I bought a new iphone and it had beta IOS in it

[iosvargas]

Hi,
I bought a brand new iphone from a major US seller:

We ordered an:
Apple iPhone 5s Unlocked Cellphone, 64GB, Space Gray - For the AT&T and T-mobile networks at about 500$

We received a box that was sealed and said on it:

• iphone 5s
• Part no.:NE338LL/A
• Model: A1453
  

We completed the initial installation process.
And as we check the IOS version we noticed that it says: IOS version 9.1

And since the most recent version is 9.2.1

We went in to the settings option and did a check for IOS software updates

And then we got a strange message talking about Beta software saying:

"A new iOS update is now available. Please update from the iOS beta"

We kept on asking for updates but it would not go any further that the above beta message.

I returned it to the seller but they say that for them, it's working fine.

I have 2 questions:

1. Isn't the box description for the Sprint(cdma) network ?
2. What's a beta version doing in a brand new iphone?

Can someone please help me?

Thank you in advance

 

[Newtons Apple]

YouR "major US seller" re-wrapped a used phone and sold it to you as new.

No way it left the Apple factory like this.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

Who is the major us seller ?

 

[iosvargas]

I bought it from the great amzn.com store.
But it was sold and shipped by another iphone vendor.
I dont want to mention their name now because I am still trying to resolve the issue. I will as soon as we resolve it.

But isnt there a technical conflict?
How can this phone

• iphone 5s
• Part no.:NE338LL/A
• Model: A1453

work in the t-mobile gsm network?
Isnt this made for sprint n cdma like networks?

• 
  

 

[AndrewR23]

Brand new iPhones ship with a Part No. beginning with M. A part number beginning with N like yours mean your phone is a replacement.

 

[Merkie]

https://checkcoverage.apple.com/

Enter your serial number here and check when your warranty ends. Substract one year and you will find the first date it was activated. Should be the same day as you received your phone and set it up the first time.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Amazon and it 3rd party retailers can sell returned stuff as new. I know as I have received items that were plainly not factory new, one even had the warranty card filled out by the "original" owner. I do not think Amazon would do this with an item like an iPhone but their 3rd party retailers would with out a doubt.

I would return it

 

[maflynn]

Sounds like the major seller, resold a used phone - I'm guessing the price of this phone was less then what apple charges.

 

[iosvargas]

https://checkcoverage.apple.com/

Enter your serial number here and check when your warranty ends. Substract one year and you will find the first date it was activated. Should be the same day as you received your phone and set it up the first time.

Great idea. THANKS.
.....
I did as you said and ..Holy macro..

it seems like an expired warrantee.
it says:

• Valid Purchase Date
• Telephone Technical Support: Expired
• Repairs and Service Coverage: Expired

 

[Newtons Apple]

Yep, report them to Amazon and they will refund your money.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

The expired warranty doesn't mean much, since all phones purchased over a year ago will have expired warranties. I.e. When they were first purchased by the reseller.

So most 5S phones will have an expired warranty unless coming directly from Apple or a carrier like Verizon or att. Not even sure if they still sell them new.

3rd party retailers on Amazon are not legit. Anyone can sell on Amazon. You are basically buying from a stranger. Only that you have Amazons A to Z claim process if something goes wrong.

If a beta profile was on the phone, it was resealed. It's really easy to reseal the boxes in plastic with the right machine.

Be sure to let us know the name of the reseller, and leave them the appropriate review so everyone else knows they are reselling used phones.

 

[iosvargas]

Amazon and it 3rd party retailers can sell returned stuff as new. I know as I have received items that were plainly not factory new, one even had the warranty card filled out by the "original" owner. I do not think Amazon would do this with an item like an iPhone but their 3rd party retailers would with out a doubt.

I would return it

Yep, report them to Amazon and they will refund your money.

yes I already did and now I need to overcome the barrier of "proving the facts".
I think got solid proof of evidence... and hopefully if amzn mediates a little bit, I will get my money back.
[doublepost=1455193262][/doublepost]

The expired warranty doesn't mean much, since all phones purchased over a year ago will have expired warranties. I.e. When they were first purchased by the reseller.

So most 5S phones will have an expired warranty unless coming directly from Apple or a carrier like Verizon or att. Not even sure if they still sell them new.

3rd party retailers on Amazon are not legit. Anyone can sell on Amazon. You are basically buying from a stranger. Only that you have Amazons A to Z claim process if something goes wrong.

If a beta profile was on the phone, it was resealed. It's really easy to reseal the boxes in plastic with the right machine.

Be sure to let us know the name of the reseller, and leave them the appropriate review so everyone else knows they are reselling used phones.

thanks for your points. yes I will definetely post the reseller's name and comments , once this is over.

 

[Merkie]

The expired warranty doesn't mean much, since all phones purchased over a year ago will have expired warranties. I.e. When they were first purchased by the reseller.

So most 5S phones will have an expired warranty unless coming directly from Apple or a carrier like Verizon or att. Not even sure if they still sell them new.

3rd party retailers on Amazon are not legit. Anyone can sell on Amazon. You are basically buying from a stranger. Only that you have Amazons A to Z claim process if something goes wrong.

If a beta profile was on the phone, it was resealed. It's really easy to reseal the boxes in plastic with the right machine.

Be sure to let us know the name of the reseller, and leave them the appropriate review so everyone else knows they are reselling used phones.

No, this is not true. Warranty starts when you activate the phone for the first time.
[doublepost=1455198418][/doublepost]

Great idea. THANKS.
.....
I did as you said and ..Holy macro..

it seems like an expired warrantee.
it says:

• Valid Purchase Date
• Telephone Technical Support: Expired
• Repairs and Service Coverage: Expired

View attachment 615866

What do you see when you enter your serial number here? Can you post the results?

http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html

 

[chrfr]

No, this is not true. Warranty starts when you activate the phone for the first time.

This is incorrect. Warranty starts at the date of original sale. You can't leave a phone on the shelf for 2 years, turn it on for the first time and expect a full warranty from that date.
Source from here: http://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/products/ios-warranty-document-us.html

Apple Inc. of One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California, U.S.A. 95014 (“Apple”) warrants the Apple-branded iPhone, iPad or iPod hardware product and accessories contained in the original packaging (“Apple Product”) against defects in materials and workmanship when used normally in accordance with Apple's published guidelines for a period of ONE (1) YEAR from the date of original retail purchase by the end-user purchaser ("Warranty Period").

 

[iosvargas]

No, this is not true. Warranty starts when you activate the phone for the first time.
[doublepost=1455198418][/doublepost]What do you see when you enter your serial number here? Can you post the results?

Yes it says:

• Valid Purchase Date
• Telephone Technical Support: Expired
• Repairs and Service Coverage: Expired
  
  

 

[noobinator]

Yep, shrinkwrapping is cheap and easy. The warranty starts the date the phone is first sold from an authorized 3rd party. If they are unauthorized (which I'm guessing is the case), the warranty started when they bought the phone from Apple or an authorized 3rd party. If you got it cheap and it works why not keep it?

 

[iosvargas]

I would keep it if I knew ,it's got original parts in it. But who knows.
I don't want keep it. For all I know it may have unauthorized parts in it and future iOS versions could lock it up.
I still don't get it ,
How did they sell me a phone with beta sw in it.

 

[noobinator]

I would keep it if I knew ,it's got original parts in it. But who knows.
I don't want keep it. For all I know it may have unauthorized parts in it and future iOS versions could lock it up.
I still don't get it ,
How did they sell me a phone with beta sw in it.

Someone used the phone (and did God knows what to it), put a beta on it, then restored/wiped it and forgot to install the latest non-beta version. They packed it up, shrink wrapped it and sold it to you as new. It may have been used for years.

 

[Merkie]

This is incorrect. Warranty starts at the date of original sale. You can't leave a phone on the shelf for 2 years, turn it on for the first time and expect a full warranty from that date.
Source from here: http://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/products/ios-warranty-document-us.html

This contradicts your statement that warranty starts at the moment the retailer purchases the phone.
[doublepost=1455214974][/doublepost]

I would keep it if I knew ,it's got original parts in it. But who knows.
I don't want keep it. For all I know it may have unauthorized parts in it and future iOS versions could lock it up.
I still don't get it ,
How did they sell me a phone with beta sw in it.

I'm pretty sure they sold you a used phone (e.g. not new) and resealed the box.

 

[chrfr]

This contradicts your statement that warranty starts at the moment the retailer purchases the phone.

I didn't say that the warranty starts when the retailer buys the phone. The warranty begins when the phone is bought by the first customer, regardless of whether or not the phone is activated at that time.

 

[ABC5S]

I know its only 32 GB, but I could buy a brand new iPhone 5S from Verizon direct for $ 499.99. Guaranteed "NEW"

 

[noobinator]

I'd definitely go the Swappa route for a 5S at this point for half the price OP paid.

 

[HEK]

If you don't buy the phone from Apple or carrier and receive some sort of remarkable discount this should raise alarm bells. In phone purchases, "let the buyer beware", is good advise. I like to save money just like next person, but there has been just too much of this bait and switch. Unless you can inspect the the phone before completing sale stick with Apple direct. Save a few more months get real new phone with real not expired warranty.

 

[von franklin]

you sir have been had

 

[Mlrollin91]

You should plug it into Coconut battery to see how many charge cycles are on the battery. That will definitely tell you if its new or not.