Does Verizon Sell Refurbished Phones as New (Warranty + More)

People ask, does Verizon sells refurbished phones as new?

If you have ever purchased a phone from Verizon, you have probably been offered the option to choose between a new phone or a certified pre-owned device.

However, if you choose to get a new device… are you really receiving one?

So, does Verizon sell refurbished phones as new? The answer is complicated. Although the company is certainly not supposed to do this, and they are supposed to let you choose whether you would like a new or refurbished device, there are plenty of reports of people finding out after the fact that they had actually received a refurbished phone when they asked for a new one.

The remainder of this article will dive more into the potential of this shady practice from Verizon—what is really going on when you ask for a new phone and receive a refurbished one, and is there anything you can do?

Does Verizon sell refurbished phones as new?

The answer to this question is a complicated one. If you ask Verizon, we are sure they would tell you that they absolutely do not do this.

They offer refurbished phones as an option for sale, but they are supposed to ask you which you would prefer and go from there when it is time for the purchase.

However, there are countless reports of people who have found out after the sale that they actually received a refurbished phone when they wanted a new one.

The fact that this is happening to so many people clearly indicates that Verizon is up to something sketchy.

Read also: Are Verizon Certified Preowned Phones Good (The Truth!)

Is Verizon allowed to do this?

No, Verizon is not supposed to do this. They are supposed to give you the option of purchasing a certified pre-owned phone OR a brand new one.

If you ask for a new one, they are not supposed to pull one over on you by giving you a refurbished one instead.

Whether there is any legal recourse for this remains a bit of an unknown factor.

Can this cause issues for me with manufacturer warranties?

Yes, it can. Many of the people who have reported this happening to them discovered the issue when they attempted to take in the phone to be replaced under a manufacturer warranty.

Since the phone is actually refurbished and not brand new, it will not be eligible for the warranty.

What can I do if I received a refurbished phone when I wanted a new one?

Whether there is any legal recourse for this remains a bit of an unknown. However, what we would recommend is immediately returning to the retailer where you purchased the phone and letting them know what happened.

Many of the reports we have read of people receiving refurbished phones did this, and Verizon immediately apologized and replaced the phone with a brand new one.

Since Verizon is not supposed to give you a refurbished phone if you ask for a new one, they should be accommodating if you return to the store and explain your issue.

It is possible that you could have received a refurbished phone by mistake, in which case they should be more than willing to rectify the issue.

Read also: Does Verizon Sell Unlocked iPhones? (Read This Before Buying

Should I buy a refurbished phone?

Whether you wish to purchase a refurbished phone or not is completely up to you. There are pros and cons to getting one.

One of the pros, of course, involves a cheaper price—and there are many “like new” refurbished phones where you can hardly tell the difference between it and a brand new one.

However, one of the downsides involves losing out on the manufacturer warranty.

If you want to purchase a refurbished phone, you should definitely go into the Verizon retailer with the intention of purchasing one.

You do not want to get overcharged by paying for a new phone when you would have been okay with a refurbished one the whole time.

Be sure to do your research to determine whether a refurbished phone is the right move for you or not.

I want a new phone. Should I risk getting one from Verizon?

Once again, this is largely up to you. If you have your heart set on getting a brand new phone, you can still purchase one from Verizon, but you should be careful to make sure that you actually receive a new one.

How can I be sure to get a new phone instead of a refurbished one?

If you are purchasing a phone from Verizon and you want to make sure that you receive a new phone, one of the best things you can do is be open with the sales people.

Inform them that you have heard stories of people receiving refurbished phones when they asked for new, and you do not want to be one of those recipients.

If you lay your expectations out up front, it will be much harder for someone to scam you.

In addition, if you might have received a refurbished phone by accident, the sales person will be much more attentive and will ensure that they give you the correct phone if you lay your expectations out up front.

Once you have received your phone, you can check if it is new by taking it to the manufacturer and having them check for you.

For example, if you purchase an Apple iPhone, try taking it to an Apple store and ask the workers if they can verify that you are the first and only owner of your phone.

Conclusion

So, does Verizon sell refurbished phones as new? Although they are not supposed to, there are plenty of reports out there of people who have received refurbished phones from Verizon when they intended to purchase new.

This can cause all sorts of issues for you, such as losing out on the manufacturer warranty.

If you are worried about receiving a refurbished phone from Verizon when you want a new one, make sure to make your expectations clear to the salespeople when you purchase your phone.

You can also take the phone directly to the manufacturer afterward to verify that it is indeed new.

References

https://www.verizon.com/certified-pre-owned/