Did Apple Replace My iPhone When I Sent It In for Repair?

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Level 1

4 points

Did Apple Replace My iPhone When I Sent It In for Repair?

Hello, so I bought an iPhone 8 plus recently used. It turned out when I got the phone, that it was broken. So obviously I am mad. I check the warranty and (i didn’t know that it had it) but it had AppleCare+ Accidential Coverage. So I make a repair request,etc and send it into Apple. Apple “Repairs” It. The reason I put quotes around Repairs is because I got a letter when it was sent back that was a little fishy. Im not complaining but I just want to know. Did I get a brand new phone? Attached is a photo of the letter I got back with my (new?) phone, with the serial number crossed out (obviously). Thanks!

iPhone 8 Plus, 12

Posted on Feb 12, 2019 5:31 AM

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Answer 1

Skydiver119

Level 9

53,405 points

Feb 12, 2019 6:13 AM in response to ster436

That is normal. I believe the policy is if the device is less than 90 days old when returned for service it is replaced with a new one, if more than 90 days old a refurbished replacement. But replacing a broken device is very common. That way you get something tested and repaired, not something they repair that may not have time to test before it’s sent back.

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Answer 2

Feb 12, 2019 8:44 AM in response to ster436

Other than display and battery replacements, Apple does no repairs. They replace your device with a “service unit” which may be a retail new unit, a factory OEM service unit, or a factory OEM refurbished service unit. They will all be indistinguishable from each other so you don’t know which it was - all are warranted to be like new and fully and properly functioning units.

Very early after the introduction of a new model, service units may have shipped directly from the factory (I.e. taken right out of the retail shipping stream) since (in the USA at least) any company offering a warranty must assure they have replacement units in stock at the time they start selling the warrantied item.

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