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Refurbished iPhone sold as new

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  • 01-11-2020 10:22pm
    #1
    Birka
    Registered Users Posts: 262 ✭✭


    Has anyone been unfortunate enough to buy a new iPhone from an authorised Apple reseller for full retail price only to find out afterwards that it was a refurbished model? If so, what did you do and what was the outcome? Basically curious if you got Apple involved or tried to resolve just with the reseller.


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    #2
    boardzz
    Registered Users Posts: 861 ✭✭✭boardzz


    I’m curious to know how you are sure it’s a refurbished iPhone and what store you purchased from?


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    #3
    Birka
    Registered Users Posts: 262 ✭✭Birka


    boardzz wrote: »
    I’m curious to know how you are sure it’s a refurbished iPhone and what store you purchased from?

    The model number is a giveaway - it’s an iPhone X with a model number starting with F. A new one would have a model number starting with M.

    It’s early days yet and possibly against Boards policy to name the store.


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    #4
    Dades
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    Refurbs (official ones anyway) usually come in slightly different packaging to new products.


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    #5
    Birka
    Registered Users Posts: 262 ✭✭Birka


    Dades wrote: »
    Refurbs (official ones anyway) usually come in slightly different packaging to new products.

    This one was priced and sold as new. Nothing to indicate that it was a refurb. It may have been unpacked by the retail assistant at the time of purchase (can’t remember) so I’m not sure if it was in a sealed box or not. We do still have the box though.


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    #6
    naasrd
    Registered Users Posts: 2,408 ✭✭✭naasrd


    boardzz wrote: »
    I’m curious to know how you are sure it’s a refurbished iPhone and what store you purchased from?

    Try not answer a question with a question. Smug doesn’t work here pal, ok?


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    #7
    un5byh7sqpd2x0
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,862 ✭✭✭un5byh7sqpd2x0


    naasrd wrote: »
    Try not answer a question with a question. Smug doesn’t work here pal, ok?

    Neither does backseat modding.


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    #8
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 39,147 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    Birka wrote: »
    The model number is a giveaway - it’s an iPhone X with a model number starting with F. A new one would have a model number starting with M.

    It’s early days yet and possibly against Boards policy to name the store.

    It could have been new and sat on a shelf for a year or so.
    What is the warranty on it when you type the serial number into apples product check online?


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    #9
    Birka
    Registered Users Posts: 262 ✭✭Birka


    Gumbo wrote: »
    It could have been new and sat on a shelf for a year or so.
    What is the warranty on it when you type the serial number into apples product check online?

    A refurbished phone has a different model number prefix to a new one - they shouldn't be mixed up/misrepresented by a retailer and certainly not sold at a premium price.

    I don't have the phone with me but I'll check the warranty later.


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    #10
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 39,147 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    Birka wrote: »
    A refurbished phone has a different model number prefix to a new one - they shouldn't be mixed up/misrepresented by a retailer and certainly not sold at a premium price.

    I don't have the phone with me but I'll check the warranty later.

    I think your mistaking possible.

    I’m looking at my iPhone 11 Pro with a serial number F, I bought it direct from Apple on launch day.


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    #11
    FourFourRED
    Registered Users Posts: 8,644 ✭✭✭FourFourRED


    naasrd wrote: »
    Try not answer a question with a question. Smug doesn’t work here pal, ok?

    What a ridiculous response.

    It was a genuine question to gather more context about the issue so that the OP could get the best information as they could easily be mistaken.

    https://twitter.com/fourfourred



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    #12
    Birka
    Registered Users Posts: 262 ✭✭Birka


    Mr.S wrote: »
    I just did a bit of digging,

    This is outdated (or not accurate) information:

    F = refurb
    M = retail
    N = replacement

    I'm looking at two retail units (X and 11 Pro) and both have F as the model number prefix.
    Gumbo wrote: »
    I think your mistaking possible.

    I’m looking at my iPhone 11 Pro with a serial number F, I bought it direct from Apple on launch day.

    That's very interesting and useful - thanks both for your help


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    #13
    Sinus pain
    Registered Users Posts: 507 ✭✭✭Sinus pain


    In my job we buy quite a lot of iPhones- I scanned in 30 today and they all had f as the first digit on the serial number


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    #14
    FourFourRED
    Registered Users Posts: 8,644 ✭✭✭FourFourRED


    Sinus pain wrote: »
    In my job we buy quite a lot of iPhones- I scanned in 30 today and they all had f as the first digit on the serial number

    It’s not about the serial number, it’s the model number in settings > general > about. The first letter of that may be an indicator.

    This is a write up on it:

    https://www.howtogeek.com/656863/how-to-check-if-your-iphone-was-refurbished/

    As you still have the box, start with that. Brand new iPhones come in the colourful retail packaging. Certified refurbished from Apple products come in plan white packaging. The back of the box will also have the serial number, the IMEI number and the model number (which is what is being discussed as starting with M, F or N). Check and see if all of those three match up with what you see in the settings of the phone.

    Until that is check, this is all speculation. Sharing the name of the “authorised reseller” may help solve the mystery too.

    https://twitter.com/fourfourred



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    #15
    grayzer75
    Registered Users Posts: 973 ✭✭✭grayzer75


    FourFourFM wrote: »
    It’s not about the serial number, it’s the model number in settings > general > about. The first letter of that may be an indicator.

    This is a write up on it:

    https://www.howtogeek.com/656863/how-to-check-if-your-iphone-was-refurbished/

    As you still have the box, start with that. Brand new iPhones come in the colourful retail packaging. Certified refurbished from Apple products come in plan white packaging. The back of the box will also have the serial number, the IMEI number and the model number (which is what is being discussed as starting with M, F or N). Check and see if all of those three match up with what you see in the settings of the phone.

    Until that is check, this is all speculation. Sharing the name of the “authorised reseller” may help solve the mystery too.

    You are 100% correct. My model number begins with M however the serial number begins with F and that's on an XR I have had new from the release date.


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