Question about replacement iphone 5

[prism]

I had an issue with the power button of my 6 month old iphone 5, so I took it to the apple store and they did a white box exchange. I asked the "genius" if the replacement was new or refurbished to which he said brand new. I thought replacements were refurbished. I quickly did a chipmunk search on the serial and it gave me a production month of July 2013. Are white boxes new or refurbished?
TIA

 

[3rd Rock]

Either....We don't have absolute proof, but some have refurbished and a few stated they got new iphones.

 

[Rocko1]

Replacements are in white boxes even on day 1 after launch.

 

[Applejuiced]

What difference does it make?

 

[itjw]

What difference does it make?

It doesn't. But it drives the OCD crowd NUTS because even though they can't tell the difference it bugs the crap out of them (that they might not have a "brand new factory fresh" phone), even though one was NEVER promised to them for warranty work.

I really can't wait to see the reactions when Apple starts taking people's devices apart in store. All of sudden I bet they'll be begging for one of those "so perfect I can't tell if it's a refurb or not" refurb instead of getting a new screen on their old one.

 

[dictoresno]

July 2013. Are white boxes new or refurbished?
TIA

so the phone was made in the future and you think it may be refurbed?

And white box replacements are new phones set aside just for replacements as far as I've heard.

 

[rican]

I always thought they are 'refurbished,' but treated and fixed to brand new quality.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Remanufactured, not refurbished.

"A remanufactured good is a returned product that a manufacturer puts through its manufacturing process, or remanufactures, to restore to a good-as-new condition.

A refurbished good is a returned product that is tested and has some nonworking parts replaced if the manufacturer deems this necessary to restore the product to working condition."

 

[dejo]

Mod Note: This thread is closed for now to clean up all the off-topic bickering. When it reopens, please remain civil.