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Warranty replacement didn't come from a sealed iPhone box... Refurbished???

A

ap3604

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 11, 2011
1,929
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I went to the Genius bar to get my iPhone 4S replaced yesterday due to terrible battery life.

The genius looked at my usage screenshots and said "sure". So he went to the back and brought out an iPhone that was in a dark green thin looking box that snapped together.

I asked him "is that a refurbished unit?" and he said it wasn't that it's brand new. But if the iPhone is brand new then shouldn't it come from an official sealed Apple box?

Only reason I ask is because the "new" one he gave me has the exact same battery problems as the original...
 
ap3604 said:
I went to the Genius bar to get my iPhone 4S replaced yesterday due to terrible battery.

The genius looked at my usage screenshots and said "sure". So he went to the back and brought out an iPhone that was in a dark green thin looking box that snapped together.

I asked him "is that a refurbished unit?" and he said it wasn't that it's brand new. But if the iPhone is brand new then shouldn't it come from an official sealed Apple box?

Only reason I ask is because the "new" one he gave me has the exact same battery problems as the original...
Click to expand...

I would think it's a refurb, right?
 
could be a refurb, but surely it cant be a refurb this close to release? My bet is that it is a new unit and that Apple stores get stock for brand new in box and new replacements for issues just like this.
 
Pez555 said:
could be a refurb, but surely it cant be a refurb this close to release? My bet is that it is a new unit and that Apple stores get stock for brand new in box and new replacements for issues just like this.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this close to release of new product all replacements are technically new, whether brown box or not. In a month, it could be either.
 
ap3604 said:
I went to the Genius bar to get my iPhone 4S replaced yesterday due to terrible battery life.

The genius looked at my usage screenshots and said "sure". So he went to the back and brought out an iPhone that was in a dark green thin looking box that snapped together.

I asked him "is that a refurbished unit?" and he said it wasn't that it's brand new. But if the iPhone is brand new then shouldn't it come from an official sealed Apple box?

Only reason I ask is because the "new" one he gave me has the exact same battery problems as the original...
Click to expand...

you my friend just receive a refurb
 
So you guys who say it's a refurb are telling the OP that Apple...Since 10/14 has already taken peoples replacements, shipped them all the way back to repair, repaired the replacements, then shipped them all over the US/world for Refurbs.

ALL in just over a week?

Yeah right, OP you got a brand new one. My good friend who works at Apple says his store usually gets "replacements" 4 weeks after releases.


Could be that every store is different though.

I see the big stores like NYC or SF getting the refurbs the fastest in my opinion.
 
Refurbished for sure.
They are trained not to call it "refurbished" but call it "replacement".
 
ap3604 said:
I went to the Genius bar to get my iPhone 4S replaced yesterday due to terrible battery life.

The genius looked at my usage screenshots and said "sure". So he went to the back and brought out an iPhone that was in a dark green thin looking box that snapped together.

I asked him "is that a refurbished unit?" and he said it wasn't that it's brand new. But if the iPhone is brand new then shouldn't it come from an official sealed Apple box?

Only reason I ask is because the "new" one he gave me has the exact same battery problems as the original...
Click to expand...

maybe different type of serial# compare to new one?
 
When a product launches Apple supply each store with brand new units for replacement, then as they begin refurbing phones slowly refurbs trickle into the line. Any replacement you'll get for a 4S will be brand new for at least a month, until Apple start supplying refurbs not brand new units.
 
samven582 said:
you my friend just receive a refurb
Click to expand...

andyx3x said:
I would think it's a refurb, right?
Click to expand...
As others have indicated the current warranty replacement units are brand new. If the battery issue is common to the first batch of phones or is a software issue as some have reported then the warranty units would behave the same way as your original iPhone 4S. They don't come from some magic supply. :eek:

In a few months you should expect to see remanufactured warranty replacement units begin to appear in the Apple store. The only way you might know is based on the Serial number changing to begin with a 5K.

Apple used to use sealed brown boxes but in an effor to go green they have switched to reusable packaging for the warranty units.

If you purchased from the Apple store directly, you have an option in the first 30 days to return your iPhone and get a new retail packaged iPhone as an exchange but this depends on the store stock and varies by store.

So don't worry about getting a warranty phone from a generic package since that's what you would get on day 31+ regardless of where you purchased the iPhone. The only worry about getting a warranty replacement is if you plan to return your iPhone. If you are thinking about returning your iPhone don't get a warranty replacement, just return the phone. :eek:

Dave
 
dave006 said:
The only way you might know is based on the Serial number changing to begin with a 5K.

Dave
Click to expand...

Not the case anymore!!!
I got my iPhone 4 replaced last week and the serial begins with QR. They have changed the numbering system.
 
Why do people care if they are refurbished?

All refurbished units have:
  • A brand new battery
  • A brand new front and back glass panel
  • Either a new, or polished to remove scratches, antenna
  • The screen is changed if the phone was replaced for bleeding, dead pixel, or related issues
  • Any other faulty components are replaced
And after all of this, the phone is completely tested to exactly the same standard as a brand new unit.

Getting a refurb doesn't matter!

:rolleyes:
 
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