The AT&T Refurbished iPhone Deal - May Not Be As Good As You Think
So now that AT&T “refurbished” iPhones have started flooding the market, a few details about how AT&T was able to offer such a great price are starting to float up to the surface.
For those of you unfamiliar, a few weeks ago AT&T began to sell “refurbished” iPhones in their corporate retail stores in the Northeast US. The prices were too good to be true - $249 for an 8gb iPhone, compared to $349 for Apple’s refurb, or $399 for brand new. Even better, the impossible-to-find 4gb iPhone began to resurface in AT&T stores at a price point of $199. There was such a scramble to get a hold of these deals, that iPhone forums were quickly filling up with posts from members that weren’t in the Northeast, begging members that were in the Northeast to pick one up for them. I’ll admit, I did this for one person.
Then, the refurb deal made it to AT&T’s website, and thanks to sites like SlickDeals and FatWallet, AT&T was sold out of inventory within mere hours. After all, for a $150 savings over brand new iPhone, how could you go wrong?
Well, we’re starting to find out now exactly what makes up that price difference… and it’s a lot more than just the retail packaging that the phone comes in.
For starters, according to “Nathan C” - reportedly an Apple Employee according to his profile - AT&T refurbished iPhones have been refurbished … by AT&T! Well, what does “refurbishing” mean to AT&T? So far, it doesn’t seem to mean much more than using the Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings on an iPhone. I know this personally, because the 4gb iPhone I purchased for my fiancee … was already “activated”, and on firmware 1.0.2. Some folks got firmware 1.0.1. And I wasn’t the only person to have this happen. In theory, I could have just put in an existing AT&T SIM and had a brand new iPhone to use without a new contract required. If Apple had refurbished these, I would have expected them to have at least reflashed the firmware to 1.1.3 or 1.1.4.
Additionally, reports are beginning to surface about refurbished AT&T iPhones showing up in pretty rough shape, and already jailbroken! Want someone’s body smudges all over your new “refurb” iPhone? Just get an AT&T refurb, and if you’re lucky you’ll have the remnants of the previous owner still on the casing.
But for saving $150, it’s ok - right?
Well, the icing on the cake may actually be the warranty. Apple offers a 1-year warranty on their new iPhones, and their refurbished iPhones. But what about AT&T’s refurbs? Initially, reports around the web when this deal first hit was that the iPhone warranty claim posted on AT&T’s website was “One year”. However, owners that are now getting their iPhones are checking their warranty support online, and finding out that not only do they not have a one (1) year warranty - some are barely 90 days long in the case of getting an AT&T “refurb” that was actually purchased on launch day, June 29th… which is when Apple thinks the one-year clock started ticking.
So what does “Nathan C” from Apple have to say about the subject? He simply states that the AT&T refurbs “have the Apple warranty” - no timeframe mentioned. Some Howard Forums members have apparently been able to get their warranty timeframes “reset” to the date of their AT&T purchase date - but this policy is not entirely clear yet.
I’ll check this out with my fiancee’s 4gb this evening and post an update as I have more detail.
UPDATE: Thanks to HoFo member Tristan! for posting a picture of his AT&T refurbished iPhone box, which clearly states that “Refurbished iPhones have a full 1 year warranty” through Apple. I’m still trying to dig up our receipt for our 4gb refurb, so that I can get our warranty status updated with Apple.
Interesting I bought one of those as a present. It wasnt unlocked or activated or anything. Came with an old software, but no scratches no sign of use etc. Hopefully it wont break in many years lol
Looks like this thread still gets a lot of visitors. Just to let everyone know, we did eventually get our warranty extended on our 4gb refurb iPhone - all we had to do was fax in our sales reciept from AT&T to Apple’s fax number, and they extended the warranty.
We are AT&T customers. I’ve heard rumors that they don’t extend the warranty if you’re not on a valid AT&T account.
we are interested used iphone please contact us tks
I know this post is old, but it came up in my Google search. I bought a “new” iPhone 3g today at the AT&T store at 1330 Ave. of the Americas in Manhattan, only to come home and discover they sold me a refurbished phone as “new.” I will take it back tomorrow, but I’m mad as hell, and want to warn people going to that store to be careful what they buy.
Buyer beware!
I received my refurbished iPhone broken. The inner box was not taped up by AT&T and the iPhone had dislodged - probably bouncing around for a week before I got it. No wonder it was broken. In order to fix the telephone, I have had to send it back to Apple for repairs (AT&T would not cover it). I found this out after 2 phone calls to AT&T and 3 calls to Apple. A subsequent 3rd call to AT&T revealed that I could have, in fact, sent the phone back to AT&T for replacement. Bullsh!t.
For me, this was not worth the $100 ’savings’. I suggest that if you value your time and sanity, you should carefully consider the implications of buying a used iPhone.
I lost my second iPhone this weekend and was told by ATT&T on Park Avenue and 51st in NYC that I had to have a police report in order to get a new phone–period–BEFORE they would let me buy a new phone FOR full price $400.!!!
I then spent 45 minutes on the phone with ATT&T who “helped” me get to the option of adding a line to my phone, paying $10 more a month just to get the $199 deal.
Now–I’m in a loop on the ATT&T site to “see” the refurbished phones, but I can’t apply to actually GET THEM–I’m in a weird “log in” loop every time I try to purchase it, even though I’m already Logged IN to my account–very strange.
The customer support “in Oklahoma” tried to be helpful–but this is policy/contract from Apple to ATT&T is ridiculous–I’ve already lost the original iPhone, and now my replacement (granted all my fault)–but I’m JUST trying to replace the device as I’ve done before–they stated because I wasn’t upgrading, I had to purchase at FULL PRICE—so unfair and a threshold I’m seriously re-considering the purchase completely and thinking of moving to the new Blackberry Touch—after 7 years with ATT&T–it’s total BS.
NOT HAPPY!!!
How do you look to see if your Iphone is new or refurbed ?
i am thinking about going and purchasing one from the ATT store
also is it true that if i go to the APple store and buy a refurbed one that i can get a full 1 year warranty on it from apple ? or can you purchase apple care plan for refurbed phones ?
Thanks any help woudl be great
TheSweetRossLg@AOl.Com
I bought a refub iphone and have had absolutly no problems, at all. I’ve been looking to get another refub for my son. I will never go back to any other type of cell again. I love this phone. But.. I do agree, AT&T is the worst for customer service. Customer sevice is a key part of business. Apple is probably the only thing holding AT&T together. I think Refurbs are a great way to save a buck, if only you can get your hands on them.
I am switching over to AT&T because of the BB Storm. The Storm’s OS is so slow! Too many bugs! I upgraded to the beta version and it works much bettter but once you start installing programs it starts to lag! I had my phone replaced 3 times. Looking to get the Iphone. If you switch over to Verizon,expect the phones to suck! All the smrt phone touch screens at Verizon are no good. The only one that is good is the HTC.
I read at the att web site that they load the most recent software. Is this a false hood?
I want to get an i phone snd a refurbished one seems like a good way to go but now I am wondering.
oh great i just bought the thing online before i saw the website. i should have jst bought a new one. i will let ya know what i get in the mail. I have my fingers crossed.
Just had a chat with AT&T about this. Here is what was said in the chat about the warranty for the refurbs:
Bob: What is the warranty on the refurbs online from you?
Erin H.: The refurbished devices were returned to the manufacturer on a warranty exchange. Any problem would have been fixed and they will be in like new condition. Should you experience problems with the device within the first 90 days of ownership, it may be returned for service or replacement.
Bob: So they do not have a 1 year warranty from any place?
Erin H.: AT&T does not offer one year warranty’s for refurbished iPhones, the new iPhones come with a 1 year warranty as well as the AppleCare protection plan which extends that warranty.
hey folks,
just ordered my refurb 3G 8GB iphone from at&t today and am looking forward to getting a good phone with no flaws. those who keep talking smack about the refurb iphone should relax and stop spreading false info and making potential savers paranoid. first of all, apple doesnt compromise on quality nor does it allow any company to mess around with its reputation by letting them ship out faulty and defective equipment. secondly, the reason the refurbs have more recent software on them is not because at&t didn’t erase it or put it back to factory settings, it’s because refurb items get UPDATED to the most recent versions of software as stated on the apple refurb site. thirdly, all refurb items come with a minimum 90 day warranty in some cases exceeding that. fourth: most refurb items are return/exchange items because somebody didn’t like the color/functionality/storage/phone and stuff like this and returned it. not all refurb items were used and then returned after being abused. and last but not least its APPLE ffs!! it will work!
hi guys
where exactly can I buy a refurbished iphone from? Would I need to buy a plan with it, or do they sell it without a plan, like the monthly plan i mean.
cheers
How can i ascertain whether i have a refurbished or new iphone 3g series
I got for my family, 4 refurbished iPhone 3GS 16GB for $49/each online at this web site:
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/refurb-phones.jsp
They look brand new to me just like the $199 brand new iPhone 3GS I got for myself. I checked with the AT&T store and they confirmed to me that the refurb one carries a one year warranty just like the brand new ones. So either the rumors are false or they are problems of the past but not now.
Riz, yeah you need to sign up for a 2 year plan with data plan just like for the new ones.
I just boughr an IPHONE about 20 mins ago!
but now i am scare to read on all of this post.
Hope my phone turns out to be a good NOT abuse phone!