Apple's $95 Million Settlement Over Refurbished Replacement Devices Not Being 'Equivalent to New' Moves Forward

[usagora]

I’d be unhappy as hell if I received a refurbished machine replacement. Especially after paying for AppleCare. Apple is wrong on this one.

LOL! If they repaired your original computer (even using new parts) and sent it back, it would also be considered "refurbished" so I don't see the difference. This is clearly a purely psychological thing with people.

 

[usagora]

I'd be bothered by this normally because most refurbishes suck, except that I usually buy refurb anyway from Apple because it's generally BETTER than new, at least in Apple's case. I can't tell it's used at all and everything has been diagnosed and fixed so you can be sure nothing is wrong with it and still comes with a one year warranty. Even peeling off the factory sticky plastic still feels new.

But I still think replacements should be new.

You've totally lost me here. You said most refurbished products suck, but in Apple's case they're actually better than new, but Apple shouldn't issue refurbished products as replacements (even though they're "better than new") ?

 

[usagora]

I really can't imagine being upset by this

Never underestimate the pettiness of a litigious public.

 

[usagora]

Youre not upset that you’re not getting what you paid for. You’re upset because you don’t like what you paid for. That’s very different.

As someone who works with the public, I couldn't agree more with this! People simply don't read about what they're purchasing or signing, and then get upset at YOU when you explain reality to them. In fact, I even verbally go over the terms and conditions with them and they STILL act dumbfounded/angry later on when it ends up applying to them.

 

[usagora]

So, the issue you have is not that they may use “refurbished” parts, it’s that in some cases, allegedly, the “refurbished“ parts led to unacceptable defective performance. Because, of course, if there were no question about the parts’ integrity, you’d have no problem…right? Ha!

Exactly! Are people forgetting that the products that they sent in for replacement/repair were "new" and yet still failed them?

The reality is this: people don’t like idea of getting a “refurbished” device, regardless of what is even “refurbished” in it. It could be a single screw. They don’t care. They think it’s beneath them.

Bingo. It's all psychological.

 

[Bandaman]

You've totally lost me here. You said most refurbished products suck, but in Apple's case they're actually better than new, but Apple shouldn't issue refurbished products as replacements (even though they're "better than new") ?

I’m saying I wouldn’t be upset by getting a refurbished product from Apple as oppposed to other companies because in Apple’s case, and from my experience buying from the Apple refurbished store, Apple’s refurbs are better than new, because there’s no aesthetic discernible difference between the refurb and a new one, and it has be personally diagnosed and fixed by Apple, and they even put that factory plastic back on the product to peel off. But even though Apple refurbs are better than everyone else’s, I’ve always gotten brand new replacements, so I would expect Apple to do the same. I just wouldn’t be upset with getting an Apple refurb as a replacement personally because of their quality, but I can just understand why the OP would be expecting something new. I realize that I tend to make word salad out of my comments.

(Wow … replying to comments on my iPhone requires to me edit my post about 600 times).

 

[Sophisticatednut]

Nothing but great. New is new. Refurbished is not. End of story.

I’ve had my fair share of experiences with replacement devices that may of may not have been refurbished, but there was this one time O got a new iPhone with the same problem my last had, so I send it in right away, got a replacement with yet again the same problem, send it back in. Had 5 replacement until they didn’t offer mail ins from my location anymore… Granted, this was in 2017, but my definitely refurbished 11 Pro’s from last year gave me an unwelcome throwback.
Maybe it has nothing to do with refurbished devices, maybe Apples quality control just stinks by itself, no matter the device. All I can say is that I never, never, received a not-faulty device from Apple, reaching from $450-$2k. Don’t ask why I stick around.

It’s unfortunately a problem with how they repair the devices with a contracted firm, there is nothing wrong with refurbished parts they have salvaged, but the bigger problem is how they cheap out on repairs and still refuse to honor the warranty

 

[Sophisticatednut]

I’m saying I wouldn’t be upset by getting a refurbished product from Apple as oppposed to other companies because in Apple’s case, and from my experience buying from the Apple refurbished store, Apple’s refurbs are better than new, because there’s no aesthetic discernible difference between the refurb and a new one, and it has be personally diagnosed and fixed by Apple, and they even put that factory plastic back on the product to peel off. But even though Apple refurbs are better than everyone else’s, I’ve always gotten brand new replacements, so I would expect Apple to do the same. I just wouldn’t be upset with getting an Apple refurb as a replacement personally because of their quality, but I can just understand why the OP would be expecting something new. I realize that I tend to make word salad out of my comments.

(Wow … replying to comments on my iPhone requires to me edit my post about 600 times).

Om sorry but this is simply not true.
Refurbished apple products that have been repaired are worse than new products. refurb products that have had parts replaced are equal to new ones. I have posted example pictures of these refurbished motherboards that have been “repaired”

 

[I7guy]

Om sorry but this is simply not true.
Refurbished apple products that have been repaired are worse than new products. refurb products that have had parts replaced are equal to new ones. I have posted example pictures of these refurbished motherboards that have been “repaired”

What is being said is that refurbs aren't 100% and neither are new products. It is fair to say some refurbs have issues. It is also fair to say, some out of the box new products have issues.

 

[NT1440]

Never once had a problem with a refurb. I buy them for work to knock the price down and basically get AppleCare for free.

 

[I7guy]

It’s unfortunately a problem with how they repair the devices with a contracted firm, there is nothing wrong with refurbished parts they have salvaged, but the bigger problem is how they cheap out on repairs and still refuse to honor the warranty

I would have an issue not honoring the warranty; if that were the case. As it is personally never happened to me, I can't vouch whether Apple behaves badly or not.