Replacement Note 7 - Double Bar Code Stickers on Box - Refurbished Phone?

[felloffthetruck]

Picked up my replacement Note 7 from Verizon yesterday and the first thing I noticed is the double bar code stickers on the box. The sticker underneath has the same IMEI number as the new sticker with the new little black square.

I'm thinking that Samsung had these phones already made and ready to ship to carriers when the battery fiasco came up.
I believe that Samsung pulled these "New" phones, ripped them open, exchanged batteries, covered original bar code sticker up with new "little black box" stickers and shipped to carriers as new replacements.

Don't get me wrong, the phone looks and smells new but I would consider that a refurbished phone.

I know most people won't care but I purchased a "New" phone, I don't do refurbished.

If you got the double bar code sticker, let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

 

[Jona005]

I don't know if it would help any, but the Phone Info app also has a "refurb checker" tool within it.

 

[Oj467]

My box has the new barcode sticker over the old one also. Phone Info app says phone is original and not refurb. VZW version.

 

[felloffthetruck]

I don't know if it would help any, but the Phone Info app also has a "refurb checker" tool within it.

Never noticed that, I'll have to check it out. Thanks.

 

[felloffthetruck]

My box has the new barcode sticker over the old one also. Phone Info app says phone is original and not refurb. VZW version.

What tab in that refurb checker under?

 

[Oj467]

It's not in the tabs. It is under the menu button in the upper left corner.

 

[spasell]

How do you find this? Please be specific.

 

[felloffthetruck]

Thanks, just found it and mine also says original.
I don't think Samsung would mark the phones as refurbished as they are pushing them off as brand new.
I believe that they are pulling a sneaky battery switch though. Why the double labels with same IMEI's ?

 

[AXEL314]

What tab in that refurb checker under?

Also, it's an actual app, not a built-in feature.

 

[Jona005]

How do you find this? Please be specific.

on the top left corner of the app click on the burger menu (three lines) and there is a list which will show refurbishment checker.

 

[felloffthetruck]

How do you find this? Please be specific.

With this app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.vndnguyen.phoneinfo&hl=en

 

[Oj467]

Thanks, just found it and mine also says original.
I don't think Samsung would mark the phones as refurbished as they are pushing them off as brand new.
I believe that they are pulling a sneaky battery switch though. Why the double labels with same IMEI's ?

My guess would be because those particular phones were already manufactured and ready to go without the suspect battery. So in order to ease everyone's minds and make it easy to spot the safe Note 7s they came up with the "black square" label and just slapped it over the old one.

 

[blackhemi4x4]

The way these phones are put together, I would highly doubt they're pulling them apart and swapping the battery.

It would go from mass production to very slow production and open up a world of quality issues messing with old adhesive

 

[brau0303]

Technically even if they had to open the phone and replace some components, if it never left the factory that is little more than a QA swap of "Factory Failed" components. it would not be considered a "referb". if it left the factory and was returned then it could be considered "factory refurbished"

Cheers,
BR

 

[Almeuit]

I believe it can't be a refurbished device as it would be illegal for them to sell them as a "new" device. Since they're replacing the bad one you're still paying (or paid) for the new phone so that is what they have to sell you. Especially with the government already involved I doubt they would try and pull one like that.

 

[felloffthetruck]

Still seems a little skeptical to me. :-\

 

[felloffthetruck]

When you look in that phone info app what is the different between the Manufacture & Build dates?

Mine has a Manufacture date of 09-01-2016 and a Build date of Sat Sept 17 00:32:17 KST 2016

How can the build date be newer then the manufacture date?

 

[Matt Gatewood]

I don't think there is a government definition of 'Refurbished'. The only thing that manufacturers and retailers cannot do is sell an item that has been previously sold as 'new'. Anything that was in Samsung's, a carrier's or retailer's inventory when they stopped sales could be sent back to Samsung for a replacement battery. I expect that those units will be sold a 'New' because they were not previously sold to a consumer.

 

[LdotAdot13]

Anyone get this?

 

[Clocks]

I don't think there is a government definition of 'Refurbished'. The only thing that manufacturers and retailers cannot do is sell an item that has been previously sold as 'new'. Anything that was in Samsung's, a carrier's or retailer's inventory when they stopped sales could be sent back to Samsung for a replacement battery. I expect that those units will be sold a 'New' because they were not previously sold to a consumer.

They probably took back the 1.5MM units that were in the wild but not yet sold and put them into two piles; 1) batteries OK, 2) batteries not OK. Then they put a new sticker on pile #1 and shipped them right back out.