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ThatiPhoneKid

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 15, 2017
984
665
hi

I have an old iPhone 7 I have hardly used and want to give it to someone for their birthday and want to make it look brand new, I’m wondering if can reseal the plastic pull tab shrink wrap, I’ve tried but it’s pretty hard to get it all perfect, does anyone know how to do this? Thanks
 

44267547

Cancelled
Jul 12, 2016
37,643
42,522
Kind of strange. You want to gift an iPhone 7 that’s used to someone that knows it’s used, but you want to make it look new? Anyways, Apple designed the shrink wrap on the iPhone to be fairly complicated to reseal for those purposes exactly, once it’s opened, you likely would never be able to get it back exactly the way it once was without being detected, at least where it wouldn’t tear.
 
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ThatiPhoneKid

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 15, 2017
984
665
Kind of strange. You want to gift an iPhone 7 that’s used to someone that knows it’s used, but you want to make it look new? Anyways, Apple designed the shrink wrap on the iPhone to be fairly complicated to reseal for those purposes exactly, once it’s opened, you likely would never be able to get it back exactly the way it once was without being detected, at least where it wouldn’t tear.

I actually got it a couple of years back when the iPhone 7 was just released and had a screen protector and case on it all the time I owned it. I'm sure they’ve never really paid any attention to me using it but if they have I don’t really care just wanted to make it look all nice and fresh for them. I’ve had so many iPhones and this one was actually one of my favourites because it was all black. Hopefully they’ll appreciate the gift
 

a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Sep 3, 2009
1,436
111
I actually got it a couple of years back when the iPhone 7 was just released and had a screen protector and case on it all the time I owned it. I'm sure they’ve never really paid any attention to me using it but if they have I don’t really care just wanted to make it look all nice and fresh for them. I’ve had so many iPhones and this one was actually one of my favourites because it was all black. Hopefully they’ll appreciate the gift
That's not an excuse, if you want your friend to experience the awesomeness of an iPhone, why don't you purchase an Apple gift card with a substantial amount on it? Who knows? Maybe they don't want your old iPhone 7. Maybe they're not even into :apple: products like we are and who's to say something unforeseen is going to happen to it when its in his possession that renders it an expensive paperweight like what my first iPhone did?
 

Kendo

macrumors 68020
Apr 4, 2011
2,249
708
I think everyone is being overly sensitive about this. I gift used products all the time, especially to my parents who are the benefactors whenever I upgrade my phone. I too like keeping things in mint condition and making it look brand new to make it more exciting to open. Even used phones I buy from eBay and Craigslist have completionist sellers who send their phones wrapped up in the original wrap even though it isn't a perfect fit.
 
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Mlrollin91

macrumors G5
Nov 20, 2008
14,085
10,067
I think everyone is being overly sensitive about this. I gift used products all the time, especially to my parents who are the benefactors whenever I upgrade my phone. I too like keeping things in mint condition and making it look brand new to make it more exciting to open. Even used phones I buy from eBay and Craigslist have completionist sellers who send their phones wrapped up in the original wrap even though it isn't a perfect fit.
The difference is, the OP wants to make it look brand new. Thats just wrong. They are trying to misrepresent it as being a brand new device. On eBay you know you are buying a used device. Even though it is wrapped to appear as new, you know it's not.
 
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Kendo

macrumors 68020
Apr 4, 2011
2,249
708
The difference is, the OP wants to make it look brand new. Thats just wrong. They are trying to misrepresent it as being a brand new device. On eBay you know you are buying a used device. Even though it is wrapped to appear as new, you know it's not.

Well based on post number 4, it appears someone told him that he's trying to gift a used iPhone to someone that knows it is used. And his response was that he's trying to make it all nice and fresh for them.

Again, I am not interpreting the OP as trying to fake a used device as new, but rather he's trying to gift a used device but make it look all "nice and fresh". I do that all the time, even when I sell a used iPad to a buyer, I wipe it all clean, wrap up the lightning cable as best I could and put it into it's storage slot, and re-wrap the iPad in the original pull tab plastic wrap.
 
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BigMcGuire

Cancelled
Jan 10, 2012
9,832
14,002
I think everyone is being overly sensitive about this. I gift used products all the time, especially to my parents who are the benefactors whenever I upgrade my phone. I too like keeping things in mint condition and making it look brand new to make it more exciting to open. Even used phones I buy from eBay and Craigslist have completionist sellers who send their phones wrapped up in the original wrap even though it isn't a perfect fit.

I think they're this way because of the OP's posting history. That's my guess anyway.
 

ThatiPhoneKid

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 15, 2017
984
665
That's not an excuse, if you want your friend to experience the awesomeness of an iPhone, why don't you purchase an Apple gift card with a substantial amount on it? Who knows? Maybe they don't want your old iPhone 7. Maybe they're not even into :apple: products like we are and who's to say something unforeseen is going to happen to it when its in his possession that renders it an expensive paperweight like what my first iPhone did?

They wanted an iPhone 7 though and i’m being nice enough to gift them one that cost me a lot of money, why would I give them a gift card to buy an iPhone when I already have one in pristine condition I can give them? All I asked was how do I reseal an iPhone box, I never asked for your opinion on what I should gift someone I know much more about than you.
 
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BigMcGuire

Cancelled
Jan 10, 2012
9,832
14,002
They wanted an iPhone 7 though and i’m being nice enough to gift them one that cost me a lot of money, why would I give them a gift card to buy an iPhone when I already have one in pristine condition I can give them? All I asked was how do I reseal an iPhone box, I never asked for your opinion on what I should gift someone I know much more about than you.

Giving someone an iPhone 7 is pretty cool. Especially if it has been barely used. Like you, if I ever give someone something, I try to put it in original order as much as possible. But I won't go beyond putting it in a box with a nice cable/charger. :p I never use the Apple Stickers either, so those usually get thrown in too.
 
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a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Sep 3, 2009
1,436
111
They wanted an iPhone 7 though and i’m being nice enough to gift them one that cost me a lot of money, why would I give them a gift card to buy an iPhone when I already have one in pristine condition I can give them? All I asked was how do I reseal an iPhone box, I never asked for your opinion on what I should gift someone I know much more about than you.
I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was requested.
 

pika2000

Suspended
Jun 22, 2007
5,587
4,902
hi

I have an old iPhone 7 I have hardly used and want to give it to someone for their birthday and want to make it look brand new, I’m wondering if can reseal the plastic pull tab shrink wrap, I’ve tried but it’s pretty hard to get it all perfect, does anyone know how to do this? Thanks
You probably won’t be able to make it look perfect, but it’s not impossible. Many resellers in the gray market repacked iPhones on a regular basis.

Imo, don’t bother with the seal. Just give the phone nicely in its box.
 
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JPack

macrumors G4
Mar 27, 2017
11,500
20,831
Just buy a replacement sheet of plastic wrap. The membrane is widely available from parts resellers. It's only $0.50 or $1 per sheet.
 
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eoblaed

macrumors 68030
Apr 21, 2010
2,923
2,868
Just wrap it up in a nice velvet ribbon/bow thing. It'll look nice and fancy and be appreciated, I'm sure. I wouldn't worry about making it look brand new, anything you do will fall short and will look like a cheap attempt. Just embrace the fact that it's a gift, make it look special, and it should be all good.
 

AppleWes

macrumors 6502a
Oct 9, 2013
531
465
Use microfiber cloth to wipe down entire phone (similar to eyeglass lense cloths). That will do a good job taking away finger prints or any smudges/case lines. No need for all the plastic wrap, if you're honestly giving it to someone who knows it's used.

Although if you're not telling the full story obviously it's wrong and fraudulent to call it new.
 
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mrex

macrumors 68040
Jul 16, 2014
3,458
1,527
europe
why dont you just give the phone as a used without wrapping it? if you are going to give it as a new, then it would be a very odd situation when warranty is needed, right?
 
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