Refurbish recognize scam from "official reseller"
Hello good day,
I'm new to the forum and hope I'm allowed to post this and if it's in the good section. But lately I'm hearing more about people buy a "New" phone, and it gets sold as a "New" phone with a "New" phone price tag. I know that the difference between an Apple refurbished phone and an Apple new phone isn't that big and most likely work well. But I'm talking about the unofficial refurbished phones. Myself got scammed as well.
The thing is that they call themselves official Apple resellers and sell Apple products. They even say that they can open the iPhone and repair things without losing the guarantee.
So after 2 months my "New" phone came in a boot loop and wouldn't start up anymore. I've treated the phone very good and it didn't have any damage. When I came back they told me that it was under guarantee and that they would see what is wrong. They told me that they made a video from the inside and send it to Apple in Miami (I live on an island, we don't have an Apple store here). The response from Apple (according to them) was that the water indication sticker turned red, so the problem didn't fall under the guarantee. Also, they can't fix the phone. They tried to swap the battery, but this didn't help at all.
But the thing is that when they opened the phone, I saw some strange stickers inside on the motherboard and battery. Also on the battery which they swapped was this silver sticker. Now I know from experience that Apple never would put any stickers inside of the phone. Also, the battery wasn't glued in, but they used some sort of thick tape for it on the first "original" battery which they took at during the swap.
When I got home I check the Apple page with my IMEI to see what it says. I've noticed that the guarantee had expired. So this even confirms it more the phone has been used before. Because normally the 1-year Guarantee starts after the reseller sold the phone, not when it was fabricated. So another lie on their side, I'm sure they didn't even contact Apple. So when I went back I bluffed them that I also called with Apple and that they told me that no one mentioned the IMEI in the system that's it broken.
My 2 main questions are:
-What can I do to report these "fake" Apple resellers?
-Does anyone recognize the sticker of the fabric where it's refurbished?
The second answer I need to be answered to proof them even more that they sold me a refurbished phone as new. Of course, I already went back with the complaints and prove them they sold me a refurbished phone as new. Of course, they denied and told me to wait a few days until the owner comes back.
On the pictures I've added you can see the inside and the "old" battery with the stickers.
The back of the "old original" battery which they replaced.
The sticker on the "old original" first battery which they replaced.
The stickers says: L C
Hope anyone can help me.
Thanks in advance,
Maik3l