For those who have exchanged Iphones'.

[nyc_rock]

I have a couple of issues with my iphone and I was thinking of going back to apple about a swap for a new one. Question is, do they require you to bring back the box and accessories or will they just give you a new one?

[crupp]

I have a couple of issues with my iphone and I was thinking of going back to apple about a swap for a new one. Question is, do they require you to bring back the box and accessories or will they just give you a new one?


I have exchanged a couple. Just show up with the phone and they will swap you phone for phone. No accessories.

[dwp1975]

I've done two exchanges, they keep whatever you don't turn in.

[nyc_rock]

thanks guys.

[Tug]

I exchanged an phone, I figured that if they wanted to keep the accessories from the new phone that was fine with me.

[ILL16GB]

you don't have to bring in the box because the iPhone they are going to give you is a refurb so they will only give you the phone....am on my 3rd one already and even when I got it sniped to my hose it comes in a small balck box with nothing else in it....even if you have the white one like I do it still comes in a black box

[jsntrenkler]

I have never seen the exchange phones come in a black box .. I have seen white and brown boxes.

[dwp1975]

you don't have to bring in the box because the iPhone they are going to give you is a refurb so they will only give you the phone....am on my 3rd one already and even when I got it sniped to my hose it comes in a small balck box with nothing else in it....even if you have the white one like I do it still comes in a black box

neither of my two exchanges were refurbs, but were brand new out of the box. They just kept anything that I didn't return.

[Pimpboy51]

dw. most likely ur exchanged ones were refurbs! They look new, have plastic on em. But they most likely will be refurbs!

I have traded my iPod Touch V1 2 Times already, and i really don't care if they are refurbs because they look new.

[dwp1975]

dw. most likely ur exchanged ones were refurbs! They look new, have plastic on em. But they most likely will be refurbs!

I have traded my iPod Touch V1 2 Times already, and i really don't care if they are refurbs because they look new.

Both were in the original boxes with everything in it. Pulled from the same drawer that the new purchases were coming from (stood in line long enough to see several purchases...lol)

[Pimpboy51]

How old was the phone when they switched it for u.

[jsntrenkler]

neither of my two exchanges were refurbs, but were brand new out of the box. They just kept anything that I didn't return.

Take a look at your iPhone serial number, does it start with a 5K???

[Pimpboy51]

umm serial no? or IMEI?

[ILL16GB]

for me 2 times I changed my iPhone 3g and both times I got refurbs....not that there is anything wrong with that they do look new and don't even have a scrach on them...and I did hear that sometimes they do come in whit boxes but meins both came in black ones.....just before you decide to keep it make sure to cheek your volum buttons and your screen I had problem with those things on one of my refurbs

[nyc_rock]

Well, just swapped out and I can tell you that at the 14th street store, it was a refurb.

[dagoo98]

Take a look at your iPhone serial number, does it start with a 5K???

Does 5K mean its a refurb?

[Pimpboy51]

No, I believe it means its an original. I think refurbs can be faulty. My iPhone is a refurb cuz the guy who previously owned it traded his in on March when he bought it in Septmeber

[aenti]

So what's the final verdict? Are they refurbs or not?
I am on the border with exchanging my iPhone, and I'd rather get a brand new one, as my brand new iPhone came out of the box with problems!

[Saverino]

Does 5K mean its a refurb?

Yes, if it starts with 5K, its a refurb.

[dturner]

So what's the final verdict? Are they refurbs or not?
I am on the border with exchanging my iPhone, and I'd rather get a brand new one, as my brand new iPhone came out of the box with problems!
Refurbs should be just as good if not better that new phones. They get a complete makeover and I am pretty sure the battery is also replaced with a new one. In theory, refurbs are new phones.

[aenti]

I understand that refurbs are suitable for exchanges, but it isn't really what I was asking. What determines if the replacement is new or refurbed?

[Pimpboy51]

I never said they all are bad, but they can be pretty glitcky at points. but yes ALL exchanges are refurbs

[aenti]

Oh. So what was with people saying they recieved brand new iPhones?

[dturner]

What determines if the replacement is new or refurbed?
Replacements are generally going to be refurbs. I guess if a particular store happens to not have a supply at the time you will receive a new one. But I believe this is a rare instance.
I have also heard a "rumor" that new and refurb are thrown in the same pile in the same type box and the Apple guy doesn't really know what you are getting. I do know with the V1 you could tell by the serial #. Haven't heard anything on the 3G.

[Pimpboy51]

Thaths a lie Dturner!!! If they dont have any in stock! they WILL NOT give you a new one! That happened to me and my iPod touch! the Maal @ Millenia apple were fresh out of refurbed iPod and they gave me a reciept, asked for my cellphone number and emial and they said they would call me or email me when the replacement arrives.!!!!

[Saverino]

Oh. So what was with people saying they recieved brand new iPhones?

I think that was probably at the release of the iPhone 3G when there weren't any refurbs to give out yet for those who were having problems with them that early.

[dturner]

Thaths a lie Dturner!!! If they dont have any in stock! they WILL NOT give you a new one! That happened to me and my iPod touch! the Maal @ Millenia apple were fresh out of refurbed iPod and they gave me a reciept, asked for my cellphone number and emial and they said they would call me or email me when the replacement arrives.!!!!
You need to learn to read. I said that was my guess and not a fact. I also said it would be rare for this to happen.

[Pimpboy51]

OoO my bad, I missed that

[Londonrockz568]

Here's my reasoning on this... I payed the brand new price for my phone, and should i need to return or exchange i want a brand new one. I didnt pay all this money to get some used iphone. At these prices the refurbs shouldnt exist apple produces so many iphones you should beable to get a brand new one for replacement.

I paid for a brand new one, if something goes wrong i expect a brand new one to replace the faulty one.

Also, where or what tells you that the phone is a refurbished one? The IMEI or ICCID or Serial?
my IMEI starts with 01, my Serial starts with 85, and my ICCID starts with 89.

[jsntrenkler]

Here's my reasoning on this... I payed the brand new price for my phone, and should i need to return or exchange i want a brand new one. I didnt pay all this money to get some used iphone. At these prices the refurbs shouldnt exist apple produces so many iphones you should beable to get a brand new one for replacement.

I paid for a brand new one, if something goes wrong i expect a brand new one to replace the faulty one.

Also, where or what tells you that the phone is a refurbished one? The IMEI or ICCID or Serial?
my IMEI starts with 01, my Serial starts with 85, and my ICCID starts with 89.


If your Serial Number Starts with 5K you have a Refurb. And I totally agree with you, however if you read apples warranty they do have the option to give you a refurb, and frankly they will. The store manager for the La Encantada Apple Store said that they only give new replacement iPhones to those who bought their iPhone at an actual Apple Store and only if it was within the 14 day return period. After 14 days you get a refurb. I wish it were different.

[jsntrenkler]

+ If you bought your iPhone from AT&T you get a refurb no matter what. That is what happened to me. Sucked!

[Londonrockz568]

I had no interaction with AT&T, i went straight to Apple.

[jsntrenkler]

AT&T is worthless IMHO

[Londonrockz568]

AT&T is worthless IMHO


i second this.... Rule of thumb, never deal with the middle man, always go to the source. That way should a problem arise you dont have to deal with the middle mans red tape.

[jsntrenkler]

I couldn't agree with you more. In fact, I very much wish I had purchased my 3G from the Apple store directly. Lesson learned though, the next version of the iPhone will be purchase straight from the source. No more dealing with AT&T unless I have to.

[Londonrockz568]

The only time i interact with AT&T is when the bill comes in the mail, and the bank is setup to auto pay them at the exact date.

Im hoping the next iphone keeps this current "candy bar" design, just thinner. The worst thing apple could do is release a clamshell iphone. And if we kno apple, the next one will come prolly summer of 2009 lastest march 2010.

[jsntrenkler]

Hmmm, I think the length and width could shrink a tad. Combine that with a tad thinner and I would be pleasantly surprised. I do think if they could cram a slide out keyboard into the thin design that would be a plus, however I know steve would never opt for such a antiquated design. I do agree that the candy bar style needs to stay. Clam shell would suck. IMO

[Saverino]

Hmmm, I think the length and width could shrink a tad. Combine that with a tad thinner and I would be pleasantly surprised. I do think if they could cram a slide out keyboard into the thin design that would be a plus, however I know steve would never opt for such a antiquated design. I do agree that the candy bar style needs to stay. Clam shell would suck. IMO

I agree 100% with you. If the next iPhone is a clamshell, the iPhone 3G will be the last iPhone I'm ever purchasing...unless the next one after that goes back to candy bar. :wink:

[Londonrockz568]

I think the dimensions are perfect, just needs to be thinner. If they decreased the width/length then the screen would get smaller.

Keyboards QWERTY? lolz...thats soo 2007 (the year the v1 came out...pretty much started all this sleek touch designs).

[jsntrenkler]

LOL ... I hear ya! ... I still think that can shrink the length and width and keep the screen size.

[adnurahs]

I just returned my horribly cracked iPhone 3G Black on Friday and I got a little white box out of the drawer. The Genius told me that all exchanges are refurbs and that they basically rebuild the phone checking all the connections and parts like it was a new build. In his opinion as well as some of the other geniuses, the refurbs are almost better than getting new because they have taken the time to make sure they were perfect. I inspected the phone and it was perfect. There are no gaps for the dust to enter under the screen, the buttons were not tight or loose. There were no scratches and best of all no cracks.

I am happy with my exchange. I didn't have to pay a dime and i feel like i got a great product.

If Refurb means they take that extra care with it, then great! I have no problem with that.

Hopefully I don't have to change this one over for any reason, but its good to know that if i do i will have no problem.

One note, this battery is lasting better than my last phone. I received the phone out of the box on Friday with a full charge and i didn't have to charge it again until Sunday night. That's pretty good, a little better than when i got my new one in July.

[dturner]

Here's my reasoning on this... I payed the brand new price for my phone, and should i need to return or exchange i want a brand new one. I didnt pay all this money to get some used iphone.

I used to have the same thinking until I read and learned how good refurbs actually are. They are in reality new phones.


One note, this battery is lasting better than my last phone. I received the phone out of the box on Friday with a full charge and i didn't have to charge it again until Sunday night. That's pretty good, a little better than when i got my new one in July.
Another good reason why refurbs can be as good or better than a new phone. All refurbs get new batteries.

[Pimpboy51]

I think the screen shoudl stay the same size! I love touch screens and the iPhone's is pefect. If they can reduce the iPhone body into an iPod touch one then $hit! Im sold! But I agree. Apple should replace their products with NIB condition. All my iPod Touch trade ins were white boxed. Actually, I traded my touch last month cuz I didn't like the scratched back of it and made up an excuse and got a new one. I don't intend on using it because I already got the iPhone.

[Londonrockz568]

I used to have the same thinking until I read and learned how good refurbs actually are. They are in reality new phones.


Another good reason why refurbs can be as good or better than a new phone. All refurbs get new batteries.

Well thats good an all but explain some of the stories where people got "refubs" that still had email accounts, and logins/ safari history.

Oh but its better than new? In good buisiness practice what you said would be great...but i have a feeling some stores are just getting them from people and boxing them.

[Saverino]

Well thats good an all but explain some of the stories where people got "refubs" that still had email accounts, and logins/ safari history.

Oh but its better than new? In good buisiness practice what you said would be great...but i have a feeling some stores are just getting them from people and boxing them.

Thats why I ordered my replacement through (800) MY-APPLE, but I highly doubt that anyways. Theres no way, a single person could have a FLAWLESS iPhone without even the tiniest scratch ever.

[Londonrockz568]

Thats why I ordered my replacement through (800) MY-APPLE, but I highly doubt that anyways. Theres no way, a single person could have a FLAWLESS iPhone without even the tiniest scratch ever.


What? lol apart from the 2 cracks i have, my iphone is flawless. Always cased, never naked, never dropped. I'd replace it but i want a new one lol.

[sfarris]

I just returned my horribly cracked iPhone 3G Black on Friday and I got a little white box out of the drawer. The Genius told me that all exchanges are refurbs and that they basically rebuild the phone checking all the connections and parts like it was a new build. In his opinion as well as some of the other geniuses, the refurbs are almost better than getting new because they have taken the time to make sure they were perfect. I inspected the phone and it was perfect. There are no gaps for the dust to enter under the screen, the buttons were not tight or loose. There were no scratches and best of all no cracks.

I am happy with my exchange. I didn't have to pay a dime and i feel like i got a great product.

If Refurb means they take that extra care with it, then great! I have no problem with that.

One note, this battery is lasting better than my last phone. I received the phone out of the box on Friday with a full charge and i didn't have to charge it again until Sunday night. That's pretty good, a little better than when i got my new one in July.

I exchanged yesterday- my phone wasn't getting mail, either push or fetch, reliably. And calls weren't ringing, they were going right to VM. So far, the exchanged phone is working flawlessly. Battery life is about where it was before- not particularly good. I charge daily, in the car, in a boombox while at the office, and at night while i sleep.

As far as fit and finish go, you can't tell this phone from a new one. I think they are better inspected since they have been partially rebuilt, but the batteries are all brand new.

YMMV

[get the green]

i'd like to bring mine back in for the fissure lines between the volume buttons and on the top by the headphone plug but my iPhone has taken a few hard falls will they still exchange?

[iPhone™]

Wasn't there a story of a horribly cracked screen on page 3-4?

If yes, Then most likely yes :P

[connie]

I exchanged my iphone 3g at the Apple store a few weeks ago because the vibrate button on the side came off/missing. I agree with wanting a new phone after paying full price because after all if you go to at&t's website they sell refurb. phones at discounted prices (not iphones but still). Regardless I asked the "Genius" if I was getting a new or refurb. because he pulled the phone out of a little brown box. Well they hate the word refurbished and called it something else but he gave me some bs story about Apple not letting them know which were new and which were refurb. (ya right). Needless to say as I was playing around with the exchanged iphone on the way home I went to download an app from the app store and someone else's user name was coming up for an itunes account and it was asking me for a password. I was a little ticked by this because I really felt like I got someone's used phone. So far though this phone has been running great. But it still kind of ticks me off.

ps. to answer the question, I did not bring any accessories with me, just the phone.

[dwp1975]

Take a look at your iPhone serial number, does it start with a 5K???

There isn't a 5 in the whole serial #, it's not a refurb, but it was said earlier if you exchange within the 14 day window which I did.

[jsntrenkler]

I exchanged my iphone 3g at the Apple store a few weeks ago because the vibrate button on the side came off/missing. I agree with wanting a new phone after paying full price because after all if you go to at&t's website they sell refurb. phones at discounted prices (not iphones but still). Regardless I asked the "Genius" if I was getting a new or refurb. because he pulled the phone out of a little brown box. Well they hate the word refurbished and called it something else but he gave me some bs story about Apple not letting them know which were new and which were refurb. (ya right). Needless to say as I was playing around with the exchanged iphone on the way home I went to download an app from the app store and someone else's user name was coming up for an itunes account and it was asking me for a password. I was a little ticked by this because I really felt like I got someone's used phone. So far though this phone has been running great. But it still kind of ticks me off.

ps. to answer the question, I did not bring any accessories with me, just the phone.

The issue with the App-Store and someone else's username happened to me when I first purchased my Original iPhone 3G. When I first brought it home and clicked on the App-Store it came up with some user@msn.com ... This was a brand new phone, I watched her pull the plastic off the phone. I have to wonder if they have someone at the factory test the phones randomly and enter a temporary account for the App-Store? I was bothered by it, then after my first sync, of course it was gone.

[jsntrenkler]

There isn't a 5 in the whole serial #, it's not a refurb, but it was said earlier if you exchange within the 14 day window which I did.

Cool, glad you got a new one. I know that as long as you bought your iPhone from Apple, they will exchange it for a new one if it is within 14 days. If you buy the iPhone from AT&T they will give you a refurb, even if you get an exchange the very next day.

[dwp1975]

Cool, glad you got a new one. I know that as long as you bought your iPhone from Apple, they will exchange it for a new one if it is within 14 days. If you buy the iPhone from AT&T they will give you a refurb, even if you get an exchange the very next day.

I would of been PISSED if I got a refurb the first time I exchanged it, my first exchange was 3 hours after buying a white 16gb model that had a brown crack.

[jsntrenkler]

I would of been PISSED if I got a refurb the first time I exchanged it, my first exchange was 3 hours after buying a white 16gb model that had a brown crack.

I bought my iPhone 3G from AT&T .. And on day 3 of ownership it was replaced with a refurb from apple. The Apple Store manager said that if I would have bought it from Apple they would have given me a brand new phone . I was pissed!

[dwp1975]

I bought my iPhone 3G from AT&T .. And on day 3 of ownership it was replaced with a refurb from apple. The Apple Store manager said that if I would have bought it from Apple they would have given me a brand new phone . I was pissed!

You should of returned it and then re-purchased it, they would of done the swap for a new one instead....:laugh2:

[Amanderz]

ugh i just exchanged my iphone because i had a crack by my ringer and volume adjustments and it was driving me nuts..

now i just went into the app store and saw someone else's email show up as the itunes account.

drives me nuts that i got someone else's phone when i paid so much for mine AND that my email will probably show up on someone else's phone in a few months.

[SikShift]

If I show a Genius this pic:
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo55/SikShift/photo3-1.jpg

Do you think they'll exchange it for poor battery life?

[Saverino]

Sik, you could probably just go in and tell them your battery life is horrible, and they would exchange it. That pic would help support you even more though.

[L.I. Bruce Fan]

Sik, you could probably just go in and tell them your battery life is horrible, and they would exchange it. That pic would help support you even more though.

Do you think that is "horrible" battery life?

I generally get between 3 and 4 hours of usage and 20-28 hours of standby on a full charge (down to below the 20% left warning).

[Saverino]

Do you think that is "horrible" battery life?

I generally get between 3 and 4 hours of usage and 20-28 hours of standby on a full charge (down to below the 20% left warning).

I never said his was horrible. I just said, tell Apple it is.