I purchased an iPhone 16 Pro 128GB in Officeworks last week, opened the completely sealed packaging ended up having a broken iPhone with unidentifiable model.
Went back to Officeworks for refund or replacement, unsuccessful attempt. TERRIBLE experience with indefinite waiting time. Now I am losing hope and not sure what I can do.
Please help and let me know if you have any similar issues.
Image
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/530711/117888/img_2981…
(Sigh)
What do you mean "unidentifiable mode"? Photos?
What did they say when you went back?
How is this a scam?
I don't think they mentioned scam.
Original title: "Do NOT Purchase iPhone in Officeworks SCAM ALERT"
Ah, got ya.
What’s your other non ghost accounts name?
ELeePhoneFree
What state are you in ? VCAT if in Victoria , and there's no other option . Seems a bit strange that Officeworks would push back like this , I'd assume ninety nine percent would NOT have this issue 😕
How would Officeworks know you did not switch the contents??
Because the serial is on the invoice.
True but is the serial number on the phone original? A bit over 12 months ago in the USA a friend bought a refurbished Samsung the phone wasnt even a Samsung but a knock off but with serial number matching. It happens.
So you have seen the invoice and the box - yes??
Officeworks must get people trying to scam them all the time. They are an apple authorised reseller, maybe hit apple up.
You sure its not Officeworks that should be wary of you?
Must have been extremely broken for the model to be unidentifiable.
Handful of sand and metal powder
.
Op’s posted this and gone awol.
He’s probably monitoring his thread from his main account.
Offceworks 1-0 Else.
lol, Now waiting for the results from Round 2.
or Robert E Lee…
(Confederate States general)
An lPhone.
Well you should have spotted that. Apple make "iPhone"
Call me crazy, but why would you say "in Officeworks" as opposed to "at Officeworks" or "from Officeworks".
Did you buy it from Officeworks (or just from some Random) while in the Store?
I expect they want to investigate the matter, possibly review CCTV footage of Stock and maybe make a Police Report. Possibly they will contact Apple.
When you say "completely sealed packaging" was it possibly a Refurb or Product Returned and resold?
Next time open it in the store in front of an OW staff.
Nice try Gerry Harvey
You know times are tough when Gumtree scammers start asking for advice on the OzBargain Forums
This is my first time coming across this kind of issue, I’m struggling a lot with what to do next. That’s why just signed up Ozbargin 2 hours ago to see what I can do for now!
Happy to share the photo but don’t know how to do so
Use your new free iPhone to post picture of the broken IPhone ;)
Anyways
Does the phone’s serial number match the serial number on the receipt?
hope OP can post their receipt - example Officeworks receipt for iphone for interest https://www.reddit.com/r/OzBargain/comments/1g04cvn/iphone_1…
Yes it does
Thanks for the collection of my own files
Thanks for sharing the image. Box components are different sizes. Lid is clearly not new. Every phone reseller has seen this scam before. iPhone packaging has security features. I just don't get why you're posting here?
Have you tried powering on the phone? Reset and find the serial number and see if Apple can tell you more about it?
Not sure why a scanner would put an actual phone in the box rather than something that weighed the same if they are able to seal it up.
If a new boxed phone contains the wrong phone or an old sorry arse looking phone like the pictured, something ain't right. Clearly the new phone has been stolen and replaced.
Now, who is scamming who? Apple, various transport companies, Office Works or this @Eyl character who is less than a day old? Trying to obtain ideas on how to make scam work by asking here seems unlikely and incredibly stupid so I'll assume Eyl has been scammed.
Also, from now on, I'm opening phone boxes in-store. Which will likely be a pokey JB HiFi.
How was the box sealed? From memory there were two tabs, not plastic wrap.
If you’re truly not a scammer, speak to management and ask them to investigate and get the police involved if necessary.
It’s either that officeworks has a thief, or you’re trying to be one.
Sigh
They really need to put a 24 hour lock before new accounts can start posting on forums.
Oldest scam in the book
Why even bother posting, what outcome does OP want from us?
"TERRIBLE experience with indefinite waiting time"
So did Officeworks refuse a refund or are they investigating?
Exactly how long ago did you purchase and when did you return it? Your certain the phone’s serial number match's the serial number on the receipt?
I suspect you will get a refund or replacement if you haven't left some information out but Officeworks gets a lot of scammers if would understand them wanting Apple to investigate.
There's a scam going around where someone buys an iPhone, walks outside, opens it, replaces good iPhone with bad one, uses fake re-seal stickers (they look very real), walks back into retailer for a refund, it's only been 10 minutes so why not, refunded, bad iPhone sold on to next unsuspecting customer.
Any update on this, OP?
@Eyl
Is this your first time signing up to ozbargain?