I got a new iPhone 5 from Vodafone but when i took it to the Apple store following a very bad battery charge they refused to service it as it had "Non Apple stickers and was missing the water sensor"

It sounds like you have an issue with Vodafone. Talk to them.

Again, the issue is with whomever the device was purchased from. Obviously the device is not new.

Address the issue with the store it was purchased from.

What does it matter if others have experienced the problem? That will not resolve your issue.

The issue is with the store or website that the device was purchased from, contact them.

All I can say is that I've not seen any report in these forums of anyone receiving an iPhone, of any model, actually missing a sensor. So it's highly unlikely that Apple shipped the iPhone that way, and particularly not with some "random code stickers" also on the inside. It definitely sounds like Vodaphone sold you a used iPhone, possibly one that they took back and put through some sort of third-party reconditioning.

Regards.

if Vodafone is selling second hand phones as new.

Probably

My question is: Has anyone in the past had a similar problem with a missing part ie water sensor in a new iPhone 5

It appears not

If Apple have said that the iPhone has been tampered with IT HAS

I suggest that Vodafone instead of returning faulty iPhones to Apple are using some backstreet organisation

to fix them can't imagine why as the iP5 is still under warranty but that is Vodafone

You have been told , this is between you and Vodafone ,nothing to do with Apple

You haven't mentioned which country you are in but trading laws in your country must provide protection although it appears to be a Business transaction rather than consumer purchase

1. Almost certainly not.

2. Unlikely, but I can't say it's impossible. I doubt any Apple tech would make such a bad misread, though.

3. Most likely.

There's really nothing more we can tell you. You're going to have to work this out with Vodaphone.

Regards.

I would with Vodafone😉

shame you don't have consumer rights with a Business Account

Good luck with sorting Vodafone

Did you ever find a solution?

My wifes iphone5 has the loose screen problem, should have been an easy fix, but told in store that there are 3rd party parts inside. Like you we bought it new and have never had any work done on it. They won't even look at it.

Phone carrier say the deliver apples product sealed so not their problem, yet apple don't want to know.

Thanks

Stephen

@spage79: my guess is if you bought that iphone 5 as "new" from your carrier and if there are third party parts in the iphone, then you really have a refurbished phone that your carrier sold to you. keep in mind that the iphone 5 is an old model. if your wife got it recently like in the last year or two, it's my guess it's refurbished to be like new with new parts inside like at least the battery replaced etc.

whatever the situation, if the apple store refuses to fix or replace the screen, you are better off either going to an outside phone repair place who will most likely do it for you cheaper, or replacing the screen yourself. otherwise, just get a new iphone. good luck.