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Wrong Verizon iPhone4 in box.

S

ScottMcF

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 7, 2011
11
0
Today, got my new Verizon iPhone4. Great, ESN or MEID on the box matched the # on the Customer Receipt... however, those don't match the MEID on the actual iPhone in the sealed box. Nice, it's someone's phone in Chicago (312) area code. I find out after activating the phone and then calling Verizon to try and fix the problem, they can't say I need to return and order a new one.

So much for staying up until 4am pre-ordering this... I put an iReport on CNN, maybe it is happening to other people, a slip up at the factory?

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-551997

Scott
 
Haha...VZ Fail.

Won't they let you make an exchange at a retail store? Or is this now "your problem" from their POV?
 
How is this any different than programming a SIM card with the wrong number? You just have to call Verizon and have them change it.
 
Yeah, they said it won't be in store until the 10th

h1r0ll3r said:
Haha...VZ Fail.

Won't they let you make an exchange at a retail store? Or is this now "your problem" from their POV?
Click to expand...

And they can't even send me a new one overnight because it's (not in the system) to order for me, I have to wait until 10th, call them back.

Good thing is phone works, just someone else's number and calling plan.... I hope they have a lot of minutes.
 
ScottMcF said:
And they can't even send me a new one overnight because it's (not in the system) to order for me, I have to wait until 10th, call them back.

Good thing is phone works, just someone else's number and calling plan.... I hope they have a lot of minutes.
Click to expand...

LOL...if you just give them the device IMEI or ID (or whatever they use), they can't just change it in their system to associate it with your number!?
 
JD914 said:
The perils of CDMA, thats why I'll never go that route.
Click to expand...

It has nothing to do with CDMA. The exact same thing happened to me with my 3GS pre-ordered from Apple. Apple pre-registered the IMEI for the phone in AT&T's system, and for some reason when they do that it becomes locked so that AT&T employees can't change/update it.

I got a phone for someone in New England, and he got mine, we spent three days texting back and forth while trying different things to get it resolved.

My resolution was convincing the manager of the local AT&T corporate store to reset my upgrade eligibility and buy another phone right there, then ship the one I got from Apple back. Apple didn't charge a restocking fee based on what had happened. But for a while I had two 3GS's on my credit card while only one worked.
 
jw nyc said:
How is this any different than programming a SIM card with the wrong number? You just have to call Verizon and have them change it.
Click to expand...

Oh, I've tried, spoke to multiple departments. It is very different because the MEID number is 'attached' to someone else's account and they keep saying they can't because of terms of conditions and warranty. Seems to me the only way to resolve do the new order and return thing after the 10th and, give me a free upgrade once the iPhone5 is released. ;)
 
Shawn Parr said:
It has nothing to do with CDMA. The exact same thing happened to me with my 3GS pre-ordered from Apple. Apple pre-registered the IMEI for the phone in AT&T's system, and for some reason when they do that it becomes locked so that AT&T employees can't change/update it.

I got a phone for someone in New England, and he got mine, we spent three days texting back and forth while trying different things to get it resolved.

My resolution was convincing the manager of the local AT&T corporate store to reset my upgrade eligibility and buy another phone right there, then ship the one I got from Apple back. Apple didn't charge a restocking fee based on what had happened. But for a while I had two 3GS's on my credit card while only one worked.
Click to expand...

Yes it does because the problem can be easily taken care of at your local AT&T store, all they will do is give you a new SIM, unlike CDMA which the entire device is attached to an account.
 
Shawn Parr said:
It has nothing to do with CDMA. The exact same thing happened to me with my 3GS pre-ordered from Apple. Apple pre-registered the IMEI for the phone in AT&T's system, and for some reason when they do that it becomes locked so that AT&T employees can't change/update it.

I got a phone for someone in New England, and he got mine, we spent three days texting back and forth while trying different things to get it resolved.

My resolution was convincing the manager of the local AT&T corporate store to reset my upgrade eligibility and buy another phone right there, then ship the one I got from Apple back. Apple didn't charge a restocking fee based on what had happened. But for a while I had two 3GS's on my credit card while only one worked.
Click to expand...


Thanks Shawn, I agree with you, any new phone can get crossed like this. That is exactly what I'm thinking is the fastest way to resolve this. I have a feeling it won't be easy at the Verizon store in the next few weeks....

What's amazing in the ID in the phone doesn't match the ID on the box. It's not a Customer order / packing issue (shipping box), it's actually the phone to the retail box.
 
Shawn Parr said:
Wrong. Here is the thread from when I had it done before:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/727370/

If the IMEI is associated with a specific account, no amount of SIM swapping will fix it.
Click to expand...

You're grossly misinformed I can use any iPhone from any account, doesn't matter what IMEI. All I have to do is put my SIM card in and it is now on my account phone.

Stop spreading misinformation :rolleyes:
 
JD914 said:
You're grossly misinformed I can use any iPhone from any account, doesn't matter what IMEI. All I have to do is put my SIM card in and it is now on my account phone.

Stop spreading misinformation :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Unless that phone was shipped from Apple and hasn't been fully activated yet.

You are the one making things up, I have actual experience, as well as multiple others that I know of during the 3GS launch. Since the phone has to be activated via iTunes, and iTunes looks up the account to register the phone to via its IMEI number, you get screwed.

After activating the phone, the lock on the IMEI to account number is released and you can sim swap all you want.

Apple may not do this with the GSM phones anymore starting with iPhone 4 due to the issues during the 3GS launch, but what the OP is saying is EXACTLY what happened to some of us during that launch.
 
take it to the genius bar. I'd bet Apple stores have these on hand already or call a verizon store and explain to the manager and see if they will hold a phone for you. Though I wouldn't hold my breath. Verizon isn't very customer friendly like that.

And yes, swapping a SIM does fix this. The benefit of CDMA in this case is it's harder to steal someones phone and use it as your own.
 
acfusion29 said:
don't ever speak about something you don't know about.

JD914 is correct, you are not.
Click to expand...

Stop applying what is supposed to happen in an ideal circumstance with what happens in the real world with two complex systems (AT&T and Apple) interfacing with each other.

Once again: I have personal experience with this. It did occur. Both AT&T and Apple admitted to it, and eventually admitted that only returning the device and purchasing another would fix it.
 
Shawn Parr said:
Stop applying what is supposed to happen in an ideal circumstance with what happens in the real world with two complex systems (AT&T and Apple) interfacing with each other.

Once again: I have personal experience with this. It did occur. Both AT&T and Apple admitted to it, and eventually admitted that only returning the device and purchasing another would fix it.
Click to expand...

but you're wrong, and you were misinformed. a few of us have tried to correct you, but you keep persisting what they told you. guess what.. AT&T and Apple reps can give you the wrong information, and they did. now stop being so ignorant and thinking you know everything.
 
I don't understand the use of the whole activation process at all. With ANY other phone than the iPhone, this is what you do:

1. Purchase phone
2. Put SIM in phone
3. Use phone

Then Apple decided that for some unknown reason, it would be better to add a error sensitive activation procedure into the mix that serves absolutely no use at all.

Can anyone explain this to me? Why does a phone need to be activated :confused: ?

The only reason I can think of is that Apple likes to keep tabs on which phones are used by whom. Although I don't know if you need an Apple ID to activate an iPhone...
 
jw nyc said:
How is this any different than programming a SIM card with the wrong number? You just have to call Verizon and have them change it.
Click to expand...
because you can go to any AT&T and have your sim replaced on the spot, I doubt Verizon Sales associates would know what to do at this early stage in the game
 
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