iPhone 6(S)/Plus Apple sending refurbished phones for battery repair replacement program?

[Berlinerbrat]

hello,
I couldn’t find this question posted so apologies if it has been asked and I just missed it.
I sent my pristine 6S into Apple this week for the $29 battery replacement and received an email today informing that a “replacement phone” is on the way back. Anyone else experience this situation? I called Apple To ask if the replacement was new unused, but told it was a “refurbished” -but assured that the battery was new.... my thought was that it is still a 2 year old phone and battery -refurbished or not. I might add that over the years I have purchased my MacBook aluminum 08, Mac mini 2011 and Time machines all through the refurbished Apple store without any issues, but found it odd that this occurred. I currently have a 7plus and the 6S was my wife’s till I got her the 8, so I was holding onto it as a backup. Is Apple just saving labor by unloading stock of refurbished phones rather than open and replace the batteries? Would be nice if they sent a new box with accessories and matching serial number.... if I want to sell the 6S later -as I have with previous models ( I always keep box and acccessories for that purpose) the replacement and original 6S box will not match serial numbers. Thanks!

 

[DaveOP]

hello,
I couldn’t find this question posted so apologies if it has been asked and I just missed it.
I sent my pristine 6S into Apple this week for the $29 battery replacement and received an email today informing that a “replacement phone” is on the way back. Anyone else experience this situation? I called Apple To ask if the replacement was new unused, but told it was a “refurbished” -but assured that the battery was new.... my thought was that it is still a 2 year old phone and battery -refurbished or not. I might add that over the years I have purchased my MacBook aluminum 08, Mac mini 2011 and Time machines all through the refurbished Apple store without any issues, but found it odd that this occurred. I currently have a 7plus and the 6S was my wife’s till I got her the 8, so I was holding onto it as a backup. Is Apple just saving labor by unloading stock of refurbished phones rather than open and replace the batteries? Would be nice if they sent a new box with accessories and matching serial number.... if I want to sell the 6S later -as I have with previous models ( I always keep box and acccessories for that purpose) the replacement and original 6S box will not match serial numbers. Thanks!

This happens if the battery tab breaks and the battery cannot be removed safely. This happens, probably 1 out of 10 phones (when I was a genius a few years back). It will be a re manufactured device with a new battery, and it will probably have components that are newer than the device you sent to them. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[KrisLord]

I’ve seen a few refurbs over the years for myself, wife and friends and they’ve always looked like new.

 

[macfacts]

I've seen similar threads and the owner had their refurbished unit break down in like 91 days, just outside of the warranty for the refurbished unit. Not a nice experience.

 

[rstark18]

I also sent my spare 6 in for a new battery but I just got an email saying:

“Your product arrived at our repair center, but our technicians weren't able to process your repair request. We’re sending the product to you along with a letter that provides more information.”

WTF?

 

[C DM]

I've seen similar threads and the owner had their refurbished unit break down in like 91 days, just outside of the warranty for the refurbished unit. Not a nice experience.

And there are examples of those type of devices lasting a long time. Just as there are examples of brand new items breaking down within days. Basically anecdotal experiences that cover a whole spectrum of possibilities that happen here and there, which ultimately don't really say much one way or another about anything else.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I also sent my spare 6 in for a new battery but I just got an email saying:

“Your product arrived at our repair center, but our technicians weren't able to process your repair request. We’re sending the product to you along with a letter that provides more information.”

WTF?

Did it have a third party display? Was the display damaged? The body damaged? There are a lot of reasons why Apple won't repair a device.

 

[rstark18]

Did it have a third party display? Was the display damaged? The body damaged? There are a lot of reasons why Apple won't repair a device.

None of the above. This was my personal phone and it was in MINT condition. Not a scratch on it.

 

[Mlrollin91]

None of the above. This was my personal phone and it was in MINT condition. Not a scratch on it.

Thats really odd. It is possible there was a mixup in dispatch. They do receive hundreds if not thousands of packages a day, so a simple scan error could have set it to the wrong department which led it being sent back to you. Once you get it back, I would call and ask for Customer Relations. Sometimes you need to ask for CR a few times, but eventually they will transfer you over. CR has given me nothing but stellar service. Good luck.

 

[C DM]

None of the above. This was my personal phone and it was in MINT condition. Not a scratch on it.

Sounds like something didn't go as planned during the battery replacement (or perhaps even before or after it, like let's say the device was accidentally dropped or something like that).

 

[rstark18]

Sounds like something didn't go as planned during the battery replacement (or perhaps even before or after it, like let's say the device was accidentally dropped or something like that).

When I log into my account the repair notes say:
"No trouble was found."
So it looks like it passed battery diagnostics and they just packed it up and shipped it out. I have a call in now to try and get the battery replaced before it leave. I doubt that will happen.

 

[C DM]

When I log into my account the repair notes say:
"No trouble was found."
So it looks like it passed battery diagnostics and they just packed it up and shipped it out. I have a call in now to try and get the battery replaced before it leave. I doubt that will happen.

Sorry, I thought that was still in relation to what the OP posted about and not another case with something different.

In your case, it sounds more like what's discussed at https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...lacement-program.2098666/page-2#post-25715829

 

[rstark18]

Sorry, I thought this was still in relation to what the OP posted about and not another case with something different.

In your case, it sounds more like what's discussed at https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...lacement-program.2098666/page-2#post-25715829

Thanks I did not see that thread.

 

[newellj]

hello,
I couldn’t find this question posted so apologies if it has been asked and I just missed it.
I sent my pristine 6S into Apple this week for the $29 battery replacement and received an email today informing that a “replacement phone” is on the way back. Anyone else experience this situation? I called Apple To ask if the replacement was new unused, but told it was a “refurbished” -but assured that the battery was new.... my thought was that it is still a 2 year old phone and battery -refurbished or not. I might add that over the years I have purchased my MacBook aluminum 08, Mac mini 2011 and Time machines all through the refurbished Apple store without any issues, but found it odd that this occurred. I currently have a 7plus and the 6S was my wife’s till I got her the 8, so I was holding onto it as a backup. Is Apple just saving labor by unloading stock of refurbished phones rather than open and replace the batteries? Would be nice if they sent a new box with accessories and matching serial number.... if I want to sell the 6S later -as I have with previous models ( I always keep box and acccessories for that purpose) the replacement and original 6S box will not match serial numbers. Thanks!

It will have a new battery.

I've seen similar threads and the owner had their refurbished unit break down in like 91 days, just outside of the warranty for the refurbished unit. Not a nice experience.

Those reports here are a tiny minority. Apple refurbs are for all practical purposes at least as good as new. Arguably, having essentially been field-tested and the post-manufacturing problems having been repaired, they are better. But no process and no product is going to be perfect. Some refurbs are going to fail, just as some new products will fail, and some of each will do so shortly after the warranty expires. It's just the law of large numbers.

 

[JPack]

When I log into my account the repair notes say:
"No trouble was found."
So it looks like it passed battery diagnostics and they just packed it up and shipped it out. I have a call in now to try and get the battery replaced before it leave. I doubt that will happen.

For the mail-in process, my understanding is the battery has to fail the diagnostic. Otherwise, they won't replace the battery.

 

[rstark18]

For the mail-in process, my understanding is the battery has to fail the diagnostic. Otherwise, they won't replace the battery.

I wish Apple had clearly stated that instead of wasting everyone’s time.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I wish Apple had clearly stated that instead of wasting everyone’s time.

Well in all fairness, did you ask when setting up the repair?

 

[rstark18]

Well in all fairness, did you ask when setting up the repair?

As I did this all through the online self service system there was nobody to ask. And it did not say in any of the dialogues that I remember.

 

[Mlrollin91]

As I did this all through the online self service system there was nobody to ask. And it did not say in any of the dialogues that I remember.

For future reference. Whenever you are attempting to do something based on a new policy, always get it in writing.

 

[pinkladydlc]

I wish Apple had clearly stated that instead of wasting everyone’s time.

I was told at Best Buy (no Apple store near me) that you could still have a battery if it passed battery diagnostics. I also asked Apple support if that was true and they replied yes. I am not sure why they didn't replace yours. Mine failed diagnostics at Apple and they wanted $290 to fix "accidental damage and cellular communication issues" despite the clean report by Best Buy. It was sent back to me not working despite working just fine before sending it to them. I should have left it with Best Buy but wasn't prepared to leave it overnight that day. :-(

 

[Newtons Apple]

I thought they were replacing the battery no matter how it tested.