Apple

[RL]

Disgusted!!!!! Been with Vodafone for years - so much for loyalty. I had problems with new I-Phone4S, it wouldn't charge. Only offered a re-conditioned replacement from Vodafone so went to Apple as still under manufacture warranty (who were fabulous I might add). I have only had the phone a couple of months but Apple inform me the back has been removed before, there is previous liquid damage spotted as well as parts missing out of the phone! What a con! I hope you are pleased with yourselves? I have been a loyal customer for years and my monthly payment to you is a lot of money. Never again! I have already informed Watchdog and will continue to ensure that every relevant forum, your registered ombardsman as well as the general public know what you are doing.

[AndyiPhone]

That does sound awful, however....

The phones are always new sealed products as received from apple, secondly how can you tell water damage after repaired? Surely damaged parts would be replaced, and thirdly, parts missing! Is that a joke? What parts can be removed and not cause a single fault to the phone?
Also as Apple are the only people who repair their devices surely they could tell by the IMEI if it had been previously repaired or was reconditioned. They wouldn't actually need to open it up?

I'm not saying your lying but would imagine the person who told you that was wrong.

[Nabs]

This seems a bit extreme!

If your handset was sealed when you recieved it then it would have been a brand new unit from Apple, If for whatever reason it was not then the handset should have been returned immediatly. 

Also when Apple replace a handset under warranty it is swapped over with a reconditioned unit, this is no different to what Vodafone offered you and is standard industry practice. Obviously as with any reconditioned product you do not know what the orignial fault was however they wil have been reconditioned to the same high standard as any other Apple product. 

[RL]

I think you're missing the point! Regardless of any previous repair this is supposed to be a brand new phone? Like you said if it had been previously repaired Apple would have recorded of it, so if this is the case surely it's been 'reconditioned' by someone else and not apple assured. The person who told me about the parts missing was one of the genius team from Apple and showed me the inside of the phone. The liquid sensor had been damaged, the vibrate motor missing, which is something I don't use so would never have noticed, and a triangular sensor missing.

[RL]

To community expert,

Yes, 'extreme' is definitely a word I would use as well as appalled, conned, shall I go on?

Again as with the other post, I think you're missing the point. The phone was sealed and sent to me as a new product, hence why I am so upset. I have basically been conned into thinking that I have received a new phone.  

I am not disputing the fact that either company may have a policy where damaged or faulty phones are replaced with re-conditioned ones, I am disputing that fact that the original was not a new phone when I was taking out a new two year contract which I am led to believe comes with a new phone upgrade.

Apple stated when I saw them that this had not been repaired to Apple standard and was not Apple assured so somewhere along the line, Vodafone are ripping people off.

[AndyiPhone]

If the phone was sealed it cannot have been Vodafone.

Also even if Vodafone were thinking of sending refused out they only use apple to fix any of their devices (as does everyone else I can think of) so I can't see how Vodafone could be at fault?

Seems more likely there has been a switch of the phone either from when Vodafone posted it out or you have seen a apple genius who doesn't know what he or she is talking about.

Have you double checked the IMEI of your phone is the same as in the box it came in and also to the one Vodafone sent out? (so on the delivery receipt)

[Nabs]

RL,

As AndyiPhone mentioned If the handset was sealed then thats how it would have arrived at Vodafone. All Vodafone do is pass on the already sealed units, at no point are they opened by Vodafone. If the handset inside the box was not new then this would have been a fault at Apple's side before Vodafone recieved the handset.

I'm not disputeding you have an issue with your handset, I'm just struggling to believe this would have been done intentionally.

I can understand that you are upset and i think everybody (me included) would be in your situation.

This does obviously need to be investigated and I think following AndyiPhones suggestions with the IMEI numbers is the first place to start. From there I think one of the Vodafone Team need to get in contact with you to further investigate this issue as there isn't much more that can be done from a community perspective.

[RL]

Thank you for comments and believe me Vodafone have been contacted already! I wasn't looking for a solution merely making people aware.

[AndyiPhone]

I hope you get it sorted ASAP.

Let us know how you get on and what the outcome is. Will be interesting to see exactly what has happened.

[Dave]

Hi RL,

I'm concerned that this has happened for you. Thanks to the guys here for stepping in with information to help clarify things.

All phones on new contracts, unless specifically requested in order to lower the handset cost, are new devices, not refurbished. As has been mentioned as well, if the box was sealed then this is how we would have received the handset.

I note that you say you are not looking for a solution, but if you do want us to look into this further for you, please check the PM I'm sending you for directions on how to get your details to our team and we will be happy to look into this for you.

You can find your PM inbox here. If you can't access this link, please ensure that the box next to "Turn on private messages" is ticked on this page, and let us know if you need any further assistance.

Dave