Sprint sending out new phones as replacements?

[AnthonyM29]

So about 2 weeks ago I was sent a replacement evo from Sprint customer service. In the replacement order it said a9292 replacement phone. Well to make a long story short it ended up going to a wrong address and a new order was made... this time though the order details shows a "phone kit" was sent. Well I got it today and it is a brand new in retail package complete with charger and manuals. Am I lucky or is this normal?

 

[music_pharoah]

If you're within your 30 days, it will ALWAYS be a new phone. My last phone was like you said, a replacement handset which just means they take it out of the box, take out the memory card, and keep the battery. However, it is just as new as your phone in the box.

 

[AnthonyM29]

My phone was purchased about 5 days after launch.... its been well over 30 days

 

[surfologist87]

I have an insurance replacement coming from Asurion soon.
Im thinking it will be a refurb though

Mine was lost though, so since they have to send a new battery/back cover, hopefully since its so new on the market, itll be *new*. We'll see

 

[music_pharoah]

My phone was purchased about 5 days after launch.... its been well over 30 days

Then yes, you got lucky. Unless they don't have a stock of refurb'd phones...

 

[J03]

I just brought my phone in for repair on saturday. When I picked it up they had swapped it out because they couldn't repair the earpiece and screen. This new phone appears to be brand new. Typing ##786# in the dialer and it shows <not available> under "refurbishment status" or "date". Is this a sure way to know its brand new or have people seen refurbs without this information too?

 

[t1jordan]

I have an insurance replacement coming from Asurion soon.
Im thinking it will be a refurb though

Mine was lost though, so since they have to send a new battery/back cover, hopefully since its so new on the market, itll be *new*. We'll see

If you paid thru insurance it should be a brand new phone. If im not mistaken you have to pay $100.00. It better be brand new.

 

[sitlet]

Ive gotten three "replacments" in the last few weeks. All have been brand new in box phones. They don't have any refurbished phones yet, since the phone just came out 2 months ago.

Well I got it today and it is a brand new in retail package complete with charger and manuals. Am I lucky or is this normal?

Dont expect to keep all of that. If they send you a phone with a battery and charger, they want a phone with the battery and charger back. Some people will try to keep that stuff, then get charged for a whole new phone when they dont return them.

. Typing ##786# in the dialer and it shows <not available> under "refurbishment status" or "date". Is this a sure way to know its brand new or have people seen refurbs without this information too?

New phones will come in the box, with all plastic and every accessory. Refurbished phones will usually come in a cardboard box, with no accessories and no battery. Refurbished phones will ALWAYS say "refurbished-yes" when you hit ##786#. If they say "no" or "n/a" that means you have a new phone.

 

[J03]

New phones will come in the box, with all plastic and every accessory. Refurbished phones will usually come in a cardboard box, with no accessories and no battery. Refurbished phones will ALWAYS say "refurbished-yes" when you hit ##786#. If they say "no" or "n/a" that means you have a new phone.

Nice to know. For the record though, my phone was swapped at a sprint store so they just swapped out the SD card and handed it to me. No box or accessories with a store swapped phone.

 

[BetterMost]

I just brought my phone in for repair on saturday. When I picked it up they had swapped it out because they couldn't repair the earpiece and screen. This new phone appears to be brand new. Typing ##786# in the dialer and it shows <not available> under "refurbishment status" or "date". Is this a sure way to know its brand new or have people seen refurbs without this information too?

That means is brand new.

 

[SporkLover]

Ive gotten three "replacments" in the last few weeks. All have been brand new in box phones. They don't have any refurbished phones yet, since the phone just came out 2 months ago.



Dont expect to keep all of that. If they send you a phone with a battery and charger, they want a phone with the battery and charger back. Some people will try to keep that stuff, then get charged for a whole new phone when they dont return

The return kits tell you what to include. In the 5 or 6 swaps I have done, all that was required was the phone. The return kits are usually small padded envelopes just big enough for the phone anywho. When manufacturers refurbished a phone, they toss the battery and battery door and replace with new parts.

 

[AnthonyM29]

The return kits tell you what to include. In the 5 or 6 swaps I have done, all that was required was the phone. The return kits are usually small padded envelopes just big enough for the phone anywho. When manufacturers refurbished a phone, they toss the battery and battery door and replace with new parts.

so have you got charged for keeping the old battery?

 

[cayovelez]

The last replacement that I got(3rd.) was a white refurb. However it seems a lot better built quality than the 2 prior(new both). All of this was via telesales. The only issue was that sprint could not activate my 3rd(white) replacement, because it was supposedley a best buy unit.

 

[SporkLover]

No, I have never been charged.

 

[Rdot9]

Brother went through asurion for replacement phone. wasnt a refurb. brand new. HW0003

People going through sprint, has everyone gotten a new phone? And what HW # is it? Im thinking of going to them and just saying i want a new phone because the slight light leakage im getting. Has that problem been taken care of pretty much?

 

[jallp82]

The return kits tell you what to include. In the 5 or 6 swaps I have done, all that was required was the phone. The return kits are usually small padded envelopes just big enough for the phone anywho. When manufacturers refurbished a phone, they toss the battery and battery door and replace with new parts.

Yeah the instructions when I had to replace my last phone specifically said not to sent with battery or memory card.

 

[thord]

Ive gotten three "replacments" in the last few weeks. All have been brand new in box phones. They don't have any refurbished phones yet, since the phone just came out 2 months ago.


How did you get 3 replacements? I bought mine the day it came out and the screen is coming apart. I called within 30 days and I am on file for a replacement, but they never have any?

thanks

 

[Agent Jones]

If you paid thru insurance it should be a brand new phone. If im not mistaken you have to pay $100.00. It better be brand new.

wrong

 

[basso4735]

Any phone I've gotten through insurance has been refurbed, except one. I think maybe they are giving out new ones at the moment is because maybe they do not want to refurb the ones with the screen issues, and figure they would be better off sending a new one. Just an idea.

 

[GoldenStatePanda]

i should have an asurion replacement for a lost phone coming hopefully by the end of the week (7-10 day backorder!!!). i hope it's new!

 

[J03]

Brother went through asurion for replacement phone. wasnt a refurb. brand new. HW0003

People going through sprint, has everyone gotten a new phone? And what HW # is it? Im thinking of going to them and just saying i want a new phone because the slight light leakage im getting. Has that problem been taken care of pretty much?

The sprint store swapped out my unit with a brand new one and I am well past my 30 days. I guess they don't have any refurbs at the store because I didn't ask for new. It's hw0003. My old one was hw0002. For the record I never had any light issues, my problems were a bad earpiece speaker and a bright spot in the middle of the screen.

 

[slopokdave]

wrong

Not entirely...

Sometimes they are refurb, sometimes they are not. I've probably done 4-5 replacements over several years, several models, and never gotten a refurb.

But of course many others have...

 

[dakidobf]

Not entirely...

Sometimes they are refurb, sometimes they are not. I've probably done 4-5 replacements over several years, several models, and never gotten a refurb.

But of course many others have...

It is wrong in that the guy said it "should" be brand new. Having insurance doesn't guarantee you a brand new phone. It just insures that if anything happens to your device, you get a working replacement without having to pay full retail.

Sometimes they replace with brand new if the phone you have is out of stock or discontinued, but thats really usually the only reason. Unless of course, you're one of the complainers that demands a new device everytime you have a dead pixel or something.

 

[Iomega]

Think about it folks. Your having all these problems with a handset. Cant you see what your really buying. Its all googoo on the outside to make you feel good but the quality is lacking. Stick with the proven performers. Your going to invest a lot of time into this device and it should last you at least 2 years , then your going to want everything transferred to your new device ( apps. , phonebook , calendar , notes etc ) get a device that supports you after the purchase as well.

 

[music_pharoah]

I just called Sprint because I am having horrible wi-fi issues. Both with 2.1 and now 2.2. It can't sustain a connection to my router. They said that since I am past my 30 days they have to send me a refurb. Which, in all honesty, I could care less. You can't honestly tell the difference between the two unless you check the logs and all I care about is fixing my damn wi-fi.

When it gets here, I will report back on HW # etc.