Apple revises iPhone warranty and return policy in South Korea
Apple will be revising their iPhone warranty and return policy in South Korea due to customers that were unhappy about their current return policy. If a customer receives a defective device they will be able to exchange it for a brand new device instead of a refurbished one within 1 month of the original purchase date.
Korean iPhone customers are not happy about Apple replacing defective devices with refurbished ones that have used parts in them when the actual warranty states they are entitled to a refund, new device, or free repair. When Apple spokesperson Steve Park was asked about the new warranty policy in South Korea he declined to comment.
I've personally never had any issues with refurbished iPhones from Apple. I've actually had better luck with them than brand new out of the box units. I've actually heard that refurbished units undergo a more rigorous testing cycle than brand new units. Not sure how much truth there is to that but I seldom have issues.
When Apple exchanges your products are you ok with receiving refurbished units? Have you had issues with them?
How-to, jailbreak, and DIY Editor at iMore, owner at The Pod Drop & AnoStyle, Potter pundit, and the ninja in your iOS
There are 9 comments. Add yours.
I always want a new one if possible.
I purchased a white 32GB iPhone 3Gs for 165$ from ATT online back in Jan of 2010 and I have never had a problem with it. It wasn't until about a year later that I noticed there was a crack on the top next to the power button but it has never given me a problem and I only noticed it because I dropped the one and aggravated it. However I keep the phone in an otter box case anyway and unless I showed you no one would ever know. It was a great deal and its the reason that I have not moved on to the iPhone 4 if I do I will probably get a refurb of that also . Many people fail to realize that a refurbed model can just be a phone that someone returned and has no defects at all. At they least they come with some sort of a warranty, better that than eBay or craigslist.
If Ive had the iPhone for 6 or more months I don't mind a refurbished replacement. I've had refurbished replacements before and had no issues with them and they still look brand new.
I think if you iPhone is less then 6 months old then yes I think you should get a brand new iPhone replacement, especially if you have really looked after it ;-)
end of they day, this is a nice example of consumer rights being exercised. if you say you're going to offer something, then do so.
regardless of whether or not a refurb is more rigorously tested etc. That is irrelevant in this instance. warranty states 'new' a refurb is not new.
Ive had my iPhone and iPad replaced many times and i asked the genius about the refurbs his resonse was
"most are brand new products straight of the factory floor as we dont get many returns but a few components in some devices may have been recycled. In all refurbished models the back casing screen and battery are all brand new"
my Refurb had a scratchy sounding speaker. Unfortunately I live 3 hours from the apple store so I had to live with it for a few months until I was near another apple store on a business trip
I've had several issues with refurbished BlackBerry phones in the past, but all of my friends that have gotten refurbished iPhone replacements were happy with theirs. I have, by the grace of God, not had to replace my iPhone 4 in the year that I've had it. Of course, now that I've said that, I probably will. Haha.
Pay new price, want new unit. And as far as waste, why do you jump to that conclusion? The refurbs are sold, not tossed.
The thing is: is it's stated you'll receive a brand new device, then it's your right to get a new device, not a refurbished one.
The fact that refurbished products are tested and certified as the new ones is irrelevant for this specific manner.
:)