My Black Friday $49 3GS iPhone Refurb arrived today.

[macrumors-james]

That doesn't sound too good. I'd take it to the Apple Store and have it replaced; they usually do that immediately.

I also ordered a black friday 3GS. When I asked them at the time if I had a problem if I could bring it to the store for servicing or replacement I was told "No, you will have to mail it back".

Fortunately mine seems to be working fine, I'll post photos later, right now it's restoring everything from the Touch it's replacing.

 

[katiesham]

This makes me nervous. I got one on the black Friday deal too and it should be here tomorrow.

It's a Christmas present, so I was supposed to wait until then to get it. But I'm going to make my dad open it and let me check it and make sure it meets my standards.

 

[lollicup]

I'm confused. You're calling the OP a troll for sending a phone back to the company after receiving it in less than stellar condition?

yes, you would think with such an outlandish claim he would at least take pictures , I'm calling his BS

all the refurb iPhones I've ever seen look exactly like 100% brand new iPhones

 

[infosprt]

yes, you would think with such an outlandish claim he would at least take pictures , I'm calling his BS

all the refurb iPhones I've ever seen look exactly like 100% brand new iPhones

Yes I should have taken a picture. Here is the tracking number of the order
0309 1830 0000 9358 5833
go to www.usps.com

If you believe AT&T Refurbs are the same as the ones from Apple either you or I are deluded. I have had two refurbs from AT&T and they have both been junk. I have purchased an Apple iPhone Refurb and can attest is was as good as new. Meanwhile I'm 0-2 with AT&T.

Why in the world would I BS about this?

 

[Surely]

OP, I don't think you're trolling. Why should you have taken a picture?

As I've mentioned before, this isn't the first time I've heard a story like this about an AT&T refurb.

 

[MTI]

Never overlook "the power of coincidence." The two black 16GB 3GS that I ordered on Friday are "as new" in performance and appearance, so that makes me 2-0 on AT&T refurbs. When you think of it, the clever thing to do, at that $49 price point, would have been to order two, the maximum per household, and simply return the one that didn't look the best within the 30 day product and service cancellation period.

 

[aristobrat]

And you have any proof or inside information that the AT&T refurb process is any different or worst than Apples? As far as we know they might be using the same 3rd party company to refurbish them.
Or you think all refurb iphones Apple puts out are perfect?

Apple puts a brand new outer shell and battery on its refurbs. They aren't all perfect, but they don't arrive dirty.

There have been more than a few threads here about AT&T refurbs showing up dirty, with banged up exterior cases, and with the prior customers information on them.

 

[Applejuiced]

Interesting, is that the rule though or just individual cases?

Apple puts a brand new outer shell and battery on its refurbs. They aren't all perfect, but they don't arrive dirty.

There have been more than a few threads here about AT&T refurbs showing up dirty, with banged up exterior cases, and with the prior customers information on them.

 

[strike1555]

yes, you would think with such an outlandish claim he would at least take pictures , I'm calling his BS

all the refurb iPhones I've ever seen look exactly like 100% brand new iPhones

Your entire pitiful argument fails in the bolded part.

 

[mkrishnan]

Interesting, is that the rule though or just individual cases?

FWIW, my AT&T refurb original iPhone in early 2008 was pristine, and all the accessories were included. The only thing I could say against it was that, while it came with fuzzy covers for the headphones, they were vulcanized or whatever and broke when I tried to put them on. I never bothered to replace those.

FWIW 2, my AT&T refurb iPhone 3GS 32GB, which arrived yesterday, as far as I can tell is perfect, with the exception that others have noted, to wit that it came with iPhone 3G headphones (have not gotten around to seeing if a Genius won't replace them, but I expect they would).

That's only two, though. But I wouldn't say it's the rule... in the other larger iPhone 3GS refurb thread, there seem to be plenty of others who have satisfactory units. Most of them do seem to have the wrong earphones.

 

[petefza]

Received my white 16GB iPhone unpgrade yesterday and, except for a smudge of dirt on the back, it looked brand new...but I also received 3G headphones.