iPhone 11 Pro The “Genius“ Bar

[gbf]

There is a lot of debate and a lot of different answers when the question is posed as to what kind of phone you get a the Genius Bar.

refurbished? Never touched? Brand new just not in the OEM box? Everything inside is refurbished but the entire housing is brand new?

I would love to hear the real truth as you can’t get it from Apple.


Thoughts?

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Reconditioned

 

[gbf]

What does that mean? I hate their adjectives that mean absolutely nothing.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

There is no one, or official, definition of it, but AFAIK it is one of these two:
1) A “like new” device with genuine Apple replacement parts (as needed) that has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Reconditioned iOS devices will come with new battery and outer shell.
[Copy/pasted with edits from Apple's refurb page]
2) A new device in a white box

 

[gbf]

Go to an Apple store or call Apple directly and you will get 5 different answers.

 

[blaine07]

Was always told a reconditioned device or one for Apple Care+ swap from Apple Store was a new housing as far as phones but can’t confirm validity of that.

 

[Freakonomics101]

Was always told a reconditioned device or one for Apple Care+ swap from Apple Store was a new housing as far as phones but can’t confirm validity of that.

I would assume so but only if the housing doesn’t have signs of damage, even a tiny chip.

 

[eyoungren]

There is a lot of debate and a lot of different answers when the question is posed as to what kind of phone you get a the Genius Bar.

Where?

This question has been rehashed and answered several times since I joined this forum and that was 2011. God knows how many times it was answered before. There is no debate.

Apple calls it 'remanufactured'.

You get:

A new battery
A new casing
A new screen
Stringent testing of all other parts beyond what Apple tests new devices at. Any parts that fail are replaced.
A 90 day warranty on everything. This will extend your AC+ by 90 days if you're at the end of it.

 

[gbf]

Really? Call Apple here in New York City and ask them what you get. Remanufactured isn’t a term they will ever use.

 

[AustinIllini]

Go to an Apple store or call Apple directly and you will get 5 different answers.

Whatever is on their website is in writing and is likely the most likely answer.

I have never had any problem with Apple refurbs. They refurbish their own products better than anyone else.

 

[eyoungren]

Really? Call Apple here in New York City and ask them what you get. Remanufactured isn’t a term they will ever use.

This is from 2009: https://www.engadget.com/2009/11/01/think-those-warranty-parts-are-new-think-again/

Current lawsuit against Apple (PDF) used the term 'remanufactured': https://regmedia.co.uk/2019/09/18/3-16-cv-04067-who_apple_class_cert_order.pdf

You can call it refurb if you want, even the geniuses will call it that (although they are supposed to say replacements are new). But officially, Apple calls it remanufactured.

The difference is that refurbs are simply reconditioned while remanufactured devices are rebuilt to new device requirements.

 

[AppleHaterLover]

You will get a refurbished device, except when stock is low - then you’ll get a new device. Both are interchangeable for Genius Bar purposes, come in the same white box and you wouldn’t know the difference.

In some countries, consumer laws prevent Apple from conducting repairs with used parts (technically a full phone replacement is a repair), so it’s always a new phone in a white box.

Personally I don’t care too much - I had a refurbished iPhone 4 back in the day and it was A-OK.

 

[44267547]

Really? Call Apple here in New York City and ask them what you get. Remanufactured isn’t a term they will ever use.

Weird, because remanufactured and refurbished is pretty similar terminology. Now, Apple obviously uses refurbished for all their devices, but I believe the reason they don’t want to use ‘remanufactured’ as a term, is because a lot of of other tech companies use this term universally, plus, Apple likes to...’think different’.

 

[brucemr]

In USA....Apple website..

1a) Limited 1 yr warranty:

”..replace the Apple Product with the same model (or with your consent a product that has similar functionality) formed from new and/or previously used parts that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability.”


1b) Apple Care +

”...exchange the Covered Equipment with a replacement product that is new or equivalent to new in performance and reliability. All replacement products provided under this Plan will at a minimum be functionally equivalent to the original product”


2) And for “Certified Refurbished” devices sold on Apple website:

”...a “like new” device with genuine Apple replacement parts (as needed) that has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Refurbished iOS devices will come with new battery and outer shell. Every device will come with all accessories, cables and operating systems.


So, Apple officially calls them a “Replacement” for warranty claims, and ”Refurbished” for used devices they sell. It does not really matter what people at Apple store call them. The text above is what you get in each situation.

Wording is similar for the 2 warranty types, and significantly different for the Refurbished devices. They have large leeway on the warranty replacements, while less so on the Refurbished phones they sell.

Nothing specifically said about the battery, or case, or about cosmetics, for the warranty Replacements.

In neither do they mention a new screen.

 

[Janeilfen]

Weird, because remanufactured and refurbished is pretty similar terminology. Now, Apple obviously uses refurbished for all their devices, but I believe the reason they don’t want to use ‘remanufactured’ as a term, is because a lot of of other tech companies use this term universally, plus, Apple likes to...’think different’.

Ah, yes. "Apple likes to...’think different’" . Like using the word "Genius"? Never met one yet.

 

[Strangedream]

Ah, yes. "Apple likes to...’think different’" . Like using the word "Genius"? Never met one yet.

The geniuses all work at Apple marketing team not in retail ...