Replacement iPhone 5's, Are they new Phones or Refurbs...?

[Anonymous]

From Apple or your network provider, Carephone Warehouse etc.

If you have an issue with your iPhone 5, are the replacements 'NEW' phones or Refurbs?

How can you tell the difference?

When someone gives a phone back for whatever reason, I am sure the retailer just gets someone to repackage the phone as new again and sell on to another customer, True? 

[Liquid]

Generally you can't tell if a phone is a refurb without digging into recovering files from the memory.

Generally the phones would be refurbed but to a very high quality replacing any offending parts. You wouldn't be able to tell without digging sorry.

[Anonymous]

interesting to say the least...

As long as the phone is clean from the outside no scuffs, scratches etc there is no way of knowing 😞

[Liquid]

Pretty much. Unfortunately with the iPhone 5s either scuffed phones or unblemished could be new or refurb with all the issues with ascetics at launch.

They're to the quality of a new phone and the likelihood is they've been tested much more thoroughly before being out back to market. (Good thing to some extent:))

[Anonymous]

http://service.o2.co.uk/IQ/srvs/cgi-bin/webcgi.exe?New,KB=Companion,question=ref(user):str(mobile),C...

Clearly states in here the replacement policy but I will add dependent on the age of a handset and the condition it is in, then there are slightly different avenues to go down. 

Can I ask what the question is for? Why are you asking? We might be able to give you a straight answer if we know all the facts.

[Anonymous]

Steersy,

I have always wondered what does really happen when we exchange phones, and always thought they would be refurbs cleaned up and packaged as new.

I am worried when I get my iPhone 5 black next week from Carphone Warehouse that it will be already scuffed from new and it will be a knightmare to get a replacement and when I do, it will probably be a refurb which could be even worse.

[Liquid]

You'll be fine, I'm sure CPW has worked it's way through the dodgy stock. Quality control is much better now and I have heard of any issues since the beginning of November:)

[Anonymous]

Thanks Liquid, I hope you are right, IF not I will be back on here spitting blood lol

[Liquid]

I hope I'm right as well haha. The thread we had about the scuffs died off and the one on apple forums is dead. So should be fine:)

If you start spitting blood head back into CPW I'm sure they'll do pretty much everything for you.

[Anonymous]

Well the only reason I am going to carphone warehouse is that the phone on upgrade will be £65 cheaper than going into a O2 shop 😕 O2 did offer me £50 off if I done it with them over the phone but it's the same thing as carphone warehouse will still be supplying the phone. At least instore I can have a look at the phone before I leave the shop lol instead of it being delivered to my house and then the hassle of going back to the shop etc...What a mess O2 have done with all these price differences, £65 is a lot of money 😞