Brand New handset or a potential refurb/returned handset

Collabora

LilElvis wrote: »

Where does it say that there is a set procedure for quality control?

How can a reseller reseal the box with a manufacturer's tape?

The phone might be fine but not power on as the battery is depleted and in need of charging, so this would prove little.

Why would a reseller need to perform quality checks? Surely that's the job of the manufacturer before they seal and ship the product.

a seal does not have to be a manufacturer seal, i have worked in QC and yes some retailers will do random QC checks before selling on or placing on store shelves.

most phones will have some charge. why do you think Tesco, Asda, etc. all have their own QC departments, when ordering goods in bulk some of them will not work as even manufacturers dont check every item that leaves them

LilElvis

Collabora wrote: »

a seal does not have to be a manufacturer seal, i have worked in QC and yes some retailers will do random QC checks before selling on or placing on store shelves.

most phones will have some charge. why do you think Tesco, Asda, etc. all have their own QC departments, when ordering goods in bulk some of them will not work as even manufacturers dont check every item that leaves them

So, are you saying that resellers check all of the stock they receive? Of course they don't! I've never purchased an electrical item which has had the seals broken - and I've clocked up a lot of purchases in my lifetime. If a seller tried to give me a box which had been resealed I wouldn't accept it

What would powering on a phone prove? Would they discard a phone which didn't power on, though it might simply need the battery charging? It wouldn't demonstrate a host of potential faults, so would serve very little purpose.

ConsumerGuy0016

Update:

SmartPhone Company/MobilePhonesDirect remained adamant in conversation yesterday that the phone is 'brand new' despite the fact that the warehouse has used it.

My attempts to cancel my order thus far have been fruitless. I haven't activated the SIM or used the phone, and don't intend to.

What are my next steps? The SIM has been activated by the retailer with the network, so I will get billed in a few weeks - my plan is to cancel the contract at some point, pay the ETF and then take MobilePhonesDirect to court for the ETF (they are of course welcome to have the phone back in its current condition).

bod1467

I have NEVER had a supplier activate a SIM for me - I have always activated it myself when putting it into a phone. Do their T&Cs say they will do this?

LilElvis

ConsumerGuy0016 wrote: »

Update:

SmartPhone Company/MobilePhonesDirect remained adamant in conversation yesterday that the phone is 'brand new' despite the fact that the warehouse has used it.

My attempts to cancel my order thus far have been fruitless. I haven't activated the SIM or used the phone, and don't intend to.

What are my next steps? The SIM has been activated by the retailer with the network, so I will get billed in a few weeks - my plan is to cancel the contract at some point, pay the ETF and then take MobilePhonesDirect to court for the ETF (they are of course welcome to have the phone back in its current condition).

Their terms, on a quick read, say that you have 14 working days to cancel and that this starts from the day after the one on which the goods were received. Their caveat is that the phone shouldn't have been powered on (impossible for them to enforce as they have done it already during their "quality control checks" :rotfl:) and that the SIM hasn't been inserted. Can't see how you could be held to account by the network if the SIM hasn't been activated within the phone and you are within the CCR cancellation timeframe.

This must have been dealt with before on the mobiles board.

ConsumerGuy0016

bod1467 wrote: »

I have NEVER had a supplier activate a SIM for me - I have always activated it myself when putting it into a phone. Do their T&Cs say they will do this?

I think it's a case of the retailer contacts EE to tell them they've sold the phone and the associated SIM card and to begin billing on the date of delivery.

I'm certain this is separate to me actually inserting the SIM into the phone. But nonetheless, I will be billed as things stand.

Nothing in T&Cs to suggest they do this - but it makes sense if people begin using their new phone the date it's received.

bod1467

ConsumerGuy0016 wrote: »

Nothing in T&Cs to suggest they do this - but it makes sense if people begin using their new phone the date it's received.

No it doesn't - inserting the SIM and activating it starts the service; it doesn't need to be started by the seller.

Collabora

You get a phone contract from Tescomobile and you will find the sim already inserted in the phone

LilElvis

Collabora wrote: »

You get a phone contract from Tescomobile and you will find the sim already inserted in the phone

The contract here isn't with Tesco, and the SIM hasn't been inserted.

Been with Orange since before the millennium - SIM always separate.

bod1467

And with every account I've ever had, activating the SIM starts the contract.