Used Parts In iPhone 3GS? YES!!

[Surely]

For what it's worth, I had my 3 month old 3GS replaced at the local Genius Bar yesterday. It came out of non-retail box in a drawer. I asked the Genius if this was a refurbished phone and he said, quite pointedly, "It is not refurbished, it is rebuilt." Being a bit wary, I used the term "refurbished" again in our conversation and he corrected me.

Being not completely convinced that the phone had a hardware rather than a software problem (it was one of the many that would loose all phone services after the 3.1 update), I'm still not totally happy about the replacement. Its battery was almost totally flat (not the ideal way to store a Li-ion battery). However, it did only have 3.0.1 installed, so I was able to set it up as a new phone and not restore the dreaded 3.1 update. Even though this was a long and tedious process (done once before the previous evening while on the phone to AppleCare), I do feel a bit safer with the pre-3.1 OS.

I know it's just semantics, but I would be interested in hearing if anybody else had a conversation like this with an Apple employee.

-Ric

Yes, Apple Store employees do like to call them "rebuilt" instead of "refurbished". When I had my 3GS replaced last week, the "Genius" corrected me when I called it a refurb.

However, if you buy a refurbished iPhone from AT&T, it truly is refurbished. AT&T does not rebuild and thoroughly test the iPhones that they sell as refurbished (usually they are repackaged used iPhones that people have returned within the first month of having it). They just clean it up and put it in a box. I've read reports of people receiving refurb AT&T iPhones that have had old owner content on them, or have had fingerprints on the screen and back.

From my experience, the refurbs (or rebuilds) I have received from Apple have worked better and have had better build-quality. The 3GS I have right now is built better- the bezel is more flush with the back, the power button is easier to press, and the ringer on/off switch is tighter.

 

[dnitram]

Great Experience At Genius Bar!

Until a few days ago, I was hell bent on getting a NEW 3GS replacement. Period. After researching the differences and comments for those getting a replacement from Apple (especially compared to getting a replacement from AT&T), I pretty well changed my mind. I compared a new 3GS 32GB to an Apple remanufactured unit and I was blown away by the fit & form of the Apple remanufactured phone! The switches functioned better, were more crisp feeling, but what really got me was the screen! It looked like a better screen with much better resolution... I was blown away!! Yes, what I got had a serial number beginning with a 5 and not a 8, but that's just fine with me now, as I have the 1 year extended AppleCare warranty in case I need it.

I had a conversation with the "Genius" about the differences between an Apple and an AT&T replacement phone. The Apple has been thoroughly tested and remanufactured as necessary, receives a new screen, new battery and new case, then is put through more tests. AT&T will just erase the contents (there are exceptions where an old owners information is still on the phone and serial numbers aren't always changed - big problem potential here), clean the phone up and sell it as a rebuild phone. NO THANKS!!! I'll take Apple's any day.

I know I'm getting a bit wordy here, but I've got to say my experience at the Genius Bar was absolutely excellent!!! They upgraded my phone to version 3.1 and even downloaded the MMS update for me!! They couldn't have been nicer!! Great Experience!!!

 

[Surely]

Until a few days ago, I was hell bent on getting a NEW 3GS replacement. Period. After researching the differences and comments for those getting a replacement from Apple (especially compared to getting a replacement from AT&T), I pretty well changed my mind..........

I had a conversation with the "Genius" about the differences between an Apple and an AT&T replacement phone. The Apple has been thoroughly tested and remanufactured as necessary, receives a new screen, new battery and new case, then is put through more tests. AT&T will just erase the contents (there are exceptions where an old owners information is still on the phone and serial numbers aren't always changed - big problem potential here), clean the phone up and sell it as a rebuild phone. NO THANKS!!! I'll take Apple's any day.

I know I'm getting a bit wordy here, but I've got to say my experience at the Genius Bar was absolutely excellent!!! They upgraded my phone to version 3.1 and even downloaded the MMS update for me!! They couldn't have been nicer!! Great Experience!!!

Good to see that you came to your senses.

As for the part I bolded, I just want to correct one thing: AT&T doesn't advertise or sell them as "rebuilds"; they call them and sell them as refurbished iPhones.