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iPhone 5 replacement phones at Genius Bar

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bjcskier

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 9, 2012
64
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Are iPhones swapped at the genius bar generally coming out of their hard plastic cases (you know, the ones they bring out from the back that just have the phone in them) perfect?

Or are some of these coming out with imperfections as well?

Going to swap a 32GB black Verizon phone in a little while and I'm curious as to how they are handling it. My original phone came out of the box slightly dented and with 2 nicks.
 
bjcskier said:
Are iPhones swapped at the genius bar generally coming out of their hard plastic cases (you know, the ones they bring out from the back that just have the phone in them) perfect?

Or are some of these coming out with imperfections as well?

Going to swap a 32GB black Verizon phone in a little while and I'm curious as to how they are handling it. My original phone came out of the box slightly dented and with 2 nicks.
Click to expand...

Are you asking about the white box replacements? If so, I got mine through Fed Ex (first one had a faulty earpiece) and mine was flawless cosmetically.
 
bjcskier said:
Are iPhones swapped at the genius bar generally coming out of their hard plastic cases (you know, the ones they bring out from the back that just have the phone in them) perfect?

Or are some of these coming out with imperfections as well?

Going to swap a 32GB black Verizon phone in a little while and I'm curious as to how they are handling it. My original phone came out of the box slightly dented and with 2 nicks.
Click to expand...

Some are still coming out with imperfections. If you get a crappy one just ask to be given another. Just make sure the Genius is around.
 
What is the difference between the white box replacements and the hard black boxes they normally use? Can you guys give a quick 2-second overview?
 
bjcskier said:
What is the difference between the white box replacements and the hard black boxes they normally use? Can you guys give a quick 2-second overview?
Click to expand...

they have stopped using the plastic boxes when giving exchanges....they are now made of cardboard and coloured black for black iPhones and white for white iPhones.
 
bjcskier said:
Are iPhones swapped at the genius bar generally coming out of their hard plastic cases (you know, the ones they bring out from the back that just have the phone in them) perfect?

Or are some of these coming out with imperfections as well?

Going to swap a 32GB black Verizon phone in a little while and I'm curious as to how they are handling it. My original phone came out of the box slightly dented and with 2 nicks.
Click to expand...

Not at all perfect.

Went through 5 or 6 swaps, not counting the ones the Genius tosses aside from cosmetic blemishes.

- Dead pixel on one
- Flickering screen
- Rainbow screen (polarizer issue?)
- Non-functional WiFi
 
It kills me that there is still a lot of home button variation with the phones as well. Some home buttons are sunk/angled etc. others are raised higher than most, etc.

They need to figure that out in addition to coming up with a more practical material on the outside that isn't so easily-damaged in the manufacturing process and afterward.
 
I went in yesterday to try and swap my white phone for a black phone. I assumed they had some "replacement" stock in back. The guy at the front of the store said I need to bring box, cables, etc. back and they will exchange if they have new stock (retail packaging).

Should I have asked if they have replacement stock? I didn't push the issue because I wasn't aware they had stock in back that isn't in retail packaging.
 
zman98 said:
I went in yesterday to try and swap my white phone for a black phone. I assumed they had some "replacement" stock in back. The guy at the front of the store said I need to bring box, cables, etc. back and they will exchange if they have new stock (retail packaging).

Should I have asked if they have replacement stock? I didn't push the issue because I wasn't aware they had stock in back that isn't in retail packaging.
Click to expand...

They only replace like for like. You can't get a new color or bigger/small capacity with a replacement white box phone.
 
VandyChem2009 said:
You obviously asked for the video because you didn't believe what I said.
Click to expand...

No, I asked because I wanted to see it and couldn't be bothered searching! :p
Whilst it was a black in a white box, we are talking about the Genius Bar here, not AppleCare replacements! In the stores, it's black in black, white in white.
 
I went through 4 exchanges before settling on one. And it still had a chip in it.
These white box phones, I have changed my tune, are still new at this point. But the defect rate is astoundingly high. So high, in fact, that it would be better for these phones to be refurbished. If this is what the new defect rate is, the refurbished rate might be even worse. It may be possible that Apple states that the chips and dings are OK to recycle as is (though they claim that they are stripped down). I've seen the apple staff refer to it as a minor cosmetic blemish when returning phones back to Apple. I think that Apple, if I were them, might just wait and resell them as refurbished since I believe that in the warranty it will say that refurbished items may have minor nicks and signs of use.

I should have asked for a fifth replacement but getting one with a good screen is fine enough for me. I don't care about the rest, and yes, it took that many replacements to get an iphone with a screen that I deemed acceptable.

phone 1 had 3 specks of dirt and a fingerprint, and ?wifi issues but I can't prove that. Also interlacing issue.
phone 2 had a faulty digitizer, and it was subtle but on a replacement the difference is apparent, and a squishy rippling screen b/c of a loose volume button. Also interlacing issue.
phone 3 had a piss yellow screen at the NE quadrant, as well as the interlacing issue (fuzzy/graininess), as well as a chip in the aluminum. Not a scratch, by any definition.
phone 4 has a scratch on the aluminum on the chamfeur bezel. But a white screen, without interlacing. Fine. I just took it and left.
 
VandyChem2009 said:
They only replace like for like. You can't get a new color or bigger/small capacity with a replacement white box phone.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll just wait and see if they get any inventory. If not, I'll be happy with my white phone. :)
 
Just went to my local store and tried TWO different replacements. Both had scratches and one had roughness around the top left edge of the screen.

Apple should be embarassed that they are delivering MILLIONS of their flagships product with imperfections. It's absolutely absurd.
 
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