Warranty replacement - should I get a brand new phone or refurbished?

Regardless of whether it is one month, two months or ten, your device is not new. The warranty does not guarantee a retail new device in exchange for your used device. It merely promises a fully functional device in exchange for your malfunctioning device. Whether retail new or not is not something you get to dictate, and will simply depend on whatever service units are available at the time you claim your warranty service.

In the US, you have 14 days to return the iPhone to Apple if

purchased from Apple. Other countries may vary. You are

not entitled to a new iPhone after 2 months. Refurbished

iPhones are the same as new, and the Apple staff cannot tell

whether an iPhone from service stock is new or refurbished.

tl;dr No.

My comments are based entirely on the actual terms of the warranty as written:

Legal - Hardware Warranties - Apple

Nothing about the actual warranty promises a retail new unit in exchange for your used unit.

Me and Mr. Black covered this in another thread. We came to a mutual understanding. This is not wrong. If they lied, then it's up to you to discern whether they did lie. And how did you know it was refurbished? You can't tell just by "looking" at it, so we can dismiss your argument right there without merit. The only way you'll know is in the Settings/General/About. If it starts with the letter F, then it's refurbished. If it starts with the letter M, then it's new. You do not know this. But he is right. If it's under warranty which takes over after the return period, then that statement applies.

Makes me wonder where everyone purchases their phones. Or how "new" it is. But one thing is, new phones are spot checked on the line. Refurbished means an actual human being looked at it.

If you want demeaning, I could very well turn that way. Suck it up. At least you got a phone. Doesn't matter whether it's refurbished or not. I don't care how much you paid for it. Mr. Black actually pointed out to me, that "new" is not essentially "new". I agreed with him. Mr. Black is also right in regards to what he posted. Mr. Finch, well, he holds the same idea that I do. His analogy about the car, is correct. As soon as you drive it off the lot, the Blue Book value drops 20% even if you return it after driving it around the block. Same deal with your phone. As soon as you get it delivered or walk out of the Apple Store with it, it is considered used.

If you want something "new" based on a warranty, go buy a locomotive from Progress Rail (EMD) or GE Manufacturing Solutions. Their warranties last longer than a 14 day return period and longer than a year (depending on the terms of the contract) (this part was edited from the original). If you do, tell me how you make out with the teething issues so I can say "awwwwwww look it's teething. How cute".

But the consensus is clearly against you. If you use your phone and "claim" it's "new" after using it for 1 or 2 months and something happens, guaranteed you're getting one refurbished. If something happens to my 6S Plus before July of next year, I'm getting a refurbished model. I don't have a choice in the matter.

That is if I don't get an 8 Plus before my 6S Plus is a year old. Why? I want to keep one as a backup (6S Plus) and retire my Android. Why do you think I said "keep a backup phone"? Because of this.

I wonder if you know what the typical life cycle of a phone is? Did you factor that in? I bet you didn't.

Yes my model # starts with the letter F so they gave me a refurbished one. I have read on many online sites that the refurbished IPhones may have a shorter shelf life or may have some other problems as these are the phones either returned to the Apple store due to manufacturing hard/Software problems or they were on the floor for exhibition at the Apple store. I’m very ****** off to being forced with a refurbished one. I’d rather they had repaired my own phone and gave it back to me.

I bought an IPhone 7 Plus two months ago. I had some issues with the phon as phones calls would get disconnected or people could not hear me at the other end. I took my phone to Apple store and the technician reinstalled the software. The problem still persisted. When I went for the second time to report the problem, they took my phone and gave me a refurbished one insisting that it was a new iPhone. I do not like to have a second hand phone when I just paid about $700 for it less than two months ago. Can I return this phone and get a full refund?

I find this policy of Apple very decietful! When they took my two month old one and gave me a refurbished one, I realized write away that the phone is refurbished but the technician and the manger both lied ( I’m sure that order came from Apple) and ademently persisted that it was a brand new phone. At least don’t lie to customers. Very decietful and dishonest.

Eventually the number of unsatisfied people like me will go up and the consumers will lose trust in the Apple company.

This is the Internet. Don't believe what you read. It's like the National Enquirer saying that Elvis Presley was spotted pumping gas in Reno, NV. One person might have a sour experience with a "refurbished" model, while one will make it go for at least a million years. What works for one might not work for another.

I highly doubt Apple would sell the "floor models" as they have special software loaded on that makes it clear it's for demonstration purposes only.

Repairing your phone limits your options unless you have a backup. I always keep a backup phone and update it regularly just in case my phone has to be repaired or is out of order. Then you have no way of knowing if that problem will crop up later. Had an Android that did that and had to return it for service 4 times. But I'd already started using iPhones by the time the 3rd breakdown happened.

You may have a positive experience with a refurbished model. You might not. It's up to you how you see it, but if it works like a new phone, I would not worry about it. Sure you might be peeved off but put it this way. At least you have a phone.

I was a bit harsh in my previous post though. I'm usually like that until I hear the full story. Outside on the box, there's no way to tell. The only way to tell is if they mark it as so on the box, or in the General/Settings/About.

Btw

Michael Black and Driver8666, are you two the official spokespersons of Apple or you are just making these statements and give these responses based on your own limited experience and knowledge?

Sent from my iPhone

Suppose you buy a new car. A month later you decide to sell it. You will quickly discover that the car is not worth anywhere near what you paid for it, because it is a used car. Typically a car's value drops 20% the day you drive it off the dealer's lot. It is a used car. Your phone is a used phone. It would be ridiculous to replace it with a new phone.

I should at least be happy that I have a phone? Excuse me I just paid $700 for my phone. What you said it’s very demeaning.

Sent from my iPhone

Those two are just users like yourself. Apple will sometimes respond in these forums if no one else responds. Those Apple posts specifically Say "Community Specialist".

Apple will either (1) repair the hardware defect at no charge, using new parts or refurbished parts that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability, (2) exchange the product with a product that is new or refurbished that is equivalent to new in performance and reliability and is at least functionally equivalent to the original product, or (3) refund the purchase price of the product.