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Who has the first refurbished iPhone 4?

Black.Infinity said:
i exchanged mine too on Friday and the guy took my iphone out of a black box and then put my old one into that box and i even asked him if it is a refurbished one or not and he said they do not have one yet so all are brand new and here is my replacement serial id 5k02xxxxxxx
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He probably didn't notice (or know about) the 5K serial number and used the same old line that was previously true (that all replacement iPhones were new rather than refurbs). All refurbs start with 5K.

Aboo said:
its not necessarily safe to post your serial number in a public forum.
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Yet you quoted his post and didn't edit out the full serial number :confused:

zerix said:
my phones serial number begins with a 7, what does this mean?
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It's new.
 
Hey there from Germany.

I just got my iP4 replaced causing an issue with the brightness sensor.
The new one i got started with serial 7S. Everyone tells me that it must be a refurbished one but concerning to your answer only the 5K are refurbished ones ?

Everything works fine with it now and the receiption is even better than the one before.
 
SVT Amateur said:
I'm getting a refurbished one but I have to wait a week for them to get them in stock. My brand new iPhone I got this past week has a defective camera.
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If your iPhone is brand new why not just return it and repurchase another new one? That's what I'd do--not that there is anything wrong with a refurb.
 
Replacement Yesterday

Im on my third iPhone 4. First one had poor wifi signal. Second one had yellow blobs on bottom which didn't fade and my third iPhone is a refurb according to this thread. Serial number starts with 5K. Bit disappointed since i was told it was brand new.

Iv been told that with refurbs, the defective parts have been changed and also they change the exterior components such as the LCD and the back panel so there will be no scratches etc. Im assuming they change the metal antenna as well.

Im in the UK
 
I've got a refurb as well 2 days ago. So far it is miles better that the one I swapped it for.

I had orange tint on both cameras and very poor battery life. This one has amazing battery life and photos come out normal now. Also my screen seems to have much better contrast. I do believe that refurbs might be better than new as most iPhones are being swapped mainly for the same issues and those issues are ironed out and tested in the refurbs.
 
the only thing that is annoying me on my refurb is the signal issue. On 3G i drop bars but i even drop bars when im not on 3G now. With my old iPhone 4, when i covered up the antenna, i wouldnt drop bars when i was NOT on 3G, but now i do :-:)mad:

Is this the same with everyone else, regardless if your on 3G or not?
 
The mic stopped working on my iP4 purchased on release day. So yesterday I went to the 5th Av Apple store and the Genius dude said he'd replace it. Now, being a MR scout and having read all about replacement phones I asked,

"Is the replacement phone going to be a new phone or a refurbished one? I've read much about it and need to know what I'm getting."

And he said,

"These are phones we've been given since release day to replace defective ones. They have NEVER been used before."

Those are exact words and notice he didn't use the word NEW. Also, the replacement iP4 came in a gray plastic box. After inspecting the phone I didn't find a single indication that would suggest that it was used before. However my serial number now starts with 5K.

I've got no problem with refurbished apple products. But if the dude lied after I specifically asked him about it then he's a real duche...
 
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GadgetAddict said:
The mic stopped working on my iP4 purchased on release day. So yesterday I went to the 5th Av Apple store and the Genius dude said he'd replace it. Now, being a MR scout and having read all about replacement phones I asked,

"Is the replacement phone going to be a new phone or a refurbished one? I've read much about it and need to know what I'm getting."

And he said,

"These are phones we've been given since release day to replace defective ones. They have NEVER been used before."

Those are exact words and notice he didn't use the word NEW. Also, the replacement iP4 came in a gray plastic box. After inspecting the phone I didn't find a single indication that would suggest that it was used before. However my serial number now starts with 5K.

I've got no problem with refurbished apple products. But if the dude lied after I specifically asked him about it then he's a real duche...
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He probably didn't know any better, especially if the manager didn't inform him. A 5K does not scream "I'm a refurb" compared to "new" replacement 7 or 8s that they've been passing out for weeks.
 
According to Nathan C., an Apple employee who actively posts on the Apple Discussion Boards, 5K does not necessarily denote a refurb. His post.

There have also been a few posts on the ADB from users who claim to have gotten a 5K iPhone, brand new out of the box. Not sure if it is true or not.

The new vs refurb debate always seems to catch a fire when a new iPhone is released. No matter what, Apple refurbs have always been great and it is true that they go through even more QA than a factory-born one.

Believe me, I understand the compulsion to want a "new" phone and not a refurb. I definitely have a touch of OCD when it comes to my iPhone that has thankfully lessend over the years. There really is nothing to be afraid of, when it comes to iPhone refurbs, other than that little voice in the back of your head that tells you there is... :)
 
Mikey B said:
According to Nathan C., an Apple employee who actively posts on the Apple Discussion Boards, 5K does not necessarily denote a refurb. His post.

There have also been a few posts on the ADB from users who claim to have gotten a 5K iPhone, brand new out of the box. Not sure if it is true or not.
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Interesting, but nobody before me (August 5th) has received a 5K replacement or rather, they haven't responded to this thread. The timing of all replacements starting with 7 or 8 before August 5th and an increasing number of 5K replacements after this date strongly suggests that 5K denotes a refurb.
 
I got a replacement yesterday because my iphone 4 had a rattling sound like something was loose inside. I've read that it's due to the autofocus mechanism and a variety of other possibilities, but it bugged me, so I got it replaced. Anyway, the new one doesn't rattle, but it has the 5K as the first two numbers with a build week 32. I'm happy with it. At least it doesn't sound like a BB is rolling around inside it...for now. :)

I could have returned the iRattle and purchased a new one since it was within 30 days, but I was worried that my unlimited data plan would get hosed. I had to return my launch day iPhone 4 because of the proximity sensor to AT&T, who reset my account and said that my grandfathered data plan was intact. When I purchased the new replacement at the Apple store, I didn't have the option for the unlimited plan: I had to spend a lot of time on the phone arguing with AT&T to restore my data plan, so I didn't want to risk that again.
 
i went into apple store today and got a refund on mine then bought another one.
refurbished isnt an option.
 
Kinda long story sorry.....but I don't trust what I was told.

I had issues with my wifi reception (Iphone 4 bought on 9/16/10 from AT&T local store). They ( The new Apple store in Spokane, WA) tested it and said they would replace it if I was still not happy. They just wanted me to go home and restore in DFU mode. I did and still no luck. They replaced it with a black box phone and serial number starts with 5k. I asked if it was a new phone and the genius bar tech said its better than a new phone cause its been gone thru and the glass and board had been replaced. I'm still within my 30 day of purchase as of 10/11/10. The new phone works great but my issue is that if I wanted a refurb phone I would have bought a refurb phone from AT&T for $50.00 less. Not a huge issue to me if I wasn't still in my 30 day purchase period. Everyone says the refurbs are so great, thats fine than give me back my 216$ and I'll order a refurbished phone for $149.00. Im cool with a refurbished phone, I'm stuck with one now anyways.

Went back to Apple store tonight and the store manager and their expert genius guy from another store told me they could not do a retail swap cause my old phone had already been sent back to where ever ( to get refurbished i'm sure ) and they 100% assured me that a 5k serial number is not a refurbished phone. He said its a brand new phone. I questioned him about what the other genius guys said when he replaced it ( new glass new board and better than new ) and he said they would have to reprimand him for telling me that cause its not true.

The only other issue I have with my NEW 5K phone is that there is that stupid phone tracker spy gadget app on my phone now. I have never or would never buy that app. Must have been the last person who owned the phone who bought it.

Im not happy with Apple.
 
When I went to exchange 2 week old phone yesterday due to some issues and I noticed he took it out of a black "sealed" box *I noticed previous seals on the box*. I asked if I'm getting a new one, not a refurbished and he said it was new. He noted that they just send them in those boxes for "straight trades".

mine starts with a 5K aswell
 
Yeah I was just told the Same thing Saturday, That they don't have refurbs and only ATT does that.

I also have a 5k.

But if its a refurb im surprised they changed it because I have a new Proximity Sensor in mine compared to my old one, shape is absolutely different.
 
Got mine replaced yesterday...got an iphone from a black box, not sure if it's a refurb or not. Apple tech support told me over the phone that they don't have refurbs yet. I think in some ways, considering the multitude of issues an ip4 could /potentially/ have, a refurb is almost better with regard to the testing that it undergoes. My new phone is perfect, as far as I can tell. The sleep/power button wiggles ever so slightly, but it has a very nice solid click, whereas my old one felt like a rocker switch because it was so sticky.
 
They're not refurbished, they are REMANUFACTURED

That's right, there is a difference.

A refurb would be the TV that was returned to Best Buy, sent for repair and fixed, tested, and then sold at a discount. It would have any physical imperfections like scuffs scrapes that the original owner had done to it in the presumably short time the owner had it in their possession.

A remanufactured iPhone is brand new everything except for the main board with the A4 on it. This main board will be one that was fully tested and passed the test as "new"...

I'm honestly not sure if the camera is mounted to this board as well, but the main board is the most valuable part on the device, and so, if I bring in my launch day iPhone 4 for a bad home button issue, and walk out with a clean 5K like I did the other day at Apple 5th Ave NYC, how am I worse off now, my home button works like a champ!

Think of it another way.

I purchased a brand new item that had a component fail within the warranty period. What should a manufacturer do in this case? We can all agree that they should fix it, right? Free of charge, too, dammit, its under the 1 year warranty!

So, would we all prefer Apple to take our phone for a week, open up our phone, diagnose the problem on our phone,, carefully remove the home button on our phone at the Apple Store repair room, replace the bad part with a new one, test it, then call us up to come pick up our phone at the store when the repair job is complete? I dont think so!

So instead, they give us a different iPhone that tests and looks as new. Remember that big scratch you put on the front when you were wasted that one night??? Well, it ain't related to your headphone jack going kaput, so guess what— NEW SCRATCH-FREE iPHONE 4! Sweet!

Anyway, you see my point. I know it feels weird to get the dreaded and much maligned 5K, but really, would you prefer your original prone to failure "loser" iPhone 4, just fixed up with a single new part? What's the difference in the end?

Be bummed that your phone wasn't rock solid from the factory that churns out 130,000 of these things a day (hey, **** happens), but not because of the fresh 5K ride you got now. :)

Are 5K's "better" than a Foxconn factory new phone as some say? I’m not sure, but what I do know is, if your iPhone was broken and now it ain't, then the answer is most certainly yes. :)
 
The thing I never understand about this discussion is why people think they should get a brand new phone. Does your car manufacturer give you a brand new car when you come in for warranty work? Of course not. Hell, do you get a brand new mac if your HD goes out? No, they fix it. Generally over the course of a sometimes extended period of time.

This solution sends you out the door with a working phone, problem resolved. Essentially, you ARE having the repair done, you just don't have to wait for it, because once the repair is complete, it goes to someone else.

From my understanding, I don't think it's fair to compare an AT&T refurb for sale, and one of the Apple units, correctly identified above as Remanufactured. I think AT&T is just making sure returns have no visible issues, weren't returned due to defect, and making sure they've been restored. Apples are all rebuilt completely.

Even if your phone was just a few days old, the replacement phone being given is still arguably more "new" than the one you came in with. And it doesn't have a problem.
 
5K indicates the specific Chinese factory. This factory refurbs Apples phones but not all phones that come from this factory are refurbs so 5K does not necessarily indicate a refurb.
I'd rather have a 5K Apple refurb with a 12 month warranty than a regular serial number AT&T (outsourced) refurb that has a 90 day warranty.
 
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I'm on my second replacement.
 
crawsfire said:
5K indicates the specific Chinese factory. This factory refurbs Apples phones but not all phones that come from this factory are refurbs so 5K does not necessarily indicate a refurb.
I'd rather have a 5K Apple refurb with a 12 month warranty than a regular serial number AT&T (outsourced) refurb that has a 90 day warranty.
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My cousin just bought an AT&T refurb iPhone 4 from their website ($149) on Oct 2nd, but the serial number was originally registered on August 31st. Both Apple and AT&T told her that the iPhone is under warranty until Oct 2nd (1 year), but it in the system it will show that the warranty will expire on Aug 31st, 2011. If anything goes wrong with her iPhone between Sept 1st - Oct 1st, she must bring a printed copy of her receipt that shows that she bought it on Oct 2nd, and Apple will accept it.

She also has the option to buy Apple Care to extend her warranty.
 
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