I wonder if there's another lesson to learn here, too. That is, if it is suspected that the phone did not have genuine parts (which I admit you did not suspect), it would be at that point wise NOT to use Apple to repair the phone and rather go to third-party stores where they are willing to repair regardless of parts being genuine or not.
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Other A hard lesson learned
- Thread starter markredf150
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+1 these and anyone else that posted same.
Ordered an Apple Watch band via Amazon Renewed. Got the correct Apple packaging to the band, correct color on the box, but box had a whole different band in it. Ugh!
Started return the next day, spent nearly two weeks delayed at various UPS depots. Finally made it to processing facility yesterday with a week to go estimate for refund.
Luckily this experiment was for a cheap, simple thing vs something more pricey. Won't be a big hit if this return gets nixed for some reason.
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Very true.
I have purchased many slightly used phones in the past couple of decades and do not remember ever having an issue. Lucky? Maybe, but I am also extremely careful and do my homework with the seller.
It has saved me a ton of money overall which may just be a game I play. Bargain hunting.
Buying new directly from Apple will give you the best insurance though, no doubt.
I will say this for Amazon - their return policy is outstanding. Arrange the return through the app or website. They quickly send you an email with a QR code for the return. Then drop the return merch off at a local Whole Foods as they have a special Amazon desk for pickups and returns. You don't have to wrap the return - just hand it to the clerk and let him scan the QR code. That's it. I had my account credited within 24 hours.
True. And my policy has always been to protect it before deployment. Once I decide which phone I plan to buy, I order screen protectors (starting with my 8+ I bought front and back protectors, and now since the 12, camera lens protectors) and a decent case or two from Amazon. I like how the protectors usually come in bundles, like 2 of each, so 6 pieces, and usually they don't add much bulk to the case, there's a bit of tolerance to play with. The only issue I run into is with generic wireless charging, but MagSafe works good, and I prefer to use a cable anyway. I put on all that protection and then I've got my new daily. Just like the old saying for cars "oil is cheap, engines are expensive", for phones "screen protectors are cheap, screens are expensive".
I ran some kind of diagnostic program (can't remember which one it was) when I received the phone, and everything checked out. I was thinking to take it to Geek Squad/Apple but figured they'd tell me the same thing. Or that Apple would have tried to sell me a new phone🙄
I've got one nearby, but it's closed currently as some nutcase shot up the place, unalived the employee he had a disagreement with, and was unalived by another employee who had a firearm. Sad story. I'm not sure where the other locations here in town are so I shied away from them. I was trying to go the Best Buy/Geek Squad route as I'm a Total member (20% off repairs) but they didn't have the battery to do the repair.
You don’t need to do that. Just go to Settings and check for original Parts or Repair History. Apple has taken initiatives like these to make sure people don’t get easily scammed
There is never a question about Amazon and its refund policy.
In general Amazon is pretty decent for some things. But with expensive technology it’s better to get it straight from the source or carrier. Although I was once gifted a phone from a friend that I know really well and it turned out to be a good thing.
You can blame Apple for such policies. Authorised service providers have to order replacement parts (having them in stock is the exception). And when they receive the parts, they have to complete the replacement as soon as possible.
👉 And return defective parts to Apple.
And you’d probably be surprised what (even lower-value) parts the want shipped back and how quickly.
Apple track all kinds of performance indicators (i.e. days to complete repairs).
And when you’re late in returning parts, they penalise you.
You’d be nuts to order a part for a repair and have the customer take his device home while await the replacement part from Apple (…and risking the customer not bringing it in in time - basically immediately- when you receive it).
I believe they could have ordered it as “stock” - but that would have made it even more expensive.
The "Original Parts and Repair History" check isn't foolproof. A YouTube video showed how third-party repair shops can bypass this, leading buyers to believe they are getting genuine parts.
I don't think it's possible to trade your old iPhone when buying from Apple Refurbished, well in the UK anyway, only if buying new from Apple but let me kwow if that's not the case!
This isn't just limited to MR.
I've noticed many people proudly announce how they've purchased refurbished devices from Amazon, Backmarket, and similar outlets. They seem bewildered when someone opts to buy new directly from Apple or reputable retailers like John Lewis here in the UK.
My perspective is simple: buying used or refurbished is perfectly fine, but one should aware of the potential risks involved.
Similarly, adding AppleCare+ is often dismissed as 'wasteful spending' by those who can't comprehend why anyone would invest in such insurance, even when you explain that you value the peace of mind and find the cost reasonable.
Anyway rant over! 😘
@markredf150 thanks for your post and sorry to read about your woes. I've been looking at buying a used/refurbished iPhone 13 pro and reading your story, I'm going to now save up and just buy refurbished from Apple.
10/10 detest refurbished iPhones.
The components can be non genuine Apple parts if it comes from a vendor that isn’t Apple, like eBay sellers. Y’all can get parts serialisation errors.
Also the battery health can be miscalculated.
Either get new condition from Apple Store or a retailer you trust and know of.
But in most cases, it is an easy way to check out Device History. The Reprogrammer devices are not cheap, and usually have criminal organizations behind them
iOS 18’s Repair Assistant is a great new feature. It allows the reuse of parts harvested from iPhone to iPhone and third parties, especially to regain True Tone display. This is great news for those who like to repair their own devices throgh the Self Service Program or third party repair shops (non-AASPs and AASPs alike)
The big problem here is that this new update Activation Lock can be put on individual components themselves, which is basically a huge step backward. I wonder what the point of this feature is exactly. Do people want an iPhone with a broken, non-functioning True Tone or Face ID? My former Apple Employee friend with the S7 titanium AW Edition I got insider info on told me a few anecdotes to this in our impromptu one-on-one, he knows ins and outs of iPhones for years manufacturing A series processors for 3-4 years.
The other issue is that it could prevent calibration or removal of parts serialization or regaining True Tone/Face ID of these entities if a shady refurbished or repair shop strips your parts off your iPhone without removing Find My iPhone prior to repair then cuts open a broken iPhone and adds it in there. Not sure what they stand to gain by doing this, but it's possible they might not get caught, which is certainly a major concern.
I’m in the UK as well and I’ve been given the option where they can do a screen repair for x amount or you can choose to have a refurb replacement for x amount.. where basically they take your broken phone and can give you a full refurbed one in exchange. They normally have them in stock and it’s for same colour and spec as your old one.
It’s usually £400ish but it’s effectively a Apple refurb that looks brand new.
This is obviously part of a larger problem of capitalism allowing 70-page-long terms and conditions that are designed not to be read and exploit a deep power imbalance between the negotiating parties and are still somehow held to be legal as a contract between equal parties, but: sorry if you're a lawyer—morally, it doesn't matter. If I break something of yours, I shouldn't be able to get out reimbursing you for the loss. I also shouldn't be able to charge you a huge markup to replace the part that I broke.
Morals/ethics ≠ legality.
If I could wave a wand and make it so, I would. But, we (at least in the USA) operate under what is legal and what is not. And much of that is not aligned with any morality or ethics system you may adhere to.
I don't like it, but if you understand the system you can make it work for you instead of against you. That's the inherent weakness in the system. Malicious compliance works.