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Will apple store exchange defective iPad 2, even though it was bought from 3rd party

MrMac'n'Cheese

MrMac'n'Cheese

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 11, 2010
540
2
I bought my iPad 2 from B&H photo in NY.

It's plagued with the dreaded backlight bleeding and a couple dead pixels.

I'm from south jersey, my intent is to get it replaced, but I don't want to drive miles to the store, only to be turned away, does anyone who bought from a 3rd party or eBay have experience exchanging a defective iPad for a replacement at the Apple store itself.

My iPad 2 is Ver. White 64GB.
 
You should go to Apple website, click on "support," and look around for a link on getting in-warranty service. That should lead you to making a Genius Bar appointment at a store and time of your choice. Best way to guarantee you don't waste a trip.
 
blevins321 said:
Yep - and with the model that you bought, you probably have the highest odds of them having another one.
Click to expand...

No dice, I got back from my appointment the "genius," and I use the term lightly, needed the greater part of 20 minutes just to confirm there were dead pixels, which could be seen a mile away.........

They did not have any Verizon iPads in stock, so he had to order it, I was told about 2 weeks wait for it to come in.

So much for the claims they have a horde just for defect replacements..........

They'll call me once the (NEW??) one is in and I just bring in my old iPad 2 and work order, no wait or appointment needed, and they'll swap it on the spot.

I'm guessing I'll be getting a new replacement, not a brown box refurb, the genius said it does not matter where you buy the iPad.

Since it has to be ordered, am I safe in assuming the swap will be for a new one???
 
MrMac'n'Cheese said:
Since it has to be ordered, am I safe in assuming the swap will be for a new one???
Click to expand...

Not really. Returned iPads get shipped back to China to be tested, and have parts replaced as necessary, get a new serial number marking them as refurbs, before being handed out to people needing replacement iPads. When a product is first launched, they set aside a certain number of new ones in brown box packages to be used as replacements. They've obviously ran out of those. Whether they are making more new brown box replacements, or some of the returns will be ready to hand out by the time your "order" comes in, it's hard to say. Of course, there's always the chance they'll just pull out a retail-boxed one to give you. But that's not guaranteed.

But I wouldn't stress over it, I've had several iPod touches replaced, and they were all good as new. And you get the same warranty period as your original purchase.
 
Night Spring said:
Not really. Returned iPads get shipped back to China to be tested, and have parts replaced as necessary, get a new serial number marking them as refurbs, before being handed out to people needing replacement iPads. When a product is first launched, they set aside a certain number of new ones in brown box packages to be used as replacements. They've obviously ran out of those. Whether they are making more new brown box replacements, or some of the returns will be ready to hand out by the time your "order" comes in, it's hard to say. Of course, there's always the chance they'll just pull out a retail-boxed one to give you. But that's not guaranteed.

But I wouldn't stress over it, I've had several iPod touches replaced, and they were all good as new. And you get the same warranty period as your original purchase.
Click to expand...


Yeah I don't care if it's refurbished, as long as the quality matches my current iPad, which has been babied, ergo, it's brand new/excellent condition, so i don't want a refurb with scratches on the screen or dings on the back.
 
Since the iPad 2 is still very new and in short supply, you will almost 99.999% going to get a new "brown box" iPad 2 within the next several months. Even if it was a Apple refurbished unit later in the year, it would have a new case, battery and should look brand new to you.

The who you purchased from does not impact warranty coverage as long as you have an "in region" unit. For example a US model and you are in the US.

The who you purchased from does determine what happens if you want to return it at the Apple store. In this case it is not going to be an issue since you are going to get a warranty exchange unit.

Dave
 
Last edited:
dave006 said:
Since the iPad 2 is still very new and in short supply, you will almost 99.999% going to get a new "brown box" iPad 2 within the next several months. Even if it was a Apple refurbished unit later in the year, it would have a new case, battery and should look brand new to you.

The who you purchased from does not impact warranty coverage as long as you have an "in region" unit. For example a US model and you are in the US.

The who you purchased from does determine what happens if you want to return it at the Apple store. In this case it is not going to be an issue since you are going to get a warranty exchange unit.

Dave
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input, and maturity, and for not me telling I should have bought directly from Apple :D
 
FYI I had a somewhat similar experience today: bought my Verizon iPad from Target, took it in for a dead pixel replacement.

Genius said that for third-party purchases they have to send out for the model and can't do an immediate one-for-one exchange. I went to a smaller Apple store (starting to regret that, when I have access to a flagship) but whatevs. It's just a dead pixel, and I get to keep it until they call and tell me the new one is in.
 
thompson11 said:
FYI I had a somewhat similar experience today: bought my Verizon iPad from Target, took it in for a dead pixel replacement.

Genius said that for third-party purchases they have to send out for the model and can't do an immediate one-for-one exchange. I went to a smaller Apple store (starting to regret that, when I have access to a flagship) but whatevs. It's just a dead pixel, and I get to keep it until they call and tell me the new one is in.
Click to expand...

Similar here but he said they had no verizon stock whatsoever, I can handle the wait since I still have my defective one until the new one comes in.
 
The replacement ones will probably arrive in shock-proof cases separately from retail box.

It'll look new.
 
MrMac'n'Cheese said:
Similar here but he said they had no verizon stock whatsoever, I can handle the wait since I still have my defective one until the new one comes in.
Click to expand...

Exactly. For a solitary dead pixel, in my case, a couple weeks is hardly an inconvenience. And in the end I get a shiny new iPad that I can immediately take to have a Ghost Armor shield stuck to the back.
 
thompson11 said:
Exactly. For a solitary dead pixel, in my case, a couple weeks is hardly an inconvenience. And in the end I get a shiny new iPad that I can immediately take to have a Ghost Armor shield stuck to the back.
Click to expand...

Good idea, my current one, even though I treat it like a newborn, has the faintest hairline scratch near the home button, on the white bezel??/paint portion, you really need bright light and have to angle it just so to be able to see it, but its there nonetheless, so I'm teetering on buying a Ghost Armor, even though I normally hate skins and shields.

vi2867 said:
Apple will check the serial number and replace it. If it is defective, they will replace it.;)
Click to expand...
Thanks, I already went this noon, mine is legit, from B&H photo/video in NY, replacement was ordered already.
 
MrMac'n'Cheese said:
Good idea, my current one, even though I treat it like a newborn, has the faintest hairline scratch near the home button, on the white bezel??/paint portion, you really need bright light and have to angle it just so to be able to see it, but its there nonetheless, so I'm teetering on buying a Ghost Armor, even though I normally hate skins and shields.
Click to expand...

I haven't decided yet about the front/screen protector, I have a smart cover but I'm worried about it slipping off in a bag. I'm definitely getting the rear covered, as that's the part that is most likely to get scratched.

I'll probably get the front done too... and I'll probably go straight from the Apple Store to the mall where there is a Ghost Armor booth and have them install it—no risk of scratching it in 30 minutes :)
 
Keep in mind if you ever wanted to return the iPad to b&h or got some silly extended replacement plan they try to sell, your replacement from apple will not have the same serial # and they will not accept a return or deny your coverage.
 
bluez3 said:
Keep in mind if you ever wanted to return the iPad to b&h or got some silly extended replacement plan they try to sell, your replacement from apple will not have the same serial # and they will not accept a return or deny your coverage.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads-up, but I didn't bother since I take really good care of my Apple products, and I upgrade every year, as far as iPods/iPads go :D
 
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