So I went to the Apple store today to get my 6 plus battery replaced under the discount, the genius told me they could not replace it because it had a third party battery and a third party rear case installed that didn't match Apple's serial numbers. They asked if I had replacement parts put in. I told them the phone hasn't had any work done and I bought it new from AT&T. So the question is, are these cell carriers pushing out used refurbished phones and charging full price for them?
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iPhone 6(S)/Plus AT&T selling used iPhones as new?
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It is was a corporate store and I would call and make an appointment with the manager of that store and ask them to explain what is going on.
Something isn’t right here. When you purchased it ‘new’ from AT&T, Was the 6 Plus in the original retail packaging from Apple without being opened? I mean, how could there possibly be a third-party battery installed if this phone was purchased ‘new’ in the box? OP needs to elaborate more specifics.
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That's the thing, they take the boxes out of the box and install the SIM card. It was 4 years ago now but everything was in the original packaging.
Unless Apple is lying to get out of doing the repairs, I have to go by their word that the numbers don't match. I also have to go my AT&T's word that they are selling new products. Unless I can look at the opened case and see the numbers myself I can't really tell who is right. Is it possible that Apple's database is wrong? Unless these products are personally inspected who knows what parts are inside of them. All I know is I bought what I assumed was a brand new phone form AT&T.
I would bet that you were really in an Authorized Agent store and only thought it was a corporate store.
I used to work at AT&T. and a lot of the retailers will look just like a corporate store and some will even lie and say they are. AT&T would not sell a used or returned iPhone as new. But I have heard of a lot of resellers who pull that crap.
We used to get complaints constantly about the local resellers from that stuff that they'd pull.
I used to work at AT&T. and a lot of the retailers will look just like a corporate store and some will even lie and say they are. AT&T would not sell a used or returned iPhone as new. But I have heard of a lot of resellers who pull that crap.
We used to get complaints constantly about the local resellers from that stuff that they'd pull.
If the store in question isn't a corporate store, AT&T better change their website to announce that fact.
Huh?
AT&T uses a network of corporate owned stores and stores owned by third parties who are authorized resellers of AT&T services and products.
It can be difficult, if not downright impossible to distinguish what kind of store you are in without asking. Hell, half of the third party resellers have nicer stores and setups than the AT&T ones.
It’s not as clearly marked like you see with other providers; Verizon, notably.