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Apple Genius Brings out a hard plastic black box with black foam in it..

i got mine replaced on the 25th and it also came in a black box theres no way it was a refurb 1 day after the intial launch.
 
I was sent to an Apple store in Chicago last Saturday by an Apple level 2 phone tech after having problems with Facetime (called the Apple 888# to test Facetime and it wouldn't work because the front facing camera did not work) and both the store Genius and the phone tech explained that each Apple store has inventory specifically for returns/swaps and that these are still brand new phones - only difference is they come in a plain black box.

Sure enough they swapped my phone out for 1 in the black box and I was assured that it was brand new, obviously because the iPhone 4 had only been out for 2 days at that time. The Genius also mentioned that refurb's all have a "K" in their serial numbers, and that their black box iPads were all still new as well.
 
Rubey81 said:
So since I have been having the reception antenna issues I thought I would make an appointment and stop in to the Apple store today.

I told the guy all my issues and he said we can either replace it or give you a bumper and see if it helps.

I thought it would be a good idea if I started fresh with a new phone. He went in back and came out with a box that was NOT the nice small iPhone 4 retail box.

It was plastic looking like one of those small hardware screwdriver boxes with all the little bits. He opened the box and in it was an iPhone 4 surrounded in black foam and the phone was wrapped in a little bag.

My first thought was this has to be a refurbished or one someone brought back that was having a different problem. He said "How could it be refurbished? The phone just came out." I didn't believe him cause he has a odd smirk on his face when he said it.

So he activated the phone and I got it and went down the check list of cupping the bottom on the left side and it dropped signal right away. Then I checked the camera and it had the green blob in the middle of it. I took some pics to show him of white paper and you could clearly see it but he was saying he could not see it at all.

I asked him if we could swap it out with another one and he said sure hold on. He came back out with another mystery black hard plastic box and once again it had a camera with the green tint circle on the lens when taking pics.

After I showed him again he asked what I wanted to do so I just took back my original phone. Has the reception issues but no green blob when taking pictures. So I got a bumper for it instead.

Does anyone know if they do bring out a phone in the black hard plastic box if it is a refurbished or demo unit or something?:confused:

Was just an odd experience.

R
Click to expand...
Wow. Why not just return the phone? There are other alternatives out there. Even iPhone 3GS. Why get stuck with a defective designed phone? Return it, wait until they fix it.
 
KameronBriggs said:
IDK how it is with The iPhone 4, but on the other iPhones, if your serial started with 5K it is refurbished.
If it's not, it should start with an 8 or something like that...
Click to expand...

my first iPhone 4 Serial number: 85025XXXXXX

replacement iPhone 4 Serial number: 88026XXXXXX
 
melterx12 said:
my first iPhone 4 Serial number: 85025XXXXXX

replacement iPhone 4 Serial number: 88026XXXXXX
Click to expand...

Can you look at the firmware build and report that also, please? The specific numerical build, and also are you having any problems with the replacement?
 
br0adband said:
Can you look at the firmware build and report that also, please? The specific numerical build, and also are you having any problems with the replacement?
Click to expand...

firmware build? whats that?

im having 0 problems with my replacement, aside from that reception issue, which is on all iphone 4s.

differences i noticed between my original and replacement i4
-no dirt under screen (this is why i replaced my first iphone)
-significantly improved battery life
-have not noticed issues with proximty sensor on the replacement yet
-wifi seems stronger than on original phone, shows more hotspots around my house than the first one did, though again it might be my imagination or a fluke.
 
I had my 3GS replaced under warranty at the beginning of the month. It came out of similar packaging (black plastic box & a white unmarked box). The Genius told me it was a service replacement and that there was no way of telling if it was new or refurbished. He did say that they had iPad service units in the back and that it was too soon for those to have been refurbished. At that time, iPads were out for over a month, so, it's too early to have any refurbished iPhone 4s.
 
I didn't even have to show my receipt when I exchanged mine. I didn't get a new box. I got a phone with the plastic screen protectors and that was it. That an a little yellow spot.
 
melterx12 said:
firmware build? whats that?
Click to expand...

Bring up Settings - General - About - and scroll down to see what firmware is currently running on that iPhone 4, the number itself (that's the build number), should be 4.0xxxx something. It's not a serial number, I don't want that, I just want to see if the firmware build is the same as the rest of ours or that replacement one might somehow be different.

Thanks
 
I just had my iPhone 4 replaced tonight at the Genius Bar due to insert sim card error and proximity sensor issues. The Modem Firmware is 01.59.00. My old phone s/n was 86025 and replacement is 86024. Version. 4.0(8A293)
 
eo6564 said:
I just had my iPhone 4 replaced tonight at the Genius Bar due to insert sim card error and proximity sensor issues. The Firmware is 01.59.00. My old phone s/n was 86025 and replacement is 86024.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure that's the baseband (for the cell phone) - what I'm looking for is the (and I suppose should stop calling it firmware because people keep missing it) is the actual installed OS which is iOS 4.00xxx or whatever. That's what I'm looking for, sorry.
 
br0adband said:
Pretty sure that's the baseband (for the cell phone) - what I'm looking for is the (and I suppose should stop calling it firmware because people keep missing it) is the actual installed OS which is iOS 4.00xxx or whatever. That's what I'm looking for, sorry.
Click to expand...

here is all the info listed in the about screen after "applications"

Capacity: 14.0GB
Available: 13.6GB
Version: 4.0 (8A293)
Carrier: AT&T 7.0
Model: MC318LL
Serial Number: 88026XXXXXX
Wi-Fi Address: 90:27:E4:XXXXXXX
Bluetooth: 90:27:E4:XXXXXX
IMEI: XX XXXXXX XXXXXX X
ICCID: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
Modem Firmware: 01.59.00
 
melterx12 said:
here is all the info listed in the about screen after "applications"

Capacity: 14.0GB
Available: 13.6GB
Version: 4.0 (8A293)
Carrier: AT&T 7.0
Model: MC318LL
Serial Number: 88026XXXXXX
Wi-Fi Address: 90:27:E4:XXXXXXX
Bluetooth: 90:27:E4:XXXXXX
IMEI: XX XXXXXX XXXXXX X
ICCID: XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
Modem Firmware: 01.59.00
Click to expand...

The "Version: 4.0 (8A293)" is the info I was looking for... and it's the same as mine so, nothing new yet, at least in your replacement situation.

Thanks...
 
br0adband said:
The "Version: 4.0 (8A293)" is the info I was looking for... and it's the same as mine so, nothing new yet, at least in your replacement situation.

Thanks...
Click to expand...

i dont think there will be replacement phones with a new version of iOS before its released via itunes to the public.
 
I just went to the Genius bar because of a temperature warning that popped up on my phone while sitting on my end table doing nothing. Phone was cool to the touch. They showed it had an internal temp of 130 degrees, which obviously was not the case since it was cool. Said they would replace it but didn't have any. Also said it was too early for refurbs. That said, is their a definitive way to tell if the tell if the phone is refurbished or not? More than just speculation? Phone is only 2 days old, I am returning it unless I get a new one as a replacement.
 
The "Green Blob" As everyone is calling it is NOT a defect. Stop exchanging phones because of it. Its the lighting in the apple store. Its ALL fluorescent lighting and it happens on ALL iphone 4's. Its the way the camera and the retina display show the gas lighting. Sucks but not a defect. I design lighting systems for large buildings and stores and this happens on other equipment as well such as touch screen digital cameras, and some CCTV. Just thought I would add my two cents worth.
 
JustLeft said:
I just went to the Genius bar because of a temperature warning that popped up on my phone while sitting on my end table doing nothing. Phone was cool to the touch. They showed it had an internal temp of 130 degrees, which obviously was not the case since it was cool. Said they would replace it but didn't have any. Also said it was too early for refurbs. That said, is their a definitive way to tell if the tell if the phone is refurbished or not? More than just speculation? Phone is only 2 days old, I am returning it unless I get a new one as a replacement.
Click to expand...

if the serial number begins with 5K, its a refurb. if it begins with the factory number (example: 88, 86, etc), its new.
 
br0adband said:
The "Version: 4.0 (8A293)" is the info I was looking for... and it's the same as mine so, nothing new yet, at least in your replacement situation.

Thanks...
Click to expand...

If Apple was loading new builds onto replacements they'd have to have the same build available in iTunes in case those phones need to be restored. So everyone will get it at the same time.
 
JustLeft said:
Thanks, I will be checking that when I get the replacement.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I got a black box exchange for a randomly freezing phone and it is an 87 serial number. I asked the genius about it and he said the black boxes came in with the first shipment of retail phones.
 
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