How do we know we are not getting someone else's returned iPhone 4?

It's very simple. Returned phones are sent to a factory to be refurbished and then are used either as Genius Bar service units or sold as refurbs. They cannot be resold as new phones.

They do not do that. That would be fraud and knowingly selling used goods under the false pretense that they are "new" - when they are not.

You have to be kidding. A returned phone is sent back to
The factory and will be refurbished and used
For replacements in warantee work. No phone is repackaged at the store.
It against the law to sell a returned phone as new.

From my understanding and what I have been told. Apple does not give out refurbs for replacements of defective units. As with any other manufacturer i assume that apple gets credit for every faulty unit that they return to the manufacturer. at&t does sell refurbs at a lower price - but from what I have been told even if your phone breaks and gets swapped out for warranty it will be a new device (from apple) at&t will give refurbs (atleast thats what Apple told me.)

Message was edited by: WhizKidX

Per the iPhone's written warranty, an exchange under warranty will be a new or refurbished iPhone with no way to tell the difference. The exchange under warranty remains under the warranty for the original purchase.

vartanarsen wrote:
Well, the description is my question....
How do we know.

I can easily imagine an apple employee simply re-celophaning box of a user (who was not happy with the death grip), without checking to see if scratches, or anything else, and then the box comes back to the store to be given to the next purchaser?

you have quite the imagination

good info. thanks

What do you mean sorry? So a returned phone which has been defected will be replaced with someone elses' returned phone? So when you receive a replacement phone it is not a brand new phone it is a second hand phone? Seems a bit fraudulent to me

No. All returned phones will be returned to the manufacturer to be refurbished and returned to stores as replacement units with all new internals/fixes/new housings that were needed to return it to like new condition.

No store in the US can sell a returned item as new. It has to be labeled open box/returned/etc.

Greetings,

There are very few being returned, despite what you may think or hear. I have a good friend that runs a full service Apple Store, and works closely with AT&T, in our area.

Besides any iPhone that is returned is sent to the factory for refurbishing, and sold as such.

Cheers,
M.
***

Tamara wrote:
No store in the US can sell a returned item as new. It has to be labeled open box/returned/etc.

that's not true... as long as merchandise isn't used.. Clothing items return to shelves unmarked, working at a hardware store.. tools, electronics, supplies were returned and put back on the shelves as long as they are not defective.

I mean exactly as provided, which is standard/common with all cell phone manufacturers with an exchange under warranty. This is included with the written warranty which is available to all and is not against any law.

Per the written warranty, an exchange under warranty will be a new or a refurbished iPhone with no way to tell the difference. An exchange under warranty is called a service unit regardless if new or refurbished and is provided in a plain box with the iPhone only. The iPhone being exchanged is not new and the exchange remains under the warranty for the original purchase.

When you say all returned phones would go to factory for restocking/refurbishing, its expectation or wishful thinking. I once got visibly used and scratched but packaged nicely as new ipod touch from apple store (ironically, that was the only time I went to apple store rather than online store). I am sure items returned without complaints are restocked here and sold. If there is no complain, there is no need to send product to manufacturing line. Once product is restocked, its like new for apple. There is nothing like half new. Refurbished are the products that are returned with complaints and defects and go to manufacturing site for testing/repair. its primary reason why I like online store - direct from factory. Also, amazon rampantly restocks and resell all the returned items (I have witnessed signs of use even used batteries so many times). That generous return policy comes with a price. I have now stopped buying any sensitive electronics from Amazon.