old or new??

Your only recourse really is to go back to the store and discuss the matter with a store manager. Replacement devices are packaged generally in all white boxes rather than white boxes with graphics/image like product for retail.

The source of the replacement product is unknown. It could be new or remanufactured. Remanufactured is not used but failed an inspection at the factory level. Used products go through a refurbish process and are sold through the Apple Refurbished Store online.

The Apple Associate should not have referred to the iPhone as new in my personal opinion. It leads to confusion, as your comments and experience indicate.

Managers have some discretion in their ability to surprise and delight Apple Customers. Politely discuss your experience and express your dissatisfaction with the way the exchange was handled. Then see what he/she has to offer.

Just on a side note, do you have Apple Care on any of your products?

Just for full disclosure and clarity, I’m a former Apple Store Manager.

Apple almost never gives brand new devices out as service replacements.

They normally provide refurbished devices with brand new screens and backs, and that have been through their rigorous refurbishment and verification process and are in "as new" condition.

It makes sense for it to be manufactured last year and purchased last year, and then have a first activation date this year after the refurbishment process if they replaced internal components for new ones.

The process may not have reset the cellular statistics date though so it shows the last time it was done.

And it receives the warranty time of the device you sent in for replacement or 90 days, whichever is longer, so the warranty date also makes sense if your original device still had most of its warranty left.

I see nothing wrong with the dates.

I see a expectation that is out of the norm, and probably fueled by misrepresented facts at the Apple Store only.

The device is not "used".

It is "refurbished". Used implies nothing was done to it which would be false.

As mentioned Apple provides refurbished devices which are repaired and provided with any new components required and given new screens and backs to return them to an "as new" condition. There should be no difference in appearance or operation from a brand new device.

If the Genius told you it was going to be brand new, they were mistaken and your issue is with them directly.

Apple does not anywhere state you will receive a brand new device as a service replacement.

It is odd, they did not provide a box with it, even a brown or white one without any art. Normally refurbished devices come in nondescript boxes. Unless you had them set it up for you in store in which case they should have taken it out of the box in front of you and then proceed to set it up.

Either way, your complaint needs to be directed to the store you got the replacement from if they did not follow correct protocol.

What color was the box you received with the device?

What country and what store?

So, they just handed you an iPhone and said here you go? No box, cable, etc.?