question and NOT anything that may have been brought up earlier by anyone else.

Just my opinon (and nothing more than that).

 

[HEK]

Considering this thread was necroed to life only a day or so ago after having died in 2015, being off-topic is probably the lesser sin here.

The one who raised the thread simply could have posted a new thread. THEN, we'd be off-topic.

I have noticed when new rumors are lacking, old threads are raised from the dead. Second coming of the macrumor's.

 

[eyoungren]

To get it back on target, it is rather scary that you can but a new iPhone from Verizon and it has third party parts in it. How does one protect themselves from this?

I think you have to be realistic.

How realistic is it to be purchasing a brand new iPhone 5s almost three years after release date?

I could see a 6/6+ maybe. But not a 5s!

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

To get it back on target, it is rather scary that you can but a new iPhone from Verizon and it has third party parts in it. How does one protect themselves from this?

Rather scary if it's actually true. We still don't know the rest of the story.

Carriers do refurb phones and sell them at a discount, and they're typically packaged like new. However, it should be in the fine print somewhere that they're not actually new.