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Is Apple giving out new phones or refurbs when replaced?
- Thread starter Shockwave78
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Then I'd submit that you got a factory-damaged iPhone. People have gotten scratched iPhones out of the retail box caused by the factory. It doesn't mean it was previously handled by another customer.
I'm not saying it was handled by another customer, just that the refurbs may go through a different process and may be handled a little more by employees with less automation compared to brand new devices.
There's quite bit of handling by Chinese factory workers even with retail box units at factory. Not sure if it's much different, especially given the anecdotal evidence that the vast majority of replacement iPhones seem to be essentially free of scratches.
I purchased a new 6+ full price from the Apple Store. It came in a white box. This was NOT an exchange. Are you saying I may have purchased a $849 refurbished phone?
the white boxes that the replacement phones come in are thin and only house the phone. your purchase came in the retail box (which is now all white) that's much thicker and comes with headphones, a charger and lightning cable.
"Remanufactured"
The replacement units are an interesting thought, the handsets themselves are as such "brand new", but if a genius was to say this on the bar it would imply perhaps a 12 month warranty would come with it. Nor is the unit a refurbished one, refurbished ones are used but only for replacement programs while original handsets are sent away.
To answer your question, the handsets are new as such and are made with older components smelted down and remoulded which in every way makes a completely new handset but its classed as a "re-Manufactured" unit, this term is strictly used as the new unit comes with only a 90 day warranty.
Its also worth knowing the white boxes are used to save costs since no profit is made from paid swaps.
The replacement units are an interesting thought, the handsets themselves are as such "brand new", but if a genius was to say this on the bar it would imply perhaps a 12 month warranty would come with it. Nor is the unit a refurbished one, refurbished ones are used but only for replacement programs while original handsets are sent away.
To answer your question, the handsets are new as such and are made with older components smelted down and remoulded which in every way makes a completely new handset but its classed as a "re-Manufactured" unit, this term is strictly used as the new unit comes with only a 90 day warranty.
Its also worth knowing the white boxes are used to save costs since no profit is made from paid swaps.
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Hang on a minute? You do get a mint replacement whether it is a refurb or a brand new phone. It is only the internals that may be from other devices as the exterior is brand new. It doesn't matter as you still get a fully functional phone when replaced anyway. For all you know the refurb parts may have had less use than a babied 2 month old device in any case.
When a unit gets handed in much of it is destroyed, the RAM, Storage, Battery and camera can't be used again due to data protection. The outer shell can't be reused due to obvious signs of wear, because the left over components are so few they're melted and replaced, the replacement unit you'd receive is new. Its just not classed as "brand new"
Where are you getting this from? There are numerous reliable reports that the refurbs indeed use the same storage and how that affects privacy.
I'm not sure why you keep insisting this is true. Here's Apple's official statement about refurbished products:
https://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/apple_certified.html
Each Apple Certified Refurbished Product:
is fully tested (including full burn-in testing).
is refurbished with replacement parts for any defective modules identified in testing.
is put through a thorough cleaning process and inspection.
is repackaged (including appropriate manuals, cables, new boxes, etc.).
includes the operating software originally shipped with the unit and the custom software offered with that system. See each products "Learn More" for more details.
is given a new refurbished part number and serial number.
is placed into a Final QA inspection prior to being added to sellable refurbished stock.
Refurbishment procedures follow the same basic technical guidelines as Apple's Finished Goods testing procedures.
I received a 'new' refurbished iPhone that was badly scratched on the display (which I immediately returned).
We've had this conversation before and I'm not sure why you insist on continuing to spread false information.
Apple's white box replacement iPhones are not Certified Refurbished as you can't even buy them on the online Apple Store. However, they do replace the battery and outer shell on their Certified Refurbished iPods and iPads, which you can purchase.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipod
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad
People have gotten factory-induced "badly scratched" iPhone out of the retail box so your experience doesn't mean that a previous customer scratched it and they simply decided to repackage it.
From a call I had with AppleCare, he said they don't do refurbished iPhones. People just don't want it. Even if it's a returned in sealed box, they still have to open it and take it apart, otherwise they can't be sure it hasn't been tempered with. I'm sure they reuse parts, but like others said, new screen, battery, etc.
thats for when you buy things from the site under refurbished. that does not apply for phones replaced at the genius bar.
And even the iDevices (iPods and iPads) that you do buy from the site under refurbished do get a brand new battery and outer shell, as mentioned in the aforementioned links.
Got my replacement yesterday. It's not new. Has 5 cycles on the battery and I have the crescent moon problem with the FaceTime camera. I'll be sending this one back. Hopefully third time is the charm!
Did you restore from a backup? A bunch of things including talk/standby times get transfered over when restoring from a backup. Brand new retail box iPhone 6 units are also plagued with the crescent moon front camera issue so that problem isn't indicative of a used iPhone.
I did restore from a backup but my last new iPhone was on cycle 8 (started at 1) and this one was on 5. Pretty sure the battery cycle count doesn't get reset with a restore. I've never seen it before as I've restored my i5 and i4 many times and the cycle count always stayed the same. Also I checked the serial number and it was week 39. One week older than my original phone which was week 40. So I'm thinking this replacement is not new! I never said I thought it wasn't new because of the crescent moon thing either. Maybe someone sent it in because of the moon thing and they "fixed" it and it got knocked around during shipping again or something! Maybe it was always like that a returned for another reason. Either way the apple techs sealing the white box missed the camera defect.
I emailed the apple guy who was overseeing my case about the previous repair (bad screen) and he said the crescent moon not normal or acceptable. I can do the express replacement if I have a credit card or do the ship in repair thing again. I have the i4 and i5 and they were initially great with no problems like this. Maybe my good luck has just run out!
So what makes you think it didn't come from a batch of iPhone 6 that were manufactured before preorder and made their way into white box replacements? The crescent moon issue would afflict both retail box and white box replacement units equally especially if produced around the same time.
You and others are reading too much into this and trying too hard to convince yourself that whatever defective iPhone you got must be used.
Like I said. The fact that the battery had some cycles on it is all. Every other new iphone I've had the battery cycle started at 0 or 1. This one had 5. Somebody used it. Or at least the battery was used... Then put into a brand new phone?...
I'll let others who are more knowledgeable than I am to address as to the possible cause of this. However, there have been a few incidents where customers' brand new retail box iPhone 6 units accidentally activated while still at the factory and they of course arrived out of the box already activated and with some cycles on the battery. And of course those same people came here crying that they were sent a used iPhone in the retail box.
Or...it was tested as part of the refurb process, which would be normal and expected.