Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

AlphaDogg

macrumors 68040
Original poster
May 20, 2010
3,417
7
Ypsilanti, MI
The other day, I was with my mom, getting a new 32gb black AT&T iPhone 5. I already had a white 32gb (since launch day), and decided I wanted to switch to black. Since my mom wanted a white 32gb, I told her that if she bought a black 32gb, we could switch. She agreed... So anyway, we were at bestbuy and the clerk could not get the iPhone to activate. After about an hour and a half, she finally checked in settings and the serial number, IMEI, ICCID (sim card number) were all mismatched to the box. I immediately said I want a new phone. The clerk was very understanding and grabbed a new one out of inventory. She was immediately able to get it to activate with no problems.

So I'm just wondering... Has this happened to anyone before? I've never heard of iPhones having serial numbers mismatched to the box. The box was sealed and there was no sign of tampering with the phone. It had the plastic covers on it and all.
 
Hm, that is really strange, I've never heard of that happening with a phone out of a sealed box. Thankfully the clerk was able to swap it out for a fully functioning SN matching iPhone 5, though :D
 
Hm, that is really strange, I've never heard of that happening with a phone out of a sealed box. Thankfully the clerk was able to swap it out for a fully functioning SN matching iPhone 5, though :D

It happened at an authorized reseller. ( Best Buy )

Could be they had some phones opened and did the resealing themselves mixing up the two phones.

Years ago I bought something from that, got it home and it was clearly repacked and resealed.

Took it back and had a bit of difficulty proving it to them until I asked the manager if he would get a new one off the shelf.

When he brought it back we compared the shrink wrap on the two packages and it was obvious the box I returned had been resealed by someone other than the OEM.
 
Is this the iPhone your mommy bought you on the 18th? Were you just sitting around wondering what to post and you came up with this wacky story? It is wacky, quite frankly.

Has this happened to anyone else? Who knows but it seems as though the phone should have been able to be activated regardless of what the box said.
 
Is this the iPhone your mommy bought you on the 18th? Were you just sitting around wondering what to post and you came up with this wacky story? It is wacky, quite frankly.

Has this happened to anyone else? Who knows but it seems as though the phone should have been able to be activated regardless of what the box said.

I paid for the white one myself, but decided I didn't like it anymore. I figured it was the perfect opportunity when my mom told me that she wanted a 32gb white for me to could get a 32gb black. I do not appreciate your condescending tone.

I've been super busy all week, and didn't have time to type out a whole story. This is a legit story. This is the week before winter break, so I've been assigned essays and assessments left and right.

The clerk scanned the box to enter the numbers in AT&T's system to get it activated. Since the ICCID (aka PUK code) on the SIM inside the phone differed from the one printed on the box, another SIM card was activated instead of the one inside the phone. This SIM was deactivated once the replacement was activated.

----------

Didn't like the white one anymore?

I think the black anodized back is way more visually pleasing than the silver back. I did, however, like the white trim around the screen.
 
I think the black anodized back is way more visually pleasing than the silver back. I did, however, like the white trim around the screen.

I have a black iphone but sometimes when I see a white one, I like it enough to regret buying a black one. But then sometimes, I see a white one and think how much more I like my black one.

Well, good thing I'm not due for an upgrade until summer. :)
 
So it seems that this was a fluke. It wasn't repackaged or anything.

I guess that means that there are at least 2 32gb black AT&T iPhone 5s that are mismatched.
 
The other day, I was with my mom, getting a new 32gb black AT&T iPhone 5. I already had a white 32gb (since launch day), and decided I wanted to switch to black. Since my mom wanted a white 32gb, I told her that if she bought a black 32gb, we could switch. She agreed... So anyway, we were at bestbuy and the clerk could not get the iPhone to activate. After about an hour and a half, she finally checked in settings and the serial number, IMEI, ICCID (sim card number) were all mismatched to the box. I immediately said I want a new phone. The clerk was very understanding and grabbed a new one out of inventory. She was immediately able to get it to activate with no problems.

So I'm just wondering... Has this happened to anyone before? I've never heard of iPhones having serial numbers mismatched to the box. The box was sealed and there was no sign of tampering with the phone. It had the plastic covers on it and all.
[doublepost=1546954078][/doublepost]

Hi,

its happened with me sealed box of iphone xs max 256gb . serial no and iemi both different compare to its box.
if someone solve that issue please reply.
thanks
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.